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Simple School Lunch Ideas for People Sick and Tired of Packing

by | Aug 18, 2015 | Grocery Tips, Parenting & Household Tips

Get simple school lunch ideas for Moms who don’t want to pack lunches for the kids every single night. Save money, time, and sanity with this method!

I eagerly checked the weather from our local news station, looking for any possibility of a snow day.

It’s not so much that I enjoy snow (I don’t).

But a snow day means a couple of things.

No alarm clock.  (Hallelujah!)

No worry about whether all the kids have the right clothes clean for picture day, or gym day, or red and gray day.  (Yahoo!)

But, best of all…

no lunches to pack.

Ugh!  Packing lunches is the worst.

First, you have to make sure you have everything on hand.

Then you spend an hour trying to make sure this kid gets their daily PB&J made just so without the crusts, while that kid gets anything at all but a sandwich.

There’s a headache for ya.

Still, some days there are enough battles to fight. Amirite?

But you know another parenting technique I’m a fan of?  Teaching the kids to do things themselves.

Mama, I promise.  If your child can throw packages into the grocery cart when you aren’t looking, they can toss together a lunch, too.

(pssst…There’s a free printable at the end of this post to make that shopping go easier, too!)

Now, here’s the method I’ve used to make easy lunch packing happen in our home.

Simple School Lunch Ideas

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Get the Kids Involved

If the kids are eating, they should be involved in the packing.

That’s right!  Our kids start packing their own lunches in kindergarten.

But that doesn’t mean the same thing for our 5-year-old as it does for the 11-year-old.

We’ll teach our five-year-old daughter to pack her own lunch this year.  By the end of the year, she’ll know how to make a sandwich.

She’ll also know how to choose options from the other food groups to complete her meal.

Now that the older kids have years of practice under their belts, they don’t need much help anymore. My job is to have the groceries around here to simplify their packing.

Remember, parents, that we’re trying to work ourselves out of a job!

Simplify the Choices

A lunch in our home consists of a main course such as a sandwich, salad, leftovers, or things from the list further on in this post.

Then they choose a fruit, a dairy, a junk food (or treat), and a drink.

There’s no reason for them to eat a fancy 4 course meal.  Besides, they spend a lot of their lunch period socializing with friends.

How much food do you think they throw away each day?  Don’t add to the waste.

Cute lunch box for kids or adults!

Ok, so who else wants this adorable lunch box??

Do it the Night Before

A common complaint about making sandwiches the night before is that they would get soggy.  But my kids have never complained.

If you know making a sandwich ahead of time is grounds for a complete fit, or wasted food, no worries.  Just make it the next morning.

Pulling together just a sandwich in the morning is much easier than figuring out the entire lunch. 

To save the most money, buy bigger bags of nuts, chips, trail mix, or whatever your kids like and bag them up yourself.

Bag up snacky foods the night before.  Choose and wash up your fruits.

Pick your dairy item.  I like to buy big containers of yogurt and portion them out into smaller containers.

I’ll add a bag of cereal for them to sprinkle over the top when I’m feeling fancy.

A Place for Everything

When we pack the night before, I don’t mean stick everything in the lunchbox.  (Who has room for a bunch of lunchboxes in their fridge?)

Sure, stuff that won’t go bad (like a box of raisins), you can toss in the lunchbox ahead of time.

Otherwise, let me introduce you to “the basket”.

Each child has their own basket labeled with their name.  They fill it and leave it in the fridge each night.

It takes up much less space than a bunch of lunch boxes in the fridge.  And it’s so easy to dump it right in their lunch box the next day!

I put together thermoses of water for them while they eat breakfast for easy grab and go.

Make a List

I’ve printed off my list of lunchtime ideas along with a copy of the school lunch menu.  They’re hung next to our lunch making supplies.

When they’re tired of sandwiches, they can make a different choice.  (Although some of them would eat PB&J for every meal!)

Here are some quick recipes you can make ahead of time to pack in lunches:

5 Minute Chicken Taquitos

Healthy Homemade Chicken Nuggets

Easy Quick Pear Bread

Zippy Homemade Pizza Dough

Yummy Cranberry Orange Bread

Pickle Dip Roll Ups

Click this picture to print a PDF copy of the menu.  Totally free for your personal use!

