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Lunch Box Notes and Supplies I Pack for My Daughter Every Single Day
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items Packing her lunch used to be just food in a bag. Then I started slipping in a little note, and she told me she saves every one. If you're a parent who wants to make the cafeteria feel a little less lonely and a lot more loved, this is everything I us...
Sections
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Lunch Notes and Stationery She Actually Keeps
Lunch Boxes That Actually Fit Notes Inside
Snacks Worth Writing a Note About
Drink Options That Survive Until Lunch
Lunch Containers That Keep Food Fresh and Notes Dry
Little Extras That Make the Lunch Box Special
Lunch Notes and Stationery She Actually Keeps
She started a shoebox collection of every note I've ever written her. Finding the right paper and pens that don't smudge against a cold juice box was harder than I expected.
Grab this for writing notes ahead of time on Sunday nights. I tear out pages and fold them into her sandwich bag. The paper is thick enough that peanut butter grease doesn't bleed through.
Erin Condren Petite Journal
Use these because they dry instantly and never smear inside her lunch bag. My daughter ranks them by color. Apparently purple notes are her favorite and black ones are boring.
Paper Mate Flair Felt Tip Pens, Medium Point (0.7 mm)
Keep a stack of these on the kitchen counter for mornings when I'm running late. Slap one on her apple with a quick doodle and she thinks I spent twenty minutes on it.
(2 pack) Post-it Super Sticky Notes, 3" x 3"
Stick these right on her water bottle with a tiny message. She peels them off and puts them on her binder at school. Her teacher told me about it at conferences and I almost cried.
Avery, Address Labels, 1" x 2-5/8", White, 750 Labels (8160)
For the mornings when she wants to write ME a note back. She tucks her reply in my work bag. If you're a parent who travels for work, these little exchanges will wreck you in the best way.
Crayola, Colored Pencils, 24 Count
Toss one of these in with the note on Fridays as a little end-of-week bonus. My kid's friends now crowd around her at lunch to smell the pizza sticker. She loves the attention.
Halloween Candy Scratch 'n Sniff Stickers
Switch to this if your kid is younger and still learning to read. I draw pictures on the blank half and write one sentence below. My daughter kept her kindergarten ones and still flips through them.
Mead Primary Journal, 12 Pack, Half Page Ruled
Lunch Boxes That Actually Fit Notes Inside
I went through three lunch boxes before finding ones where a folded note doesn't get crushed between a thermos and an ice pack. Size and layout matter more than you'd think.
Try this if your kid's lunch box is a disaster zone. The compartments keep food separated AND there's a flat spot on the lid where I tape her note so it's the first thing she sees.
Bentgo Kids Prints Leak-Proof
Use this during summer camp when everything melts by noon. The whole bag is an ice pack so I don't need extra ones taking up note space. She reads her note while eating cold grapes.
Customer reviews for Packit Freezable Classic Lunch Box
Pair this with a note wrapped around the outside secured with a rubber band. Soup stays hot for five hours and she gets a little message before she unscrews the lid.
Thermos Vacuum Insulated Funtainer Food Jar, Frozen
Snag this for an older kid who thinks cartoon lunch boxes are embarrassing. Clean design, fits in a backpack side pocket, and the lid has enough room to tuck a note under the seal.
Bentgo Fresh, Leak-Proof
Worth it because this thing survives being dropped on cafeteria tile daily. I wrap a note around it with a hair tie. She says unwrapping it feels like opening a tiny present.
YETI Rambler Jr. 12 oz Kids Bottle, with Straw Cap
Bring this one out for field trip days when everything gets tossed around on the bus. Sturdy enough that her note doesn't get crumpled. The inside pocket is basically a note holder.
Our Guarantee
Get this if you're tired of buying separate containers. Three sections plus a snap lid that has just enough clearance to slide a folded note on top of the food.
Fit & Fresh Kids 14 Piece Leak-Proof Lunch Container Set
Snacks Worth Writing a Note About
Half the fun is matching the note to the snack. When I pack goldfish crackers, the note says something about being a great catch. Her eye rolls fuel me.
