Back-to-school season can make parents feel like every lunch needs to look Pinterest-perfect. But Alicia Carmody is here to lower the bar in the best possible way.
The "Real Housewives of Rhode Island" star admits that some mornings, she'll grab a premade peanut butter and jelly sandwich instead of assembling lunch from scratch. And she says parents shouldn't feel guilty about taking shortcuts if it helps get everyone out the door.
As the mother of 9-year-old Celina, Carmody knows that real school mornings rarely look like the carefully curated lunchbox videos filling social media feeds.
"Everyone has a different image of perfect," Carmody told USA TODAY Shopping. "As long as she's getting what she needs and I can handle it, I'm fine."
The reality
television personality recently partnered with Ziploc's Lunch Confessions campaign, which encourages parents to share the shortcuts, routines and tricks that make busy mornings easier. She also revealed the products she relies on during back-to-school season, from lunch-packing essentials to backpacks and water bottles.
Alicia Carmody's school lunch confession is surprisingly relatable
Even reality stars appreciate a shortcut.
"My lunch box confession is I definitely get like premade peanut butter and jelly sometimes," Carmdoy says. "Because it’s already there, I don’t have to get the bread. It's quick, it's nice and neat. Nice and cut."
Ziploc Sandwich and Snack Bags
These sandwich and snack bags make it easy to pack the familiar lunches kids love, keeping everyday favorites fresh while simplifying the school lunch routine.
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Her daughter Celina's favorite lunch is still a classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich, making the convenient option an easy choice during busy school mornings.
For parents worried about serving the "perfect" lunch every day, Carmody says flexibility is more important than perfection.
"If I can’t, I'm tired, I don’t mind getting take out for her or buy a school lunch," she says. "But I try to do the healthy thing mostly, the fruit, the veggie, you know a nice protein, yogurt, easy, quick."
Why Alicia Carmody thinks parents should stop chasing the perfect lunch
Back-to-school often comes with an endless stream of organization hacks, elaborate lunchbox ideas and meal prep inspiration. But for many families, weekday mornings are more about getting everyone fed and out the door than creating Instagram-worthy bento boxes.
That's the idea behind Ziploc's new "You've Got Lunch in the Bag" platform and its "Lunch Confessions" campaign. The initiative encourages parents to share the real-life lunch habits they don't normally post online and celebrate the shortcuts that make busy mornings manageable.
Instead of stressing over elaborate lunches every day, Carmody keeps things simple with fruit, vegetables, yogurt, protein and easy snacks that can be packed in minutes.
Ziploc Twist 'n Loc Food Storage Meal Prep
These Twist 'n Loc containers make it easy to pack leftovers for lunch, with a leak-resistant design that's safe for the microwave and freezer.
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"Sometimes a yogurt, you don’t have to think you just throw it in a bag and a fruit. Can’t go wrong with that. A few crackers on the side, turkey, pepperoni, you’re good," Carmody added.
Parents can also participate in the campaign by submitting their own Lunch Confessions on Reddit, creating a judgment-free space to share the lunch routines that work for their families. Rather than asking parents to live up to unrealistic expectations, the campaign celebrates practical solutions that help make busy mornings a little easier.
The back-to-school products Alicia Carmody buys every year
When it comes to shopping for back-to-school, Carmody focuses on products that make everyday routines easier. Her must-haves include:
Ziploc Quart Food Storage Bags
These quart storage bags help parents stay ahead of the school-day rush by keeping larger snacks, lunch components and leftovers fresh, organized and ready to grab.
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State backpacks for kids
Carmody says she loves State backpacks because they're big with a variety of different compartments but aren't bulky.
Shop at State Bags
Owala 16-Ounce Kids' FreeSip Stainless Steel Water Bottle
Owala water bottlee keeps drinks cold and hydration easy with its innovative two-way drinking design, built-in straw, wide-mouth opening and locking push-button lid.
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Stanley Quencher H2.0 Tumbler with Handle and Straw
Stay refreshed all day with this durable, vacuum-insulated tumbler. It has a versatile FlowState lid, ergonomic handle and sustainable stainless steel construction designed to keep drinks hot or cold for hours.
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Mrs. Meyer's cleaners
Mrs. Meyer's Cleaners bring a fresh, effective way to tackle everyday messes with hardworking formulas, thoughtfully chosen scents and ingredients inspired by the garden.
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She also recommends prepping what you can the night before.
"I love my Ziploc bags," Carmody says. "Keeps everything fresh, organized and I feel like it helps me if I started the night before, throw some fruit in a Ziploc bag, you know, her goldfish in another. So I feel like sometimes just doing the snacks at night and then you do the main course in the morning."
The easy school lunch ideas Alicia Carmody uses for picky eaters
Carmody's biggest parenting hack for feeding kids is keeping it simple and making sure they actually eat.
One favorite snack is thinly sliced apples sprinkled with cinnamon.
"I love apples and I love to cut them into French fries and then I put a little cinnamon on it and I feel like she loves it and I love it," Carmody says.
And if your child wants breakfast for lunch?
"Sometimes like waffles, they just want breakfast, give it to them," she says. "It's most important the kids are eating."
How Alicia Carmody manages motherhood during RHORI filming
Between filming "The Real Housewives of Rhode Island" and raising her daughter, Carmody says staying organized comes down to taking things one step at a time.
"Don’t get a head of yourself because when I start a to-do list I get very overwhelmed," she says. "So just start with step one. Baby steps."
Watch The Real Housewives of Rhode Island
Bravo's The Real Housewives of Rhode Island brings the drama, friendships, luxury and larger-than-life personalities of Ocean State women to the spotlight in a new chapter of the iconic reality franchise.
Stream Real Housewives of Rhode Island
Filming the show also made her realize just how often she relied on everyday essentials.
"I didn't realize how much I used a Ziploc bag," she says. "I use it for everything."
Whether she's organizing school snacks, packing luggage or preventing tanning oil from leaking inside a suitcase, she says the storage bags have become a daily staple.
"I just feel like it's an everyday essential," she says. "It's like drinking water."
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Alicia Carmody's school lunch confession every busy parent will understand
