5 Time saving packed lunch hacks

Prepping packed lunches and cleaning lunchboxes can be yet more chores on the list for busy parents. That’s why we’ve produced some tips and tricks that make it easier for us, more fun for our kids and better for the environment!

First off - Prep!

5 time-saving packed lunch hacks 

• Leftover pasta, slices of veggie pizza and quiche all make a good alternative to sandwiches and can be eaten cold the next day. Make extra in the evening and pop them in the lunchbox ready to go.

• When you’re chopping vegetables for dinner, do a few extra and put them in a container in the fridge, ready to go in your child’s lunchbox in the morning. For example, slice extra peppers when making fajitas, chop up some extra carrots if you’re making a stew, or roast/boil some extra broccoli florets!

• Go for a self-assembly lunch when you’re having a hectic morning. This hack cuts prep time in half - simply fill the kid’s lunchbox with crackers or pitta and their favourite fillings (like cheese, sliced cucumber, leftover veggie sausages, sliced pepper etc.), add some grapes on the side and let them make their own concoctions. Bonus benefit: it makes lunchtime more fun too! 

• Bulk buy dried apricots, banana chips or their fave nuts from a zero waste shop (if you have one)at the beginning of the week. Not only will this mean you’ve always got quick healthy snacks in the house but it will also replace buying individually packed raisins or crisps. Win win! 

• Let’s face it, anything where you justthrow a handful of ingredients in a food processor is going to be ideal for a busy parent! Thesedate & coconut balls have just 5 ingredients and 2 instructions - blend & ball. They’re also nut-free, gluten-free and vegan so everyone can enjoy them.

Secondly : What are you going to put this amazing lunch into? Switching to stainless steel lunchboxes will save you time scrubbing & save you money in the long run...

Surprising benefits of stainless steel

Parents everywhere are switching to stainless steel lunchboxes. But why are they so much better than their plastic counterparts?

Kids throw stuff around and inevitably some things break. Stainless-steel lunchboxes though are tougher and more durable than plastic, so if the school bag gets used as a football we’re pretty confident that our lunchboxes will survive. Great news for parents as you won’t have to replace your child’s lunchbox every term when it gets cracked, smelly and a bit sticky!

Stainless steel is a dream to clean! Even if your child does leave their half-eaten lunch at the bottom of their school bag all weekend, it will still come up sparkling clean and ready for Monday morning, whether you pop it in the dishwasher or wash it by hand. In fact, stainless steel lunchboxes are washable at REALLY high temperatures (perfect for easily cleaning off any nasty bacteria). What’s more, unlike plastic alternatives which degrade over time, you don’t get any staining or odours with stainless steel and it’s naturally anti-bacterial! Honestly, it’s a wonder material - we love it.

Stainless steel lunchboxes come in loads of shapes and sizes - so there’s something for everyone! Our Elephant Boxes have snack pods, and easy screw close canisters - so no more squashed bananas and soggy sandwiches! You can also easily write on stainless steel lunchboxes with a marker pen - helpful for knowing what’s inside.

Not only will switching to a stainless steel lunchbox help reduce the amount of plastic being produced, it should also last a lifetime. If anything stainless steel does happen to come to the end of it’s very long life, you can rest assured that it will be 100% recycled and, unlike some plastic, won’t lose any of it’s quality!