We’re hitting a milestone in my family. My oldest son is starting kindergarten in the fall! That means school bus rides, homework and – of course – mom packing lunch.

EVERY time I talk to moms about feeding their kids, school lunches are always an issue. What to pack, how to pack it, how to keep those kids eating well even when they’re surrounded by their friends and lots of elements outside our control.

To be honest, I’m a little stressed about it.

And that’s why I invited my friend, Brianne Izzo, to be a guest on the Food Rant podcast.

But the other reason I asked Brianne to come on the show is because in the past few years, she has gone from the corporate world to stay-at-home mom, to fulltime, mega-successful food blogger. She and I agree that there are definite pros and cons to working from home, but ultimately it’s doing work we are passionate about while balancing a family that makes all the difference in our happiness.

So we’ll be hearing about Brianne the mom who packs lunches, but also Brianne the smart, successful business owner.

You’ll have to listen to get all the details but here’s a quickie glimpse at some of the tips she shares:

The magic of having a plan, and no plan at all

Brianne packs interesting lunches, but she’s not using cookie cutters or fancy decorations. Listen and you’ll hear how she keeps lunches varied, balanced and fun without creating too much work for herself.

Other kids are going to bring Rice Krispie treats

Yes, it’s true. Once kids go to school, their food get compared with their friends’ food. How do you teach your kids to make healthy decisions? Brianne suggests explaining that every family is different and makes different choices. And, she lets her son buy lunch once a week. That sounds like a good plan to me!

If you want to start your own business, treat it like a job

Working from home and having your own business is a dream setup for moms. Brianne and I both enjoy the perks of not having to commute or follow someone else’s rules. But the key to making it work is to take it seriously. Even if you have just 10 minutes a day, having dedicated work time is essential.

Links from this episode:
Get Brianne’s free snack recipes
CupcakesandKaleChips.com
Follow Brianne’s lunchbox creations and more on Instagram

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