DIY Lunches: Empowering Our Kids to Pack Their Own Meals (+ printable list for kids)

As our kids grow older, we often find ourselves searching for ways to instill independence and responsibility. Really, anything to lessen our load overall is a huge goal of ours. One simple yet impactful strategy we've adopted in our household is encouraging our children to pack their own school lunches. This not only frees up our mornings but also empowers them to make healthy food choices.

To get started, we introduced a more structured approach to lunch packing. We suggested that they choose a main protein, a vegetable, a fruit, and a side from a pre-approved list of options. This system has proven to be both effective and enjoyable for our kids. We print out the sheet below and the kids use it to construct their lunches. We don’t always have the options listed in the fridge, it just gives them an idea. The older kids will read it for the younger ones.

Here's a breakdown of the categories and potential lunch items: