Back to school time is so vastly different this year, I almost don't even recognize it. We haven't bought uniforms, no supplies are really needed and we have no idea when the kids will set foot back inside a classroom at the moment.
Yep, you've guessed it: we are going to all-virtual school.
I'm ashamed to admit that there were some days last spring where we looked up and NOBODY had managed to even have lunch in all the hustle and bustle of change going on leaving me high on the list for "Worst Mother of the Year."
This time, I am making a pledge to my family that this year will be different AND I am sharing this with you for sake of accountability.
Walmart has this great buy online/pick-up option that I'm using to stock up on all of our family favorite lunchtime solutions with easy-to-make kid favorites from Kraft Heinz.
I discovered everything from Lunchables and Bagel Bites Pizza Snacks (pepperoni of course) to Hershey's Chocolate Pudding and Strawberry Jell-O cups while browsing in the Walmart app.
I was able to easily place my order from the handy-dandy Walmart app on my phone, then swing by and pick it up without even having to get out of my Mommie-van: low-contact-style.
I really think I have this covered with timeless favorites that are easy to make and low tech. I feel like I can rest easy knowing history won't repeat itself. Plus, I can have peace of mind knowing that the kids are fed.
Together, Kraft Heinz and Walmart offer delicious lunchtime solutions that are kid-friendly, pleasing even the pickiest of kiddos.
These options are versatile yet simple to prepare and easy for kids to open and close so that nothing goes to waste.
I picked up some Delimex Chicken & Cheese Taquitos that can easily be heated in the air fryer, microwave or even the toaster oven and better yet, just so happen to be my picky eaters' favorite food at the moment.
We also opted to try some Oscar Meyer Deli Fresh Oven Roasted Turkey, Kraft American Singles and a few loaves of French bread from the bakery so that the kids can make their favorite lunch subs or try their hand at roll-ups.
I can rest easy knowing that everybody can cover lunch on their own and they will have full tummies to help them muddle through those virtual classes.
That's right, I never said that "I" will be making lunch for my kids, especially since my long-time conference calls all seem to take place between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. historically, placing this right in the window of lunch-break in their school schedules.
I plan on them making their own lunches this time. What could possibly go wrong?
Kraft Heinz and Walmart want to help parents empower children of ALL ages to help make their own lunches, giving me the perfect teaching opportunity for my kids to learn much needed kitchen skills and give them the independence that teens crave.
Yes, yes, I realize that it is well known around town how my eldest child once set fire to the microwave many years ago while trying to fix his own meal, but I promise, everything will be just fine, this time.
Things are different now. This is a new generation of 14-year-olds who are far more tech-savvy than their big brother and have surely learned from his past mistakes (he will never live this down.)
I even found out how my kids can safely make their own French fries with Ore-Ida Easy Fries that come packaged conveniently in the container they will be prepared in. They can just pop them into the microwave, box and all!
Yes, I plan on teaching them to follow those directions on the back of that box, knowing that Ore-Ida has my back and that these fries are EASY fries and will come out perfect every single time (and my microwave will survive, too, knock on wood!)
I won't even have to worry about fighting over fries as each of the trio will have their own box which contains one serving each!
Easy peasy and no need to add anything to make them work; it's all right they’re ready to go, fresh out of the freezer!
I'm finding out that my kids are serious about making their own lunches now, thanks to all these awesome finds from Kraft Heinz and Walmart.
They love how they can be fiercely independent and pull off a lunch that even their friends are envious of via class conference calls. Sshh! I caught my daughter sharing her sub sandwich recipe with the class, yesterday!
Thanks to Walmart and Kraft Heinz, I now know that if you make cooking fun and rewarding for kids, they’ll be hungry for more.
Lunch is now a task I can cross off my lengthy to-do list. I will rest a tad easier knowing that my newly independent 14-year-old trio now find cooking fun and rewarding. (No microwaves or other kitchen appliances were harmed during this kitchen learning experiment.)
Macaroni Kid was compensated for this review, but all opinions expressed are my own.
