20 EASY & Tasty Lunch Ideas Your Kids Will Love This School Year
- Tamarea
- Sep 28, 2022
- 4 min read
Blog post by Tamarea Parker Rushdan
My kiddos LOVE to eat. They enjoy eating school cafeteria lunch, but if they could have it their way it would be a packed lunch from home every single day. Demand is high and I do what I can to keep up. The challenge is that it’s hard to think of ideas for what to send. Planning ahead alleviates some of the pressure, so this year I’ve made a list. Take a look at 20 easy to make, delicious lunch options that your kids will love this school year. These options are so good, you’ll probably want to pack a lunch box for yourself, too!
Tuna + Crackers - A tasty and simple classic quick bite. Add sliced boiled egg for some extra protein and make sure to package crackers separately so they don't get wet. I like to use the Ritz Fresh Stacks or Triscuit Wheat Crackers.
DIY Sandwiches/Subs/Mini Sliders - Make them as basic or as loaded as your kid likes. Pre-make them for smaller kids, or for bigger kids make them “build your own” style with the bread, fixings, and add-ons boxed separately.
Classic PB+J - Choose between the endless options of jam flavors to make them different EVERY TIME! Think orange marmalade, peach jam, raspberry jam, etc. in addition to the strawberry and grape flavors everyone loves.
Kidcutterie Box - That’s right. Make it look fancy and give them what you know they’ll love. Pack that bento box full of assorted meats, cheeses, veggies, and treats. One of my fav things to use are pretzels or crunchy Italian style bread sticks too!
Spinwheels - Stack them onto a kid friendly skewer or line them up tightly in a bento box to make sure they don’t become an unwrapped mess. Use flour tortillas, spinach veggie wraps, or go without and simply use meat or lettuce as the outer part of your spinwheels.
Pasta Salad - From macaroni salad to seafood or veggie pasta salad the possibilities are endless! Be sure to add in reusable ice packs for temp control, especially if using mayo as the dressing base.
Nachos - One of the yummiest options of them all; nachos are a fun and healthy kid friendly lunch that can never miss. Switch up the protein and load up the fresh veggies.
Chicken Salad Sandwich - This tastes delicious on sweet Hawaiian bread. Use the mini rolls to make cute kid friendly sliders.
Wings Your Way! - What I love most about wings is that they taste delicious any time of day, even when served at room temperature. They can be baked, fried, plain, or sauced. Pair with cheese sticks, roasted or fresh broccoli, cauliflower, celery and carrots.
Thermos Mac + Cheese - The thermos will be your best friend. Anytime I make baked mac and cheese, I always prepare extra to use for lunch boxes that week. Add in some veggies like carrots or broccoli and this mac will make a meal.
Thermos Cup of Soup - Soup is perfect for the fall and winter seasons. The options for flavors and add-ins are endless, from chicken noodle to cheddar and broccoli. The thermos is bound to return empty.
Build Your Own Burger - Turkey, veggie, beef, or beyond, the build your own burger simply can’t go wrong. Add in the works on the side (lettuce, cheese, onions, bacon strips, etc.) if your little one likes, or simply place in ketchup and mustard condiment packets if they prefer the simpler things.
Salad Jars (or Skewers) - I know that all children probably don’t like salad as much as mine do, but if it's made with all of their favorite colorful veggies, topped with a cool ranch or sweet citrusy dressing how could they resist? Use plastic mason jars to display the array of colors or even stack your veggies onto a kid friendly kebab skewer.
Mediterranean Veggie Pita - I had never tried these before, and when my husband introduced them to us I didn’t know I would love this lunch dish as much as I do.
Wrap It Your Way! - Chicken wraps, lettuce wraps, sandwich wraps, breakfast wraps, tuna wraps; honey, I would put EVERYTHING into a wrap if I could. This handheld option can be very filling on its own, but I like to pair it with veggie sticks and fruit.
Sushi Rolls - Sushi is awesome because it’s a healthy option and can be made in so many different variations. I would recommend staying away from the raw fish/meat options, unless refrigeration is available.
Old Fashioned Potato Cakes - Potato cakes are delicious and OH SOOOO filling! If you’ve never tried them before, they’re definitely a must have. Check out this easy recipe for old fashioned potato cakes on TasteOfLizzyT.com. Make them loaded, or pair with a small piece of fish or a few shrimp and viola!
Grilled Chicken Tossed Salad - Use grilled or even rotisserie chicken breasts, lettuce, feta or cheddar cheese, eggs, croutons, cucumbers, and a side of their favorite dressing!? I don’t know about you but my kiddos LOVE a good salad. This one’s always a win-win in our house.
BBQ Meatballs - Bite sized and extra saucy. Feel free to place these in a Thermos Cup or use a separate storage container to make sure it doesn’t get all over other things. Pair with carrots, celery, and a Hawaiian roll or croissant. Swap out the BBQ sauce for something different like tomato sauce, sweet Thai, brown sugar bourbon glaze, gravy, or leave them naked.
DIY Shrimp Tacos - Shrimp tacos are so yummy and make a delicious packed lunch. They pair well with sweet potato fries or tortilla chips. Stack all the ingredients separately so that your little eater can feel independent by doing it themselves.
Sides and Snack Options
Here's a list of some of my favorite go-to side and snack options to throw in with lunch:
Fresh or roasted veggies Tossed salad Roasted potatoes Corn on the cob Hard Boiled Eggs Kettle Cooked Chips Bread/Rolls Veggie Fried Rice
Nuts, Raisins, Trail Mix Cheese Sticks/String Cheese Fresh or Dried Fruits Potato or Pasta Salad Muffins or Croissants Nutella and Pretzels Sweet Potato Fries Squash, Zucchini, or Brussel Sprouts
Graham Crackers Ritz Crackers Animal Crackers Fruit Snacks or Roll Ups
Eco-Friendly Supplies to make the Best Packed School Lunch
Reusable Condiment Cups - Wooden or Reusable Plastic Utensils - Kid Safe Skewers and Toothpicks - Filtered Water Bottles - Refillable Ice Packs - Washable Napkin/Handkerchief - Eco Friendly Bento Boxes
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