Free printable list of lunch menu ideas

Click here to download a free MS Word copy of this list that you can customize yourself!  Totally free for your own personal use!

These tips for packing school lunches should help your family dread this chore a bit less.

Prayers for a snow day not necessary!

Now, let’s do something about that book bag that keeps breaking…here’s a list of Mom approved durable backpacks!

durable backpacks

Did I miss a great tip?  Let me know!

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4 Tips for Fighting Discontentment

4 Tips for Fighting Discontentment

by | Aug 14, 2015 | Intentional Living, Parenting & Household Tips

4 Tips for Fighting Discontentment

“If my kids ask me for a new app for their Kindle Fires one more time, I’m going to blow a gasket!  They just got one yesterday and they don’t even appreciate it.”  -me

Then two minutes later I find myself staring longingly at a beautiful Pinterest kitchen.

A bit of a paradox, huh?  The struggle is real.

Humans have wrestled with discontentment for decades (centuries? millennia?).  But with the internet shrinking the world into the palm of your hand, it makes the struggle of fighting discontentment that much harder for all of us.

So here are four tips for helping yourself out of a discontentment rut.

sweet, simple things of life

Ideas For Moms Looking For More Contentment

Ways for Moms to find more contentment and gratitude in their days. How to be a more grateful mom. Ways to show more gratitude. Ideas for a more contented life as a mom. Ways to show contentment. How to feel less anxious as a mom.

1.  Be grateful

When I catch myself slipping into discontent, I try to remember how much I already have to be grateful for.

  • Those kids sometimes make me want to blow a gasket…but I have a beautiful family in pretty good health.
  • We have enough food to eat (even treats we don’t really need!).
  • We have plenty of goats.
  • We live in a wonderful neighborhood with great friends and family close by.

I could easily come up with a long list of things to be grateful for.  Your list is probably pretty similar.

As a bonus, list these things out together as a family.  Challenge each person to come up with one or two things to be thankful for each day.

2.  Get Unbored

Sometimes the reason we are not content is because we are just bored.  We have too much free time and we imagine that if we only had what she has our life would be so different!  Discontentment is often a craving for the rush of enjoying something new and different.

[Tweet “Discontentment is often a craving for the rush of enjoying something new and different.”]

But we don’t have to buy the latest app for our tablets or have the perfect sofa to get that rush.  Look up ways to upcycle items you already have.  Challenge yourself to learn something new via Youtube or by getting books from your local library.  Instead of zapping a frozen meal, try to figure out how your ancestors would have prepared their food.

3.  Distraction

Sometimes when I feel discontented, I try to reconnect with a hobby I used to love but no longer do much anymore (like playing my flute!).  Or I try to work on a project that will give me a sense of satisfaction.

Even cleaning and reorganizing a room that has been making you crazy for a while can give you a great sense of accomplishment.  It’s usually enough to keep my mind off of the desire for something new.

4.  Recognize Hedonic Adaptation

I first learned about this on the Mr. Money Mustache blog (fair warning, he does use strong language!).  Hedonic adaptation is the tendency for us to quickly adapt to new things and come to expect them rather than appreciate them.

Take cars, for example.  Imagine how excited the first people were to own and use a car.  Suddenly that trip that took hours before was now cut in half.

Now imagine yourself today (assuming you drive a car).  When you climb in your car, do you really appreciate the fact that you are using this fascinating machine that is going to transport you from your home to your destination in a fairly short time?  Like me, you are probably so busy wondering if you remembered everything that you don’t appreciate it at all.

You can try to appreciate things more by removing some of the comfort from your life, so that when you reintroduce it you appreciate it more.

  • Rather than driving your car, take a bike ride.
  • Turn off your air conditioning or heat for a while.  (Or adjust the temperature so it’s not perfectly comfortable.)
  • Use no electricity for a certain amount of time.

For more struggle on resisting hedonic adaptation, click here.

These tips will help you and your family find contentment in the many blessings you already enjoy.

What are your best ways for fighting discontentment?

