Back to School | Project Lunchbox – Creative and Budget Friendly Themes

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Welcome to the first installment of the Back to school series – Project Lunchbox! Check out future themed Bento Boxes in the Back to School Series on Frugal Coupon Living.

All to soon those lazy days of summer will be forgotten- traded in for crisp fall days, and sharp # 2 pencils. Don’t be caught off guard, get ahead of the game and follow us on this 8 week journey from Lunch box supplies to simple, and fun lunch themes!

First let’s talk about some of the gear to get you started on being the cool mom around the lunch table. Your going to need a few basic items if your child is “Brown Bagging” it.  Wow them with a simple few additional accessories and your kid will likely leave now veggies or fruit on their plate.

Insulated Lunch Bags

To keep your child’s food fresh and tasty you want to invest in a good insulated lunch bag. It is possible with a good insulated bag to keep perishable foods at a safe temperature.

I love this series from Skip Hop. These insulated lunchie lunch bags are Affordable and adorable! Owls are trendy have been everywhere lately and somehow the cute owl bag made it into my shopping cart this year.

You can go with solids, patterns, or any number of popular characters to keep food cool till the lunch bell rings.

A Really Good Ice Pack

Just like the lunch bag you need one to keep perishables cold. Invest a little more in an ice pack that will keep your child’s food chill. I recommend having several on hand in case one is accidentally thrown away or begins to leak. There are many ideas but I particularly like the Cryopak Flexible Ice Two Pack.

Plastic Containers 

You can go Bento-Style Box. Bento, meaning convenient, is a container that has multiple divided sections like this one. Love the look and durability of stainless steel! The possibilities are endless on what you can do with these cute little boxes!

Looking for something more frugal? You can pick up many cute single containers at Dollar tree, Target, or Walmart. These are perfect for snack foods, soup, pasta’s, cookies, or homemade fruit cups. Grab this Plastic BPA Free Set of 4 for $13.95.

A search on Pinterest will not leave you disappointed! Grab a variety and you will always have something on hand to fit that special treat.

Reusable Sandwich/Snack Bags

Though a bit of a pricey initial investment, Reusable Sandwich and Snack Bags will save you in the long run from buying countless plastic baggies, and not to mention the bonus of being a hip green momma. They are easy to clean and how could your child not smile opening their bag to something as darling as this  – The Green Sprouts Set of 2 Garden Sandwich and Snack Bag?

I have a few fabric snack bags and toss them in the washing machine with our laundry.

Cookie Cutters

Not just for cookies anymore! Use these to cut pizza into fun shapes, how about a PB&J shaped like a football? Cheese Triangles? What a fun way to put a little pizazz in their day! Try a simple set like this to start out like the Wilton Metal Cookie Cutter Classic Shapes.

Some other tools that you may want to consider having on hand to help in creating fun lunches are; a paring knife, apple corer/slicer, lollipop sticks (kids love anything on a stick), cupcake liners, food coloring, and a sense of humor – After all, you might see your winning lunch box theme on “Pinterest, Your’e Drunk!”

FREEBIES

Do not forget the FREE Back to School Lunch Printables!  Make sure to print something fun or create a short personal note!

Stay with us for tips on creating themed lunches that will put a smile on their little faces. I can’t wait to share all that we are working on.

More Themed Lunchboxes

1.) Introduction – Project Lunchbox – Pin It

2.) ABC School Days Theme – Pin It

3.) Shark Week Lunch Theme – Pin It

4.) Camping Theme – Pin It

5.) Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Theme – Pin It

6.) Bug Lunch Theme – Pin It

7.) Happy Birthday Lunch Theme – Pin It

 

WHAT’S TRENDING? Looking for a few engaging activities? Grab Minute to Win it Games – Traditional, Outdoor, Water, Back to School, and more! Use these fun activities in the office, classroom, or at your next birthday party.

Last Updated on August 2, 2014 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living