Mum shows off an entire weeks’ worth of school lunches she prepares for her three children – but not everyone is convinced it’s a good idea
- An Aussie mum has shared why she prepares school lunchboxes in advance
- In a video Claire packed 12 lunchboxes spread across the kitchen bench
- Snacks and certain fruit are packed for the whole week but not sandwiches
- The lunchtime meal itself is only packed a couple days beforehand
- Outlaying the lunches helps her ‘manage her mental health’ and stay organised
A mum-of-three has explained why she prepares a weeks’ worth of school lunchboxes for her kids in advance.
Claire, from the Northern Territory, shared a video to the Lunchbox Mums Facebook group showing 12 lunchboxes laid out on the kitchen counter filled with food and snacks.
Each lunchbox contained a sandwich or sushi, carrot sticks, yoghurt, fruit, a muesli bar, biscuits and a packet of chips.
Claire said the organised system ‘works for her family’ and outlaying the lunches helps her ‘manager her mental health’.
Claire, from the Northern Territory, Australia, shared a video to the Lunchbox Mums Facebook group showing 12 lunchboxes laid out on the kitchen counter filled with food and snacks
Claire said the organised system ‘works for her family’ and outlaying the lunches helps her ‘manager her mental health’
‘Packing lunches was a trigger for panic attacks for me. A million containers to clean wash every night sent me into complete break downs,’ Claire wrote online in a detailed caption.
She went on to explain how her full-time work in defence is incredibly stressful at times and she also suffers from generalised anxiety disorder.
‘This is what helps me cope. We leave the house at 7am … so it’s not a simple as making before I leave the house or trying to make them at night when we are flat out doing our night time routine,’ she added.
‘Plus the multitude of other jobs us mothers have racing through our heads.’
While packing the lunches, Claire ensures her children are involved in the process so they are able to choose what they would like to eat.
‘I also individualise them to suit each child whilst balancing a healthy variety,’ she said.
The impressive lunchbox prep helps smooth the busy school and working week along with minimal morning chaos.
Claire also said the lunches aren’t laid out in ‘daily order’, meaning the containers with the fresh sushi are for the next day and the ham sandwiches for the following day.
‘I’m very cautious on what days I send food to ensure my kids don’t get food poisoning,’ she said, adding: ‘Our kids also have fridges at school as we live in the NT so food is kept fresh.’
‘I send fruits with a shorter lifespan first, by mid-week its fruits like apples.’
‘I’m very cautious on what days I send food to ensure my kids don’t get food poisoning,’ she said, adding: ‘Our kids also have fridges at school as we live in the NT so food is kept fresh.’ (stock image)
The impressive spread amazed and inspired hundreds of other parents part of the online community.
‘Well done for finding a way to make your week work best for your family!’ one mum wrote.
‘Amazing!! You would be surprised what stays fresh for the whole week,’ another added.
But despite the praise from many, some were concerned about prepping an entire school weeks’ worth of food.
‘Wow that’s amazing! But also confused how you can prep all those rolls, sushi, etc and it last for a whole five days!’ one wrote.
Another added: ‘I’ve seen a mum test out what foods stay fresh in certain lunchboxes for how long. I think she preps for three days ahead, because of meat contents and fruit. Good on you for prepping.’
Claire responded with: ‘I never send meat from Wednesday onwards and I send fruits that last like apples.’
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