[Nofliesonme]

Just looking fi advice. When going out for park/ swimming lessons etc how do you manage the food? Does each child have a lunch box or do u put it in a cooler bag etc etc. looking for ways to reduce my clutter when out ,) TIA

[trishalishous]

I'm often out with 4-5 kids and I pack fruit to share, then a mix of sandwiches to share, and separate water bottles and a juice box each. Its only the eldest two (6.5yo) who I'd trust to carry their food, but I just use a backpack for me anyways

[bizikids]

We have 7 children and I pack a cooler bag with sandwiches, fruit, yoghurts and snacks and pop a freezer brick in. The children carry a drink bottle each.

[Nofliesonme]

Thanks I was doing the lunch box idea and it got kinda overwhelming so I'm thinking cooler bag. For swimming club events I have a rolling cooler bag and I might just get a smaller hand held one for outings

[sparassidae]

I used to have all sandwiches together etc, but last year switched to lunch boxes. That way they pack it themselves (same as school) so no arguments about serving sizes or "hey I wanted the apple not the banana". It's quicker to hand them out too.

At the moment we split the lunch boxes and drink bottles between two backpacks. A parent carries one and the two older children take turns with the other. That leaves a parent free to carry a toddler.

[*Caro*]

At the moment we just do communal food (sandwiches, fruit, muesli bars etc) and each child carries their own drink bottle. I might start moving to individual lunchboxes as they get older an their appetites get bigger.

[Carmie]

If we are going out somewhere for the whole day (zoo etc) then each child carries a small backpack with their food and drinks. If its only a small amount (like park/after school activities etc) I have a cooler bag with fruit and snacks and then I just take 2-3 larger water bottles to share.