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I affectionately call summer vacation my lunch packing vacation. After packing three lunches a day (and snacks too!) for three kids, I love the lunch packing break. What did I do this summer, though? I bought the kids summer lunch boxes. I will admit that, on the last day of school, I trashed the ones they had taken to school all year. I quickly realized that a packing a quick lunch in the fridge with some meat, crackers, fruit, and a bottle of NESQUIK could make Brian’s day while being a stay at home dad with three kids. This worked out great for a few days of Vacation Bible School, trips to the pool, and random picnics at the playground.
I headed to Walmart with the girls after our recent beach trip to get a fresh bottle of milk and a few other grocery items. I also grabbed some lunch supplies because Brian wasn’t feeling well and I knew a packed lunch would help with the “mommy is back at work” lunchtime routine. The girls picked out their favorite refreshing and delicious drink … NESQUIK 8oz 10pk Ready-to-Drink Bottles. #FoodMadeSimple 
I did learn three key tips last year with all of that lunch packing I did and I am excited to share them with you.
1. I learned to take lunch orders from the kids. They didn’t love my easy approach to making the same lunch for them all week. They thought that was boring. This mommy isn’t a mind reader so I started making menu requests on scraps of paper at bedtime each night. This year I am upgrading to a menu plan they can fill out for me! You can download the PDF by clicking here or the picture below! 
2. I learned to pile everything I need all over the counter so I don’t have to keep running to the garage fridge, the kitchen fridge, the pantry, etc. to gather everything for the menus they wanted. 
3. I learned that the assembly line approach to lunch packing works best to make lunch packing happen fast! 
The end result of a well packed lunch is smiles when they open that lunch box and find their favorites … 
…and happy lunch eating kids.
Ready for lunch packing? Check out Nestle Recipes for inspiration to fill out your own lunch packing meal plan!
Are you ready for lunch packing vacation time to be over? We have less than a month until school starts here so the countdown is on but I am ready! What lunch packing tips do you have? Leave us a comment and let us know!
That lunch menu plan printable is a great resource for moms! Thank you! I can’t believe it’s almost back to school.
Love the lunch packing printable! I’m going to try it. Giving my boys some ownership of the process might just help them eat better!
I love that you still pack lunches during the summer! I need to do that so we stop running through a drive thru!
I love the idea of the menu, but I make my kids pack their own lunches!
My boys only have home lunch once or twice a week so we don’t plan it out too much but your chart is awesome!=
Thanks for sharing the printable! This will help out tremendously.
What a great idea> I need this printable to get organized this fall.
I normally pack my kids bento box lunches at the beginning of the year. But by the end of the year, I’m handing them cash to order lunch.
A lunch plan is a great idea! My oldest will be in Kindergarten this year and I definitely need a plan going into this new venture. He’s going to the love finding Nesquik Ready-to-Drink bottles in his lunch box! #client
I love the lunch plan printable. I also love your idea to actually get input from the kids so I know what to pack for school lunches.
Mine start Kindergarten this year and while I don’t need to pack a full lunch, I do need to pack them a heavy snack every day. These ideas are really helpful, thanks for sharing!