Confession: one of my least favorite daily tasks is packing school lunches. I suppose if I were to just toss a Lunchable into an insulated bag it would be a lot easier. Oh, but we don’t that way ’round these parts so things get complicated. I will admit that I have more fun when it comes time to pack a special lunch, for holidays. I guess the festivity serves to get me out of my lunch rut. Don’t get me wrong; I’m not one of those moms who creates complicated scenes from the latest movies out of rice and fruit leather. I don’t know who has time for all that but I do know that it isn’t me. I try to stick with much simpler ideas to spruce up your average, everyday PB&J. You, too? If so, you might appreciate these 10 easy ways to say I love you in a lunchbox. Especially since Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. PS. You’re welcome. ;)

1. Valentine Picks

Use store-bought or homemade holiday-themed food picks to quickly doll up everything from sandwiches to wraps to boiled eggs. I made the one pictured above with some construction paper, tissue paper and a toothpick but you can also buy similar versions at craft stores or baking supply shops.

2. Love you “berry” much printables

Print out these cute love you “berry” much valentine tags and use baker’s twine to tie them to a berry-flavored treat.

3. Berry surprises & heart-shaped cukes

Stuff fresh raspberries with white chocolate chips for a tasty surprise or cut cucumbers (or cheese slices) into heart shapes.

4. Corny Jokes

Give them a laugh by including a corny joke. Simply download and print my kid-friendly Valentine’s Day jokes.

5. Fruit leather fortune cookies

Visit Family Fresh Meals to learn how to make these simple fruit leather fortune cookies.

6. Valentine pretzels

Love from the oven shares this super simple idea for creating chocoloate-covered pretzels.

7. Say it on fruit

There are so many fruit puns that work for Valentine’s Day. Use food markersto pen your messages.

8. Share the awesomesauce

Are these not the cutest? You can download the free printable at Creating Really Awesome Free Things.

9. Fruit heart kabobs

Modern Parents Messy kids has a simple method for creating these fruit kabobs that feature strawberry hearts.

10. Strike a match

These faux match pretzel sticks are a cute way to tell any kid how great a match you make.

I told you–I’m all about the easy. Hopefully one of these simple ideas with inspire you to elevate the PB&J this Valentine’s Day.

10 easy ways to say I love you in a lunchbox