 

Entertain the Family on the Cheap: Go Camping

Entertain the Family on the Cheap: Go Camping

by | Jul 19, 2015 | Large Family Life, Parenting & Household Tips

Entertain the Family on the Cheap: Go Camping

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Sometimes it is difficult to find good entertainment for families of our size.  Even something as simple as movie tickets becomes very expensive very quickly when you are buying for so many people.

But there are still affordable ways to have fun as a family.  One activity our family especially enjoys is camping.

I realize that the great outdoors isn’t everyone’s idea of a good time, but camping offers such a variety of activities that it’s possible to make nearly everyone happy for at least part of the time.

Entertain the Family on the Cheap: Go Camping! These camping tips will help your family enjoy time together without spending a ton of cash. Frugal fun!

Accommodations

Many parks also offer a good variety of places to sleep.  You can rough it as much or as little as you like.  But do keep in mind that the cushier the accommodations, the pricier they get.

Tent camping is the most affordable of the choices.  Some families love the experience of camping in a tent.  If you don’t own one, you probably know someone you can borrow one or a few tents from.  Older kids like the freedom of sleeping in their own tents.

If you plan to tent camp regularly, I recommend investing in a good air mattress like this one (unless you really enjoy roughing it!).

camper cabinCamper Cabins  I almost hate to give this one away!  This is our favorite way to camp these days.

Many (not all) state parks offer camper cabins.  They book far in advance, so it is especially hard to get one for a weekend unless you are a great planner.

We like camper cabins because they come with beds (often 2 sets of bunk beds) and many have a/c and heat.  Some have small extras like small TVs or coffee pots.  They do not offer private bathrooms.

The main perk is that for a little more than the price of a tent spot, you don’t have to set up a tent, you have a sturdier structure in case of rain, and you get a bed to sleep on.  You still get the experiences of cooking your meals over the campfire ring and hanging out as a family in the great outdoors.

RV Rental  Many state parks are also beginning to offer RV rentals.  Rather than buying and hauling  your own RV to the park, you just come and stay in one that is already there.

Cushy cabins  Some state parks offer “resorts” where you can rent a nice cabin with all of the perks (private bathrooms, big screen TVs, etc.).  You might call this one “glamping” rather than camping.  If you don’t mind spending more of your budget on accommodations and you aren’t the kind to rough it, this might be your choice.

Food

Another reason to love camping is that you can just spend your usual grocery budget to feed the family while you are roughing it.

Some of our favorites are foil dinners, kabobs, grilled corn on the cob, roasted canned biscuits (using a dowel rod and roasted over the open flame), hot dogs on a stick, and (of course!) s’mores.

If those ideas aren’t enough to get your creative juices flowing, Pinterest abounds with creative ideas for good camp food.

Activities

When you plan out your trip, you’ll want to come up with some activities to keep everyone busy.  Camping doesn’t usually involve a lot of TV watching.

There are the obvious things like fishing and hiking.  But many state parks or KOAs offer extra things such as:

  • miniature golf
  • Frisbee golf
  • playgrounds
  • swimming
  • paddle boats
  • basketball
  • volleyball
  • tennis
  • and more!

Beyond that, our family really enjoys playing card games together.  The bigger kids enjoy preparing food while we’re camping, too.

Give camping a try!

You might find that your family thrives when they pitch in and help to make your camping experience an enjoyable time.  Our kids love being in the outdoors so much that they forget to beg for screen time.

Does your family have any fun camping traditions?  Or is camping definitely NOT your idea of entertainment?

Outside Activities for Tweens

Outside Activities for Tweens

by | Jul 18, 2015 | Happiness & Giving, Parenting Tips

Outside Activities for Tweens

*This post contains affiliate links.  Your purchase helps to support Medium Sized Family at no additional cost to you.  Thanks for your support!

These days, it’s a never ending battle to get your kids to go outside and play rather than sitting inside and staring at some sort of gaming device or TV set.  Especially as they get older and become “too cool” to play outdoors.

I don’t have to preach to you about obesity rates in America, or the fact that kids aren’t interacting with one another like they used to.

Happily, as parents we have a certain amount of control over that.

I’m a firm believer in forcing the kids to go outside and shutting the door behind them.  And 90% of the time, they will find something fun to do out there.  But it’s a lot easier to talk them into going outside if they are looking forward to doing something special.

