Now, I know we are a homeschooling family, but that doesn’t mean we don’t need lunch boxes, and here are what I have discovered to be our lunch box essentials.

Lunch Box Essentials:

• Insulated carrier (this one is from Happy Jackson)
• Flat ice packs (these are perfect)
• Reusable snack bags (I LOVE LunchSkins, PLUS they are a local [to me] mom company who I’ve had the pleasure of meeting!)
• Reusable squeezes (I also LOVE our Original Squeezes, they are also a US based, mom company. My kids have been using these since they started eating. These days we use them for smoothies, and applesauce. Just be sure to get the right tip for your child’s age)
• BPA-free, water bottle (like this one)
• Insulated food jar (like this one, perfect for soups, chilis, oatmeal, scrambled eggs, pretty much anything intended to be eaten hot or cold)
• Lunch box (I cannot tell you enough about hoe much I love my LunchBots lunch boxes. They make packing super simple, nothing gets squished, and they are super solid and will last for years! Plus, no plastic!)
• Cookbook (honestly, you don’t need a cookbook. But Weelicious Lunches, by Catherine McCord a good one if you need some ideas! Otherwise you can pretty much find whatever you need on Pinterest)

Lunch Box Essentials Not Pictured:

• Reusable, cloth napkins
• Reusable, cloth place mat
• Water bottle sling (perfect for field trips)
• BPA-free utensils
• Cookie cutters
• Small containers for dips (like these from LunchBots)
• Pick-Ease (reusable food-stabbers, designed for picky eaters)
• Silicone muffin liners
• Printable lunch box notes (there are tons on Pinterest, or write your own!)
• Printable lunch planners