As a kid growing up I was that girl who was chubby wearing glasses and toting her lunch. Even though I had a sparkly personality and was a sassy dancer…many times the kids looked no further than my outside appearances. However hard that may have been… the greatest equalizer was my LUNCH! My mom made a point to pack me with fun lunches. She made shaped sandwiches long before you could buy the “sandwich cutters.” I appreciated my Mom’s extra effort in packing those lunches. in her mind, she was sending me with a nutritious meal but actually she was making me the star of the lunchroom. I was able to make friends with those people that ordinarily judged me until it was the time for me to pull out my lunch pail masterpiece!

Packing lunches can be tedious but today’s tips are sure to make life easier on your wallet and to make those you love smile!

Here are some of my suggestions:

Egg shapes– Kids love these!!! The egg shaper is basically a mold that you place a hot egg inside of. Press it close, put the whole gadget in cold water for ten minutes and bam! you have a car shaped egg! I got mine at Amazon!

Sandwich Cutters– Cut your kiddos sandwiches into shapes! I used my cookie cutters all the time!! Now they even have designated princess cutters called Lunch Punch that I found on Amazon. Pretty cute and my Caytie loves a Royal PB&J.

Water Bottles-Every year I buy water bottles and when I ask the kids did they drink their water they complain the water tastes bad. (Do not get me started on how spoiled my kids are…darn bottled water!) So, when I came across the Bobble at International Pantry I knew I had found the perfect way to get the kids to drink water. Filter your own bottled water with the patented Bobble Water Bottle. An active carbon filter eliminates toxins and harmful chemicals such as chlorine and other organic contaminants from the water as you sip. The filter itself lasts for about two months, or at least 300 fills, and is replaceable and recyclable through the Bobble Recycling Program. What’s more, the bottle is made entirely of recycled FDA-approved PET that is free of BPA, PVC, and Phthalates and is 100 percent recyclable in most areas.

BPA-free and made of recycled materials, the Bobble removes chlorine and other organic contaminants from your drinking water.

The Bobble uses active carbon filter technology to remove unwanted contaminants from your drinking water so it meets the standards of NSF International Standard 42, the standard that governs the quality of public and private drinking water. How it works is simple, really: as you sip, the water passes over the carbon filter where the negative ions of the contaminants are drawn to, and captured by, carbon granules. The result? Filtered water free of chlorine and other common organic contaminants–with no resulting plastic water bottle waste.

Features:

• Replaceable active carbon filter removes chlorine and organic contaminants as you sip
• Filter is recyclable through the Bobble Recycling Program
• Bottle is made of recycled, FDA-approved PET that is BPA-free, PVC-free, and free of Phthalates
• Bottle is 100 percent recyclable in most areas
• Filtered water meets the standards for NSF International Standard 42
• Filter lasts through at least 300 fills; recommended use time of two months
• Manufactured in the U.S.A.

Make your own prepackaged meals!- Instead of buying  pre-packaged meals in the deli case why not make your own. Kids love when you make them their own deli box! It is not the flashy marketing the kids love, it is the fact that they want to assemble their own lunch

• Pizza Time-Make delicious pizza meals at home using sandwich flats, cheese, turkey pepperoni and sauce! I promise your kids will not miss a thing!
• Breakfast for Lunch- I pack a toasted cinnamon raisin sandwich flat, along with low fat cream cheese mixed with strawberry jam, nut/fruit blends, apples and strawberries.
• Taco Box-In the large compartment I place shredded lettuce and then top that with wax paper square. Then place whole wheat tortillas. In smaller areas I place shredded cheese and rotisserie chicken or fajita meat. Place cherry tomatoes next to the tortillas! I also place salsa and sour cream in a small container! Perfect for that kiddo who loves tacos!
• Deli Box- Place your own sliced cheese, Canadian bacon, crackers, pudding and hummus in a sectioned box! That way you control the salt, fat and carbs. Best part is the kids are never the wiser! 

Mason Jar– Use those mason jars to pack a lunch. Many times I use them to pack salads. They keep the salad crisper and are a perfect tote. If I make some delicious pasta salad I pack that too for the teacher. What teacher would not love a homemade lunch!

Momma/Daddy Notes! Kids love to get mail so why not send them a not in their lunch! These notes were so popular with my kids that their friends requested I send them one too!! Here is a cute printable from Picklebums!

 

THIS WEEK’S GIVEAWAY

In honor of lunch pails I am having a drawing for a Scout Doggie Bag! They are my favorite!! Cute, sassy and well insulated! No more boring pails for you! I promise one you try Scout you will want all of their stuff!! Just join the Sassy Recipe Club and be entered to win!

For additional entries:

• *Friend the Fat and Sassy Mama on Facebook
• *Become a Twitter pal
• *Comment on my post and be entered to win!!
• *Recipe Club Members who refer someone to the club and they JOIN…You get 5 entries!!!
• Contest drawing will take place Sunday, August 21 at 11:59 pm.