Younger kids are usually happy with a simple swing or slide.  But as they approach the age of 10 and 11, those things become less of a challenge and they begin looking for new things to try.

Here are some outside activities for tweens and older children to enjoy.

Older kids are ready for a new type of play.  Many of these suggestions contain a certain amount of risk, and you’ll want to be sure to supervise and teach your child ways to enjoy these activities safely.

I try to keep in mind that scrapes and bruises come with having kids, and it’s just another thing for them to learn from.  But we do what we can to avoid more serious injuries.

Here are some outside the box ideas for putting a new spin on toys they might already own.  Plus some ideas for adding to your yard for fun for the older crowd.

Obstacle Course

With a little guidance, the kids can set up their own obstacle course.  What toys do they already own to use?

  • Hula hoops, taped up pool noodles, or even old tires could be set up to run through or spread out to jump from one to the other.
  • A fallen tree could be a balance beam.
  • Sticks could be jumped over either lying on the ground or propped up on chairs for a bigger challenge.
  • Boxes or rocks could be placed just so to zig zag through.

Encourage them to race each other or themselves for their best time.  Or they could come up with the best creative way for getting through the course.

Rock Wall

Bonus points for having your kids help you build one.  There are tutorials for building one on the side of an existing shed or barn (even basement!), or you can make a free standing one.

These pegs have good reviews, although we haven’t tried them (yet).

Targets

Set up a range for some Nerf gun or BB gun competitions.

You can print out or draw an old fashioned paper target taped to a box.  Stack up cups to be knocked over.  Dangle old cans from a string tied to a stick or tree branch.

Your imagination is the limit!

Fort

A fort can be as much or as little expense and work as you desire.  You can encourage the kids to use objects they find around the house, yard, barn, or shed to create their own makeshift fort.

Or you can buy materials to build a more permanent structure (even a tree house).  Kids love to help and learn from building things with their parents!

As kids get older, this goes from being a fun way to “play house” to a place to have some privacy to read or spend some time on their own.

Trampoline

Kids never seem to tire of jumping on a trampoline.  From trying out different flips and jumps to jumping with a friend, there are so many ways to enjoy it.

This toy is probably not for moms with a weak stomach, but I think that one with a net can be a lot of fun for everyone.  Keep in mind that they still pose a certain risk, so you’ll want to set up some rules.

I recommend checking Craigslist or a Facebook yard sale for local deals, or watch for sales on Amazon or at your local stores.

Zipline

Also not for the faint of heart mother, a zipline is a lot of fun!

You will want to make sure you can find a good location in your yard with proper sized trees before you invest in this one.  Please take precautions such as helmets and seats since many broken bones result from ziplines each year.  (Ask me how I know.)

We own one similar to this zipline, but friends have told me it’s easier and cheaper to make one yourself.

Biking, Skateboarding, Scooters

Riding a bike can be fun and offers your child a certain amount of freedom.

Your child probably already owns a bike or scooter.  If he or she seems bored with it, challenge him or her to set goals for time or distance.  This little bike computer is cheap and adds a new twist to their play.

Sports

My boys can always amuse themselves with the basketball and hoop that we have in our driveway for an hour.  They also love to play kickball.

If your child doesn’t have a buddy to throw with, invest in a pitch back so they can play baseball without chasing it.

These tips will give your kids hours of outside fun.  Maybe they’ll even forget about screen time!

Are we friends on Facebook yet?  I’d love to get your thoughts on parenting, household tips, and ways to save money.  Give Medium Sized Family a like!

I’d love to hear your suggestions for encouraging outside play, especially for older kids!  What makes your kids want to go outside?

The Medium Sized Family

The Medium Sized Family

by | Jul 13, 2015 | Parenting & Household Tips

The Medium Sized Family

As a mom to five kids, I am always looking for tips on how to better manage my time and, honestly, all of the “stuff” that comes with a family of our size.  “Our size” being a mom, a dad, and five kids.

I often thought of 4 kids as the big side of a small family, and 5 kids as the small side of a big family.  But truthfully, we are kind of a medium sized family.  We’re big enough to get stares when we go to a sit down restaurant (are they all yours?) and for rude comments when we announce another pregnancy (don’t you know what causes that?).  But too small for our own reality TV show.  Medium sized.  A happy medium.

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