Pair these with a note that says 'You're the snack that smiles back.' She groaned the first time. Now she expects a fish pun every time she sees the bag. You can't stop once you start.
Goldfish Cheddar Cheese Crackers, Snack Pack
Swap these in when you want to feel like a slightly healthier parent. My note said ‘Some bunny loves you’ and her friend asked if she could get lunch notes from me too.
Annie's Homegrown Organic Cheddar Bunnies Baked
Toss this in on gym days with a note about crushing it at kickball. Enough protein to keep her going and soft enough that she can eat it fast before recess starts.
ZBAR Organic Chocolate Chip Soft Baked Granola Bars
Keep a box of these for lazy packing mornings. Write the note directly on the pouch with a Sharpie. She told me that's cheating but she still smiled about it.
GoGo SqueeZ Applesauce
Use these as the Friday treat. I attach the note to the packet with a mini clothespin and write something about making it through another week. She keeps the clothespins too.
Welch's, Fruit Snacks, 40 Ct, Mixed Fruit Soft Snacks
Get these if your kid's school is nut-free. Taste close enough to peanut butter cups that she doesn't complain, and the wrapper has enough space to write a tiny message with a felt tip pen.
SunButter, Sunflower Seed Butter, Creamy, 1.5 oz, 6 Ct
Try writing 'You're the treasure' on a note and tucking it in next to this bag. My daughter said it was corny. Then I found the note taped inside her locker two weeks later.
Pirate's Booty Aged White Cheddar Cheese Puffs Party
Drink Options That Survive Until Lunch
Nothing ruins a sweet note faster than a leaky juice box soaking through the paper. I learned this the hard way three times before switching up what I pack.
Grab these because they've never leaked on me once. I tape the note to the straw so she has to read it before she can drink. Forced affection is still affection.
Customer reviews for Honest Kids Organic Fruit Juice Drink
Keep these in the pantry for when you forget to buy the fancy stuff. She doesn't care about the brand, she cares about the note. These are cheap and reliable.
Capri Sun 100% Juice Variety Pack Box Pouches 6 fl. Oz.
Switch to these if your kid does sports after school. Less sugar than juice and she actually asks for them now. Write the note on a Post-it and stick it right on the pouch.
(2 pack) ZICO Original Coconut Water
Use these as the baseline. Every kid drinks apple juice, no complaints, no drama. Frees up your creative energy for the note instead of negotiating about beverages at 7 AM.
Mott's Kids Juice Variety Pack, 6.75 fl oz Drink Boxes
Ditch the disposables on days when you're feeling environmentally responsible. Tie a note to the handle with a ribbon. She reuses the ribbons as bookmarks.
Customer reviews for Contigo Kids Straw Water Bottle
Try this for the kid who says regular water is boring but you're tired of sugar. Slightly sweet, comes in a carton that's easy to write on directly. Two birds, one Sharpie.
Vita Coco Coconut Water, 11.1 fl oz, 12 Pack
Get this for daily use and slip the note under the rubber band you keep around it. Spill-proof even when she drops it, which is every single day without exception.
Camelbak eddy+ Kids 14oz Water Bottle, Grapefruit
Lunch Containers That Keep Food Fresh and Notes Dry
The note goes in first, food goes on top. That only works if your containers actually seal. I ruined a really good note about how proud I was of her math test because yogurt leaked on it.
Snap these shut and nothing gets in or out. I put the note in the lid compartment and her sandwich below. Crystal clear so she can see there's a note before she even opens it.
Rubbermaid, Food Storage Container, 9.6 Cup
Use these for hot foods you prep the night before. Microwave safe if her school has one. Heavier than plastic but the seal is airtight, which means dry notes every time.
Pyrex Simply Store Glass Bakeware Set, 14 Piece
Pair this with a note tucked into the utensil tray on top. Four compartments means balanced meals and a designated spot for the daily message. She calls it her mailbox.
Sistema Lunch Box with Compartments, 1.4 L Lunch Cube
Grab the small ones for dips and hummus. I roll up a tiny note and wedge it between two containers in her lunch bag. Finding it is like a little scavenger hunt.
