Budget Make-Ahead Lunch & School Snack Ideas

This is a sponsored post for SheSpeaks/Rubbermaid® but all opinions are my own. Read my full disclosure policy here.

My son’s small, private school doesn’t have a cafeteria, so everyday he’s brown bagging it. While they do offer some limited lunch delivery options from nearby restaurants, those can be expensive. He’s also picky and doesn’t like many of the things that are offered.

Every day, we send him off with either a snack or lunch from home — and sometimes both. The pull to send prepackaged, convenience foods is strong, especially because of that whole “picky” thing. But the selections aren’t always healthy or filling enough for a ravenous 11-year-old, and there’s also the cost.

My husband also takes his lunch to work most days — and sometimes breakfast, too.

To make packing snacks and lunches as easy as possible, we’ve started making our own pre-portioned snack and lunch kits in the Rubbermaid® BRILLIANCE food storage containers.

Rubbermaid’s BRILLIANCE containers are BPA free, 100 percent leak-proof* and stain resistant. They are designed for ready-to-go meals and snacks with removable inserts and dividers that allow you to keep foods separate. They are also dishwasher, microwave and freezer safe. (Don’t miss out on your chance to win a set at the end of this post.)

Our entire family really likes the prepackaged cheese-and-nut snacks from the grocery store, but the portions are so tiny. They’re definitely not meal-sized. And they’re pretty pricey.

So we’ve been making our own, filling the compartments with cubed cheese, dried fruit, crackers, nuts, white chocolate chips and fruit.

They’re one of my favorite school snack ideas, but I also make up extras to keep in the fridge for adult lunches and snacks on the go.

I just might have made this one just for me!

These Rubbermaid containers are also great for family outings and picnics. We packed something similar when we went to Star Wars Celebration, knowing lines might be long and snack options might be limited. As we plan more fall outdoor outings, we’ll be taking along these containers filled with simple noshes with a balance of protein and fiber. They fit nicely in a backpack, without adding a lot of extra weight to carry.

These containers are also great for cheese and crackers, veggies and sandwich and salad fixings you want to keep separate until you’re ready to eat them.

The salad set comes with a divided tray that fits over your salad. There’s even a resealable cup for salad dressing.

I’m pretty sure my husband will be using this for his lunchbox!

You can win a set of Rubbermaid BRILLIANCE food storage containers by following the steps in the Rafflecopter below. Be sure to comment with your favorite on-the-go lunch and school snack ideas:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Not applicable to internal compartments created by inserts

Giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. Winner will be chosen randomly and will be notified by email and must respond in 48 hours or a new winner will be chosen.