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Today is “What’s for Dinner Wednesday,” but with the start of the school year we can all use ideas for packing lunches! Typically though, on Wednesdays Down Home will feature a recipe or food-related post designed to help with some aspect of feeding your family. Because feeding their bodies is as important as feeding their minds, and it’s a very real challenge we all face.
You’ll usually find dinner recipes here, but occasionally we will look at lunches, snacks, or special occasions. I (Jenny) enjoy cooking and have my own stash of favorite recipes, but I love to experiment a bit too. Typically I stick to easy, real-food, nutritious meals, and while I prefer to use local and organic products, I know this isn’t always possible so feel free to substitute as necessary. I will try to include a variety of recipes throughout the year, including vegetarian options, crock-pot meals, quick recipes, and favorite family classics.
Hopefully the meal ideas here will make the dinner time rush a little smoother, or maybe just give you a fresh idea when you’re in need of one. But if cooking isn’t really something you’re into, please feel no guilt, and feel free to pass them on by… or pass them along to a friend.
We welcome recipes from parents! Please email your favorite easy weeknight meal to Down Home any time during the year, and we just might use it on the blog!
On to today’s lunch idea! A friend shared this Make Ahead Cold Lunches post by Karrie from Happy Money Saver, and I think it’s pure genius. I plan to attempt it on a smaller scale.
The idea is to prep a week’s worth of fruit, veggies, lunch meat, cheese, crackers, snacks, etc. (whatever you want your kids to take in their lunches) and keep them in bins labeled for lunches. Kids can grab from these when they fill their lunch boxes in the morning or the evening before. With a cold lunch bin in the fridge, and a dry lunch bin in the pantry, everything stays organized and ready to to be quickly assembled. Kids could even help prep for the week.
She also has ideas for how to make ahead and freeze sandwiches, and how to use reusable containers instead of plastic baggies. Freezing leftovers would also work beautifully with this system… it can be adapted to your family’s needs and preferences.
Click here for the full article with more ideas and photos.
I know we have some clever moms out there – how do you simplify the lunchbox routine in you home? Please leave a comment and let’s create a forum of great lunch-packing tips!
SLO Classical Academy is not affiliated with the above mentioned website.
