Because I Said So, Baby

Practical Solutions for Everyday Momlife

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Home
  • About Marla
    • Contact Marla
    • Disclosures & Legal
    • Digital Product Shipping Policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Instagram Links
    • Sponsored
  • Mamahood
    • Pregnancy
    • Baby Mama
    • Breastfeeding
    • How-To
    • Favorite Products
  • Toddlerhood
    • 1 Year Olds
    • 2 Year Olds
    • 3 Year Olds
    • 4 Year Olds
    • Daily Routines
    • Toddler Parenting
    • Preschool Activities
    • How-To
  • Home & DIY
    • Home Management
    • Crafts & DIY
    • Cloth Diapering
    • Holidays & Seasons
  • Meal Ideas
    • Baby-Led Weaning
    • Toddler Meals
    • Toddler Snacks
    • Lunchbox Ideas
    • Holidays & Seasons
  • Shop
    • Store
      • My Account
      • My Cart
      • Checkout
    • My Amazon Store
    • Summer Survival Shopping Guide
    • Favorite Toddler Mealtime Products: Feeding Toddlers Shopping Guide

July 13, 2023 by: Marla

How to Pack a Snack and Lunch for Kindergarten

Email
Pin
Share

Inside: Need to send in a snack and lunch for Kindergarten this school year? I’ll show you how to pack both and keep everything cold and separated! 


Starting Kindergarten feels like a huge milestone, mostly because it is!

Your former preschooler may have been home with you more and now you’re sending them off for a full day of school (and full of worry about what it will be like). 

I’ve sent two kids off to Kindergarten (in the US, this is typically at age 5 or 6), and my 3rd will be ready in a few years. 

And if I’ve learned anything it’s this: It will be great. 

You’ve done the hard work. 

The early toddler wakeups, the playdates, activity planning, endless snacks, and now you’ve arrived. 

You’re in your Kindergarten Mom Era and you are ready!!

But first, if we haven’t “met” on IG, Hi! I’m Marla.

I’m a SAHM to 3 little girls + 3 Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. I teach a self-paced course called the Ultimate Stay at Home Mom Course that will help you get your stay at home mom life on track! 

Marla from Because I Said So, Baby

Inside the course you’ll learn exactly how to establish systems and routines so that your home operates with ease. We even chat about packing lunches, storing your supplies, and systems for making that daily task simple! 

Can’t wait to see you inside the course! 

ultimate stay at home mom course

I vividly remember the night we came home from Open House for the first time.

I sifted through the info from the teacher, trying to absorb all of this new information, while also realizing that packing lunches and snacks was about to become a full-time job. 

That night I knew I would need to come up with a system for making this new task easier and more manageable. 

Kindergarten lunchbox idea

Mom to Mom Tip:

  • At Open House, you’ll most likely receive an information packet from your child’s teacher explaining their snack and lunch policies and procedures. 
  • Most schools will have a policy on sending in peanuts or other common allergens. 
  • Some teachers will have a snack calendar and each parent will have a designated day to send in snacks for the whole class. 
  • Other teachers will require each student to bring in their own afternoon snack. If that’s the case for you, I’ll show you how to pack both a snack and a lunch, plus ideas for both! 
favorite preschool lunchbox gear

How do you pack a snack and lunch for kids?

The main thing to consider here is that the snack and lunch need to be packed in separate containers. 

You don’t want your 5 year old opening up and eating their lunch at snack time, or taking their lunchbox out of the insulated lunch bag just so they can eat their snack. 

  • Ideally, their lunch is in a Bento or other type of container, and their snack is in a separate container, or individually packaged. 
  • You’ll want to pack both containers (snack and lunch) inside an insulated zippered lunch bag with a flat ice pack to keep everything cold. 
  • I’ll also share some easy room temperature snack ideas if you’re unable to keep both their lunch and snack cold.
  • Especially if snacktime isn’t until the afternoon, you may find the ice pack doesn’t keep everything cold for that long. 
how to pack a snack and lunch for kindergarten

How do you pack a lunch for Kindergarten?

My preference is to send lunch in a reusable Bento box. I’ve tested several different brands over the years – with reviews plus pros and cons shared here: Favorite Lunchbox Gear for Kids 

There are so many benefits to using a Bento-style lunchbox:

  • Reusable
  • Less disposable packaging
  • Keeps everything together
  • Pack by component / category  
best lunchboxes for toddlers for preschool

Below I’ll show you how I pack a lunch by component or category. 

I find that this really helps reduce lunch-packing decision-fatigue. Rather than feeling like you constantly have to invent new healthy lunchbox ideas every day, it’s much easier to pack their lunchbox based on components. 

Read: Kindergarten Lunchbox Ideas for Picky Eaters

kindergarten snack ideas

To recap:

  • Review the info on lunches & snacks from your child’s teacher
  • Pack their snack and lunch in a separate container
  • Use a Bento Box to make packing lunches easier 

This post may contain affiliate links. You can read our full disclosure policy, here.

