Back to school, back to routine. It can be a hectic transition, and when thinking of what to feed the little ones during their days at school, you want to ensure they have all the fuel and good nutrition they need to remain sharp. At the same time, you want to make it as quick and easy as possible, especially with that never-ending to-do list! You might be pleasantly surprised at how many snack and healthier food options you’ll find at London Drugs. Check out some clever ideas below for school lunch packing and snacking so your child has the energy needed to get through the school day.

Make Lunches Fun

Firstly, keep packed lunches interesting by providing options. Aim to have at least three of the four food groups in your child’s lunch. From there, mix and match to get the most variety. An example can be some cheese cubes, a ham sandwich and some grapes or a boiled egg, veggies and dip and some apple slices. You can also make lunches more exciting by using cookie cutters to cut shapes from sandwiches, cheese slices, etc.

If your kids don’t like typical lunch foods like sandwiches, why not try skewers? Again, you can mix and match with meat, cheese and veggies or a mix of fruit. BONUS: Include dipping options such as a light ranch or yogurt to make it extra fun.

Food Prep Goes a Long Way

Set aside one day a week to prepare school lunches. This could be prefilling food containers with hummus and carrot sticks or making a big batch of homemade chicken noodle soup for the week ahead.  The goal is to have everything ready so all you have to do is fill up your kids’ lunch boxes the night before or morning of the school day. TIP: PB&J sandwiches can actually be frozen in advance, which makes it a great lunch option to make in large batches. Just pack it in the morning and it will be thawed by lunch time.

Nutritious But Still Delicious!

Along with fresh fruits, veggies, dairy and meat products, you can also pack healthy versions of your child’s favourite sugary snacks (that are just as tasty!) These include Smart Sweets, (no artificial colours or flavours, 3g of sugar and 24g of soluble fibre per bag!), Popcorners Flourish Veggie Crisps, (vegan-friendly and gluten-free) and Made Good Granola Bars and Minis (taste like dessert but contain the nutrients found in one full serving of vegetables!), Adams Peanut Butters (just make sure to check with your child’s school for allergies) and Rudolfs Organic Jams (organic and no added preservatives)

Don’t fear, we’ve got you covered when it comes to specialty diets. Our gluten-free options include Annie’s Organic Fruit Snacks, Bobo’s bars and The Gluten Free Bites. Nature’s Bakery offers tasty bars that are vegan.

For kids with allergies, Enjoy Life Soft Baked Cookies are free of gluten and peanuts, while LaraBars are dairy-free and soy-free. Leclerc Go Pure bars are also peanut-free.

Subscribe for Simplicity

Life gets busy. Between work, picking up and dropping off the kids from school, and taking them to their after-school activities, it doesn’t leave a lot of time for running errands like re-filling the pantry. Luckily, our new Snack Subscription can help with that. It’s an easy way to ensure you’re always stocked up on snacks for school lunches or weekend snacking – without having to run out the door. Simply search up your favourite snack product on our website and check the purchase options for the “subscribe for this product” button. From there, you can choose to receive it every 15, 30, 45, 60 or 90 days.

Pack with Reusables

Say goodbye to plastic bags and bottles and hello to reusable, eco-friendly options! These Lunch Kits, which come with a lunch box and water bottle, are reusable and are a great choice especially if your child’s school doesn’t allow paper or plastic bags for packed lunches. They can even be customized with your child’s favourite photos so they’ll always know which one is theirs. You can order the Lunch Kits in blue/blue, pink/pink and green/white from the London Drugs Photolab.

If you like to pack snacks like vegetables and fruit in small bags, there’s an eco-friendly packing option for that too. Stasher Reusable Food Bags are made with platinum silicone, so they’re durable and can be used over and over again. The material also prevents bacteria growth and is dishwasher and microwave safe!