How our team turns their baskets into lunchboxes.

The back-to-school bells are already ringing, and getting into the swing of things isn’t always easy - that’s why our team of busy parents are here to share what they’ll be adding to their weekly baskets for a smooth transition this fall.

Meet Carolina. When it comes to packing lunches, our Plant Science Manager is a go-to for inspo. With a youngster just starting grade one, Carolina knows that a lunch made with fresh, local ingredients (that she helps grow) will bring him some comfort on his big first day.

• She’s a huge fan of packing lunch in Bento boxes and saves time by prepping the same meal for the entire family. Carolina goes the extra mile to brighten her son’s day, transforming his food into animal-like figures (she can make a sausage look like an octopus). She also creates fun pinwheel sandwiches by rolling sliced bread and filling it with her fam’s faves like ham, mayo, olives, cheese, and lettuce. 
• At work, Carolina can be found snacking on salted popcorn, chocolate-covered quinoa pops, or a cuke that she’s grabbed straight off the vine (perks of the job). Tip! To chase away the back-to-school blues, she surprises her son with handmade marshmallows and artisanal crispy rice squares.
• Her all-out weekend dinners are lifesavers for lunchtime leftovers. Her go-to is simmering mushrooms, bacon, and cheese in a white sauce and alternating between adding fresh pasta, potatoes, or rice. 

Meet Fred. As a father of two little ones and the head of our Purchasing team, his in-depth knowledge of our Marketplace comes in handy when navigating the strict lunch guidelines of his kids' school.

• Fred adds mini cartons of strawberry soy milk, Carb Bakery’s granola squares, and energy bites to his children’s lunch boxes. They’re nut-free, low in sugar, and approved by his five-year-old daughter almost as much as sweets.
• Fred’s seven-year-old is already channelling his inner foodie (like father, like son) and loves all things slow-cooked. The Marketplace’s traceable salmon, responsible beef, and seasonal veg become dinners that double as on-the-go lunches. Tip! When Fred needs a night off, he turns to ready-made mac and cheese, quiche lorraine, and made-to-order triangle sandwiches.
• Fred would rather be a couple minutes late for a meeting than miss breakfast. His kids start their day strong with a nutritious meal featuring local, responsible classics like eggs, ham, cheese, and (as a treat) croissants.

Meet Radu. Our Greenhouse Operations Manager turns to our Marketplace for the ease and convenience it brings to his busy family of four. As a mid-week treat, he receives a basket filled with ready-made meals to ease his way to the week’s finish line. With our ever-changing lineup of fresh arrivals, Radu looks forward to exploring something new each week.

• For a low-effort yet rewarding end-of-week dinner, he adds quiche, lasagna, or shepherd’s pie to his basket. He’s recently tried Rim Cuisine’s pad thai, and he just can’t get enough. Tip! He recommends eating one portion for dinner and packing one for lunch.
• To start the day, Radu’s fam often eats eggs, yogurt, cereal, and seasonal fruit - but when he’s in a rush, he shakes up an Evive smoothie on the road. 
• Radu’s been growing our rooftop veg since 2014, and he’s proud of our picked-when-ripe practice, adding his faves (cherry tomatoes, cukes, and bell peppers) to everyone’s lunchboxes…helping balance out the chocolates and jujubes his kids adore.

We’d love to see how you turn your fresh, local, responsible baskets into packed lunches - share them with your fellow Lufavores on our Facebook and Instagram pages.