Kid Hack: Sandwiches by the Loaf

Given the number of kids that we have running around the house, mornings can get pretty crazy around here. And lunch-packing before the schoolbus arrives just adds to the craziness. In order to keep things running as smoothly as possible, we’ve had to come up with creative ways of streamlining our morning routine. Probably the simplest of these steps has to do with sandwich making. (Full Disclosure: While this tip works great when you do it, I’m actually pretty bad about sticking with it.)

Rather than breaking out the PB&J every single morning, try spending a bit of time on Saturday or Sunday afternoon making (and freezing) all of the sandwiches for the upcoming week (or two). As it turns out, PB&J sandwiches freeze (and thaw) really well, and making a pile all at once is far more efficient than doing it piecemeal. The resulting modularity of the morning lunch-packing routine (i.e., grab a sandwich from the freezer, throw in a fruit cup, drink, etc.) makes the morning routine a good bit smoother. By the time lunch rolls around, your kid will have a ready to eat, fully thawed sandwich in their lunchbox. And to think that sandwich-making is enough of a burden on society to support the creation of a entire frozen PB&J sandwich industry! Then again, they do come with their crusts already cut off.