I actually LOVE lunch box packing. Crazy, I know, but it’s truly fun for me because I can be creative and mix-and-match my kiddos’ favorites to pack up a fun meal that they’ll love unboxing… and eating! But with 5 kids, 4 of whom are now in school, it’s getting more and more difficult to fully put together a bunch of nutritious lunch boxes the mornings of school days.

Make Ahead Lunch Box Ideas

This post is sponsored by Horizon Organic, all opinions are my own.

You also have a bit more time to enter the #HorizonConfiDANCE challenge! For every video uploaded to Instagram or Facebook using the #HorizonConfiDANCE hashtag before September 30, Horizon Organic will contribute $5 to the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, up to $200,000. The video can just show you and your fam’s best dance moves to celebrate a life win, like packing Horizon® Organic milk boxes and cheese sticks to take the crazy out of school lunch box packing! I can’t wait to see all your best moves.

Now enter: the fabulously convenient concept that is make-ahead lunches. These work so well because you just pick veggies, fruit, and proteins that don’t get too soft, mushy, or, ya know, weird in the fridge. We aren’t going with peeled and sliced bananas or baked sweet potato fries, here. It’s more like carrot and celery sticks with hummus, fresh grapes, and rolled up sliced turkey… Basically, the things you know will keep well when you put them together on Sunday until lunch time later in the week!

That’s why I’m thrilled to get to partner with one of my favorite brands of all time once again: Horizon Organic. Their organic cheese sticks and organic chocolate single-serve milk boxes are PERFECT additions to a make-ahead lunch box! I mean, school lunches are just meant to have chocolate milk, don’t you think? Horizon’s cheese sticks and milk boxes are staples in my fridge and in my kids’ lunches because they make lunch packing easy and round out a nutritious meal.

How, you ask? Horizon Organic milk boxes have 8 grams of protein, and they deliver a solid source of calcium and vitamins D and B2. Plus, the cheese sticks are another source of goodness with on-the-go organic protein from Horizon Organic. They’re available in mozzarella and Colby, making them a great option for even the pickiest eaters! Best of all, Horizon believes “real” is what matters, and I happen to agree wholeheartedly. Power up young’uns with the goodness of protein, vitamins, and calcium, without any artificial stuff packed in them.

Tips for making lunches ahead of time:

1. Skip things like bread, chips, crackers, and tortillas. They get soft in the fridge over time. Healthy muffins, pasta, and grains, like rice and beans, last better.
2. Look for proteins that lasts well, like hummus, yogurt, boiled eggs, and our favorite Horizon Organic cheese sticks.
3. Pick firm fruits and vegetables, like carrots, broccoli, mandarin oranges, and plums. Blueberries last longer than softer berries, like raspberries or strawberries. I skip things like sliced cucumbers, sliced apples, and bananas when it comes to make-ahead lunch boxes.
4. I like to use a muffin wrapper to keep the little things like chocolate chips contained.

If you make these 5 lunch boxes this week, you’ll need to prep a few veggies and make one recipe of pepperoni pizza muffins, a batch or zucchini muffins, and a few boiled eggs. But I promise it’s all SO easy and without much effort — especially on your busy mornings getting out the door!

BONUS TIP: If you have little ones at home, pack them a lunch while you are making them for all the school kids. It’s so fun for them and makes weekday lunches at home easier for you.

Let’s dive deeper into each lunchbox!

One chocolate zucchini muffin (whole grain and naturally sweetened, recipe coming Friday!) to recipe, boiled eggs, organic grapes, mini bell peppers, Horizon Organic cheese stick, a few organic chocolate chips for dessert, and Horizon Organic chocolate single-serve milk boxes.

Pasta with pesto, blueberries, mini bell peppers, Horizon Organic cheese stick, a few organic chocolate chips for dessert, and Horizon Organic chocolate single-serve milk boxes.

Easy Pepperoni Pizza muffins, marinara for dipping, broccoli, a clementine, a few organic chocolate chips for dessert, and Horizon Organic chocolate single-serve milk boxes.

Ham rolls, organic hummus for dipping, kiwi, cauliflower and broccoli, mini bell peppers, Horizon Organic cheese stick, and Horizon Organic chocolate single-serve milk boxes.

Chocolate zucchini muffin, plum, kiwi, organic yogurt, garden carrots, a few organic chocolate chips for dessert, and Horizon Organic chocolate single-serve milk boxes.

Other Lunch Box Inspiration and Recipes:

• Six Quick and Easy Hummus Lunch Boxes
• 6 Sandwich-on-a-Stick Packed Lunch Box Ideas
• 12 Healthy Lunch Box Ideas for Kids or Adults
• 8 Wholesome Lunch-Box Ideas for Adults or Kids
• 5 Secrets to Healthy Packed Lunch Success!
• All kinds of lunch box inspiration!
• Lunch Box Ideas

I hope these make-ahead lunches along with Horizon Organic milk boxes and cheese sticks help take the crazy out of school lunch box packing!