Disclosure: I received the products below to review in exchange for sharing my honest opinion.
As a mom with three kids in school, I have had to become quite creative with lunches and snacks. My boys are picky and my youngest son has food alleriges I need to watch out for, so it does make it challenging to pack them food. For the past few weeks I have browsed online for ideas and the Rock the Lunch Box website has been a great place for ideas for me. It features tons of ideas of lunchboxes submitted from users and you can even break it down to Vegetairan, Gluten Free, Nut Free and Most Popular. The picutres are real pictures which I love because they are not all fancy food pictures. You can then submit your own picture.
In addition to lunch ideas you can also get Lunch Tips From the Pros and coupons for yummy brands including Annie’s, Organic Valley, Applegate, Rudi’s and Honest Kids. Yeah for food I can feel good about giving to my family that don’t have any artificial flavors, synthetic colors or synthetic preservatives. The Lunch Tips videos feature topics such as packing a lunch in just five minutes, adding personality to your kid’s lunchbox, creating nutritious lunches, getting out of a lunchbox rut and more.
Here are some goodies I was able to pick up:
The first thing I did before school started was ask my kids for ideas and start picking up foods for them to try. I was curious to see what they wanted to lunch, especially my youngest son who is having lunch at school for the first time this year.
Here is a drawing of what both my boys wanted for lunch:
According to a Rock the Lunchbox survey of more than 2,000 kids and parents, 72% of kids say its “cool” to have healthy food in their lunchboxes.
The survey, conducted by Annie’s®, Applegate, HONEST® Kids, Organic Valley® and Rudi’s Organic Bakery® also found that:
• “Homemade Gets High Fives”: 61 percent of kids prefer bringing lunch from home versus buying lunch at school
• “It’s a Labor of Love”: 51 percent of kids say it’s important that their parent makes them lunch to bring to school
• “Snack Swapping Popular”: 64 percent of kids trade items from their lunch with friends. And, snacks are the most coveted item in kids’ packed lunches; 54 percent say they trade their snack for a different snack.
• “What’s New?”: 53 percent of kids say the items in their lunch are the same every day
• “Daily Dilemmas”: 51 percent of parents say they struggle with variety and coming up with new ideas to make lunch healthy and delicious
• “Parents Prefer to Pack”: 83 percent of parents say that it’s important to prepare their children’s lunch for school; 95 percent say it’s important to provide healthy options in their children’s lunches
And here is what I ended up packing for them:
CHECK IT OUT: Visit Rockthelunchbox.com for hundreds of lunch ideas, tips, resources and coupons!
WIN IT: (1) US winner will receive a Rock the Lunchbox Kit
Includes:
- Free product coupons from Annie’s Homegrown, Applegate Organic & Natural Meals, Honest Kids, Organic Valley, Rudi’s Organic Bakery and Stonyfield
- Lunch containers from Laptop Lunches, U•Konserve and Blue Avocado
- Crayons
Need help entering a giveaway? Check out my blog post for some help!
GIVEAWAY ENTRY:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
This Giveaway Ends September 15, 2014.
abedabun dawn says
Fresh fruits are what I like to pack,. Much better than a pkg of chips.
Carolyn Daley says
I like to pack grapes or a banana and yogurt.
Tonya Bohannon says
My son loves fruit! I always make sure to pack him all different types. He will eat almost any kind of fruit out there. 🙂
Katie Bellamy says
Always give them a fruit and a vegetable!
melissa cushing says
I love packing fresh fruit into my daughters Lunch Box! Thanks for sharing and good luck to all!!!
lana simamovicki says
Fresh vegetables
Kitty Iecvan says
I always pack some grapes or other fruits.
Laurie Emerson says
I always pack some kind of fruits for her lunch. Either apple slices or orange wedges and sometimes a banana.
Kaitlin miller says
Yogurt
CHRISTINA DUTRA says
Something healthy that I always add into her lunches is cheese, gluten free veggie chips, a small piece of dark chocolate, turkey/chicken cut up into pieces, water, and veggies/fruits.
jules m. says
string cheese and grapes. or apple slices.
Nichole Smith says
My youngest loves anything fresh from the garden. He usually requests green beans, pea pods, carrot sticks. My oldest is a little harder to please. He wants junk food, which isn’t allowed, so we compromise with fig cookies, granola bars, etc.
Leesa says
My grandson loves celery & peanut butter.
brittani adams says
there seems to always be grapes, alwasy. he loves those.
susan smoaks says
I pack fresh fruit in every lunchbox. It is healthy and a sweet treat for the kids too!
