I always think that there seem to be two camps of parent: the highly organised, but everything for the next term at the end of last term parents and… me. Get fitted for shoes at 4.42pm the day before we return to school under some misguided impression that “they would grow too much if I did it at the beginning of summer” and then promising myself I will order one of those measuring things for home and take advantage of my online shopping expertise.
Something I didn’t expect to get so organised for is lunch boxes. When Smash! got in touch and asked me if we would like a few of their lunch boxes and awesome, environmentally friendly sandwich and snack boxes, I jumped at the chance. I thought we would be well in for summer, picnics (yep, the rain saw that off) and days out at the beach… but I didn’t really think about lunch boxes and things for school. Up until now, Reuben and Toby have both been in the same class and entitled to free school meals. That is what they have always taken, and though they are still entitled, Reuben is now in the next class and there will be a good portion of his friend’s who aren’t entitled to free school meals anymore and will be taking pack ups. Knowing Roo the way I do, it’s only a matter of time before he starts asking me for a pack up to have sandwiches and the like with his friends.
On the flip side, little miss picky pants has a pick up every Thursday/Friday when she goes to preschool. I usually use a little plastic pot and stick it in a lunchbox with everything crammed inside but if she has anything other than a sandwich, like cold pasta, it leaks. This term, I’m going to be using her snacks pot to try and send her with more fruit based options, and a sandwich box to keep her sandwich fresh.
Want a few ideas for pack ups? Sure!
- Antipasti
Salami, pepperonis, ham, different cheeses and tomatoes (a favourite with Toby this one) all with some bruschetta style bread.
- Pasta salad
You can go wild with this one – pasta with ham and cheese, tomatoes, avocado, egg, bacon, broccoli and prawns… whatever!
- Sandwiches cut into shapes (without wasting the bread!)
We have some fab sandwich cutters so it literally trims the crusts off and the kids think they are fab. We got ours here but you can buy them anywhere.
- Fruit salad
Might sound like a dessert but actually fruit salads can be really filling, you could do a fruit salad and something like bread slices to pack the carb punch.
- Veggie burgers
Yep, these can be cooked and left to go cold (in fact, they are insanely good cold) and then plonked in the lunch box with some crudettes and dips!
- Chicken & apple bites
Super tasty, easy to make and best cold (in my opinion!)
- Arancini
These are cheesy rice balls and they are SO good! Easy to make with leftover rice and perfect for dipping in tomato salsa.
- Quesadilla
Edith really loves this – I fill her’s with ham and cheese but you can use chicken, sweetcorn and peppers, pepperoni, just cheese, veggies… anything really!
Now for the fun part, a giveaway!! I’m giving 2 lucky readers the chance to win a choice of their “pack up kit” which includes one of these lovely lunch box insulated bags with drinks bottle, a snack pot AND a sandwich pot. Just enter below!
H 🙂
i like the butterfly one, think my daughter would too.
The Monster One xxxx
I like the third one the most, the monster/robot.
The butterfly one is gorgeous, my girl loves it , thanks for the chance 🙂
I love the dinosaur one!
i like The butterfly one
I like the dinosaur bag.
The monster lunchbag
the dinasaur one is the one I would choose
the dinasaur one for my grandson
Pink Butterfly
definitely the butterfly one!
My little monster would love the dinosaur one!
I like the robot lunch box 🙂
I like the dinosaur one best
The butterfly – my daughter would love it too!
I love the butterfly bag.
the dinosaur bag
The dinosaur.
Pink Butterfly
the butterfly one is my favourite 🙂
the monster one 🙂
I adore the butterfly one!
The Butterfly bag x x x
I like the butterfly bag
I personally like the monster one but would choose the butterfly for my girly girl x
The monster lunchbag for my little monster
I like all of them, my little boy had a Smash lunchbox last year, great value and they last!!! I like the butterfly one best, my little girls turn to start school in Sept!
The dinosaur
The dinosaur one
The Monster Bag 🙂
dinosaur 🙂
I love the Dinosaur bag
I too like the dinosaur. My niece would love it.
The butterfly
The monster one looks really great. Thanks for the chance to win 🙂
The butterfly bag is beautiful.
The Dinosaur!
Dinosaur or monster bag
The butterfly one is my favourite.
the butterfly bag please
son chose the dinosaur one his favourite starts first time school soon 🙂
Pink Butterfly
The butterfly one 🙂
My daughter loves girly things so we would go for the butterfly.
I like the butterfly one x
Dinosaur bag
I love the monster lunch bag looks fab
I like the Butterfly one best, but they are all fun.
The butterfly bag.
My Grandson would love the dinosaur bag
Love the butterfly bag! 🙂
Love the Butterfly. Love to win for my daughter.
The butterfly bag is lovely, I’d use it!
I like the monster one.
Pink Butterfly
i like the dinosaur
I like the butterfly one. These are really cute!
I really love the butterfly bag as would my daughter
Love the butterfly bag!
The blue butterfly bag, thanks
I know my daughter would love the butterfly bag, so pretty.
The Smash insulated bag bag bottle looks great.
I love the monster lunch bag.
Best lunch box ideas….loving the pasta salad
these look fab, my son loves the dinosaur x
My daughter would love the butrerfly set 🙂
I really like the dinosaur the best
I love the butterfly the best
Love the butterfly one. My little girls going packed lunches for the first time in September, I’m so excited to get creative with them.
Love the butterfly one x
I love the butterfly lunch box
The Dinosaur bag
The dinosaur looks good
Love the butterfly bag
I love the butterfly bundle for my daughter ?
The Butterfly lunch bag design is gorgeous
The lovely Butterfly, many thanks for the competition x
The psychedelic dinosaur would be very popular here!
i (well my daughter!) loves the butterfly bag x
I love the butterfly.
We really love the Smash – Boggle Monster Lunch Bag …very cute. x
i love the butterfly bag! perfect for my daughter starting school tbis year
I love the Dino pack! Really fun and also really practical. So hard to find good, easy to clean lunchbox bits.
Like the bottom lunch bag , think its a monster
ALL OF THEM ARE FABTASTIC
They are all fabulous but the dinosaur one is brilliant.
The butterfly bag is my favorite.
I love the dinosaur bag – So does my youngest
I am loving the butterfly bag, very pretty colours and design
My daughter Heidi would love it.
Super collection
The dinosaur one x
The Monster Bag!
I like the dinosaur bag best.
I like the Dinosaur bag
dinosaur
Love the butterfly!!
Butterfly bag for me
My son would love the dinosaur lunch bag. Looks cool 🙂
The dinosaur bag is great.
The Butterfly is my favourite
The monster bag is by far the cutest!! I love your cold veggie burger idea too 🙂
What fun they all are. We like dinosaurs in our house so that is the favourite.
I love the little monster bag, perfect for nursery.
the one with the butterfly on is our favourite
The butterfly bag is so pretty my daughter would love it
I love the butterfly bag thank you!
I love the monster bag best but they are great
I love the monster bag best but they are great
The Butterfly bag, as it is Beautiful!
I like the Pack Ups Dinosaur one!
Love the butterfly
The monster one!
Hey Harriet, the sandwich cutter link doesn’t seem to be there. We are a year away from school but I think it’s time to start planning…
Ahh thanks Richard! I’ve edited it – these are super fun for tinkers and school age kids. E loves em!