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RAE ANN KELLY

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SCHOOL LUNCH MUST HAVES & NEW ITEMS IN THE SHOP

Aug 08, 2023kids + crafts, life + family, menus + recipes

Can’t believe we’re well into August and some of you are already in the throws of back to school season! Gah! Every year there’s a bittersweetness between feeling ready for more routine, not being ready to say goodbye to summer, and not feeling ok about welcoming all the changes that come with starting a new year. It goes too fast you guys.

Whether you’re ready to send the kids back or you’re feeling sentimental and overwhelmed, it always helps to check a few things off the list and set yourself (and the kids) up for success. My kids do 75% of their lunch packing and these are the 6 items we use the most!

6 SCHOOL LUNCHBOX MUST HAVES

  • ONE | Food picks are a fun touch and functional if stacking fruit, veggies, or meat and cheese. We’ve had the eyes and alphabet sets for years and love them.
  • TWO* | Kraft sandwich bags are a great way to cut back on plastic while still keeping the convenience! Love having them on hand for picnic dinners/lunches or packing stuff up for kids sports… no mess or dishes!
  • THREE | Mini cookie cutters aren’t an everyday item, but they’re fun to use for special days or holidays, on sandwiches (example in pic above), fruits, and veggies. Here’s the alphabet set we have and some simple shapes.
  • FOUR* | Lunchbox notes are a must and we have new designs in the ily shop that I think you’ll love!
  • FIVE | These containers are perfect for dip, dressing, or topping and come in handy all the time!
  • SIX | The kids love using these Stashers and I love that they’er dishwasher safe! We purchased a set of four last year and added a couple more this year, which I think will be plenty for now (tempted to try their stand-up kitchen storage options). They also come in handy for road trips and snacks on the go. Checkout the store.

*You can also purchase our bags and lunchbox notes as a bundle and save money :)

NEW TO THE ILY SHOP: lunchbox notes & kraft paper sandwich bags (or both bundled!)

For anyone curious how we manage packing lunches, my agreement with the kids is that I’ll do my best to stock the fridge and pantry for lunches (so it’s easier for them) and will usually help with sandwiches (or anything going in a thermos) and the rest they take care of. Fridays are always DIY which means they’re in charge of their morning, start to finish, including lunches (sans anything crazy that comes up). It’s the best and kinda fun to have a chance to observe instead of always being in the mix!

How do you handle school lunches!?

xx, Rae

OTHER POSTS YOU MIGHT LIKE: BREAKFAST, LUNCH, & SNACK IDEAS (FREE PRINTABLE LISTS), THE BACK TO SCHOOL EDIT, PRINTABLE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL FLAGS (A BACK TO SCHOOL REPOST!), 5 MORNING HACKS FOR BACK TO SCHOOL

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  1. THE SEPTEMBER SPREAD (MEAL PLAN FOR THE MONTH) - RAE ANN KELLY says:
    Sep 04, 2023 at

    […] make their sandwiches and let them do the rest. Shared ideas to keep stocked in this post and our favorite packed lunch supplies here… Don’t forget the Lunchbox […]

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So happy you're here! I'm Rae, style enthusiast, amateur cook, graphic designer, firefighter wife, and mama of 5 (big) kids. We live in the PNW with our 12 chickens and dog, Waffles...

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Perfection is overrated unless your talking about Perfection is overrated unless your talking about waffles 🧇 and you know we take waffles seriously around here since we named our dog after them! Recipe is below to save for later or you can comment WAFFLES and I’ll send the recipe straight to your DMs! 

CRISP & FLUFFY HOMEMADE WAFFLE RECIPE

YOU’LL NEED:
2 cups flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 tablespoons sugar
2 eggs (divide egg and yoke)
1-2/3 cup whole milk
1/3 cup butter, melted
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
TOPPING IDEAS: butter, maple syrup, whipped cream, *sprinkles, peanut butter, jam, *cacao nibs, chocolate chips, powdered sugar, berries, bananas, cinnamon, sliced peaches, fried or scrambled egg, etc.

HERE’S HOW:
Preheat your waffle iron and melt butter over low, if using stovetop.
In a large bowl, combine all dry ingredients: flour, baking soda, baking powder, and sugar. Whisk together.
Divide the egg yolk and whites into two separate medium sized bowls.
Add the milk, butter, and vanilla extract to the yolk bowl and mix to combine.
With a hand or stand mixer, beat the egg whites on medium-high until stiff peaks form. Should only take a couple minutes and makes the waffles so fluffy!
Pour yolk and milk mixture into the dry ingredients and stir or whisk until combined, being careful not to over-mix. Add the egg whites and fold them into the batter gently.
Heat oven to 250-275 degrees to keep cooked waffles warm and crisp. Lightly grease waffle iron (I like to brush on a little butter). Use a measuring cup to pour batter onto waffle iron, until wells are almost covered. Close the iron and cook for about 4 minutes or until golden brown. (Tip: This is a great time to prep toppings or tidy up the kitchen. If you’re like me though, be sure to set a timer!)
Place cooked waffles in a single layer, directly on rack in oven. When ready, top and serve!

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