I partnered with Zak to share how to pack school lunches according to 1st graders.
I’m entering my 12th year of packing school lunches. Over the years I’ve packed 1-4 lunch boxes for my kids.
My oldest two pretty much take care of their own lunches now when they take one. I was packing school lunches for the twins until this year. They recently informed me they are now 1st graders and “we can pack our own lunches, mom“.
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How to Pack School Lunches According to 1st Graders
They’ve been packing their school lunches in their new Zak Designs Lunch Boxes this week. It’s quite entertaining to see how to pack school lunches according to 1st graders.

New Zak Designs Soft Designs Lunch Box Kits are insulated and include a two compartment bento box and water bottle. Current designs include teddy bears, kitties, and bunnies.
Snacks are a must in school lunches according to 1st graders. Specifically, Fruit by the Foot if you ask my daughter because two boys at the lunch table always have them.
Clearly, it’s all about the snacks at lunchtime. It’s also all about the drinks. My twins use their Zak Water Bottles in their lunches boxes and “all kids should have cool water bottles” according to them.

New Zak Designs Happy Things Lunch Boxes are are insluated and include food containers and water bottles. There are different styles including dual compartment, purse, and rectangular. Designs include unicorns, mermaids, and clouds.
They used to get milk from the lunch lady but waiting in line took up too much time out of their already short lunch period. Now they take their favorite drinks and have more time to eat.
Fruit with tiny sword toothpicks is another thing my twins are packing in their lunch boxes. According to them, they are fun and they don’t have to remember to bring home a fork. Yeah, they accidentally threw away several forks last year.

As long as they are eating the fruit in their lunches and don’t get themselves in trouble with the toothpicks I’ll let them keep packing them. It’s the small things that make them happy when they unzip their lunch boxes.
The other small thing that makes them happy and is a requirement in school lunches in our house are lunch box notes.
One of my children who shall remain nameless had a meltdown at school one day when I forgot to pack one. Now I have a months worth of lunch box notes ready to go so I don’t forget again.

So, the musts when packing school lunches according to 1st graders are:
- Snacks
- Cool Water Bottles
- Fun Utensils
- Lunch Box Note

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