What’s in my Kids Lunchbox | Lunch Ideas for School | August 2023 

One trip I learned when I packed my kids lunches is to freeze the Capri sun or juice boxes, not only do they help keep food cool, they'll be defrosted by lunch & kids have a cold drink

I ran over here so fast I tripped. Just kidding. I needed some kid friendly lunch ideas for my oldest grandson.

I love watching these. I packed a lunch for my little guy every school day from Kindergarten through freshman year. Last year, as a sophomore, he finally decided he wanted to do school lunch. Of course I like not having to figure out what to do each week, and love the extra time in the mornings….but I really do miss it too. They grow up so fast 😢

I love how realistic this is! Honestly this is great. I love the honesty and just plain reality of what it is to feed a child. As much as we want to pack super healthy meals, the fact is that they just need to eat what they like and mix it up as much as we could.

You do such a good job with never forcing your kids to eat anything. It is so much better (most of the time, every kid is different) to just offer and model rather than make it a big deal.

The idea of putting the cheese against the bread to keep it from getting soggy is such a smart idea. I make mine like that too.

I always love your videos. Even though I don’t have kiddos, the lunchbox videos (both hubby and the kids) always give me inspiration of what I can take to work. Thanks Kristin!!!

Your voice is so calming. ❤️

I enjoy these so much, especially when you show what they actually ate. Where does the time go, seems like summer just started.💟

wow you put so much love in your kid's lunches! they must be so happy with a wonderful mother like you 🩷

Thanks for sharing these lunches with us Kristen! I can use some of these ideas for myself!

Your lunch ideas are amazing, Kristin. I especially appreciate your showing what food the kids come home with. ~ Have a wonderful weekend!

All hail this Queen of Lunches!! That could also be used as quick dinner ideas!!

1 tablespoon of lemon juice to one cup of water, let your apple slices soak for 3-5 minutes, then drain and rinse!

It was such a simple thing but I'm totally gonna try that pasta dish on my nephew! He's such a picky kid from being allowed to only eat junk as a toddler and young kiddo, so we struggle to get him to eat things that will fill him up so he's not constantly just snacking and eating hot dogs and chicken nuggets. He'll occasionally eat canned chicken noodle or buttered noodles (and I've been able to hide an egg in that carbonara style with the pasta water) so this could totally be another option that works out/will get him some more nutrients from a broth that has a good protein count.

Soaking the apples in lukewarm water with salt for 10mins will help stop them from browning. You can also do 1 tablespoon of lemon juice to with water instead of salt as well ! Just make sure to dap them dry

Love this! I just made my first 2 lunches for my first grade son. Last year we bought lunch the entire year because I told myself it would be easier. But, now I am willing to try it out and I enjoy it. I haven't really figured out what son really enjoys yet but I will keep experimenting. These were great ideas. And your kids seem to love what you fix for them, Thanks for the ideas,

You are such a good mama. ❤️ Thank you for these ideas! Much appreciated.

So happy for these videos! I've been doing these for my sons lunches at school and hes gotten alot of compliments. So thank you so much for your videos and ideas ❤️

I really really enjoy your videos. You keep things real and your personality is so pleasant. As for kid lunch ideas, um, I’ll be trying some of these for myself. They’re good portions and look amazing. ☺️

You’re such a thoughtful mom

Love your lunchbox videos!! ❤

We pack such similar things for our kids lunches!! Love all of your videos, thanks for showing these lunch videos!

I love all of these ideas! I’m glad you included a lot of stuff with no dyes!!

I love all your videos, especially this one where you show what your children are ...Go Mom👏👏💕

Look up how long cooked chicken can be safely kept warm….salmonella ! Freeze juice, yogurt or flavored water as a ice pack in lunch boxes…….cream cheese mixed with veggie powder and spread on a wrap then cut as pin wheels make a good lunch. Veggie, pumpkin,oatmeal muffins with sliced cheese is good. Cold pasta salad with safe dressing on it. Cold pizza was a favorite. When I had my six packing lunches I’d make up names for the less favorites….like “monster mash” for baked oatmeal with honey, “rabbit ribs “ for homemade chicken strips and dip., homemade jello squares were “ slime cubes”….lol those were the fun days. Those dips you put in the apple section….make sure you clean them because they are full of bacteria all over them from how they’re handled…..just a suggestion….

