About
A lunch planner built by a parent, for parents
Free, practical, and made with real NZ supermarket ingredients.
Hi, I'm Yong Jae Lee.
I'm a Senior Product Designer based in Auckland. Every morning I'd find myself standing in front of the fridge, wondering what to pack in my child's lunchbox β and every weekend I'd stress about what groceries to buy for the week ahead.
I wanted to make proper, balanced lunches using ingredients actually available at Countdown and Pak'nSave β without spending 20 minutes each night planning. So I built Kiwi Lunchbox: a free tool that generates a week of school lunches in seconds, complete with shopping lists and price estimates.
This is a solo project. There's no team, no investors, no sponsored content. Just a parent building something useful.
π What's a bit different here: each week I check the Woolworths, Countdown, and New World mailers and tag the items that are actually on sale. When you toggle "Use this week's sales" in the planner sidebar, the generated lunches lean on those discounted ingredients first β so the weekly shop ends up cheaper without you having to compare three flyers yourself.
Yong Jae Lee
Senior Product Designer
Auckland, New Zealand
Why Us
Why Choose Us?
Streamlined Mornings
Generate a complete weekly plan in seconds. Say goodbye to the morning rush and hello to organized, stress-free starts to your day.
Sustainable & Local
We prioritize seasonal ingredients accessible in NZ supermarkets to help you reduce food miles and minimize waste.
Nutritionally Balanced
Our algorithms ensure a mix of protein, fresh produce, and treats, aligned with Ministry of Health guidelines for active kids.
Editorial Standards
How I Research Content
Every piece of content on this site goes through a consistent research and verification process.
NZ health guidelines first
All nutrition content is benchmarked against the Ministry of Health NZ Healthy Eating Guidelines and the Heart Foundation NZ food guidance. I do not publish nutrition claims without a credible NZ or international source.
Tested with NZ ingredients
Every recipe is checked for ingredient availability at Countdown and Pak'nSave. I don't recommend products that aren't reliably stocked in New Zealand supermarkets. Price estimates are based on regular shelf prices, updated quarterly.
Allergy information cross-referenced
Allergy-related content is cross-referenced against product labels, manufacturer allergen statements, and Allergy New Zealand guidance. However, I always advise readers to check product labels directly β formulations change.
School context is NZ-specific
NZ primary schools vary in their lunchbox policies. I note where school rules may differ (e.g., nut-free zones, no glass containers, no hot food without insulated containers). When in doubt, check your school's lunchbox policy directly.
Regular review cycle
Articles are reviewed when MoH guidelines change, when prices shift substantially, or when a reader flags an issue. Each article shows its publication date and last review date.
Corrections welcome
I take accuracy seriously. If you find an error β whether a wrong price, an incorrect allergy tag, or outdated school policy β please contact me. I aim to respond and update within 48 hours.
Important: What This Site Is NOT
- This is not a medical or dietetic service. Content is general guidance for healthy children, not personalised nutrition advice. If your child has a medical condition or complex dietary needs, consult a registered dietitian.
- This site is not affiliated with Countdown, Pak'nSave, or any supermarket. Price data is collected independently. I do not receive payment for product recommendations.
- I am not responsible for allergic reactions. Always verify product labels yourself. Manufacturers change formulations and cross-contamination risks vary.
Join Our Community
Kiwi Lunchbox is constantly improved based on parent feedback from NZ schools. The goal is simple β make healthy eating the easy choice for our kids.
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