50 Easy Back to School Lunch Box Ideas Kids Will Actually Eat
Back to school season is exciting… until you realize you’re responsible for packing a lunch every single morning.
If you’re anything like me, you start the school year feeling organized and motivated. Then a few weeks go by, life gets busy, everyone is tired, and suddenly you’re staring into the fridge wondering what on earth to pack besides another peanut butter sandwich.
The good news is school lunches don’t have to be fancy, Pinterest-perfect, or made from scratch every single day.
In fact, the lunches that get eaten are usually the simple ones.
Kids like familiar foods. They like variety. And most importantly, they like lunches that actually taste good by the time lunchtime rolls around.
The goal isn’t perfection. The goal is sending your child to school with foods they’ll enjoy eating that also help keep them full and energized through the afternoon.
Before we jump into the ideas, here’s one thing that has saved my sanity over the years…
Instead of trying to create a completely different lunch every day, think of lunch like building blocks.
Every lunch can include:
- A source of protein to help keep little bellies full
- A fruit or vegetable for color and nutrients
- A crunchy snack
- Something fun, because food should still be enjoyable
Once you stop thinking you need an entirely new meal every day, packing lunches becomes so much easier.
Now let’s get into the ideas.
Sandwiches & Wraps
These are classics for a reason. A few simple swaps can keep them from feeling repetitive. Some back to school wrap recipes.
- Turkey and cheddar roll-up on a whole wheat tortilla
- Ham and cream cheese pinwheels
- Peanut butter and banana sandwich
- SunButter and jelly sandwich for nut-free schools
- Chicken salad on mini croissants
- Turkey and avocado wrap
- Grilled cheese cut into strips
- Hummus and cucumber wrap
- Roast beef and cheese sandwich
- Egg salad sandwich
DIY Lunchables
Kids love meals they can build themselves. Cute little Bento boxes really help here.
- Crackers, cheese cubes, and turkey slices
- Mini pepperoni, mozzarella, and crackers
- Hard-boiled eggs with pretzels and grapes
- Ham cubes, cheese cubes, and whole grain crackers
- Mini pita wedges with hummus and veggies
- Cottage cheese with crackers and berries
- Apple slices with peanut butter and granola
- Yogurt with homemade granola and fruit
- Mini bagel with cream cheese and fruit
- Turkey pepperoni, cheese, and cucumber slices
These lunches usually disappear because they’re fun to eat and give kids a little independence.
Thermos Lunches
Don’t forget your thermos. It opens up so many more lunch options.
- Mac and cheese
- Chicken noodle soup
- Homemade chili
- Spaghetti with meat sauce
- Buttered noodles with parmesan
- Fried rice with chicken
- Quesadilla slices packed warm
- Mini meatballs with pasta
- Chicken and rice
- Taco meat with rice and shredded cheese
A good thermos can keep food warm until lunch, making leftovers one of the easiest lunch solutions and making sure it’s not gross by noon.
No-Cook Lunches for Busy Mornings
Some mornings are just chaos, and that’s okay.
- Greek yogurt, berries, and granola
- Cheese stick, crackers, apple slices, and popcorn
- Turkey roll-ups with grapes
- Peanut butter on whole grain crackers
- Cottage cheese with pineapple
- Mini muffins with yogurt and strawberries
- Bagel with cream cheese and cucumber slices
- Trail mix with fruit and cheese
- Veggies with ranch, turkey slices, and crackers
- Overnight oats with berries
If your mornings are hectic, keeping these ingredients stocked can save so much stress.
Protein-Packed Lunches That Keep Kids Full Longer
One of the biggest complaints I hear from parents is that their child comes home starving.
Adding a little more protein can make a huge difference.
Try lunches like:
- Chicken salad with crackers
- Turkey meatballs and fruit
- Egg muffins with berries
- Greek yogurt parfait
- Cheese quesadilla with black beans
- Chicken wrap with veggies
- Tuna salad with crackers
- Homemade protein pancakes with nut butter
- Cheese cubes, deli turkey, and apple slices
- Homemade energy bites with yogurt and fruit
A Few Lunch Packing Tips That Make Life Easier
- You don’t have to wake up at 5:00 a.m. to pack a healthy lunch. A little prep goes a long way.
- Wash fruit as soon as you get home from the grocery store so it’s ready to grab.
- Cut vegetables ahead of time and store them in air tight containers.
- Cook extra chicken at dinner so leftovers become tomorrow’s lunch.
- Bake a batch of healthy muffins or energy bites over the weekend and freeze them. They thaw beautifully overnight and make busy mornings so much easier.
- Most importantly, don’t stress if every lunch isn’t perfectly balanced. Kids don’t eat perfectly every single day, and that’s okay. Looking at nutrition over the course of a week instead of one meal takes so much pressure off.
Make Lunches Even Easier
If you’re looking for kid-friendly recipes that make lunch packing simpler, be sure to check out the healthy recipes here on Vigor it Out.
Because at the end of the day, the best school lunch isn’t the prettiest one on Pinterest. It’s the one your child actually eats.