The district my son was in for k thru 5th also allowed peanut butter. Actually, the entire district allows peanut butter and we are in a larger city . They have a peanut free area in the cafeteria and if there was a peanut allergy in the class, no snacks with peanuts were allowed for parties. The reasoning behind it is because many kids with sensory issues will only eat certain foods so they had to accommodate both. He is home schooled now so he can eat whatever but it was nice to know I could make him a pb&j if he wanted one. Great lunches.

Ive been waiting for these videos to be back! Yay thank you! I will definitely be using some of your ideas 😊

I love your lunch ideas because they are so realistic!

I LOVE watching your videos , I’ve been watching for years! I get so many ideas from your channel 🥰

Thank you so much for these lunchbox ideas!

Before you even showed us, I knew the first day of school lunches were going to be subs and mac! Love that these kiddos don't change (for now!)

This is so fun to watch! You prepare lunches just like I do! Thanks for sharing. Looking to try your pasta recipe, good idea pairing it with the grilled cheese. I will be following for more. ;-) Great job!

Great ideas for lunches!Thank you!

I really wish I had some bento boxes for my kids. They look so neat..❤️ Thanka for these videos! They give me so many ideas on what I can feed my kids. I homeschool and I’m trying to get better about making them lunches earlier so I can stay present

Thanks for this! My kiddos are homeschooled but we get in a rut of eating the same thing all the time. This gave some fresh ideas. 😊

you have such great ideas! Thanks for sharing!

Just wanted to say that I love your videos and that I think you’re such a thoughtful mama and wife with the effort you go to to make sure your family enjoys their meals. Hope their school year is blessed 🤍

My kiddos are past this stage, but I still enjoyed watching. Thank you for sharing! 💗

Love the packed lunches. It’s cute how they loved your soup/pasta and their favorite snackies! Please let Riley know we see her trash she brings back so we 👀 to see if she eats all that her sweet Mommy packed. ❤

I love how you make these videos! And I love the tips! I’m definitely going to try the great value chicken pattie’s now!

Love Riley’s lunch bag. I love hearts. Thanks for sharing and I hope your kids have a great school year! 😊

Hi! You did a great job with the lunches and you gave me some great ideas!! Thank you!

Great ideas - for kids and adults!!

Thank you for the ideas! I'm going to have to go back and watch more of your lunchbox videos. My daughter is in 1st grade this year. We switched schools and lunches aren't free so she's going to have to take a lunch most of the time and I need ideas. She's picky so it's going to be a challenge to come up with things she'll actually eat.

I watch these to get ideas for my lunch! ❤

Love love these videos ❤ Thank you for sharing these ideas!

Oh my kids would love that pasta! Thank you for the inspiration 😊

I absolutely love your lunch videos (and all of the others tbh!)

Love your lunchbox vidoes!! Thanks for another video❤

I've missed these!! I ESPECIALLY love the what i pack for my husband's lunch videos. I am a recent subscriber and hope to see those videos come back soon as well ☺ my husband loves his lunchbox ideas (thanks to you) haha

Such good ideas! Thanks girl!

Love these kid lunch box videos you make ❤

I love your videos and the kids lunches looks so good and packed so nice and neat 😍

This was great! Thank you for the ideas I really needed this.

Such a helpful video!!! Thank you 🙏🏾

Great ideas here! Our district is doing universal free lunch this year, but my daughter says the line is so long that there isn’t enough time to eat. So I’ve been packing her lunch every day. I love your creativity!

Thank you so much for the lunch ideas it was so helpful

You seem so happy the kids are back to school lol more mama free time !! Love it ! And the video ❤🎉😂😊❤

I love your videos. My daughter just started kindergarten and I needed more lunch ideas 😊

My oldest just started kindergarten and this was so helpful!!! Thank you so much❤

We start school in 2 weeks! I love making my son's lunches...thanks for sharing... these are my favorite videos!❤

Thanks so much! This was very helpful!💙

Hello,so great to see you,I love these lunches 💕 so yummy for the kiddos and grown-ups too.i see how much love you put into them.wlso love how you give them what they'll eat.wich to me the most important thing.😊I hope you all are doing great, staying safe, happy and healthy ❤️🙏😇😊😊always look forward to your videos ❤️ hv a great day everybody 💚😊

What a creative mama! These look delish

Woo HOO! I love your videos! I wait all week for them

Thank you for the ideas.

Thank you for making videos of all your kids' lunches. My son is about to go to kindergarten and I need some ideas!

