Can’t believe we are in August already! My mind is still in summer vacation mode. Kids are happily enjoying their summer activities and playdates. But then August 1st hits and I go all in preparation mode for back to school.
Thankfully my son’s school gives us a list of school supplies to buy so I stick to that. What was challenging for me last year were the lunch containers and water bottles. We went through several of them throughout the school year. So naturally, I started asking my other mommy friends for help. Before I knew it, I had more than enough food supplies to pick from, but also to create this tried and true list of Food Supplies For Back to School!
As a family we do eat mostly healthy food but we make space for indulging too. I want my children to grow up and not have a complicated relationship with food. I want them to know how to balance what they are supposed to eat without have to measure every step they take and logging every bite they eat. That’s why I usually will pack their lunches for school.
See below several favorite school supplies for lunch, water and other food related items that can make your routine easier. I’m not affiliated with any of the companies mentioned below. These are all my friends’ recommendations on what they use for their kids.
Some links in my posts may be affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission if you purchase items by clicking on these links. I will always disclose when a product in a post has been gifted by a company as well as when a post or product is sponsored.
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1. Lunch Containers
There are so many types of lunch containers. You need to pick what’s right for you and your kids. There are plastic ones, glass ones, thermos ones, insulated, containers that use ice packs, containers with compartments, for sandwiches or soups etc etc. It is really stressful to pick at first. I will share different options below and hopefully it will make your choice a breeze:
The above are some of the containers my friends recommended but there are so many more choices, brands, colors and themes in the market. So feel free to look for yourself.
I found the below choices interesting for hot food and I’ll have to try them for myself since I don’t have a container for soup or hot food yet.
Some other items that can help keep lunch cool are as below. These come in handy if you are adding cheese, eggs and other foods you don’t want to go bad until lunch time. Very useful for warmer states like Florida.
2. Lunch Boxes
Lunch boxes as well are so versatile. It’s hard to choose because there are so many choices. I always feel like I’m going to pick the wrong one. This year we actually ended up with a very basic lunch box. Last year I went with a more complex choice. Hope my friends choices here help you narrow down:
The above choices might be more for younger kids. My friend Jessica recommended the below and her daughter is few years older than my son.
3. Water Bottles for Kids
My kids go through different themes every year. I’m happy that the containers I use have a variety of themes so I can always stick with the same type of bottle but have different character in it. See below some of the ones we have bought over the years. (I have a boy and a girl). These ones are my favorite for both kids because they keep water cool for hours and they don’t spill. Plus, replacement parts for the sipping parts are easy to find both at Target and Amazon.
My friend Becky swears by this water bottle below. Showing different colors options:
4. Water Bottles for Parents
I don’t want to leave parents out of this list. We are the ones driving around our kids to and from school, to activities, play dates etc. I personally spend at least 3 hrs a day just on commute for school and other kids activities, not counting time for errands and other tasks. I need to keep hydrated and healthy to be able to take care of my husband and my kids. My favorite water bottles are the long thin ones that fit in the car’s cup holder. That way I can keep them handy.
5. Other Food Related Supplies
Some of the moms in my groups also brought up items that you don’t send to school, but help moms make lunch fun for kids. Cutting sandwiches into fun shapes or snacks in cool bites, makes kids more excited to eat their food while in school.
6. Re-usable Bags
You have no idea how many ziploc bags we go through every school year. It wasn’t until recently that a friend of mine introduced me to re-usable bags for sandwiches, snacks etc. These are a game changer. Easy clean up and less waste.
Healthy Meals For Back To School Dinners
Lastly, since I’m a food blogger, I would like to share with you some of my healthy dinner recipes that are a staple in my household. Feel free to look through the recipes tab for anything that gets your attention as well:). Thank you for stopping by my blog!
- Creamy Chicken with Mushrooms & Spinach
- Vegan Vegetable Casserole
- Corn & Spinach Pie (Albanian Shapkat)
- Stuffed Peppers (this version has ground beef but I have a vegetarian version as well, just scroll to the bottom of this recipe to get the other one)
- Chorizos & Potatoes Tray Bake
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