Linda Bradshaw says
Cheese sticks and carrots are their favorites.
Brandon cerny says
I would pack fruit and nuts!
Kari W says
My son always brings at least one fruit and one veggie to school for snack/lunch.
kristy thiel says
Definitely celery and peanut butter! Thanks for hosting!
Kate Newton says
I typically send a banana and carrot sticks in their lunches. Whatever I have in the fridge that is fresh and delicious Ill stick in there though! 🙂 Thanks for the opportunity to win.
Karen says
I make sure that she always has fruit: banana, apple slices, or grapes.
Jackie says
I pack granola bars and fresh fruit.
Thanks!
Jennifer Cervantes says
Fresh fruit
Amanda F says
They like to eat hummus, carrots, strawberries, and blueberries.
Teresa Thompson says
Yogurt and fruit.
katklaw777 says
My kids luv cheese and crackers…great calcium and protein source and I get whole grain crackers that are high in fiber and low in sodium.
Christina says
My kids get fresh fruit in their boxes every day. We also try to make healthier choices, like I buy Cheddar Bunnies instead of goldfish.
Allyson Bossie says
I pack fresh fruit and veggies for my kids. They like them, so I am lucky that they gobble them up
Lisa says
I always pack fresh fruit
Anna Pry says
organic fruits, veggies, and whole grain crackers
Jill Myrick says
My son loves salads so I pack them daily as well as fresh fruit and yogurt.
jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com
Erica B. says
Cut up veggies.
Roy F. says
A banana and carrot slices.
Jeanine says
I pack yogurt and apple slices for my grandchildren.
Starla b says
I love this! I always try and pack healthy lunches with one cheat/snack item that they love. I also try and get creative with packaging the lunches. Like making cute flowers out of fruit ,or veggies! 🙂
katie o. says
Carrots and apples with peanut butter. 🙂
Lisa V. says
I always try to pack some type of fruit.
Billie Wilson says
Carrots and yogurt covered raisins! They love the raisins.
Fiona N says
I always try to pack blueberries and bananas!
Amy Z. says
I always try to pack fresh fruit.
Jenny Q. says
I pack a pasta salad that is filled with different veggies, and cheese. I also pack fruit.
Mihaela Day says
I usually pack fruits and veggies for the kids
Eloise Carlson says
I usually always pack fresh fruit such as apples and grapes as well as veggies like cucumbers and carrots. My girls also like yogurt and string cheese. Thanks so much for hosting this giveaway!
furygirl3132[at]comcast[dot]net
wen budro says
I pack fresh fruit, veggies, and string cheese. If I cut them into fun shapes then they’ll eat them.
Denise S says
I pack peach cups, but they don’t always eat them!
June S. says
I pack some good and healthy fruit and veggies also in their lunches-
dawn reid says
Fruit and sometimes veggies
Nicole Sender says
I pack raisins and sliced apple pieces.
Patricia Hess says
We try and pack the Veggies with Dip
pattifritz2000 at yahoo dot com
thank you
Randi S says
I always pack fresh fruit!! 🙂
Danielle Johnson says
I always want to give them a fresh fruit if possible and if not available, i’ll give them a granola bar which they love too.
Marilyn Nawara says
I put apples in their lunch box every day.
ellen c says
My son likes banana slices with peanut butter. Thanks for the chance.
Desiree Dunbar says
I like to pack them baby carrots and applesauce.
Jennifer H says
I like to pack baby carrots, grapes or yougurt
polly says
My daughter in law always packs fruits & veggies for my grandsons
Denise Elliott says
my kids love fruit so they always have at least 2 kinds in their lunch
April Farley says
My children all are huge pickle eaters. So every single day there is a pickle in their boxes. I wish I could invent a pickle keeper. something that kept the smell of the pickle encased. Their poor lunchboxes always smell like a dill. Daily we put a piece of fruit in there too. Whatever fresh fruit is on sale that week is what we use. Sometimes I use frozen fruit. By the time lunch hit it is thawed.
christine j says
i am lucky that my daughter loves brocolli and peas along with all her fruits. I always make sure to add it in.
chantal says
I always try to include fruit. Usually apples or grapes.
Erika W. says
I always pack some type of fruit for them
Tara L says
My son loves salads, apples, grapes, oranges mostly a lot of fruit so I usually send him an apple and he’ll eat it or grapes or even green peppers cut up with some ranch dressing.
kristi m says
i usually try to do like go gurt or applesauce or some kind of fruit or vegie
BETH DUNLAVY HOPPE says
I pack some healthy raw fruits and veggies.
amanda jordan says
My son loves cheese and yogurt
Kim says
nuts and fruit
Seyma Shabbir says
I always pack fruit, usually apples or watermelon.
