How I prep a month's worth of lunches in an hour
If you’ve ever felt personally victimized by the nightly “what’s for lunch” routine… this post is for you.
Let me show you how I make an entire month’s worth of school lunches in just one hour.
Hi! I’m Jordan—former engineer, mom of two, and someone who deeply enjoys solving household problems. One of the biggest thorns in my side? Making school lunches every night. It felt like Groundhog Day with a side of crumbs and crusts.
So I set out to simplify. I picked a few lunch options my daughter consistently loves and figured out how to prep and freeze them in bulk. Sandwiches? Check. Mini pizzas? You bet. Corn dog muffins? Absolutely.
You don’t need to follow my exact items, but I want to give you a springboard to think about doing this for yourself. Sandwiches freeze really well and defrost in lunches. You could make quesadillas
What’s on the Lunch Menu
🍕 Mini Pizzas
My daughter loves pizza, and I wanted to make a version that was quick but still gluten-free. I used Manini’s gluten free pizza crust, topped with Rao’s marinara, organic raw cheese, and pepperoni. These bake up fast and freeze beautifully. I just divide each ball of dough into four pieces, followed the baking directions on the bag and let them cool before freezing.
🌭 Corn Dog Muffins
These are a hit with both kids and they’re completely nut-free. I chop the hot dogs into small pieces so my toddler can handle them easily. They reheat well and make lunch feel a little more fun (without me having to do much on a weekday morning).
🥪 Sandwiches
Yes, there are sandwiches in the rotation—but they’re not just any sandwiches. My kids are obsessed with almond butter, raspberries, chia seeds, and hemp hearts all smashed into a sandwich. I also make a version with sunbutter for nut-free classrooms.
And here’s the part that might blow your mind: you can freeze sandwiches.
Seriously. Just flash freeze them (lay them out on a tray until solid), then pop them into a freezer bag with a label. When packing lunches, just make sure they have a few hours to thaw. I use this little sandwich cutter and sealer to make them look cute and keep everything contained.
My Lunch Prep System (aka Sanity Saver)
I don’t make new lunch recipes every week. I bulk prep just a few options and rotate through them. That way I’m not up at 9pm cutting fruit into stars or trying to figure out what we’re out of.
And the best part? I don’t think about lunches again for weeks. They’re ready to go in the freezer, and I can grab one, toss in some fruit or snacks, and call it done.
Here’s What I Used:
Mini Pizzas
Manini’s Gluten Free Pizza Crust
Rao’s Marinara
Organic Valley Raw Cheese
Pepperoni
Sandwiches
Almond butter or Sunbutter
Sugar-free jam
Chia seeds & hemp hearts (optional)
Sandwich cutter + sealer
Corn Dog Muffins
Nut-free cornbread mixture (Store bought* or homemade)
Applegate or Teton hot dogs, chopped
If you’re looking to streamline the school morning chaos, this is one of the best places to start. Bulk prepping school lunches once a month might just be your new favorite mom hack.
I’ve gone through a few different lunch boxes and bento style boxes… I’ve FINALLY landed on my favorites after having kids in school a few years. I wanted items that would be easy to clean, not have sneaky mold spots, and hold up to wear and tear.
Here’s a list of my favorite lunch supplies:
Austin Baby Co lunch boxes- actually have taken a beating and held up
Austin Baby Co silicone bento boxes- I’ve tried so many. No sneaky mold!
Austin Baby Co collapsible snack bowl- great for baby’s first “lunch” and for when you are required to send snacks
Owala water bottles*- these were recommended to us by an SLP and have the option of a straw or to “free sip” like an open cup
Yeti water bottles*- these are heavy but DO hold up and don’t dent with all the drops
Dip containers*- great for a small treat or a sauce
Water Bottle Labels- protect your investment! These last forever and hard hard for a kid to get off. The sticker labels never worked because they would get peeled off… ask me how I know.
These are great for all other school gear!
And if you're more of a visual learner, I’ve got a video walk-through of this whole process on my social media.