Monthly Tip is Back! Lunch Box Ideas

Although the school year is almost over, it is never too early to think about the next school year. Besides, lunch boxes are still needed for summer camps and picnics! So far this year, I have replaced lunchboxes twice and often find food coming back. So, I am on a constant quest not only for the freshest, healthiest, tastiest food but also the best lunch boxes. And, I am also realizing that I am using a lot of ziplock sandwich bags for my lunches...is it possible to be more eco-friendly with the food containers? So, looking for the perfect lunch, basically! So, this is what I found:

LUNCH BOXES -

Laptop lunch boxes: A couple of moms in Santa Cruz started this company to provide sturdy, eco friendly and fun lunch boxes for their kids. There are a variety of products to choose from including lunchboxes, bento box style - that come with reuseable containers which allows a nice display of the food in a way that doesn't crush it and gives your child an easy way to eat it. They also have stainless steel water bottles and bags to keep the lunch boxes refrigerated.

Fresh Snack Pack: This site has great alternatives to ziplock bags - in two great lunchbox ready sizes! One of my favs.

Fit Fresh: This site has easy reuseable containers, filtered water bottles and shakers and have new products such as sandwich and fruit salad pods coming soon.

Traditional Lunch Boxes at lunchboxes.com: This site has lead free traditional metal lunch boxes in your favorite characters, along with Sigg drinking bottles and canteens, insulated lunch boxes and even bento box style lunch boxes.

LUNCH BOX FOOD IDEAS-

Laptop Lunch Boxes site actually has food ideas too on their site for fresh, somewhat unique and interesting variety. I know from my kids that there has to be some variety...they tire of pb&j and apples every day!

Love to Know Recipes has great ideas for school lunches or lunches for kids on the go.

Healthy Eating Made Easy has great ideas for lunches for the whole family. Mixing it up with different kids of breads, tips on not packing sandwiches with cucumber (too slimey) and even a lunch box shopping list for easy lunches.

Saving Money on Meals

Are you having a hard time stretching your $ on your meals? I think everyone is trying to make their dollars go farther these days. And, luckily there are many ways and lots of sites that can help.

1. Make a meal plan every week so that when you plan your shopping list, you can find the best prices for the things on your list. You can even plan your meals based on the weekly specials at your supermarkets.

2. Use up everything you make. Left-overs should be eaten the next day for lunch or if enough, for another meal or frozen.

3. Buy only what you will eat in a week for the refrigerator. I know that I have had to throw away food and even left-overs when they are shoved to the back and not seen for over a week.

4. Farmer's Markets are the best for locally grown, healthy and low cost seasonal fruit and veggie options. There are several farmers' markets in one area on different days, so there is no excuse. See my Bargain Grocery Shopping previous posting for a link to find the one nearest you.

5. Online sites not only offer coupons (link also available on my Bargain Grocery Shopping posting) but also recipes for low cost meals. Check out this one - $5 Dinners - for recipes and tips for a great low-cost meal for the family!