Beanybopp says
Applesauce and a banana
Sara says
I pack my son “purples” aka grape slices and string cheese.
Heidi S. says
My kids absolutely love when I pack them “kiddie sushi”. I slice up the large pickle chips, and wrap them in cheese slices, and wrap that in a slice of turkey. I even pack a set of chopsticks to eat them with.
costana hornbaker says
organic hard boiled eggs
Angela saver says
I pack them baby carrots with ranch dressing, which they love!
crystal says
I love to pack baby carrots.
Monique Rizzo says
My daughter likes string cheese wrapped with turkey.
Richelle says
Fruit every single day. And not syrupy, cooked canned fruit. And a water reusable bottle. Kids only get a juice box on Fridays. 🙂 And they don’t mind at all.
JLin says
fruits
Kelly H. says
I like to pack apple slices with peanut butter.
Elena G says
I always pack different fruits and vegetables for my son’s lunch which he’ll eat without a problem. It’s meat that he doesn’t want to eat.
Margaret MacKenzie says
It’s a little harder now that my step-daughter is in Junior High but I make sure that there are fruits and veggies on hand so that she can pack them in her lunch.
Tiffany Schmidt says
They always get at least one fruit in their lunch!
Kristy Hostetler says
I try to pack some sort of fruit, my daughter loves berries and grapes, and son loves Bananas or peaches!
caitlyn o says
blackberries
Vicki Wurgler says
I always pack fruit and veggies which they both love
Valerie Taylor Mabrey says
We like applesauce and we also do pretzels with peanut butter.
vmkids3 at msn dot com
Evelyn Goettner says
I always pack at least 1 fruit and 1 veggie. Usually grapes or a clementine and carrots or cucumber slices.
Melissa C. says
Fresh fruits and veggies (usually carrots, my daughter’s fav). Also typically some almonds. Thanks for the chance to win!
beth shepherd says
My son loves veggies and dip in his.
xty cruz says
I always put fruits and vegetables for snacks
Casey G. says
Homemade hummus and veggies to dip. So good, and so healthy too!
Sadie B. says
We like to pack fresh peaches in the lunch boxes.
jennifer says
Fresh fruits and veggies.
Denise Taylor-Dennis says
I try to put some fresh fruit in my son’s lunch every day.
Dorothy Teel says
I like to put fresh fruit in our lunch boxes for snacks and increased nutrition
Angie says
I always pack them fruit and yogurt.
sandra davis says
i like to give them fruit
Gina H. says
Fruit
Nancy says
We like to put seasonal fresh fruit in our lunches.
Leela says
Honeycrisp apples and pomegranates.
Jennifer Reed says
Something healthy I pack for my kids for school lunches is fruit such as melon, grapes, strawberries, and orange sections.
Selinda says
This week has been all about fresh green peppers!
Becky Fluff says
PB&J with fruit and crackers/cheese
amy says
I try to pack a fruit in every lunch.
Deborah Wellenstein says
The kiddos like cheese and crackers, and fruit and popcorn.
Margot C says
Grapes and carrots, don’t leave home without ’em!
Jessica H. says
When my girls pack a lunch, I love to include yogurt and almonds, carrot sticks, and celery with peanut butter. And usually a treat as well! Thank you for the wonderful giveaway!
betsy says
I try to pack carrots, but they some times come home again.
Robin Abrams says
We pack carrot sticks and grapes
Noreen says
I prep jicama and cilantro
Theresa N says
They love grapes.
ten b says
my kiddos love homemade hummus with carrot sticks or pita bread…. they’ll eat just about anything but sandwiches.
Julie Lee says
We do carrot and cucumber sticks!
Lisa McDaaniel says
This is a great site, I love that it can be broken down by category. At my son’s school there is an anti-nut policy and I have been hesitant to pack lunchs for fear that they will be sent home again, though my sons prefers the lunches I make vs the ones prepared at school 95% of the time. I also like to know that my son will have food that he will eat aat lunch time instead of wondering if he actually ate.
Kristen says
Grapes are a favorite and they travel well.
Rebecca Orr says
Natural no sugar added applesauce cups, blueberries, and low fat string cheese.
Colleen Maurina says
We always try to include a fresh vegetable and fruit such as carrots and blueberries!
