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A composite image of a bento box with an applesauce pouch, cheese, crackers, fruit, and a note that reads
I buy my kids their favorite lunches at Trader Joe's.

Michelle Parmigiani

  • As a mom of two toddlers, I love shopping at Trader Joe's for their favorite lunch box staples.
  • I always grab items like applesauce pouches, yogurt squishers, and animal crackers for snack time.
  • For lunch, my kids love cheese and crackers, chicken nuggets, and mac and cheese.

As a mom to two toddlers, I love shopping at Trader Joe's, stocking up on their favorites for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and every snack in between.

This year, my back-to-school shopping list includes items from almost every aisle that never return home uneaten. Here are 11 things from Trader Joe's that always end up in my kids' lunch boxes.

My kids love Trader Joe's applesauce pouches.
A box of Trader Joe's organic apple fruit sauce crushers and a pouch of the product next to it.

Michelle Parmigiani

My toddlers love chomping down on apples at home, but sending them as a school snack makes me nervous. Thankfully, Trader Joe's apple fruit-sauce crushers are the next best thing.

I love that the ingredients are simple — just apple puree and ascorbic acid for freshness.

Josie's mandarins are easy to peel and prep into bite-sized pieces.
A bag of Josie's mandarins.

Michelle Parmigiani

My toddlers always snatch these mandarins as I'm cutting them up and packing them into their snack boxes. They love the sweet citrus flavor and I love the serving of Vitamin C.

Trader Joe's sharp cheddar cheese snack packs are perfect for bento-box-style lunch containers.
A bag of Trader Joe's sharp cheddar cheese.

Michelle Parmigiani

Trader Joe's snackable cheddar cheese packs are pure delight. They're great to pair with crackers, fruit, and rolled turkey breast in a bento-box-style lunch container.

It's like a scaled-down grazing box, and it's always a fan-favorite for my kids.

The pita bite crackers can be paired with so many different items.
A box of Trader Joe's pita bite crackers.

Michelle Parmigiani

Trader Joe's pita bite crackers are salty, crunchy, and have a long list of yummy companions.

My toddlers like eating them plain or with string cheese or hummus.

My kids can't get enough of Trader Joe's chicken nuggets.
A package of Trader Joe's organic chicken nuggets.

Michelle Parmigiani

These chicken nuggets can be found in the store's refrigerated section, and have a reduced cook time compared to Trader Joe's frozen varieties. This makes packing a hot lunch a total breeze.

I like sending them in a thermos with organic ketchup for dipping.

Trader Joe's mini guacamole cups make a great versatile dip.
A box of Trader Joe's single-serve guacamole.

Michelle Parmigiani

When the kids get tired of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, I like to break out Trader Joe's mini guacamole cups.

They love to dip mini quesadillas, crackers, and even their chicken nuggets into them.

The store's yogurt squishers make snack time fun.
A box of Trader Joe's yogurt squishers.

Michelle Parmigiani

These yogurt squishers are made with organic reduced-fat yogurt. They're a nutritious snack, and my kids think squeezable yogurt is way cooler than the kind you eat with a spoon.

Trader Joe's offers an elevated twist on classic animal crackers.
A container of Trader Joe's animal crackers.

Michelle Parmigiani

Both my kids and I love Trader Joe's organic animal crackers. They have a hint of a lemony flavor, which, in my opinion, makes them feel a bit elevated.

My kids, however, just like that they're shaped like cute animals.

We can't get enough of Trader Joe's crunchy green peas.
A bag of Trader Joe's baked green peas.

Michelle Parmigiani

We eat these crunchy pea snacks by the bag in my house, but my boys love taking them to school in a small container.

The main ingredient is dried green peas, so I'm just as happy packing these for school as they are eating them.

Trader Joe's organic strawberry yogurt smoothies are the perfect sweet treat.
A package of Trader Joe's strawberry smoothies.

Michelle Parmigiani

Trader Joe's organic strawberry yogurt smoothies are a great source of calcium and probiotics. I like packing them with a fun-colored disposable straw and some berries or granola bites.

Trader Joe's cheddar mac and cheese is the ultimate lunch box treat.
A box of Trader Joe's mac and cheese.

Michelle Parmigiani

My toddlers would eat Trader Joe's mac and cheese for every meal if they could. Let's just say their lunch boxes always return home with empty thermoses when this item is included.

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I'm a busy mom of 2 toddlers. Here are 11 items from Trader Joe's that always m…