Love your videos always great food ideas thank you for sharing

Hello from Canada..this video just came up in my feed. Perfect timing! We go back to school next week..and packing lunches for my almost 9 yr old son is a challenge!! He is very picky and will like something one day, and the next day it's a 'no'..lol. I will try some of these ideas..thank you!!😊

Such great ideas! My kids are in 5th and 2nd this year and they usually want to eat the lunch served at school these days! But I love these for lunch ideas when they're home as well. Sometimes I'm still stumped on coming up with new quick kid friendly lunches. Also, we live in a smallish town in Missouri and we have never had any issues bringing peanut butter either. They also serve uncrustables at their school. 🤷‍♀️

This is the first time I’ve seen the thermos trick. I’ll definitely be trying that!

I am excited to see this video. These are my favorite videos that you post and I've been patiently waiting for 1 to come out but PS I do love all your videos though

Yay finally a video. Missed you4 videos ❤

😍 love that kids in your area get free breakfast and lunch! That is the way it should be in America. Irregardless of family status or economics because there are families that look " wealthy" but do not actually have money they just have things bought with debt. Stoll others whose parents do not care, do not have time to worry about what their kids are eating. Food in schools should not be a matter of controversy , ridicule but for all ! Kudos to your county school system or state

An electric teapot will change your lunchmaking life. It boils water in 3 minutes to prime the thermos with.

With the chicken sandwich, I wonder if you could cook the patty, then warm up the thermos and lightly fold the patty and stick it in with a paper towel to absorb the moisture. Then they could pull it out and put it on the bun and it would be warm. Or even cut the patty in half and stick it in the thermos.

I miss you video so much! Happy you showed on my suggest video to watch.

Kirsten will you a grocery haul soon good on the What's for dinner and lunchbox ideas good luckon the blackstone smash burgers recipe is a good idea ❤

Thanks for the Amazon link! I bought that Dino thermos for my son’s lunch box.

Great video! Thanks for sharing! ❤

A tip for juices, sauces, and broths that you don't use up or use frequently. We freeze them in ice trays or silicone molds, once frozen I put them in a labled zip lock bag. I add them too smoothies and soups. So on days you slice apples you could pop an apple juice cube out!!!

These are all great ideas!

We live in West Virginia (howdy neighbor) and my youngest is in 1st grade. His Elementary school does lunch in their classrooms, so if there are no classroom peanut allergies (or allergies in general) then peanut butter, etc. is fine and encouraged. I’ve sent peanut butter every year so far for him with no issues. My daughter also attended the same school and I only recall one year that peanut butter was not allowed due to a child having a nut allergy. I think it varies from school to school and even from each county and state. Love your vlogs ❤

I love these ideas and vids ❤❤❤

Lots of good ideas, thanks

I Love your lunch ideas for me too girl ❤

Great video! So very helpful for us moms of picky kids🙂

Super helpful!

Kristen, you can pack my lunch anytime, all looked yummy!

Love the choices you have. We are not allowed to send in anything sweet or unhealthy like popcorn, chips, cracker, capri sun, cookies, fruit bars, granol bars, juice, soda, jam, nutella, waffles, muffins. But nuts in any variety are fine here :)

I teach at a school and peanut butter is totally allowed. But my kids preschool is all nut free. So I think it really varies from school to school. Thanks for another great video!

Great idea on getting the bread from subway. I’ll need to see if mine will do the same

Love your ideas 💜

4:51 for this next year we decided to do the PB but we did much more neutrals for both of them so they can use them for a few years. I’m also wondering about LLbean backpacks. When I got one I had it for YEARS, as a kid. But I was amazed to see a Jansport was similarly priced to the PB bags! 😅

Thanks for the ideas

Rylee bring eveything back even the trash 😂😂😂😂 I love it

My kids change what they like and dont like day to day too lol. the struggle. thank you for posting! i have 3 in school this yr, 5th 3rd and 1st. Love these ideas. our school as a peanut free table. kids with allergies sit there. (were in San Diego CA)

I don't have kids but I always love seeing your videos! I work at a school and I know that the dye free drinks are the best for your kids. Years ago when I first started working for the schools, the kids would sometimes spill the drinks on the lunchroom tables and they would be permanently stained because of the dyes in the drinks! I always thought, oh my goodness, if those drinks do that to the tables, what are they doing to their little bodies!😳😬

Didn’t know you could buy bread at Subway. How much normally…when not free?