I can't believe it's back to school time already! Time to gather up those school supplies, make sure clothing still fits, and dust off those lunch bags and lunch boxes that have been sitting in the back of the cabinet or pantry for the summer.
I've put together a BUNCH of my round-up posts all in one place. Just bookmark or PIN this post and you'll have HUNDREDS of lunch ideas right at your fingertips!
This post and sweepstakes is sponsored by Enjoy Life Foods. All opinions are my own. Disclosure.
I've been keeping a secret from you all.
For some time now, I've been working with our friends at Enjoy Life Foods on a fun video and some lunch recipes that are free-from the top allergens and gluten!
Not only that, but today launches Enjoy Life Food's HUGE Sweepstakes and LunchFreely.com website!
There will be ONE GRAND PRIZE and there will be FIVE Runner-Up Prizes each week!! New recipes and sweepstakes details are in the post below.
This post has been sponsored by Horizon Organic. All comments and opinions are my own.
Although I cannot have dairy like I use to, that doesn't stop my Little Miss and the fella from enjoying it. And because I encourage my family to live a healthy lifestyle, I try to make sure that the dairy they do have is Organic.
Horizon Organic helps me do that. They offer wholesome nutrients in convenient products so that we can pack great lunches.
Don't let lunch be a daunting task. Think simple. Stick to the basics. Not everything has to be butterfly cutouts and food coloring markers in order to wow your kiddos when they open their lunch box!
{Keep reading for simple & delicious ideas below}
We started using Udi's Gluten Free products over three years ago when we had to remove gluten from Little Miss' diet.
Since then, we've been packing their delicious goods in our work and school lunches and sharing those ideas here on the blog and through social media.
We want your family to be able to pack great lunches too. That's why Udi's has partnered with us to bring you an amazing back-to-school lunch giveaway!
One of the questions I'm asked most frequently is how we store our lunches flat - either care wise or lunch bag recommendations.
Not every lunch is intricate, but when I take the time to make Little Miss something extra creative we typically send a lunch bag to keep it "neat" and organized. Thankfully Little Miss is quite accustomed to this, and bless her heart she loves showing off her Mama's creations, so she does a great job to not swing her bag all around or throw it in her locker.
One of the reasons she loves using her Planetbox lunch containers is because of their sleek look and how they nicely keep her foods organized and divided.
So, when our friends at Planetbox contacted us about their latest product - the New JetPack Backpacks - Little Miss was happy to test it out!
Do you subscribe to Parents Magazine?
If so, you might have read the great article in the September 2014 issue about Food Allergies in Schools. If you don't have the hard copy, you can read the article online by clicking here.
I was honored to be interviewed for the article and share a few personal experiences dealing with food allergies at school for my Little Miss.
While checking out the issue, there was a snippet inside for Family Fun Magazine and their Treat of the Month which happened to be a fun school bus lunch for back-to-school called "Miles of Smiles". I couldn't think of a more fun way to celebrate Little Miss' first full day of the new school year than with an extra special school bento lunch!
You probably read the title and thought... what? Sandwich Cupcake? Cheese Icing?!
Yup. Let me explain.
My friends at Chebe contacted me to come up with a yummy recipe that could be great for back-to-school lunches. They're running a great deal this week on a 12 pack purchase (featuring their pizza crust, all-purpose, and cinnamon mixes).
After watching a recent episode of Eat St. on Food Network, I saw them make some amazing Italian Cupcakes and thought "how awesome would that be with gluten free Chebe Mix!?"
And so they were born.
Day 4 of our Pack a Healthier Lunch week thanks to Pacific Foods,USA Pears, Franz Bakery, & ECOlunchboxes.
Today let's discuss toasted sandwiches.
There are so many ways to fill and make them: Cheese (dairy or non-dairy), avocado, bacon, tomatoes, deli meat, nut-free spread & banana slices (oh yes!), chicken parm... and well, the possibilities are endless.
Little Miss' favorite? The traditional toasted cheese with tomato soup for dunking! It was always my favorite as a kid, too.
Thanks to Pacific Foods, I can whip her up some Gluten Free, Soy Free Organic Tomato Soup in no-time + using our Franz Bakery Gluten, Dairy, Soy, & Nut Free 7-Grains Bread to make her sandwich.
Day 3 of our Pack a Healthier Lunch week & Giveaway thanks to Pacific Foods, USA Pears, Franz Bakery, & ECOlunchboxes!
One thing we love packing for lunches are salads. I'm very blessed that my Little Miss loves a salad as much as I do (so long as I don't pack them every day for her, lol). This began by setting an example - I would eat mine and "ooo" and "ahh" over how good it was, all the vitamins I was getting, etc.
She eventually became curious and wanted to try for herself. Guess what? She loved it. At that time, she actually preferred spinach salads over romaine but will now eat both. I usually mix her greens when I make them now.
I, too, pack salads frequently for work. I don't want to eat the same one every.single.day so it's good to mix it up with new toppings and variety. That's where today's lunch idea comes in! A yummy Pear & Seed Chicken Salad packed in our ECOlunchbox cube.
Welcome to Day 2 of our Pack a Healthier Lunch week thanks to Pacific Foods!
