You can freeze all sorts of things to be edible ice packs: pudding cups, fruit cups, Jello cups, yogurts or cups of applesauce. Things with a high sugar content won't freeze as thoroughly as water will and smaller containers thaw more quickly than a large juice box so you don't run the risk of having your edible ice pack still frozen come lunchtime. Having to thaw your dessert tends to guarantee that you'll eat it last--an added bonus.
One word of caution however, because these frozen items will sweat as they thaw you'll need to include them in a plastic bag to catch all the water. I learned that lesson after complaints of soggy sandwiches. Learn from my mistakes I beg you.
***
Have you entered this month's Write-Away Contest yet? The topic is learning.
Check in with Rocks in My Dryer every Wednesday for other good tips.
Technorati tags: WFMW, sack lunches, bentos, school lunches
13 comments:
i never thought to freeze pudding. although as i think of it, veganlunchbox used to freeze mushed up bananas as a "pudding" or soy yogurt...great idea! thanks!
Oh I never even thought of freezing food items instead of using freezer packs! I'm too new at this whole lunch thing... I'll have to try that! :)
Great tip! Thanks!
great ideas I never thought of! :)
Great idea, thanks!
How long do you freeze the juice boxes for? Do they freeze solid? Would it really thaw by lunch time? My kindergartner eats at lunch at 11:15am.
Thanks!
If they have an early lunch I'd suggest using smaller juice boxes, keeping them in the fridge then throwing them in the freezer as soon as you're up in the morning and with an hour or two to chill in the freezer they'll be pretty good and cold if you're worried about them thawing in time.
Thanks for this great tip! Will definitely be giving this one a try!
I never had thought to freeze my pudding containers. Those are some wonderful ideas!
I've done that on summer road trips, too. A couple of frozen godies on the ends of a small cooler keep the car treats cool.
I hadn't considered freezing the yogurt. The kids love it, but I'm always afraid it'll be too food-borne-illness inducing by lunch time. Great advice. Thanks!
Ooooo great idea! I have been trying to figure out how we can take more healthy things for lunches ... freeze it!
That is just terrific! Thanks for sharing!
Post a Comment