Back to School: Amazon Roundup of Kid’s BTS Faves + 2 Bonus Easy Lunchbox Recipes
It’s officially back to school season—and that means new gear, fresh routines, and easy meals that make hectic mornings a little more manageable. Whether you’re packing for preschool or prepping a teen for high school, we’ve rounded up some of our absolute Amazon faves to help you and your kids start the year off right. Scroll down for two bonus lunchbox recipes your kids will actually be excited to eat! Click here to view a reel with all these products in action.
Amazon BTS Must-Haves
These double-wall insulated jars keep food warm for hours—perfect for hot lunches, cozy soups, or oatmeal on-the-go. We love the vibrant tropical colors that kids are excited to grab from their lunch bags!
Say goodbye to single-use plastics. These dishwasher- and microwave-safe bags are game changers for meal prep and lunch packing. They stand up on their own, seal tight, and come in the prettiest shade of teal.
Durable, functional, and stylish—this is our go-to backpack for tweens, teens, and moms alike. It’s water-repellent, has a padded laptop sleeve, and comes in the dreamiest blush pink shade.
We’re planner people—and this one checks all the boxes. It’s undated, making it perfect for starting anytime, and includes weekly spreads to keep kids (and parents) organized from sports to study sessions.
Waking up for school just got a whole lot gentler. This all-in-one clock mimics sunrise to ease your kiddo (or you!) into the day, and includes white noise, night lights, and a built-in Bluetooth speaker.
2 Easy Lunchbox Recipes to Try This Week
Because having a stocked lunchbox is just as important as the gear that goes with it, we’re sharing two back-to-school staples from the Prep + Rally kitchen. One is a hearty make-ahead sandwich packed with veggies, and the other is a freezer-friendly treat that feels indulgent but is made with better-for-you ingredients. Let’s go!
1. Loaded Picnic Sandwich
Loaded Picnic Sandwich
Ingredients
- 1 8 or 9 inch round crusty bread loaf
- 2 small zucchinis thinly sliced lengthwise
- 1 large eggplant thinly sliced lengthwise
- Salt and pepper
- 1 8 ounce jar pesto or 9 tablespoons (preferably with Parmesan)
- 2 –3 tablespoons olive oil
- 10 ounces frozen spinach thawed and drained
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella thinly sliced or shredded (or vegan mozzarella)
Instructions
- Heat a grill pan to medium-high and grease lightly. Working in batches, grill the zucchini and eggplant until cooked through and grill marks form on both sides. Season with salt and pepper as you grill. Reserve.
- Meanwhile, cut off the very top of the bread loaf and scoop out the bread until you’ve achieved a hollow center. Using a small spatula, spread the pesto all over the inside of the loaf including the top piece.
- Start layering the sandwich, placing a layer of eggplant, zucchini, spinach, cheese and continuing until you’ve used all the fillings. Place the top of the bread back on the loaf and wrap in tin foil.
- Bring loaded loaf to a picnic as is, or place in a 350ºF oven for about an hour, until cheese is melted through and the sandwich is warm. Cut into wedges and enjoy!
Make it ahead, wrap it up, and slice into wedges for the ultimate lunch win.
Pro tip: Use your Zip Top reusable bags to keep sandwich wedges fresh and mess-free!
2. Healthier Crunchy Butterfinger Bars
Healthier Crunchy Butterfinger Bars
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons coconut sugar
- 3 tablespoons natural maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup natural peanut butter
- 2 cups corn flakes
- Flaky maldon salt
- 1¼ cups good quality dark chocolate chips
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan melt the butter on medium-high heat. Continue heating until the butter starts to turn amber brown and smells nutty. Immediately lower the flame to the lowest setting and add the coconut sugar, maple syrup, and vanilla. Whisk everything together and let bubble for a few seconds and then lower the heat completely. Mix in the peanut butter and and then pour in the corn flakes. Mix to combine and set aside.
- Line a loaf pan with a strip of parchment paper and add the cornflake mixture. Press mixture down with a rubber spatula breaking the cereal slightly to mold into the pan.
- Melt the chocolate in small glass bowl in the microwave 30 seconds at a time until totally melted. Pour and spread and even layer over the cornflake mixture and pop into the freezer to set. Let chill for at least 30 minute before topping with flaky maldon salt and slicing into bars.
- Store in the freezer and enjoy!
Sweet, salty, and chocolatey—but made with wholesome pantry staples, because sometimes your kids deserve that school treat; sorry in advance teachers for the slight sugar rush!
Pack it cold: These bars are perfect straight from the freezer into a lunchbox. By lunchtime, they’re the perfect chewy-crunchy treat.
Want these meals ready to go in minutes? Stock your kitchen with smart storage and packing tools from our Amazon BTS picks above, and let Prep + Rally help you conquer the school week like a pro.
Till next time, xoxo, Dini
Hey, I’m Dini Klein. I’m a cookbook author (you can shop my book here!) food host, former private chef, wife, and mama to some cute and very energetic kids.
Prep + Rally™ is my solution to getting a wholesome dinner on the table on those busy week nights when juggling mommy-ing and work life feels almost impossible. Prep + Rally is the system helping busy moms all over the world get through it with ease!