OXO Good Grips Prep and Go White BPA-free plastic Food
Keep it simple on busy mornings. Cheap, disposable, and I write directly on the lid with a dry erase marker. She wipes it off and I rewrite the next day. Sustainable-ish.
Ziploc Storage Containers Medium Square 3 Pack One
Switch to this if you're trying to cut down on plastic. Slides open easily for little hands and the note sits right on top of the sandwich visible through the clear silicone.
Stasher Reusable Silicone Storage Bag, 3 Pack
Get this for the kid who drops everything. Stainless steel survives the cafeteria floor and the three sections keep her carrots away from her crackers and her note safe in the corner.
LunchBots Medium Trio II Stainless Steel Snack Container
Little Extras That Make the Lunch Box Special
Sometimes the note needs backup. A tiny toy, a printed joke, a photo from the weekend. These small additions turned her lunch from routine into something she brags about to her table.
Snap a photo of the dog being ridiculous and tuck it in with her lunch. She started a wall of Instax photos above her desk. Cheaper than therapy for both of us.
Fujifilm INSTAX Mini Instant Film Twin Pack
Toss one in on random days with a note that says ‘wear this if you need extra bravery today.’ She put a dragon on her hand before a spelling test and got every word right.
Melissa & Doug Temporary Tattoos: Jewelry
Slip this in when she's had a rough morning. Something about squishing putty at lunch resets her mood. Her teacher allows it as long as it stays at the table.
Customer reviews for Crayola Original Silly Putty (Pack of 5)
Try these for the kid who finishes eating in four minutes and has nothing to do. She makes little sculptures at the lunch table and brings them home like trophies.
Wikki Stix DIY Craft Making Activity Kit for Children's
Snag one of these for report card days or when she nails something hard. Tiny enough to fit in any lunch box and the surprise factor makes her lose her mind.
Littlest Pet Shop Pet Surprise Blinds Series 6, Multicolor
Use the leftover string from this to tie a note into a scroll. Fancy presentation for a Tuesday. She unrolled it in front of her friends like a royal decree.
ALEX Toys Craft 3D Stellar String Art
Get this for a birthday lunch surprise or first day of school. Bigger than a daily extra but the look on her face when she opened her lunch box was worth the tight fit.
Creativity for Kids Mini Garden - Unicorn Easter Basket Filler
Organization Supplies So You Actually Keep Doing This
Writing a note every single day sounds sweet until it's Wednesday and you have nothing to say. These keep me stocked and prepped so I never send her to school without one.
Keep this on your nightstand and jot down note ideas before bed. I have three full notebooks now. Someday I'll give them to her and she'll see how much I thought about her every night.
Pen+Gear Composition Book, Wide Ruled
Use these to write on literally anything in the lunch box. Containers, bags, napkins, banana peels. Yes, banana peels. She peeled it and found 'you're a-peeling' and almost choked laughing.
Sharpie Permanent Markers, Fine Point
Try this for sealing folded notes shut so she has to tear them open. The ripping is half the fun apparently. Also works for decorating the outside of plain brown bags.
Scotch, Washi Tape, 8-Pack, Assorted Colors and Patterns
Stick these inside your pantry door and hang a small bag of pre-written notes for the week. Sunday night prep means zero thinking on hectic mornings. Just grab and toss in.
Command Clear Mini Hooks Mega Pack, 42 Hooks, 48 Strips
Grab the neon ones so she spots the note immediately. I write on these and stick them on her napkin. Bright yellow on a white napkin is impossible to miss even in a loud cafeteria.
Avery Removable Labels, 1/2" x 1-3/4", Neon, 180 Count
Dedicate one of these to your lunch note supplies. Pens, stickers, mini tape, labels, all in one spot. Took me out of the ‘where did I put the markers’ spiral every morning.
Five Star 9-Pocket Zipper Pencil Pouch NavyPink
Hang this in the kitchen and pin that week's note ideas to it. When she catches me planning, she pretends not to care. But she stands there reading them with a huge grin when she thinks I'm not looking.
Customer reviews for Quartet Cork Bulletin Board, 17" x 23"