In case you missed yesterday's post, we kicked off the week by starting a giveaway and including a yummy recipe for gluten free & allergy friendly Tomato Soup Carrot Muffins. Be sure to check it out!
Today's recipe is one of my favorites: A smoothie! I make myself a smoothie almost every single day. Sometimes I make them fresh in the morning and drink them on the way to work. Other times I make a big batch ahead and freeze them in plastic freezable jars so that they're perfect by lunch.
That's what's so great about our recipe today - Enjoy it fresh for breakfast or make it ahead and freeze for lunches! Filled with protein and fresh fruit, it's sure to be a hit with your family!
Pacific Foods has partnered with a few bloggers, as well as, USA Pears, ECOlunchbox, & Justin's Nut Butter to launch a Back-to-School Campaign on Packing a Healthier Lunch!
I'll be sharing a new post each day this week (Monday through Friday) with a yummy lunchbox idea & recipes - so make sure to come back each day to see what's fresh!
You'll also get the chance to WIN a huge prize package from the above mentioned brands (except Justin's we opted out because of Little Miss' allergy) exactly like the one we received and you'll find pictured in the post below, including a yummy loaf of gluten free & allergy friendly bread from Franz Bakery! ENTER TO WIN!!
First up, I'm sharing a recipe that's a play on an old classic - Tomato Soup Cake. Only ours are muffins, healthier, gluten free, allergy friendly, and perfect for lunches!
{Day 7} GIVEAWAYS FOR DAYS!
Helping you win goodies for back-to-school & beyond!
The quintessential back-to-school necessity: A backpack. With all the varying styles, sizes, and characters available it can get overwhelming (and expensive, let's be real).
What I love about Schoolbags for Kids, which is now known as Bixbee, is their "One Here. One There." mission. For every backpack purchased from them, they donate a backpack with supplies to a child in need. Love that!
Here's your chance to learn more about Bixbee, named after their mascot Bixbee the Bee, and WIN a backpack of your own! What better way to share the Bixbee/ Schoolbags for Kids mission than sport the bag and share their story!
Day 7: WIN a Bixbee Signature Collection Backpack
Choice of Purple, Pink, Black, Green, or Blue
{Day 6} GIVEAWAYS FOR DAYS!
Helping you win goodies for back-to-school & beyond!
If you scroll through the lunch posts on KeeleyMcGuire.com, it's pretty apparent the lunch box we used most are our EasyLunchboxes.
So, what better way to kick off back-to-school then to give a complete system away!
Day 6: WIN an EasyLunchboxes Complete Lunch System!
(1) Set of EasyLunchboxes - 4 Pack: Choice of Classic or Brights Lids, (1) Lunch Cooler: Choice of Cooler Color, & (1) 8-Pack Set of Mini-Dippers.
August is among us, my friends. That means back to school!
Time to have the kiddos try on their sneakers and jeans, find out what still fits and what doesn't. Make sure there are no rips, holes, or stains on backpacks, coats, etc. and go buy new, if need be.
Supply lists of notebooks, pencils, scissors, markers, and crayons. Barbie folders or Hello Kitty? Tough decisions.
It also means for food allergy families (or those on special diets with an intolerance, for example) refilling numerous prescriptions - like inhalers and epinephrine injectors, 504 meetings and plans, and figuring out how to clearly manage the school year as safely and educated as possible.
I'm often asked what are my favorite lunch boxes, allergy ID tags, bracelets, food allergy t'shirts, and labels for my own daughter for school. So, I decided to put together a nice post of "Must Haves", featuring just some of the items we love, that can help give you ideas for your own family as you prepare for back to school!
ETA: This post has been updated for 2016
I have long coveted the PlanetBox systems.
Their sleek stainless steel look. Compartmentalized for perfect portion control. Dishwasher safe (though I still need a dishwasher to actually enjoy *that* part, HA!). Fun magnets that are appealing to kids. Waste free and eco-friendly.
So, imagine how thrilled I was when PlanetBox offered me one of their new Shuttle Systems for review and use.
Little Miss and I have both put the box to the "test" and enjoyed packing our allergy friendly & gluten free lunches inside!
I first met the fabulous Julie of Kid-e Tag™ through their facebook page. I immediately fell in love with their products and mission.
Julie is a mom of two boys with food and drug allergies, so she understands the importance of communicating allergies and having that information readily available, should an emergency occur. That's why she created Kid-e Tag™.
Pack it Fresh. Pack it Fast. Pack it Healthy.
For the past few months , I've featured MOMables lunch menu plans each Monday right here on KeeleyMcGuire.com.
Little Miss is so happy to be back in school! So far she is loving her new class and teacher. I could not be more thankful!
She asked to take her Goodbyn Bynto box tomorrow, so I happily obliged:
My baby girl started second grade today! *sniff sniff*
I am putting an end to this: No more growing. Nope! She's not allowed. ;)
Today was only a half day but Tuesday will be there first full day so I made her a special Second Grade bento lunch to celebrate going back-to-school.
Hey friends, do I have a treat for YOU ...and just in time for back-to-school!
The wonderful folks at AllerblingTM have teamed up with Keeley McGuire Blog to giveaway one Full AllerblingTM Kit to THREE lucky winners!!
That's right, I have THREE kits to giveaway!! WOO!
