How to Pack a Lunch Box

Posted by Linda Larsen Sep 4, 2006

The most important consideration when packing your child's lunch box is food safety. Buy an insulated lunchbox and make sure that you include a frozen gel pack or frozen juice box to keep the contents cold.

Don't include items that are perishable, like cream pies or bars with filling that need to be refrigerated. These items don't pack well and don't travel well.

Pack frosted cakes, bars, and cookies in hard-sided containers with a snap-on lid. You can stick a couple of toothpicks into cake frosting to keep it from getting smushed. Sturdy cookies or bars like Candy Filled Cookies and Mixed Nut Bars are best wrapped in plastic wrap or put into a ziplock bag.

Quick breads like Orange Blueberry Muffins or Double Chocolate Muffins are perfect for lunchboxes. Keep the paper liners on the muffins and wrap in plastic wrap.

When making sandwiches using homemade bread or rolls, think about packing the ingredients for a sandwich and let your child assemble it on site. Or, to keep the bread from getting soggy, spread a thin layer of softened butter on the bread before making the sandwich. Keep the mayo or sandwich spread in the center of the sandwich so the bread stays fresh.

Follow these tips and your child will eat lunch! Hopefully...