Get ready for lunchtime with these awesome DIY hacks. This article will show you the best tips that will help save time and money. The endless possibilities will go from creative ideas for packing lunch boxes to the best storage solutions.
Leaf through our article to get creative lunch box ideas to help take weekday meals to the next level.
Snack Bags For DIY Snack Or Trail Mix
Instead of wasting money buying premade packs of snacks, why not create your own? On the next grocery shopping trip, pick up bulk packages of the kids' favorites and spend time before bed putting them together.
This way gives the kids individual snack bags because they can request the things they want and pack them.
Plastic-Wrapping Sliced Apples To Avoid Browning
To prevent apple slices from turning brown, slice the apple and push the pieces together. Then, wrap the apple pieces in plastic and tie the top with an elastic band.
This will create an airtight seal that will help to keep the apple slices fresh and prevent them from browning.
Grilled Cheese Sandwich Rolls
A quick and easy lunch box idea is to make sandwich rolls out of sliced bread. This hack is versatile because the filling can be anything like cheese, ham, or peanut butter and jelly if you are not grilling.
Roll out slices of bread with a rolling pin or a glass, cut off the crust, add cheese or whatever filling, roll, and cut into pieces. Using oil or butter, grill the rolls until they are a crispy brown and you are done.
Veggies And Fruit Dip
This simple hack is a money-saving, nutritious lunch. Fill an empty jar with peanut butter, then top with celery or apple slices. You can also use veggies with a salad dressing as a dip.
Now, you have a healthy and cost-effective meal in a convenient container you can take with you.
Homemade Uncrustable Sandwiches
Make your own uncrustables with this simple lunch box hack. Cut out sandwiches with sandwich cutters and sealers, then wrap each individually in plastic wrap and freeze. Ham and cheese or cheese sandwiches can be grilled for a delicious treat.
The frozen sandwiches can be put in the lunch box each morning to thaw in time for lunch. Try this as an easy, fun, and tasty lunch hack.
Bento Boxes Are Easy And Fun
Bento boxes make packing lunches for your kids quick and easy. They feature multiple compartments and can be filled with different foods, allowing you to make delicious and healthy meals that kids will love.
With Bento boxes, you do not have to worry about buying separate containers with lids. All you have to do is pick one and get to work.
Turn Mason Jars And Fruit Cups Into Salad Bowls
Using a mason jar and a plastic fruit cup container is a fun and functional lunch kit hack. The cup fits most wide-mouth mason jar lids, which makes it perfect for holding dips or spreads.
The jar can be used to store a variety of fruits and vegetables, while the cup is ideal for crackers or chips. It's a great way to pack a healthy and convenient lunch.
Hanging Door Organizers For Days Of Prepared Snacks
If you are looking for a simple way to stay on top of the kids' lunches, why not try using hanging closet organizers to put them in?
Each night before bed, fill a row with the kids' favorite snacks or do it over the weekend. It sounds tedious, but once the pouches are filled, two weeks of snacks have been organized and tailored to the little ones' desires.
Thermos To Keep Nuggets And Other Treats Hot
Do your kids like chicken nuggets? No need to go to McDonald's and spend money. Buy a family-sized pack of frozen ones. Cook them and put them into the thermos.
A preheating tip is to fill the thermos or container with boiling water and close the lid for 15 minutes. This will preheat it for when it's time for the nuggets.
Frozen Sponge Ice Pack
Keep lunches cold and fresh with a frozen sponge ice pack. There is no need to stray beyond the sponge section of any dollar store or Walmart.
After wetting a sponge, let it soak up as much water as possible. This is the key to the whole operation because the frozen water keeps the food nice and cold.
Crunchy Snacks Stay Fresh With A Ziploc And Air
This DIY lunch box idea will keep the kids from complaining about opening their lunches to find their favorite chips completely crushed into crumbs.
After putting the chips or crunchy snacks into a Ziploc bag, use a straw to blow air into the bag and carefully reseal it. This added air will cushion the contents, shielding them from the rough and tumble life of a child's school bag.
Animal-shaped Sandwiches With Cookie Cutters
Here is a creative and inexpensive way to make an entertaining lunch for the little ones. Go and buy shaped sandwich cutters from any dollar store in different patterns for variety and the mission is half complete.
Create any type of sandwich and use the tools in the shape of their choosing to form the new creation. The kids will be thrilled and it also gets rid of the unwanted and dreaded bread crust.
Put Salad Dressing And Condiments In MIO Bottles
Reusing MIO drink bottles as lunch box containers is a great DIY hack that will save parents time and money. They are the perfect size to fit into kids' lunch boxes and store salad dressings and condiments in an easy and mess-free way.
Plus they are reusable and dishwasher safe, making them a great eco-friendly alternative.
Surprise The Kids With Games
A creative tip that can be fun for you and the kids is using pieces of their lunch to form games.
For example, using anything that can be cut into an 'X' or 'O,' pieces can be made and manipulated to form the game Tic-tac-toe. A whole in the middle of a round slice of fruit or vegetable can be made into an 'O.'
DIY Reusable Rnack Bags
Using a sewing machine, stack two fabric pieces, right sides together, and pin. Sew the perimeter, leaving a 2-inch opening. Fold the lining fabric over itself, outer over outer. Sew the remaining edges.
The finished pouch should lay flat and is now ready for reusable snack and sandwich bags for kids' lunch boxes.
