Friday, July 27, 2012

Back To School 2012

School got out when I was on a trip abroad. A month later I headed into the culmination of the biggest work project I had on the calendar for 2012. This week I realized that school starts in three weeks. Time to get cracking and make this school year the most smooth sailing.

Three weeks from the start of school:
  • Clean and inventory lunch supplies from last year, order new containers, cookie cutters and accessories as needed
  • Make a list of ten lunch menus, create shopping list for two weeks of lunches
  • Make a list of three different "snack day" ideas if your children attend a school where parents provide the class snack on occasion
  • Stock up on items to fill lunch boxes (prepackaged items or staple items such as crackers, peanut butter, raisins, pirate bootie, fruit leather, tetra-packed milks)



Two weeks from the start of school:
  • Plan a few picnics or pack lunch to take in the car, have your kids help, you might discover they have developed some new skills in that department since the previous school year
  • Print out some lunch notes or gather up scraps of paper and jot down a few notes to tuck in their lunches for mornings when you want a little something extra to send with them
  • Check with your school about the school lunch menu/pricing in case you need to do a last minute subsitution one day
The week before school starts:
  • Make sure all of your ice packs are in the freezer
  • Stick yogurt sticks, halved grapes (in a zip lock), juice boxes and freshly baked muffins in the freezer so you are ready to grab them on busy school mornings
  • Purchase perishable items for the following weeks lunch
  • Purchase the non-perishable portions of one "class snack" and tuck it away for when it's your turn to bring it
The night before school:
  • Pack lunch
  • Tuck in a note
  • Don't forget to set up your coffee maker
Seeking inspiration?
Try Pinterest, EasyLunchboxes or just google lunch box ideas!