Creating a Lunchbox Legacy: Simple Ideas to Show You Care

6 Simple Lunch or Snack Ideas to Show You Care

While my little girl doesn’t eat lunch at school yet, I’m a firm believer in food traditions to help build your family legacy. The things we eat and the way we gather to create memories around food says so much about a family’s values. When it comes time for our kids to be in school during lunch, I hope they feel the love packed into their lunchbox each day. From, their mama.

While at Walmart eariler this year, we were given a few tips on creating cute lunch boxes and it got me thinking about what really matters to me as my little girl sets off for long school days. So when Walmart asked me to share some tips, I decided that they should be simple, meaningful and express our family values.

Here are 6 simple lunch and/or snack ideas that to show kids that you care…

1. Spell it out: With all the adorable and Pinterest-worthy creations out there, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with how to make your kids feel special. In my opinion though, tried and true handwritten notes from mom tucked away in their lunchbox never goes out of style. Did you stay up late helping them study for a spelling test? Send along your support in a note! Did you watch as they learned how to read a few new words? Write them in a sentence! Raising an early-reader? Draw a picture! Little ones just want to know you care and aren’t necessarily concerned with the packaging of it all. So spell it out!

2. Cookie cutter Sandwiches: Baking skills not required for this one! Pick a new cookie cutter each week (or day!) and take an extra minute to create a special smile on your little one’s face. I love this animal cookie cutter set for my animal enthusiast.

3. Sibling Bears: Does your student have a sibling at home counting down the minutes until they get home again? Mine does! As a snack, pack their favorite honey flavored teddy bear cookies with a note from their siblings. They might fight like cats and dogs, but I promise they can’t bear to be without each other.

4. Wholesome snacks: Sure, who doesn’t love crackers? Or sweet smoothies? But in addition to those treats, I also show my love by providing snacks that are infused and topped with wholesome elements. Almost everything I cook is ingrained with some kind of nutritional booster. From almond butter and fruit on their crackers, Chia seeds in their pasta or green leafy veggies in their smoothies, my kids will appreciate this expression of my love later in life… even if they could care less now.

5. Better as Pairs: Special lunch box treats are better in pairs! Reinforce the values of friendship and compassion by packing two of the treats your child loves most. Leave a note that one is for them, and one is to share, adding how great it feels to share with the ones you love.

6. Printable Lunchbox Notes: Double points if they’re bilingual! Is your child in a dual immersion student or you just love to expose your baby to Spanish? Check out our bilingual free printable lunchbox notes for your dual immersion student!

I love building a family legacy that encompasses the values I hold dear, and having one more place to enrich my little one’s experiences with that legacy is the most exciting part of motherhood!

*Disclosure: As a member of the Walmart Moms program, I’ve received product samples and compensation for my time and efforts in creating this post.