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8.25.2009

Tutorial Tuesday - How to Make 10 School Lunches in 5 Minutes

Originally posted August 2009...enjoy!

I saw this someplace on a blog last year and stored it in my brain like a squirrel stores a nut. It scratched it's way to the surface this week as I geared up to send my babies back to big bad school.

I don't know about you, but my kids never give me enough warning that they'd like to pack their lunches on any given day. And when they do, it's right when I'm making three different breakfasts, yelling about brushing their teeth, asking why they pulled their favorite shirt out of the laundry, or reading spelling words while they tie their shoes.

I have three kids to get ready in the mornings and packing lunch at the last minute is one of those things that just sets me off at 8 o'clock in the morning.

I saw this last school year and I swear I saw a beam of light shine on it from the heavens and heard angels sing. This could change my life, for real.

Once a week, take a loaf of bread;



Lay out 10 pairs (today is PB & J, but it's just as easy to do ham and cheese, turkey and cheese, bologna...whatever) and put it together assembly line style. Go right down the line, baby, it's no big thang!


Stick those bad boys back in the bag:



Double bag 'em to avoid freezer burn:



Stick 'em in the freezer to wait their turn for last minute lunch duty. Oh yeah:



See? 10 sammies lickety split, no stress, no me going all mommy dearest on the boys for springing it on me at the last minute. Nice.

Hey, guess what? I'm off visiting today. I'm spreading the Tutorial Tuesday love and posting for Fave Crafts today! This is an oldie-but-goodie and my favorite type of craft. It doesn't involve running to the store, just using up all of the junk we have lying around the house! Even if you've seen it before, it's worth a trip over to Fave Crafts to check out my Reversible Fabric Scrap Apron Tutorial...come on you know you want to...click it!

17 comments:

  1. ahahahahh Jennifer nice post, and interesting tutorial. Well, I haven't kids, but in future I will be ready! Thank you :D

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  2. Making lunches on the fly under time pressure is exhausting! - besides usually leaving the kitchen a wreck! Thanks for the tip! I never could understand why anyone would buy those uncrustables when PB&J are so easy to make!

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  3. Love it. I don't have kids in school yet but I will definitely keep this in mind. Great idea.

    Oh, and thanks for stopping by the blog and giving me the tip on where to find dominos. I had not even thought about the $ store. Thanks so much!

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  4. Nice to see I'm not alone with the last minute lunch sprint. I only have one, and it sets me off, I can't imagine having three on short notice. Great idea! I just made my "loaf-o-samiches" and stuck them in the freezer for emergencies!! I think you just saved your nephews life! ha-ha!

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  5. My girls are past the point of me making thier lunches, I wish I had known this trick about 5-10 years ago! But the hubby takes his lunch to work everyday. I think I will give this a try but take it one step further and go ahead and bag these sammies up in baggies before I put them back in the bag, one less step for me in the a.m.!! Heck, he could probably even fix his own lunch! That would be nice!! :)

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  6. I saw that tutorial last spring as well! It was a blogger featured on SITS! My kids are going to pre-k and kinder, but I bet I could do this anyway!

    stopping by after reading a great comment you made from the R Family Diaries.

    became a follower! :)

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  7. thankyouthankyouthankyou! i hate making lunches for some reason and this year i will have three to do, as well! this is an incredible idea. thanks!

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  8. Jennifer,
    Great idea about double bagging the bread before putting it in the freezer! You are one lucky gal going to Paris soon, woo, woo!
    Cathy

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  9. Fabulous idea...I am always looking for ways to simplify my life and save on time!

    Smooches,
    Sassy Chica

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  10. Love the assembly line idea. I don't have kids, but this could also work for me because I'm always making a mad dash to work in the mornings and then have to figure out what to do for lunch.

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  11. Love that apron! Cuuutee...so have you found any trash to redo for the party yet? Come on go to freecycle or craigslist or a back alley...you can do it.

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  12. holy crap, is that a GOOD idea for sandwiches!!!! LOVE IT!!!!! I too will be packing for 3 kiddos and in a rush so that the 4th can get to preschool on time, and this method would be an awesome positive change in the morning!!! thanks for passing along Jen!

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  13. Ha I don't have kids so your assembly line of sandwiches had me cracking up. You need to frame that picture in your kitchen!

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  14. What a super time saver.
    Ooh, I ADORE that apron, btw. Love, love that apron. Would you like my address? I accept gifts. Tee hee hee ;)

    Have a great day!
    XO*Tricia

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  15. Would have never thought of pre-making sandwiches for the freezer...thank you for your knowledge, or should I say my daughter thanks you!

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