How to Encourage Kids to Pack Their Own Lunches

Packing school lunches can be a hassle. Make sure your kids love their lunches and take a load off your own shoulders with these 7 Ways to Encourage Kids to Pack Their Own Lunches.

How to Encourage Kids to Pack Their Own Lunches

Back to school season means it's time to think about lunches. Packing lunches can sure feel like a pain and can sometimes be tedious and time consuming. But if you want your child fed, it's a necessary evil! To make the task a little easier, why not encourage your child to pack his or her own lunch? Take a look below at 7 ways to encourage kids to pack their own lunches, so you can grant them some responsibility and take the load off your own shoulders.

7 Ways to Encourage Kids to Pack Their Own Lunches

1. Organize their options.

One of the best ways to assist kids in packing their own lunches is to organize their options. Let them choose one protein, one sweet, one carb, and one fruit or vegetable. You can organize these choices ahead of time in containers so it's as easy as grabbing and going.

2. Allow them to assist with making a grocery list.

When making your weekly grocery list, let your child assist with lunch ideas. Get feedback from them on possible lunch options and make sure you add these items to the list. Giving them the freedom to plan and request their favorites will encourage them to pack.

3. Let them research fun lunch ideas on Pinterest.

There are so many fun and simple lunch ideas on Pinterest! Let your child surf Pinterest for lunch ideas they may want to try. You can even create a private board for them to store these lunch ideas on. Sure some of the ideas are outrageous, but there are lots of fun ones too.

4. Use fun packing supplies.

Colorful packing supplies can make the lunch experience fun. Choose fun napkins, bento boxes, thermoses, and other bright and cheery storage options so kids can create a lunch just as whimsical as they are. Consider going the frugal route with some fun lunch-packing find from Dollar Tree.

5. Create time the night before school to pack.

Add the lunch packing routine into your nightly tasks. You can do this right before bedtime or after shower time. Carve out 15 minutes each night for your child to get lunch packed and stored. By making it a routine, it is more likely to happen.

6. Talk about what works, and what doesn’t.

Feedback is important. Your child is more likely to pack a lunch if he or she enjoys the foods. Get feedback on what items are working and which are not. This way you can be sure you are giving them choices they will enjoy.

7. Let them observe you packing lunch a few times.

One of the best ways to teach children to do something is to model it. Let children watch you pack a few lunches so they can get an idea of the process. Answer any questions they might have, and let them try packing a practice lunch to get an idea of how to do it. In no time, they will have the process down and be able to do it on their own.

Make back to school a bit easier on yourself when you bring children in on the lunch packing process! Give these tips for helping your child pack their own lunches a try!

Did you like these 7 Ways to Encourage Kids to Pack Their Own Lunches? Find more on my Back to School, Kid Friendly Food, and Parenting boards on Pinterest!

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