How to Pack a Snack and Lunch for Kindergarten

Now let’s take a look at how you can pack a snack and a lunch for your Kindergartener, plus simple ideas for what to pack using my category/components method. 

  • As we discussed before, you want them to be able to keep their lunch cold during snacktime. This is why it’s essential that their snack is packed in a separate container, bag, or small Bento box (as pictured above). 
  • Another idea is to send a pre-packaged snack (that doesn’t require refrigeration) and to pack it in a side pocket of their backpack or lunchbox (as shown below) that way they don’t have to open their lunch bag at all. 
kindergarten snack ideas
packing snack & lunch for kindergarten

Healthy Snack Ideas to Send in to School

Dried Strawberries + Cheddar Crackers

how to send in a snack and lunch for school
how to send in a separate snack and lunch for school | kindergarten

Get the snack box pictured above on Amazon

MadeGood Cookies + That’s It Bar

storebought snack idea for school

the pre-packaged snacks above can be packed in the zipper pouch of a lunchbox or in the side pocket of their backpack

Cheese Stick + Zbar

easy kindergarten snack ideas

Raisins + Babybel cheese

how to pack a snack and lunch for kindergarten or preschool

String Cheese & Applesauce Pouch

easy snack idea for kindergarten

Related: Easy Preschool Lunchbox Ideas (Make-Ahead)

Healthy Kindergarten Lunch Ideas

Instead of feeling like you need to go down a rabbit hole of lunch ideas or come up with new lunch ideas all the time, it’s much easier to stick to a rotation of 5-10 *favorite* ideas.

These are some of my kids’ all-time favorite lunch ideas that I rotate weekly:

  • Peanut Butter & Jelly
  • Cheese + Crackers + Deli Turkey (aka a lunchable)
  • Make Your Own Pizza (Naan bread rounds + sauce + shredded cheese)
  • Refried Bean & Cheese Taquitos (they actually will eat these cold)
  • Pasta or Mac n Cheese (packed in a thermos)
make your own pizza lunchbox idea

For the other compartments of the Bento Box, I stick to basic sides I know they like:

  • Pretzels or cheese crackers
  • Soft cookies or a bar (like a Larabar or Zbar)
  • Hummus or ranch for dipping
  • Fresh fruit, cucumber or carrot sticks
how to pack a lunch for kindergarten | 5 year old | elementary school

These are all basic ideas. I’m not trying to reinvent the wheel when it comes to packing lunches.

For me, it’s all about creating a system and sticking to it. 

  • Consider your Kindergartener’s favorite foods, plus things that are easy to eat (as they usually don’t have a ton of time for lunch). Write down a list of favorites and stick it on the fridge. 
  • My Ultimate Guide to Toddler Lunchboxes also includes a Bento Box cheat sheet that makes packing lunches so much less work! 
  • Find all of my lunchbox and snack box favorites in my Amazon Storefront
favorite preschool lunchbox gear | kindergarten lunchbox ideas

What to Read Next:

  • 40+ Preschool Snack Ideas
  • Grab-and-Go After School Snacks
  • Ultimate Toddler Lunchbox Guide
  • 1 Year Old Bento Box Lunch Ideas  
kindergarten lunchbox gear

Follow Marla on Instagram for more practical solutions for everyday #momlife

How to Pack a Snack and Lunch for KindergartenHow to Pack a Snack and Lunch for Kindergarten
3 Year Old Preschool Activities at Home
My Nightly Reset Routine as a Stay at Home Mom 

Meet Marla

because I said so baby
the ultimate guide to all things play dough

The Ultimate Guide to Play Dough (Recipes, Storage & Activities)

Feeling Overwhelmed?

Daily Routines

my daily winter break routine with 3 kids

My Daily Winter Break Routine with 3 Kids 

Inside: Ready for the kids to be home for 2 weeks? Instead of wondering “how do I keep my kids busy over Winter Break?” I’ll show you how to create a predictable (but festive!) daily winter break … [Read More...]

Toddler Meals

kid-friendly meal ideas

What I Fed My Family This Week (Kid-Friendly Meal Ideas)

Inside: easy, healthy, kid-friendly meal ideas from my family of 5 AKA what I fed my kids this week. If you’re in need of ideas for quick breakfasts, healthy snacks to lunches & weeknight dinners … [Read More...]

HEY THERE!

Welcome to Because I Said So, Baby, where we're sharing practical solutions for everyday momlife. Where you can find everything from simple baby-led weaning recipes to practical toddler parenting tips. So put those kids down for a nap, grab some coffee, and stay awhile!
Read More…

Enroll in the Ultimate SAHM Course

stay at home mom

  • Contact Marla
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosures & Legal
  • Shop

Copyright © 2025 · Because I Said So, Baby LLC | As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases