Mom Transforms Her Son Into His Own Lunchable for Halloween, Breaks Down How She Made DIY Costume for Under $50 (Exclusive)

A mother from Iowa has captured the hearts of many with her innovative and charming approach to her son’s Halloween costume this year. Megan Baird, a 37-year-old mum of two, took on the ambitious task of crafting a realistic Lunchable costume for her ten-year-old son, who has a penchant for dressing as food during the spooky season.

Baird’s journey began in August when she and her children started brainstorming costume ideas. With her seven-year-old opting for a Mario Kart outfit, the family’s creative process was in full swing. However, it was her eldest son’s wish to portray a Lunchable—a popular ready-made snack—this Halloween that truly sparked Baird’s creativity. “He loves to take them for lunch, and we both thought that it would be a fun costume to try to make,” she explained in a recent interview.

Inspired by the challenge, Baird set out to design a costume that would not only be eye-catching but also affordable. Using everyday items sourced from local shops such as Dollar Tree and Walmart, Baird managed to craft the entire outfit for under £50. She carefully selected materials that allowed her to capture the essence of the iconic lunchbox snack while keeping costs low.

To form the body of the Lunchable, Baird creatively utilised plastic food storage containers. Additionally, she fashioned turkey slices from cut circles of craft felt, while cheese was represented by wrapping craft foam around a cereal box. Floral foam, adorned with spackle and paint, stood in for crackers, and even Oreo cookies were crafted using paper plates embellished with craft foam details.

One of the standout features of the costume was Baird’s dedication to the authentic branding of the Lunchable. “I used a clear shower liner hot glued over the ingredients to replicate the plastic cover of the Lunchable,” she shared. To ensure accuracy, she photographed an actual Lunchable from her fridge, enlarged the image into a paper banner, and crafted realistic label elements to enhance the costume further.

Although her son was excited about the costume conceptualisation, he lost interest when it came to the assembly stage. As a result, Baird took on the majority of the work herself. “I know that his Halloween costumes will be a part of his childhood that he will always remember,” she said. This dedication stems from her desire to create lasting memories for her children, illustrating the tender bond between mother and son.

Prioritising comfort, Baird made sure that the costume was practical for trick-or-treating. She chose lightweight materials for ease of movement, ensuring that her son could walk freely and easily put the outfit on and take it off. However, she acknowledged that sitting down posed a bit of a challenge in the design.

In the spirit of sharing her creative process, Baird showcased the finished costume on social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. Her video on TikTok soon went viral, garnering over 420,000 views. “I was floored by the reaction online to our Lunchable costume,” Baird remarked, noting the enthusiastic response from other parents who were curious about her methods.

Encouraged by the response, she created a series of step-by-step videos to guide others in replicating the Lunchable costume. She has taken delight in seeing fellow parents share their homemade creations in the comments, fostering a sense of community and creativity.

Beyond the Lunchable, Baird has several other projects underway. With both children requesting homemade costumes this year, the family Halloween preparations are far from finished. As she approaches the Mario Kart outfit for her seven-year-old, Baird relishes the creative challenges that lie ahead.

Reflecting on the overall experience, Baird expressed immense pride in the final product, not just for its resemblance to a real Lunchable, but for the joy it brought her son. “The ultimate reward was being able to make my son’s dream costume a reality,” she said, encapsulating the heartwarming essence of her creative labour this Halloween season.