Karen Gray says
My son isn’t in school yet, but he definitely eats a lot of healthy stuff at lunch. His favorites are sweet potatoes and carrots.
FRANK says
bananas and apples
Heather B says
My kids love things like cheese and crackers, grapes, pretzels
Heather Hayes Panjon says
Fresh Fruit Or Fruit Cup Is Always Included In The Kids Lunch.
Leigh Anne Borders says
We pack fruits and veggies along with water.
Kimberly Schotz says
We are pretty lucky with that. My daughter always has fresh fruit and string cheese in her lunch.
Allie says
I like fresh fruit
melissa stone (@momma1g2b) says
Grapes or celery with peanut butter
Melinda Stephens says
i try to pack fresh or dried fruit for my son.
Patricia Wojnar Crowley says
We always pack fruit like berries!
michelle k. says
They always get some type of fruit in their lunchbox
Linda G. says
They get fruit in their lunch, apples and oranges are their favorite
heather p says
fresh or dried fruit, cashews, hummus, and we *try* carrot sticks.
kim says
My son loves bananas and apples so I always try to put them in his lunch
Darlene Sullins says
I usually pack organic fruits and veggies in general
Ashley Outland says
Fruit and yogurt!
ELIZABETH C. says
I like to pack carrot sticks and hummus for my daughter. She’s only 6 and loves it.
Sandra davis says
Fresh fruit and veggies
Sharon Kaminski says
I like to pack dried fruit like raisins, dried pineapple and other fruits.
Alona Y says
My daughter will always eat carrots cooked in cinnamon.
Jayne T. says
Lu gets a pretty balanced meal at school for lunch but they can also bring a healthy snack for the afternoon. Lately she’s been taking raisins, yogurt, bananas, apples, and string cheese. Not altogether..she chooses two.
Nina H says
I love to pack different fruits!
Debra Hall says
they like fresh fruit and sun chips
Natalie says
I pack apples with cheese sticks and yogurt with cereal for my son.
Renee B. says
My daughter lives carrot sticks
vickie couturier says
they like apples cut up and raisins
christina says
I make sure to give her a fruit either a banana or apple.
Samorjj says
Homemade veggie and fruit muffins.
Sally shee says
how do we vote for you on picketfence blog
Linda Madden says
My kids like fruit, so it’s usually grapes or an Apple
Sally shee says
Homemade sushi , wraps, Whole grain grilled cheese , Deli chicken slices from applegate, fruits , salads, milk, crackers homemade cookies or mini muffins, pita and hummus.
Melissa says
Grapes are popular with my family
barbara dunaway says
fruit
toddy says
My kids love hummus
Jessica Z says
I like to pack lots of fruits and veggies! Esp Organic apples and carrots
Lisa E says
my son loves carrots or grapes.
Peggy E says
I like to pack carrots and hummus.
Andrea says
Pack grapes, watermelon cheese
Sus says
Fruit
Nannypanpan says
I pack yogurt
D Schmidt says
I pack them chopped fruit and vegetables and hope they eat them.
Kathleen S. says
My kids like it when I put veggies and dip in their lunches. I think homemade lunches are way better than what they offer at school.
Patricia says
My kids love lettuce wraps.
Sylvia White says
Fruitandyogurtisalwayspopular.
ken ohl says
baby carrot sticks.
Shawna O says
I pack whole wheat crackers and humus for my son’s lunches to school and it’s one of his faves!
Kelly D says
I always pack some fruit with their sandwich, such as grapes or peaches.
jennifer says
My daughter loves apples and peanut butter!
Maralea says
I used to pack baby carrots in our kids lunches.
Linda Manns says
I like to put fruit and flavored water in my grandkids lunch boxes. They also really like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
Shelia S says
I try to pack fresh fruit in their lunches.
Arena Thompson says
I pack cut up broccoli or carrots when I do my kids lunch 🙂
Lisa Williams says
I always try to pack like a lunchable,I cut cheese slices,lunch meat,some grapes or banana and some crackers and and a milk sometimes apple juice.
sandra says
applesauce or a fruit cup
Nicole m. says
Always pack a fruit or veggie
janetfaye says
Fresh cut up fruit, little boxes of raisins and bananas are my grandson’s favorite lunchbox treats.
janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com
Candice says
Apple slices and fruit cups are great.
cheryl lister says
We grow grapes in our back yard so I like to pack a bunch for a sweet treat.
Stacy says
Hummus with crackers or pita triangles and cut up veggies, like celery and carrots.