Taking

Beyond the basic lunchbox needs, the school year involves a whirlwind of extracurriculars that make on-the-go meals a must. As the sports practices and games, club meetings, and other events fill your calendar, consider a few fun ways to get kids to help with the packing. First, set up your fridge and pantry so each lunchbox item is easily visible and grabbable, then post a lunchbox formula in the kitchen; for instance, “sandwich + fruit + side + drink + dessert.” After dinner each night, have the kids cycle through both spots to fill their lunchboxes using the guide. For pre-made sandwiches, have them add their toppings of choice (Boar’s Head Honey Mustard or Real Mayonnaise, etc.) that evening.

And speaking of pre-made, try this fun and time-saving group activity: Once a week, have the kids gather to set out all their sandwich or lunch items assembly-line style, then get them to build and package as many different variations as they’ll need for the week. Stick to easy-to-make favorites like this Boar’s Head Smokemaster^® Ham and Swiss Croissant or this Boar’s Head Easy Bento, then place them in the fridge so they’re ready to grab when the kids put together their lunchboxes each weeknight.