45 School Lunch Ideas

Need school lunch ideas?

Quick answer: To avoid school lunch burnout, break the meal into four parts: the base, the sides, the treat, and the note. Vary each part on its own instead of reinventing the whole lunch every day, and you’ll have far more combinations than it feels like at first.

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?

What should be the base of a school lunch?

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 Tortellini Soup, or Cheddar Potato 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 Pretzels 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

What are good side ideas for a school lunch?

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 Bars
• 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

What are good treat ideas for a school lunch?

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
• Homemade Lara Bars
• Healthy Pop Tarts
• Allergen-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies
• White Chip Orange Dream Cookies
• DIY Yogurt Cups
• Yogurt Fruit Dip

What’s the fourth part of a packed school lunch?

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?

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I keep school lunches from getting repetitive?

Think of the lunch in three parts, the base, the sides, and the treat, and vary each part on its own. Mixing and matching different bases, sides, and treats creates new combinations without having to come up with a whole new meal idea every day.

What is the base of a good packed school lunch?

The base is a solid source of protein and carbohydrate with some healthy fat to build the lunch around. Sandwiches are the most common base, but soups, salads, pizza, and waffles with cream cheese can all work as the base too.

What are good side ideas for a school lunch?

Creative fruit and vegetable sides turn an ordinary lunch into a fun one. Options include roasted chickpeas, fruit roll ups, veggie chips, pickles, popcorn, and fresh or dried fruit.

What is the fourth part of a packed lunch besides the base, sides, and treat?

A note. Leaving a special note for the recipient of the lunch is a simple way to remind family members how special they are, whether it’s for an ordinary day or one that needs a little extra encouragement.