45 School Lunch Ideas

By contributing writer SnoWhite

After just a few weeks, lunches can become repetitive, and it can be difficult to come up with school lunch ideas.  Thinking of the meal in three parts and varying those parts can be helpful.  I’ve provided links to ideas for each part below, but I like to add a fourth part to any packed lunch.  Can you guess what it is?

The Base

Sandwiches typically are the base of most packed lunches, but think outside the box.  All you need is a solid source of protein and carbohydrate with some healthy fat upon which to build your lunch.  Give these a try:

• Whole Wheat Sandwich Bread can be used with your child’s favorite fillings.
• Peanut Butter and Banana Roll Ups with Homemade Tortillas (Sunbutter is a great nut-free PB alternative)
• Bagel with Cream Cheese
• Egg Salad
• Chicken Salad
• DIY Uncrustable Sandwich
• Build Your Own Pizza – Pita (sliced into pizza slices), pizza sauce, shredded cheese, fresh veggies, and pepperoni
• Corn Dog Mini Muffins
• Fococcia Bread with Ricotta Cheese and Roasted Tomatoes
• Tomato Cucumber Pasta Salad
• Soup (e.g., Roasted Tomato Soup, Chicken & Wild Rice, or Taco Soup)
• Whole Wheat Waffles with Cream Cheese and Jam
• Hard Boiled Egg with Whole Grain Pitas and Avocado
• Roasted Red Pepper Hummus with Whole Wheat Pita Chips
• Cubed Ham and Cheese with Whole Wheat Crackers
• Homemade Pretzel Bites with Cheese Sauce or Cheese Cubes
• String cheese and pretzels, black beans and tomatoes
• Rainbow Fruit Parfait
• Black Bean Dip or Texas Caviar and Whole Grain Chips

The Sides

Kids live for sides, and they can turn an ordinary lunch into a “cool” lunch.  Think of creative ways to serve fruits and veggies as side dishes, some include:

• Roasted Chickpeas
• Applesauce Fruit Blends
• Pumpkin Pie Fruit Roll Ups
• Salsa
• Kale Chips, Sweet Potato Chips, Zucchini Chips or Green Bean Chips
• Pickles
• Popcorn
• Homemade Cheez-Its
• Vegetables and Dip
• Fresh Fruit (cubed, sliced, or otherwise prepared for easy eating)
• Raisins, craisins or other dried fruit

The Treat

Including a treat, even if it’s a healthy one, is a nice addition to a lunch.  Think beyond cookies and candy; a delicious sweet bread or muffin makes for a tasty treat.

• Brown Sugar Cinnamon Apple Muffins
• Chocolate Chip Honey Pumpkin Muffins
• Lemon Blueberry Scones
• Applesauce Bread
• Banana Oatmeal Muffins
• Honey Butter Popcorn
• Chocolate Chip Craisin Granola Bars
• Animal Crackers
• Pudding
• Carrot Cake Oat Stacks
• Healthy Pop Tarts
• Allergen-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies
• White Chip Orange Dream Cookies
• DIY Yogurt Cups
• Yogurt Fruit Dip

The Note

Of course, leaving a special note for the recipient of the lunch is a must!  Think about special occasions, days that need encouragement, or ordinary days to remind your family members how special they are to you.

What are your favorite lunch packing tips?  How do you keep from getting burned out on packing lunches?