Care Package Idea: "The Snack Pack"

I love to show my hubby how much we miss him when he's deployed with fun care packages!  My kiddos enjoy getting to decorate the box and pick out goodies to put inside too.  I am sure your soldier has similar  complaints so you can relate, but my husband is always griping about the food during deployments so we start each deployment with "The Snack Pack" - A box packed full of all of his favorite snacks!

Of course the boxes are pretty drab so part of the fun is dressing it up a bit.  We kept it pretty simple with this one since we wanted to finish it up and get it there ASAP! I just gave the kids some red scrapbook paper to cover the box and decorate.  (I find that two-sided tape works really for covering the insides, but those tape runners are easier to use -- especially for kids-- and not too pricey.  You can pick up either at Walmart, Target, the PX or any office or craft store.) Then they traced out the words Snack Pack, cut it out and glued the letters on with scrapbooking glue.

If you wanted to get fancier, you could have your kids cut out pictures of snacks and/or use old food labels to make a collage and then write some notes on pretty paper and glue them on top.

I started collecting deals for care packages as soon as we knew he was going because it is expensive enough to send a package without shelling out a ton of money for the contents. Here is what we included in ours:

• Bagged Candy (Pretzel M&Ms, Gummysavers)
• Ghiradelli's Chocolate Squares 
• Mountain Dew Kick Start (If you are sending liquids always put inside a ziploc bag just in case)
• Trail Mix 
• Beef Jerky
• Microwavable Chef Boyardee Bowls
• Almonds
• Triscuits
• Tuna Pouches
• Gum
• Microwave Popcorn

To save on your care package items you'll want to watch for sales every time you shop.  Many of the items above were either free or REALLY cheap after sales and coupons.  Shopping clearance is also a great way to get good deals.  Many of the candy items above were 75% off or more during after-holiday clearance!

Of course no package is complete without some personal touches.  We each wrote a note to stick inside.  As much as my hubby will love the snacks, he'll enjoy those notes from the kids even more!

Stay tuned for more care package ideas and deployment survival tips!

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