many years ago, I was a teacher.
and one of the parts I miss most about teaching is the need to pack a lunch.
I loved meal prepping things for the week, I loved packing lunches at night, I loved perusing blogs for lunchbox (and snack!) ideas, I loved peeking in the aisles of TJMaxx for fun containers, I loved it all.
so I’m thrilled that KK and I have started packing lunches. thrilled.
after dinner each night, I pack lunches for us to take on our morning outing, as oftentimes we prefer to eat while out and about. (and if we decide to instead eat at home, we just eat our lunchbox there, no big deal!)
like, recently we joined a nice gym. (here’s more on that and why it works so well for us in this season.) and to prioritize these steeper dues in our budget, we trimmed our eating out budget (amongst other areas). so most mornings, KK and I head to said gym. and we swim, we play, we whatever. and before we head back home, we eat a packed lunch in their cafe area, usually with friends. i cherish this time so much, and I’m always so grateful for Past Haley for packing us good food. (here’s what else we like to bring to the gym and pool!)
and really, packing good food for Future Haley (and KK!) is one of my absolute ways to take care of myself.
having quality food containers and quality lunch boxes to do so has helped immensely.
here are our favorite things!
my favorite lunch containers:
remember, some of these are from my teaching days, and some of these are because KK and I share containers. So while these containers might technically be too large for a toddler, they work beautifully for us (and she’ll grow into them).
tiny, lidded stainless steel bowls for dips or snacks
a few random containers I’ve grabbed at TJMaxx - I love their food container selection!
containers i also liked for my teacher lunches:
when I was a teacher I also liked glass containers, and I would prep what I could for the week. glass containers like these, and the divided ones like these and these.
i also loved wide-mouthed mason jars - I got them on sale at Hobby Lobby.
my favorite snack containers:
our lunchbots small snack containers
we have two of these: one for me, one for KK
tiny, lidded stainless steel bowls for dips or snacks
this reusable pouch for smoothies, yogurt, kefir, etc
see more about our smoothies here
my favorite beverage containers:
kk’s insulated water bottle - I’m sure there are other great ones out there, but I just loved this color
my favorite wide mouth insulated water bottle - for water, but I also use this when I want to take my smoothies out and about with us
this grape cutter
just listen to your dear friend haley and buy it.
kk’s name stickers
bless these gems.
my stroller cooler:
right now, we usually have our stroller with us 99% of the time. so i have this stroller cooler for our lunches and snacks and everything. it’s THE BEST - it attaches to your stroller so it’s out of the way, yet super convenient. easily one of my favorite purchases ever.
my favorite storage for lunch things:
our over-the-door rack on our pantry door holds allllll our lunch and snack things. it’s the best.
my favorite pantry + fridge organization:
several of these cereal dispensers for cereal + granola
twelve of these airtight containers
I use three of them for smoothie (and parfait!) add-ins, like chia seeds, flaxseeds, and hemp hearts. see more about my smoothies here!
I use the other nine for lunch/snack items: dried fruit, crackers, pretzels, etc. the contents of these containers changes since I try to rotate them around for variety!
ten of these bins for prepackaged lunch/snack items
bars, fruit cups, yogurt melts, meat sticks, pouches, applesauce, etc.
two of these lazy susans in our fridge for jams
my favorite systems:
we follow a meal rotation. which basically means we follow a loooooose pattern for all our meals and snacks. which removes alllllll decision fatigue for me: i know what we’re having for today’s morning snack, I know what we’re having for today’s lunch, I know what we’re having for today’s afternoon snack, etc. it’s all decided for me. see this post for our rotation!
here’s my favorite foods to freeze to make meals easier for Future Haley
I love packing lunches at night since I’m already in food mode and I can easily see any dinner leftovers (like that leftover pizza and those leftover orange slices) that could be transferred into lunches.
on Sundays I meal prep things that could help our breakfasts and lunches go smoother. So I love adding these items to our lunches. Subscribe to my weekly newsletter for my weekly menu plan, as well as this Sunday’s meal prep plan. Dinner leftovers and meal prepped gems are the MVPs of our lunches!
our favorite foods:
whenever I need ideas for lunches/snacks, I refer to this website. and her instagram. any food I have (and love) I’ve found through her.
I also follow hashtags (and accounts) on Instagram for Lunchbots, Planetbox, Bentobox, todder lunch, kids lunchbox ideas, etc.
where we shop:
my weekly curbside pick-up at HEB, my grocery store
my monthly Subscribe and Save order
my weekly trip to Costco to get gas, but I may run in and grab anything I need
Trader Joe’s, as needed
Thrive Market, as needed
my link gives you a discount off your first order, and I earn credit as well - so thank YOU!
Target, as needed
TBH, I don’t go to Target all that often - it just has too many fun, tempting things, so to save our budget I avoid the store altogether (or I order online).
what we eat at home
See my blogpost on our toddler favorites: cooking + eating edition - for allllllll our favorite things for feeding (and cooking with!) KK! Has our favorite things for eating at home, too.
Did you enjoy this post? I’d love if you said hi on Instagram! I share allll the innerworkings of my routine-and-food-loving heart there. (Along with quite a bit of meal ideas. Woo!)
Other blogposts you may love:
Our toddler favorites: cooking + eating edition - for allllllll our favorite things for feeding (and cooking with!) KK! Has our favorite things for eating at home, too.
My Summer Essentials - aka our other things we love to bring to the pool!
Here’s a full list of kk’s favorite toys, gear, and things from birth until now!
Curious where we go for our morning outings and when we eat lunch, etc? See a peek into our day!
Here’s what else we like to bring to the gym and pool!
Subscribe to my weekly newsletter for my weekly menu plan, as well as this Sunday’s meal prep plan.
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