Mum’s timesaving lunch hack divides parents

“I personally can't even take to the idea of making my kids sandwiches the night before.”

Just when you thought coming up with what to cook for dinner every night was the end of your meal prep, your kids start school, and you need to make a nutritious lunch they actually want to eat five times a week.

Then, when you think you've nailed the perfect lunch, the school will send a note home telling you all the things you did wrong.

Many parents have their own approach to tackling lunchbox prep, but one mum’s hack has divided them.

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Sunday sandwich day

The mum took to Facebook to share her 'time-saving' technique, and it left many parents confused.

“My kids love peanut butter sandwiches, so I started a new routine. Every Sunday, I go through one whole loaf of bread and make as many sandwiches as possible,” she wrote.

“Then I stock them in my fridge for the kids' lunch bags throughout the week. Makes my morning routine easier.”

RELATED: My colleague called me a 'lazy mum' because of this lunchbox act

The mum's sandwich hack has divided parents. Source: Slow Cooker Recipe & Tips Facebook

A mixed bag of reactions

Many parents were quick to leave their two cents in the comments section, both applauding and criticising the mum’s prep.

“I personally can't even take to the idea of making my kids sandwiches the night before, let alone the beginning of the week and into the fridge,” one wrote.

“How gross! They'll be disgusting after a day or so,” another complained. 

“Poor kids! Take 30 seconds to make a sandwich or wake up five minutes earlier.”

 “So glad my mum didn't do this for me… that Friday sandwich would be a bit average,” a woman chimed in and added.

Many called the mum out for her single-use plastic bags, but not everyone was showering the mum with hate.

“My mother used to make sandwiches and freeze them. They would be just right when it came time for lunch. I remember her cream cheese, raisin, and pecan sandwich was my favourite!” one shared.

Another wrote, “I am the oldest of eight. On Sunday nights, my mum would make 60 sandwiches for the week.”

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Lunchbox hacks

We decided to reach out to the Kidspot community to ask them what lunchbox prep looks like in their home.

Mum of four, Gina told Kidspot, “Invest in a good set of reusable silicone muffin cups, grate a whole heap of veggies, crack an egg and bake, and you have a perfect healthy lunch for the week.”

Mum of three, Stefanie lives by the cook-once-eat-twice movement, “I always cook extra at dinner for the sole purpose of using it for lunch the next day.”

Dad of three, David, was all about roping the kids in to help, “I get the kids to help out. It seems they're much more likely to eat their lunch if they helped pack it.”

And for some parents, their lunchbox hack is the school canteen!

“For those mornings when I just don’t have the mental bandwidth, I give the kids a few extra bucks for the canteen,” said Jess, a mother of two.

“It's a win-win: they get to choose what they want, and I get a morning off from lunch duty!” she added.

And dad of three, Harry agreed, “I keep a stash of spare change in a jar specifically for ‘those’ days. 

“It's my emergency canteen fund.”

RELATED: Daycare slams mum's unusual lunchbox

"It seems they're much more likely to eat their lunch if they helped pack it.” Source: iStock

Kidspot to the rescue

While we’re totally against a shameless plug for how amazing we are…

Who are we kidding?!

We’re so proud to brag that we have thousands of recipes perfect for making your lunchbox prep pain-free and delicious.

So, be sure to check out our recipe section and get ready to kiss goodbye to throwing out old lunches from the bottom of your kids' lunchbox today.

Originally published as Mum’s timesaving lunch hack divides parents