I just saved myself 30 minutes every morning.

So I’m over spending 30 minutes every morning making lunches for my kids.

It just takes up too much time.

And you know what?

They can do it themselves.

Even the 2nd and 3rd grader.

I’ve wanted to do this for a while, but wasn’t able to come up with a way to make sure that if the kids made their own lunches, they didn’t pack a bag full of crap.

In addition to wanting to make sure they pack a halfway decent lunch, I need to know what food they are eating for planning purposes. We are on a pretty tight food budget.

So I got my act together and got myself organized.

Number 1 and 2 don’t need any help.

Tonight took a little guidance for Number 3 and 4.

But in a couple days, they’ll be good to go on their own.

Here’s what I did:

I prepped some food myself.

I pre-sliced bagels, and I cut up fruit.

 

Then,

I wrote down the options for the day. Kind of like school lunch.

The options give the kids a carbohydrate, 2 fruits and/or vegetables, a protein, and a treat.

Once they make their choices,

they pack it all up.

 

They fill their water bottles.

They can handle spreading cream cheese or butter on some bread or a bagel.

All their lunches are ready to go for tomorrow.

This may be the smoothest first morning of school yet 🙂

 

****** UPDATE: My kids have now been making their own lunches for a year and a half. After about the first two weeks, I stopped writing the choices they could have down on the black board. They didn’t need them anymore. They now know what they can and can’t have in their lunches, and they have also learned which foods are carbs and  which are good sources of protein. They make sandwiches and wraps and salads for lunch now, too. Packing their own lunches has not only saved me time, but it has also taught my kids about good nutrition! ******

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