Quick Tips for Packing School Lunches
This is a sponsored post for Dixie Quicktakes. All opinions are my own.
Getting lunches packed and ready can be a challenge if you’re scrambling 5 minutes before it’s time to walk out the door and have a handful of other things you need to remember to grab as well. These quick tips can help you be prepared for packing school lunches without all the stress that can be involved.


Quick Tips for Packing School Lunches
Packing Day – Set a day of the week, maybe just after the groceries come into the door, and pack up several days or a week’s worth of school lunches all at the same time. You don’t have to dictate what goes in each box for Monday, Tuesday… just pack up a variety of sides, snacks and entrees so they are ready to go.
Variety is Key – The reason leftovers get the bad wrap they are known for is because we all get tired of the same foods day after day. Be willing to mix up the options. Instead of buying an enormous package of grapes, pick a smaller package and another fruit as well and alternate them between days. If you plan to serve leftovers, skip a day where you can. Instead of making last night’s dinner automatically the next day’s lunch, keep it until the following day if it will store well for more than 24 hours.
Be Clear – Choose a clear container that lets you easily see at a glance in the fridge what you have ready to go for a lunchbox. It will make finding your packed lunch supplies much easier to see and pick from.
Cover Your Bases – Don’t think that a meal has to be perfectly coordinated and flow like your dinner menu might each night. Most of the time, kids don’t care if you’re serving something that doesn’t seem like a perfect fit together. Just plan to cover all the basic food groups by including one of each of the following in your plan: protein, dairy, fruit, vegetable, and grains.
Be Flexible – Be willing to seize the opportunity to include last night’s leftovers into the lunch rotation even if you already have some other options ready to go. Those pre-packed options are perfect for after school snacks, or to grab something when you’re rushing out the door to an after school activity. You’ll be surprised how quickly they get consumed and save you time for more than just school lunches.
Recruit Your Helpers – Kids absolutely love to feel in charge, so let them pick their lunches. If you can open your fridge and tell them to pick one entree, two sides, and a snack when that applies from the available options they’ll be happy to help. Just let your child know the 3-5 containers you’ve prepared will all need to have a day, but they can choose when. This will also help introduce new fruits and veggies or ones they don’t love so much with less of a fight.

Quicktakes are a new solution in tupperware with a lightweight space-saving design that is perfect for loading up fruits, veggies, sandwiches, salads, leftovers — you name it! They come in a pack of 25 split across two sizes which are perfect for both entrees and sides. The whole set is just $10.99, meaning they’re inexpensive and it’s not a big deal if your kiddo loses one in the lunchroom.
What’s even better is the containers have a built-in attached lid, so neither you or your children will lose those lids. It helps you save time so you don’t have to go digging for a matching set when packing school lunches, no matter what time of the day it is.
See how Quicktakes can save you time and be the perfect solution for lunches:
Quicktakes are dishwasher safe on the top rack so you can reuse them throughout the school year. They’re also BPA free and recyclable. You’ll be able to fill up the containers with anything you need to store – snacks, homemade gifts, Christmas goodie plates, party favors or whatever you can dream up. It won’t be a big deal to pass along your filled containers without stressing about having to get the containers returned.

I do not have children at home, but these are great ideal for my lunches!
I am totally loving the fact that these lids are attached! What a great container for lunches.
I love their hinged lids, I HATE finding the matching lids! These are great tips!
Teaching my daughter to pack her own lunch was a huge timesaver for me. I need these containers!
These are making things so much easier for me. I love the attached lid so much!
Wow, that is a great price! I’m always losing the lids, so I will have to look into these!
OH NO! Is it getting to be that time already! As much as I can’t wait to have some peace and quiet around here, I am not ready for summer to be over! But, these are some great tips and ideas.
Those containers look great! I am always having to dig lids out of my cabinets what an awesome concept!
These containers look great! I love using Tupperware, it saves so many bags! I really like recruiting help, especially since my son can be a bit picky at times!
Those look like great containers for school lunches. I would also just use them for road trips and taking snacks on picnics!
Great tips. Hard to believe we are talking back to school when it feels like we just got out!
These are awesome tips. I love the “recruit help” part the most. My kids love helping out.
We have these and I love them! They do not leak and no more losing tops!
Great tips. I love using the Dixie Quick Takes as I know that I don’t always get the tupperware back. HA!
Great tips!! I definitely need help with this.
I never thought of having a packing day. That would be much nicer than dreading it every single night.
I need those quicktakes! That would make lunch packing so much easier! I’m always hunting for lids and can never find them!
I love those containers. Perfect for field trips!
TOTALLY agree on the clear! I have some great containers but b/c they aren’t clear the food always ends up going bad b/c I forget what they are!
I always try to sneak in leftovers whenever I can! The kids don’t always like it, but my hubby does!
I love Quicktakes. They’re very convenient, and with the hinged lid, I never have mismatched sets.
I love these Quicktakes. My husband works in construction, and his lunch containers constantly come back lidless. These hinged lids are great! I’ll never loose a lid again!
These Quicktakes are great. They seal tightly like traditional Tupperware-like food containers, but they’re more portable. And with the hinged lid, I’ll never loose another lid!