Back-to-School Essentials: Lunchbox Inspiration

The back-to-school season always comes with the hustle and bustle of preparing for a new school year. It’s a time when families juggle schedules, supplies, and of course, meals. But fear not! Ingredients by Saputo is here to be your go-to culinary assistant in ensuring a smooth, nutritious, and budget-friendly transition back to school. Let us help you conquer the school year with ease, by offering delicious meal and snack ideas that keep your family fuelled and ready for success.

Planning Ahead for a Smooth School Year

Importance of Meal Planning

Meal planning is a lifesaver for busy families, and it’s easier than you think. By planning your weekly meals, you can save time, reduce stress, and ensure your family enjoys balanced and nutritious meals. How to do efficient meal planning in 5 steps?

1. Pick a planning day: select a specific and consistent day each week to plan your meals. Sunday works well since it’s right before the new week begins!
2. Make an inventory check: before planning, see what you already have in the pantry to avoid buying duplicates. Use what you have to save money and reduce waste.
3. Prep in Batches: cook in bulk and prepare large quantities of staples like grains, proteins, and vegetables. This makes assembling meals quicker during the week.
4. Involve the Family: ask family members for meal suggestions to get everyone involved. Share the load and assign tasks like chopping or washing produce.
5. Don't forget to incorporate some of our dairy products into your plan from some of the brands you may already know and love! Armstrong, Milk2Go, Dairyland, Neilson, the list goes on!

Stocking Up on Essentials 

Keeping your pantry and fridge stocked with essentials can make a world of difference. Easy-to-grab snacks from various food groups, including high-protein options like our Armstrong Cheese Snacks, are a must. And don’t forget about Milk2Go – with their convenient 6-pack of 2% Partly Skimmed Milk and Chocolate Milk bottles, you can grab one for every day of the week!

Grab-and-Go Options 

Set your mornings up for success with quick and delicious breakfast options. Dairyland, Neilson, and Milk2Go products are fantastic choices for a nutritious start to the day. With recipes you can make quickly or store for the week ahead, breakfast will never be a chore in your routine!

Nutritious Lunches for Busy Days

Lunchtime doesn’t have to be a rush. With a little creativity and the right ingredients, you can prepare lunches that are both nutritious and fun. Armstrong’s craveable cheeses make it easy to whip up delicious meals that your kids will love. From classic sandwich ideas to inventive bento boxes, we’ve got the inspiration you need to keep lunch exciting and balanced.

Grinder Pinwheels

Prepare these fun and delicious rolls, our version of the TikTok viral 'Grinder Sandwich' recipe! Featuring Armstrong Medium Cheddar Cheese Slices and crowd-pleasing ingredients such as tortillas and cold cuts, these grinder pinwheels are a must for the lunchbox. This recipe allows you to make multiple lunches at once, offering simplicity in your lunch making routine, while still bringing the flavour.

Pssst! Armstrong Natural Cheese Slices can simplify your routine: with a zipper seal for optimal freshness, your ingredients will always be ready to layer up the perfect sandwich.

Turkey & Marble 'Tacos'

Make regular sandwiches more exciting, with the same ingredients, assembled differently. This quick lunch snack will soon become your go-to recipe. With Armstrong Marble Cheddar Cheese Slices, sandwich bread, turkey and lettuce: we can almost guarantee you already have the necessary ingredients in your fridge!

Pro Tip: Let the kids help flatten out the bread – it’s a fun and tasty activity!

After-School Snacks

When the school bell rings, kids often come home with big appetites. After-school snacks are crucial to keep their energy levels up until dinner. Luckily, Armstrong Combos and NIBBLERS make snacking both easy and enjoyable. Add a mix of fruits and grains to these snack ideas for  the most satisfying post-school munchies. And for the quickest option: Try the Milk2Go variety of flavours, there's more than one for every day of the week!

Bento Style Snacks

Try composing a snack plate by putting together different ingredients based on your inspiration and preferences.

Our faves: Armstrong NIBBLERS or Armstrong Real Cheese Snacks, apple slices with caramel sauce, baby carrots with hummus, whole grain crackers and dates.

Pro Tip: Use cookie cutters in veggies and cheese slices to make fun shapes for kids!

DIY Cheese Platter Ingredients

The whole family can appreciate the simplicity of the cheese platter formula! Try offering Armstrong NIBBLERS, assorted fruits, nuts, whole grain crackers together on a plate. An after-school favourite for big and small! Perfect for those busy after-school activities, make it a fun snack time for kids. With 3 delicious flavours (Smokey Bacon, Sour Cream & Onion and Original), there will be something for everyone on this family-friendly cheeseboard!

Protein-Packed Beverages

Keeping your kids fuelled and focused throughout the day requires more than just solid food.  Fresh, creamy and original Dairyland and Neilson Protein 18 g Beverages provide a convenient way to boost their nutrition. Whether blended into a smoothie or enjoyed on their own, these offer essential nutrients in a delicious and easy-to-consume form.

Smoothie Bags

Premade smoothie bags? What a convenient way to do breakfast! Each offering a different delicious and refreshing smoothie flavour, these bags are made with your choice of Dairyland or Neilson Protein 18 g beverage.

Pro Tip: To get kids involved in their morning routine, let them choose their favourite flavour!

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