Packing lunchboxes everyday can start to feel a little like ‘Groundhog Day’. Then there’s the constant battle between what your child will actually eat and what you want them to eat.

Fruits, vegetables and sandwiches are all great inclusions but what else can you add to help save you time? While pre-packaged foods can make lunchbox packing seem easier, they often don’t offer much in the way of nutrition – not to mention the environmental impact of the packaging they come in.

Use the weekend or school holidays to bake up some lunchbox items to store in the freezer, helping to make the daily grind of lunchbox packing a little bit quicker.

Muffins

Muffins are versatile, delicious and can be made using many different ingredients. Simply use what you’ve got on hand to whip up a batch or two and pop them in the freezer. Pack them frozen into the lunchbox the night before and they will have defrosted in time for lunch. Otherwise, move one from the freezer to the fridge before you go to bed so it will be defrosted enough to pack in the morning.

Many recipes included added sugar, but you can either reduce it or leave it out entirely. If you’re including fruit, chocolate chips, dried fruit or honey they will offer enough sweetness to the mix without adding additional sugar.

Try these Basic Cinnamon Apple Muffins, these Mixed Berry Muffins or these Spinach and Cheese Savoury Muffins.

Bliss Balls

They’re received a lot of attention in recent years, but a bliss ball can be a great inclusion in the lunchbox. While many of the recipes include nuts, there are still plenty that don’t. Just be mindful of your school’s nut policy and adapt recipes to suit.

Try these Nut Free Cacao and Coconut Bliss Balls or these Quick and Easy Nut-Free Bliss Balls.

Scrolls

Scrolls are the perfect savoury snack that also freezes well. You can add a whole range of ingredients depending on what your child likes and what you have in the fridge.

Try these Ham and Cheese Pizza Scrolls or these Vegemite and Cheese Scrolls. You can also add extra vegetables to the recipes to make them more nutritious and delicious.

To help make your lunchbox packing easier, why not bake some items you can freeze for later? You can get the kids involved in the process too!