Hot Lunch vs Cold Lunch

We all face different temperature issues when packing lunches for our kiddos. Sometimes it's how to keep everything cool, other times we try to find ways for them to eat a hot, home-cooked lunch.

Hot lunches are a great way to avoid sandwich fatigue and re-purposed leftovers so we aren't always making something new. Some schools, especially for the younger tots, will heat up packed lunches for them. But as our kids have gotten older, it's a bit more of a free-for-all! Our best solution so far has been using a thermos, but here are a couple of our lunch packing tips!

For keeping cold:

Freeze your bread! Freezing the sliced bread for sandwiches keeps it fresher longer, and also ensures that the sandwich filling (like chicken or egg salad) stays cooler longer. The bread will be perfectly defrosted by lunch time!


Freeze yogurt! Yogurt can last longer than you think without strong refrigeration because it's bacteria cultures fight off anything hazardous, but freezing a yogurt is an easy way to add an "ice pack" without taking up a lot of extra space in a lunch.

Freeze a water bottle! Even a small water bottle or juice pack will keep lunches nice and cool in a backpack until lunch time.

Freeze the thermos! In the morning while you're packing a lunch and mainlining coffee, fill the thermos with ice water and let it sit in the freezer for 10 minutes. Pour out the ice water, put in your cold items, and be amazed at how long they stay chilly! This is perfect for packing a smoothie or milkshake for their lunches!

For keeping warm: 

Boil the (wide mouthed) thermos! Simply boil a small pot of water and pour it directly into the empty thermos, screw on the lid, and let it sit for 10 minutes. Remove the water and put in your favorite hot lunch! We love everything from an omelet, to chili, to meatball or mac n cheese. Even potstickers or shepherds' pie make great options!

Separate! Put napkins with utensils, a pack of crackers, or a banana in between the hot thermos and any sort of cold food you might be packing.

What are your lunchbox hacks? And how in the world do you get your kids to bring home the ice packs and all the containers?! :)

Kids Making a Dif!

Have you heard of the blog called, Never Seconds?  It’s a blog that a young girl in Scotland started a few months ago.  Martha Payne is 9 years old and is a superstar on the web thanks to the power of social media.  She’s a superstar to us because we love that she is taking ownership of getting more nutrition in her life.  Peas to you Martha! 

pea.s :

Martha, let us know if you are looking for a summer internship!

Pack These in Your Children's Bento Box

You will be the coolest mom during lunchtime when you pack your child one of our 'multi-sandwiches' in their lunchbox. Little will they know that there was much thought put into your sandwich choices as each sandwich provides an important nutrient for a successful school day; iron for heathy blood cells, protein for muscles, veggies for health and wellness, B vitamins for brain function. 

Make each of these 4 sandwiches on Sunday, cut them in quarters, and put the multi-sandwich together by picking one quarter of each of the unique sandwiches. (yields 4 lunches)

The Multi Sammy

Iron (Waldorf Tea Sandwich)
• Cream cheese
• Leftover cooked chicken
• Sliced apple (drizzled with lemon juice)
• Walnuts

Protein (Curried Tuna Tea Sandwich)
• Canned tuna
• Plain yogurt (instead of mayo)
• Mustard
• Curry powder
• Raisins

Veggies (Egg Salad Tea Sandwich)
• Asparagus Pesto (see reci-pea below)
• Hard-boiled eggs
• Havarti cheese

B Vitamins (Halava-Banana Tea Sandwich)
• Slice of Halava (sesame butter confection)
• Sliced banana
•Drizzle of honey

Asparagus Pesto
• 1 bunch of asparagus
• 1-2 TBL lemon juice
• 2 TBL chopped basil
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
• 2 TBL of reserve water from steamed asparagus
• salt/pepper to taste

Wash asparagus and trim off the woody ends. Chop into thirds and put into a steamer for about 5 minutes, until tender-crisp. Drain the asparagus and reserve 2 TBL of the steaming water. Put asparagus, lemon juice, basil, parmesan cheese, and asparagus water into a food processor and pulse until a rough puree forms. Add salt and pepper to taste.