I spend about 20mins-half hour every morning to prepare my 2.5yo daycare lunch box. 1. we brought a lots of frozen food for the week. 2. heated up/steam the frozen food, prepare snakes (cheese, yogurt, dry fruit or gold fish...), fruits (cut it small, especially grapes) or make burger chicken nuggets... 3. cooling down ( I usually take a shower at this window.) 4. pack into the his lunch box