The Best Home Made Runner Box

Because of the profession my sister is in, she has to do a lot of her eating "on the run" ( no pun intended), so she is always carrying snack bags with her.

Last Christmas I started to look into different types of snack boxes geared towards runners. I couldn't quite find one that I was 100% happy with and didn't want to get something in which I knew she would only enjoy 2 or 3 of the items in the box.

So with that, my own version of the Runner snack box was born.


Here's what I did:

1. Get a big box and wrap the box part and the lid part separately. I believe I used a copy paper box.

2. I use 6 extra large ziplock bags and several small ones. Putting the snacks in ziplock bags makes it easy to grab on the run.


3. I then filled the bags with a variety of running fuels and snacks that I knew she would enjoy.

4. In addition to the snacks, I put a small trinket in each bag. Some of the trinkets included a a chap stick, a race magnet ( actually there were several race magnets), a sweat band, and some other fun items.  Each week Lacey would take a new bag of snacks to work with  her and she told me it was like Christmas all over again each time she opened a new bag.


5. The last step of course was to put the bags inside the box and put the lid on.  I did happen to do a little more decorating to that box then what is seen in the picture.

You could of course theme your box if you wanted, but mine was just a mix of running fuel and fun snacks ( some healthy, some not).

As we get older, we tend to like more practical gifts. Running fuels and healthy snacks aren't always that cheap so I know she appreciates this.  I've made  my sister a variation of this snack box for the last couple of years and it seems to always be a Holiday Favorite and something I get asked to do again and again. 

I've also made Personal Care item gift boxes too.

Do you like practical gifts like consumables? ~M

                 

37 comments:

  1. Cute idea! Practical gifts are great - usually other stuff I can get on my own. Your box is very thoughtful too.

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    1. Thank you! I also think practical gifts are a good idea.

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  2. This is a great Idea! One year I made my mom a beginners box for running...with basic stuff like socks and headphones. I think that gifts like this are well appreciated!

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  3. What a great idea! I tend to like homemade instead of storebought gifts in general because they're more meaningful. I usually bake cookies and give them as gifts, but I feel guilty because, who really needs all that sugar? This year I might reduce the number I bake and make some nut mixes as a healthier snack. Love the idea of wrapping them up in a box like you did.

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  4. I love practical gifts and this was a great idea. The boxes that you can order by monthly subscription have too many things I don't want or will not eat. Very creative and fun gift Meranda!

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    1. I started looking into subscription boxes but as you mentioned, I knew there would be too many unwanted items in there. If we find some good ones, we may try them some day!

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  5. This is the perfect gift idea for a runner! I should probably subtly show this post to my parents or something : )

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    1. Haha, good idea! I'm sure someone would enjoy making this for you!

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  6. practical gifts are the best!! This is perfect too!! what runner wouldn't want one of these???

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  7. Yes, I love useful things. She was still grabbing things out of this box up till a few months ago!

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  8. What a great idea, Meranda! Practical gifts are are perfect way to show how much we care about our loved ones and pay attention to their needs.

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  9. That's such a good idea. I know so many runners that would love to get something like this for Christmas.

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  10. This is great. I seriously wish I was more creative when it comes to gifts and ideas like this. I swear I use all my creatvity at weddings and when it comes to my life I always get myself too busy to do anything wonderful and fun like this for the people in my life... hmmm maybe I should make a goal for myself to change that. Hmmm :) but seriously love the self made gift box idea:)

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  11. This is a great post! I've been sharing lots of "runner" related posts lately - I'll set this to share on my FB page, too!

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  12. What a great idea! Love how you personalized it to her tastes, and I love the practicality of it!

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  13. I adore practical gifts!!! You know you'll use it then!
    These are great ideas... I need to drop this post in my husband's inbox for a hint for him to make me :) haha

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  14. That's a great idea. I am all about stuff like KIND bars and ENERGYbits in my stocking instead of candy this year.

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  15. What a clever idea! I love useful gifts like this. I may have to copy you on this one. :)

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  16. Meranda, this is genius! I wish someone would make me a runner box for Christmas - ha! I was just thinking last night about what I might do for a running friend this year; I believe you may have solved my problem. Thanks for sharing this idea and I hope you have a great weekend!

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  17. not only is that a practical gift, it's a thoughtful one. When I was younger I used to count how many presents I felt like it wasn't enough I was sad. No joke. Now I just love when I get one gift that someone took real time to think of me and my passions/interests. I guess it comes with age :) This is such a cute idea!

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  18. That is an absolutely fantastic idea ! How clever.

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  19. Most of my list are practical items these days... or running items I want ;) Love this idea!

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  20. Great idea! I LOVE practical, consumable gifts. And the fact that you put it together yourself, with so much thought, makes it even more special!

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  21. What an awesome idea! Love practical gifts!

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  22. This is a great idea for a gift! I agree, I love practical gifts. There was one year where my favorite gift was a vacuum cleaner. That's when I knew I was an adult!

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  23. That is such a great idea, I love it!

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  24. Such a cute idea! So thoughtful and I'm sure any runner would love to get snacks! You're a good sister :-)

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  25. What a great idea and a wonderful gift, Meranda! Thanks for sharing your idea with us!

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  26. Wow Meranda, that is such a cute and thoughtful gift idea! Thanks for sharing it :)

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  27. Such a great idea! Pinning and G+ sharing this :-)

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  28. This is adorable and such a perfect idea for runner's. Especially for Lacey since she travels so much!

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  29. Thanks for the ideas! I really like the idea of creating your own snack bag rather than a subscription! Also I really like the race shirt quilt idea! But yes getting to the actual cutting of the shirts seems like it can be a struggle!

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  30. I agree about the practical gifts! I haven't always been big on the gift part of gifts, more so just spending time with family, enjoying the food, and holiday spirit. But now that I do secret santa with family every year I like to ask for things I want that I could really put some great use to. And when I give gifts I really like to think about what can be of use even if its something like this that will be used and gone! But its so great still! I think its better when someone actually uses a gift rather than it just creating clutter of never to use things!

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Fairytales and Fitness is a personal blog authored and edited by us, Meranda and Lacey. The thoughts expressed here represent only our own and are not meant to be taken as professional advice. Please note that our thoughts and opinions change from time to time. We consider this a necessary consequence of having an open mind in an ever changing society. Any thoughts and opinions expressed within our out-of-date posts may not be the same, nor even similar, to those we may express today. Some links may contain affiliate links. Some links are just to pages we'd like to share.