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Master The Lunchbox

Thanks to Ocean Spray for sponsoring this conversation to inspire parents to Master the Lunchbox

So what’s in your kids’ lunchboxes? My sons started school last week and part of the back to school routine for parents is preparing a delicious, nutritious and fun lunch for kids every morning. Mornings are busy enough, so we like to keep it as streamlined as possible to make our mornings more relaxed too.

master the lunch

We keep a stock of their favorite lunch items nearby to stock their lunchboxes with, so we can easily grab an Ocean Spray juice or a box of Craisins® Dried Cranberries to pop in and save time, knowing we are giving them nutritious foods they will love. Keeping easy to pack items it one way we became Lunchbox Masters…and here are some more of our tips!

5 Tips To Master The Lunchbox

1. Use containers that keeps everything separate and neat
2. Try to incorporate a little of all the food groups with easier to pack foods, like crackers, baby carrots, and Craisins®.
3. Make lunch look delicious with fun shapes and designs.
4. Don’t forget the vitamin-filled beverage!

We usually pack lunch with containers with multiple compartments, one being large enough for a sandwich on one side, because sandwiches are a perfect base for fun designs. We discovered that certain foods are ideal for creating a fun lunch…how about an apple slice for a mouth, Craisins® Greek Yogurt Dried Cranberries for eyes, and a sliced orange circle for the sun? You can make anything with a little creativity!

master the lunchbox

Extra Tips!

1. Most fruit wedges make great mouths
2. Craisins® Dried Cranberries or sliced black olive make eyes, buttons, dots
3. Baby carrots moonlight as arms, legs and noses
4. Cookie cutters can transform bread, sliced cheese, and cold cuts into fun shapes
5. Bread sticks are great tree limbs or antennas

*** I use a gourmet marker to safely draw on foods. They write on bread, cheese and Greek Yogurt Craisins® very well.

cute lunchbox creation ideas

The cranberry’s bold taste, vibrant color and endless versatility make it the perfect addition to any lunch. Liven up your meals with a pop of color and flavor with Ocean Spray® Craisins® Dried Cranberries. And don’t forget to pack a drink! Try Ocean Spray® single serve juices and Sparkling juice drinks for a tasty and refreshing addition. Or new PACT® Cranberry Extract Water, which is the perfect hydration companion.


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Win a Master Lunchbox Set!

Ready to become a #LunchboxMaster? By sharing your own lunchbox tips and tricks to Master The Lunchbox on Twitter with the hashtag #LunchboxMaster, you will be entered to win an Ocean Spray® Ultimate Master Lunchbox Set of your own to help you create masterful back-to-school lunches for your kids! Contest ends September 18th (visit OceanSpray.com for creative lunchbox-making inspiration!). Whether you are refueling a family of five or just yourself, Ocean Spray has tips, recipes and nutritious offerings that will help you become a lunchbox packing pro, like:

– Ocean Spray lunchbox and bag
– Craisins® Dried Cranberries + Fruit Clusters
– Milk Chocolate Covered + Greek Yogurt Covered Craisins® Dried Cranberries
– Ocean Spray Single-Serve Juice packs
– Sparkling Juice Drinks
– PACT® Cranberry Extract Water
– Recipe cards/tips to help you Master the Lunchbox

Ready? Go make an awesome lunch!




  • Robin

    For my kids, variety is key. I need to constantly change it up for them.

  • Stacie

    You did such a great job on that lunch! I think it looks adorable.

  • Debra

    This year we’ve been sending the kids in with a Bento-box style lunch. I find that they’ll eat a lot of little bits of food, rather than a lot of just one food type. It gives them a little bit of variety!

  • Melissa

    That is the cutest! I’ve got to do something like this for the kids.

  • Amy

    I love those little cookie cutters! I need to get some for my girls!

  • Liz Mays

    My kids loved Craisins too. I still like using them in recipes and they’re great as snacks.

  • Debbie Denny

    A good lunch is great. A fun lunch is even better.

  • Pam

    This is such a cute little lunch! My kids always seemed to eat more when I got creative with it.

  • Toni

    These ideas could not be cuter! My kids are a bit older but you’ve motivated me to do some cuter stuff with their lunches!

  • Christie

    These are great ideas to add to our lunchbox packings! I love adding dried fruit options in there for snacking

  • Chrystal

    Lunch boxes should always be fun! You want children to enjoy their food and look forward to what could be in the lunch box/bag for them.

  • Jeanine

    So cute! I love making my kiddos lunches and making different things to put in there. I usually try to add more homemade than store bought. I love the cookie cutters. I NEED to go get new ones asap!

  • Crystal

    The markers are such a great tool! I try to make fun pictures, like your butterfly but the markers allow for the details. Super cute lunches!

  • Rosey

    Little cute smiley face. Craisins make me happy. 🙂

  • Ann B

    These are great lunchbox tips. This is the first year i do not have to make lunches. Both of my kids are in College this year and have meal plans. I used to love making fun lunches for them.