School’s In, Chaos Out: The Ultimate Mom Survival Kit for Meals & Snacks

It’s back-to-school o’clock, moms—which means it’s time to stop eating like the family from Matilda (TV dinners in the living room, anyone?) and pretend we’ve got our sh!t together. Don’t worry, I’m not suggesting you suddenly become the organic bento-box mom who hand-carves cucumbers into swans. But I am here with hunger hacks and the gear to back it up that’ll at least make you look like you have your act together.

Let’s dive in before someone yells, “Mom, I can’t find my shoes!”

🍽️ Meal Time MVPs

1. BPA-Free Wheat Straw Cafeteria Trays

👉 Grab them here

Want to trick your kids into thinking your kitchen is a trendy café instead of a war zone? These trays keep food separated and your sanity intact. They’re eco-friendly, dishwasher safe, and help shut down“my peas touched my pasta” level drama. My kids love to be transported to lunch lady land with these super cute trays.

2. PlanetBox Stainless Steel Lunch Box

👉 See it here

This is the Cadillac of lunchboxes. Sleek, durable, and basically indestructible. Even if your kid uses it as a frisbee, it’ll survive. Stainless steal means there's no yucky plastic leaching chemicals into your precious cargo's food and we give that a double thumbs up.

3. Bentgo Stainless Steel Lunch Box

👉 Check it out

The slightly more flexible cousin of PlanetBox. Great for “Pinterest moms” and for the rest of us who shove in a Lunchable and call it a day.

And if you’re a true overachiever (aka you’ve had more than three hours of sleep):

🍲 OmieBox (For Hot Food Heroes)

👉 Warm it up here

Send your kid with mac-n-cheese that’s still warm by lunchtime and watch the lunch table jealousy unfold.

4. Stainless Steel Spoon & Fork Set

👉 Upgrade here

I love a two for one and this means you only have to wash one utensil for the use of two. It's a spoon on one side, fork on the other and means your kid can tackle everything from soup to steak without dirtying more dishes (you're welcome, mom!)

5. Gruns: A Bite-Size Powerhouse Packed with Nutrition

👉 Move Over Gummy Bears

Delivering over 21 essential vitamins and minerals including Vitamins A, B6, B12, C, D3, K2, iron, zinc, biotin, and folate, this lunchbox big shot packs a major punch - and kids love It! These superfood gummy bears are craved by kids across the nation and it's something you can feel good about putting into your kids lunch.

6. Old School Placemats

👉 Retro vibes here

Remember these? They are perfect for preventing your dining table from looking like a Jackson Pollock painting, but they also add a dose to education to your meal. Your kid will be reciting presidents like a pro in no time! It's ‘90s kids nostalgia through and through.

7. Owalla FreeSip Water Bottle

👉 Hydrate in style

Spill-proof, durable, and comes with a straw and sip option. Basically the iPhone of water bottles—kids flex them at recess like accessories. As someone who has tried (and somehow lost) over a dozen water bottles, this is the one we keep coming back to time and time again.

8. Kids Table Topics Cards

👉 Get them talking

We've all seen the dead end that is "how was school?" and these cards are the antidote to the anti-social. It's a fun way to get your family talking around the dinner table and finally get more than one word answers from your little angels.

9. A Special Back-to-School Meal Set

👉 See the set

Your kid will be so excited to come out in the morning to a special plate and cup set to celebrate their first day of school! This super cute bamboo dinnerware dish is as eco-friendy as it is kid-friendly.

10. Chrissy Teigen's 9-Piece Baking & Storage Set

👉 Bake & store like a pro

Bake ahead, store neatly, and look like you belong on Food Network. This will cut down on clutter in your kitchen and act as a dual-purpose dish so you can cook smarter, not harder.

11. Pre-Written Fun Fact Lunch Notes

👉 Slip one in

These quirky rip & pack lunch notes are a quick and easy way to make your kids meal unforgettable! There's fun facts, jokes, and little tidbits sure to make your kid a hit at the lunch table.

12. Snack Tray

👉 Snack smart

Post-school grazing station? Done. Fill it with your kids favorite snacks and bring it on the go. Embrace your inner snack goddess.

🎒 Backpack Bonus Round

Want to score extra cool mom points? Organize a back to school backpack decorating day.

How to:

• Clear Backpack 👉 Get it here

• Decorate with Adhesive Patches 👉 Add flair

• Or Enamel Pins 👉 Pin it up

• And don’t forget the Apple AirTag (for your own sanity)

Now your kids have a backpack that’s part fashion statement, part tracking device. Win-win.