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5 Tips and Tricks for Parents to Up Their Brown Bag Game

We get it – you want your kid to build a rep on the playground for having the very best school lunches. And you know what? We want the very same thing.

So, we got a little creative using items from Costco.com – five times over, in fact.

1. Hidden nutrients

Whether you have a picky eater on your hands or you're just looking for a few new lunch options, a new blender may be your best friend. Try blending up a healthy green smoothie, or some soup.

Pro–Tip: Buy your fresh fruit and veggies at Costco, then prep individual smoothie portions and place them into resealable bags to keep in the freezer. To make your smoothie all you have to do is toss a portion into the blender, add liquid like coconut water or milk and you're set!

2. Pack it up. Pack it in

Mornings shouldn't be a struggle. Head to Costco for a set of reusable containers. You can portion dinner leftovers into these containers for a quick and easy lunch option the following day.

Pro–Tip: Buy a spare lunch box for each kiddo. That way when you pack lunches, you can pack two days at once, and keep the containers in the fridge for a day, leaving more quality time for the family. Or, you'll have a spare lunch box when one was left at school.

3. Dabble in DIY snack foods

Introduce healthy habits early. A food dehydrator will churn out dried fruits and veggies, still ripe with nutrients, that kids can snack on individually or pair with their favorite trail mix.

Pro–Tip: Fill a drawer with pre-bagged snacks that kids can mix and match to personalize their lunch. Create a divide between healthy options and tiny treats, setting a 2:1 ratio.

4. Make a toast to a new and improved sandwich

Soggy bread is the enemy of all brown bag regulars. Before assembling a sandwich, lightly toast the bread for a crunchy outside and soft inside. Use sauce containers for condiments.

Pro–Tip: To keep yogurt and juice or milk boxes cool, drop a sponge into a zip-lock bag and store it in the freezer overnight. In the morning, place it in a lined lunchbox.

5. "Brown bag" a wholesome breakfast, too

Need to send the kids off with lunch and breakfast? Fill lidded to-go cups with oatmeal, parfaits or cereal; use the opening in the lid to secure a plastic spoon so it doesn't get lost in the shuffle.

Pro–Tip: Never run too low on time for a proper send-off again - pre-print colorful note cards with loving messages, inspirational quotes or jokes to be dropped into last-minute lunch bags.