Getting Your Kids to Make Their Own Lunch!

When the week rolls around again, you're prepared for school for your children, because your kids pack their backpack with all the needed essentials for Monday. But there's one thing that the kids don't pack on Sunday: Lunch! With this method, for 30 minutes you'll have family time on Sunday, AND you get extra coffee time all week. Unheard of! French Vanilla, anyone?

• 5 servings of fruit
• 5 servings of vegetables
• 5/8 of a cup of nuts
• 5/8 of a cup of raisins
• 30 lunchmeat slices
• 5 slices of cheese
• 5 quart Ziploc Bags
• 10 slices of bread
• 5 servings of a condiment
• 5 servings of any healthy snack, such as pita chips, or pretzels
• One lunchbox
• One fridge
• One countertop
• One kid to pack it all up!

This is by far the easiest step. If your fridge has 2 doors, one for fridge and one for freezer, and the fridge has racks, one rack is enough. Clear it out and this will be your lunch space.

The sweet, soft, texture of bananas. The hard, juicy apple. The holy watermelon. Anything works, as long as you and your child approve.

I've used oranges, grapes, and pears.

Try to explain that if you arrange it in a pattern, there'll be variety.

Mon: Pear

Tues: Orange

Wed: Grapes

Thurs: Pear

Fri: Orange

Aah, vegetables. We all loved these when we were young, am I right? Here's a tip: If your child absolutely despises vegetables, whether you or them are packing this, use very large containers. This will enable them to think that there are less vegetables (relative to the container, but it still works). Again, use the pattern trick. Here's my layout:

• Mon: Celery
• Tues: Tomatoes
• Wed: Celery
• Thurs: Tomatoes
• Fri: Cucumber

When packing cucumber or celery, cut it into pieces and use a container, or just trim the ends and wrap it in a paper towel and a rubber band.

Snacks. The best thing since sliced bread. But what happens when you decide to indulge...too much? Here's the perfect solution: Nuts and Raisins. The perfect balance between sweet and savory, fatty and lean. Best of all, you can choose the distribution! Half and half, all of one, or anywhere in between. All you need is 1/4 cup total, which I prefer as 1/8 and 1/8. Pour it into a small 1/4 cup container and just leave as long as needed. Perfect!

Well, now it's really time to indulge. Pita chips, pretzels, chips, crackers, yogurt, popcorn, or chocolate. Anything that floats your boat. Here I packed up pita chips and peanut butter pretzels. I alternated them for a variety. This is probably the most free step there is. You can pack literally anything.

• Get out the lunchmeat and cheese.
• Place in order: L L L C L L L.
• Put in bag.
• When time for the sandwich on the day of when you eat it, put condiments on bread and sandwich the meat-cheese pack.
• Put in original bag or a new container.

As you'll see, I have bags of meat-cheese packs.

Use your countertop here. Anything from the pantry or anywhere at room-temperature, just keep on the countertop. All else, just place on your shelf as I have here. Then, on the day of the eating, pull out all the components and pack your lunch.

Woah!

This means that you need ways to encourage kids to do this.

I like to use podcasts. Whole family podcasts are perfect for this Sunday half hour. You can also use prizes like TV, or food prizes.

This method can bring out the inner chef in your child. It is a great way to get extra time in your morning. It also builds responsibility and character. I hope you enjoyed this lunch method!