Leave Them A Fruity Message Of Inspiration Or Humor
Give the kids a laugh or inspire them by writing messages on the outside of a banana. Imagine their surprise when they open their lunches and see their ordinary fruit transformed into words or artwork.
The best part is that you will not need anything except something to write clearly on the peel.
Transform Sandwich Bags Into Silly Characters
Parents can pack a fun and creative lunch for their kids by making silly characters with sandwich bags. First, grab some googly eyes, scissors, glue, colored paper, and markers. These items can easily be found at a dollar store. Cut the pieces for the mouth and other accessories, glue them on the sandwich bag, and attach the eyes.
Allow the kids to have fun and add details like colorful accessories or funny faces to the characters.
Bring Caterpillars To Life With Grapes And Chocolate Chips
Make a tasty and healthy caterpillar snack for your kids by using grapes for the body, skewers for the legs, chocolate chips for the eyes, and icing to secure the chocolate chips.
Cut up the grapes and thread them onto separate skewers, adding two chocolate chips for eyes. Secure the eyes with a dot of icing and enjoy a fun and healthy snack.
Pretzel Sticks And Cheese Snacks
To make edible cheese stick snacks, one can use pretzel sticks in place of toothpicks. Then add melted cheese and dip the pretzel stick in it. Place the cheese-coated pretzel stick in the container of the dipping sauce of choice.
Once the cheese hardens, the tasty cheese stick snacks can be eaten with the pretzel stick, and no toothpick will be wasted.
Toothbrush Holders For Utensils
Imagine making boring plastic toothbrush holders more exciting and useful. Upcycle them into custom cases for utensils in the kids' lunch boxes or bags. With fabrics, buttons, ribbons, and sparkly bits, transform them into a one-of-a-kind, personalized holder that the kids will love.
With a little creativity and time, these toothbrush holders can also become part of your lunchtime routine.
Use An Old Milk Jug To Create A DIY Lunch Box
Reusing old milk and juice jugs is a clever and easy way to create an eco-friendly and cost-efficient lunch box. All you will need are a few supplies like a clean jug, an old clothes button, thread, and scissors.
With a few easy-to-follow steps, you can create a unique and reusable lunch box that is perfect for your homemade meals.
Separate Snacks Using Muffin Liners
Muffin liners make ideal dividers to place in kids' lunch boxes. They are the perfect size to hold a variety of snacks, and separating them can help ensure each item is safely packed and easy to find.
This creative and practical idea is a great way to make lunchtime more organized and stress-free.
Spread Butter Before Mayo So Bread Doesn't Get Soggy
When it is time to start making their sandwiches, spread a layer of butter on the bread surfaces to make it less soggy and more enjoyable for them.
It's a simple lunch box hack that keeps sandwiches fresh and prevents them from getting soggy. Guarantee a delicious sandwich without the soggy bread.
Save Take-Out Soup Cups For Microwaveable Containers
Make your lunch box eco-friendly and sustainable by repurposing take-out and restaurant disposable cups.
Fill the cup with your favorite ingredients, pop the lid on, and secure it with extra cling wrap. Provided they can access one, they can put the cup in the microwave and enjoy their homemade lunch. It's an easy and fun DIY lunch box hack for kids of all ages.
No Bread? Try Waffles!
Sometimes, a parent might forget to stock up on items like bread. This does not have to become a crisis. Instead, if there are waffles around, toast them and spread peanut butter and jelly or Nutella on them.
Parents everywhere can relate to being busy shuttling the kids around to their various activities, getting them ready before school and after bed while trying to work their jobs. Hopefully, this little idea will give some relief.
Frozen Fruit Smoothie Packs For A Healthy Snack
Fruit smoothies make for a tasty, DIY lunch box hack. Combine different fruit varieties and juices for unique flavor combos. Stick them in Zipzicle pouches, and now you have a delicious, healthy Freezies alternative.
Not only that, but you'll be promoting wellness and satisfaction with this quick and easy recipe.
Turn Plain Snack Bags Into Butterflies
Let your kids show off their snacks in style. Transform their ordinary lunch boxes into creative works of art by attaching googly eyes from the dollar store to clothespins with glue. The next step is to grab some decorative tape or band-aids with cool patterns to create butterfly wings. Lastly, bend two pipe cleaners to make antennae and attach them on top.
With this DIY lunch box tip, their typically mundane snacks will make them smile once they open their lunches.
Ditch Plain Rice Krispies Squares For Fun Creations
Seeing the same thing without mixing it up periodically can be boring for them and you. Transform ordinary Rice Krispies squares into fun shapes.
To start, melt margarine and marshmallows, mix the cereal in and spread into a buttered pan, and cut into butterfly shapes.
Decorate the new creations with jelly beans, frosting, licorice strings, and Froot Loops for a creative, kid-friendly snack.
Organize Your Fridge So You're Ready To Pack!
Mornings can be stressful enough trying to wake the kids up, get them ready, fed, and off to school. Waiting until the morning to prepare and organize their lunches will worsen it.
Instead, dedicate and divide part of the fridge for the individual pieces like sandwiches in one, drinks in a drawer, and snacks in another one.
A Shower Caddy For Fast Food Days
If you are looking for a clever hack to organize your lunch during a hectic midday dash, try repurposing a shower caddy as trays for fast food.
With the portions of food neatly separated, it helps to prevent spilling and keep the car interior more tidy when the lunch hour can be rushed due to long lineups. Now, you can have a stress-free meal on the go.
