Getting kids to dig into their packed lunch is a near-universal challenge. Even good eaters may prefer to skip past the food and go straight to the running-around-outside part. But fear not: Lunch can be extra-fun—for kids and adults—with a few Target products that can make even healthy bites super exciting. From crafty tips that offer a little eye appeal to trinkets that boost the fun factor, these lunchbox hacks will keep them fully interested—and fueled.
Say It With A Sticker
Nothing says “I Love You” quite like a note from mom, but what about a sticker, for even more pizzazz? This fall, when you pack delicious, seven-ingredient Pumpkin Pie Date & Nut Bars for your kids’ super healthy lunchtime snacks, decorate them with fun stickers (we like Target’s Sports, Animals, and Ice Cream Stickers). You can also place a whole sheet of stickers inside their bag so your rockstar kid can share them with friends, making lunchtime a moment to remember.
Write It In Code
Instead of writing your lunchbox notes the traditional way, make them more playful by sending a note in code. Why not try rebus, a type of note that combines pictures with words (instead of the letter I, draw a picture of an eye; instead of the word “love,” draw a picture of a knit glove, so that kids can sound the words out). Or, develop your own code, with numbers standing in for letters, and a secret key for kids to use for deciphering, allowing them to step into the role of ace detective.
Collect Them All
Keep kids engaged at lunchtime by playing a game with them that lasts all week. Make your own simple puzzle out of a drawing or family picture by cutting an image into five pieces, and place each piece in a small envelope attached to one of their favorite snacks, like Target’s Organic Sweet Potato Corn Tortilla Chips. All week, your child will have something to look forward to–and a puzzle to solve come Friday.
Tiny Trinkets
They’ll want to open their lunch bag if you pack surprises like cheeky erasers, vibrant colored pencils, and even cool pencils that smell like fruit. Adding even one or two at a time can be a huge motivator to keep them into lunch—and the whole school day. A blueberry-scented pencil for math class? Yes!
Become The Craft Master
Decorate lunch box additions so that they feel like more than just lunch. Classic Guacamole Mini Cups take on a whole new life with the addition of glitter paint. Adorn snacks with your kids’ first initial so that when they open their lunchboxes, the first thing that comes out of their mouths is: Wow!
