Years ago, when my daughter (who’s now a college freshman) was only in preschool, my husband and I started the tradition of leaving notes in her lunch box. Since that time, and four kiddos later, we’ve packed hundreds of lunches and written many, many notes. Sometimes it’s tricky to stay creative, both in packing the food and high-quality snacks they’ll eat, and in writing special & unique notes they’ll find. Because let’s be honest, being uber creative while packing lunches at midnight or 6 AM is really not in the cards.
A quick and easy solution that they’ve loved this year is something new I started. I’ve turned the lunch box notes into stickers I print out, and stick them to the tops and sides of their snacks. They’re perfect to stick on their current favorite- the Hershey’s Ready to Eat Pudding cups. The best part is that this can be done ahead of time and they’ll stick even while being refrigerated.
The pudding snacks themselves are an easy hit with all my boys. In fact, it’s hard to keep them in stock in our fridge! Josh, my fourth grader, prefers the s’mores flavor but Isaac, my second grader says the chocolate is the best. The teenagers and I love both flavors (yes, I’ll admit to sneaking a pudding snack or two), but I’m always a fan of chocolate. Bottom line- the rich, creamy pudding made with real Hershey’s cocoa is great for a delicious snack, both in the lunch box or after school.
Making your own lunch box note stickers is easy. I’ve made a free printable for you to download and print. The only thing you’ll have to do is cut out and apply the stickers.
Here’s what you need:
- Free printable lunch box notes
- White shipping labels to use as sticker paper (I recommend Avery 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 two labels per sheet, or Avery 8 1/2x 11 full sheets)
- Scissors
- Hershey’s Ready to Eat Pudding cups
Once you’ve downloaded the printable, it’s important you print on the correct paper. There’s a few reasons I recommend printing your notes on Avery shipping labels, which are available at Walmart or any office store. First, because they’re affordable and easy to find. Second, because they’re easy to use in your home printer. And third, they stick to the pudding cups really, really well even when they’re refrigerated and have the possibility of getting a little moisture on them there.
Now that you’ve printed your notes, you just need to cut them out and apply them to the cups. Either at the top or around the cup.
*Tip- although they stick in the fridge, make sure you dry the sides of the pudding cup well before you apply the sticker, or they may not adhere.
You can make them all at once, so the kids get a surprise when they come home and are ready for a snack, or you can wait and add the labels when you’re packing lunches, and it’ll be a nice little happy thing they see at school.
Just a simple gesture that tells them you love them and are thinking of them throughout their school day.
The Hershey’s Ready to Eat Pudding is easily found in the refrigerated section at your local Walmart. Look for the chocolate and s’mores flavors, and the special signs that’ll make locating the pudding even easier.
I hope you’ll enjoy creating your own lunch box note stickers, and if you think your family would also enjoy this pudding like mine does, then make sure you pick up the September/October issue of ALL YOU Magazine next time you do your shopping, because it has a $0.55 off coupon for Hershey’s Ready to Eat Pudding!
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What a great idea! Thank you so much for sharing with Monday Funday xo