As we get back into another school year, some of us are wondering the same thing….What on earth can we do to change things up and create a school lunch that works for our schedule, at the same time it inspires our kids to get through the school day?
Maybe your child is starting school for the first time. Maybe you’re like us…We’ve been making and packing our son’s lunches for so many years that we are feeling a bit brain dead when it comes to thinking of new ideas.
Dinosaur shaped sandwiches worked beautifully when our boy was younger. Not so much these days!
What do you do?
Meh
The Answer To The Dilemma?
As I was searching for new lunch ideas, I came across a bunch that were not quite what we would think of. It’s funny what some folks consider to be kid-friendly for picky eaters.
Apparently, they don’t understand what “picky” means. They’ve never met our kid!
Alas, I was able to weed through and find some really tasty options that are not only perfect for picky eaters, but mouth watering at the same time. All are kid approved, and easy on mom and dad.
The following school lunch ideas are things that can be prepped the night before, and still made to be yummy for next day’s lunch hour. Most can even be taken care of during a typical morning routine, if you are busy the night before, and just can’t get to it ahead of time.
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Keeping Boxed Or Bagged Lunch Hot/Cold
While a lot of these meals will keep perfectly fine for a few hours and taste good at room temperature, some of them might require an ice pack or thermos for temperature control and added freshness.
Here are a few of our favorite lunch essentials to keep around for those times that require a little extra care to keep food hot or cold.
The Best Lunch Box Ideas For Picky Eaters
1. Antipasto Pasta Salad
I know, a lot of kids are not so big on salads, but this is not just any salad. It’s packed with meats and cheeses, with just a few vegetables to make it healthy. It’s a nice change up from the typical sandwich routine that your kids will love. Prepare the salad the night before, without dressing. Just add a separate small container of dressing on the side for your kids to add themselves, so the salad stays fresh until it’s lunch time.
2. Peanut Butter & Jelly Banana Sushi Tortilla Wrap
Talk about peanut butter & jelly at a whole new level! Instead of bread, you use a tortilla shell. You simply spread the peanut butter and jelly on the tortilla, place a whole banana on top. Roll the tortilla up and slice into smaller sections. Yummy goodness that can be thrown together in 5 minutes, even on a crazy morning!
3. Chopped Italian Sub
I came across this recipe recently, and my whole family loves it! Traditional subs can be a bit tough sometimes, when it comes to keeping all of the stacked ingredients in place with each bite. This chopped version makes it a little easier to consume in smaller bites without everything sliding through the ends. Add a fork with your child’s lunch, so they can scrape up the bits that get left behind in their box!
4. Ritz Cracker Stackables
If you know me even a little, you know I’m a huge fan of stackables, whether it be with crostini or Ritz crackers. This is a much better version of the lunchables you can pick up at the store, and it’s less expensive. My picky son loves this type of lunch, and we love assembling it!
5. Turkey Wraps
This is another great way of changing up the typical sandwich routine, to make it a little less boring. My son isn’t big into vegetables, so I would leave out a couple of the ingredients in this recipe. Overall, you can adjust as you need. It’s just a sandwich with a bit of class. (no pun intended!)
6. Strawberry, Ham, & Cream Cheese Sandwich
Love, Love this idea! Cream cheese and strawberries on a croissant. I just showed this to my boy, and he was all like, “Oooh..that looks good.” I know what will be in his lunch box in the near future!
7. Ham & Cheese Pinwheels
This is an awesome twist on the typical ham and cheese sandwich! Crunchy, gooey, and delicious. These pinwheels can be made the night before with very little time. In the morning, pop them into the oven or air fryer for just a minute to reheat. Put them in an airtight container and they will still be good when your kid devours them at lunch time.
8. Ham & Cheese Kabobs/Skewers
Oh yeah! This one needs no real explanation. Quick, easy, simple nabobs with all the right stuff. Your kid doesn’t like tomatoes? Substitute with apple slices. Done!
9. Kid Friendly Chicken Ranch Wrap
This one is another no brainer. Cook up a piece of chicken the night before. Let it rest in the fridge overnight. Throw this easy wrap together in the morning and it will be fresh when lunch time rolls around. You can even leave out the ranch when assembling. Put the dressing in a side container and the kids can add it or dip for an extra fresh take on it.
10. Nutella & Banana Sushi Roll
Generally, we will pack lunches through the week that are more protein based. On Fridays, it’s always a sweeter lunch idea. This Nutella and banana roll is perfect for those days. It still has fruit for a healthy aspect, with just a touch of yummy energy to get through the grueling Friday before weekend starts! Psst..the teachers have to deal with the sugar rush. It’s gone by the time the kids get home!
11. Ham & Cheese Mini Sub Lunchable
This is something we have done plenty of times. More often than not, our son likes rolls more than bread. This is another super easy to make lunch box idea that can even be done within 5-10 minutes in the morning.
Tip: Slice the carrots the night before and store in a zip lock bag. Slice the strawberries in the morning for freshness.
12. Kid Friendly Chicken Pasta Salad
This is a salad that can be made ahead of time and will still be good the next day at lunch. Make it, store in an airtight container and put it in your child’s lunch box in the morning. You may want an ice pack or insulated lunch bag for this. Overall though, you can get a few days of lunch with this recipe if you so choose.
13. California Club Turkey Sandwich For Kids
I like this recipe a lot, because it involves a hint of jam. It just makes the typical club sandwich even better with that bit of sweetness. I would even add a few slices a pre-cooked bacon to it. You can assemble the main ingredients of the sandwich the night before and just add the condiments to the bread in the morning for freshness.
14. BLT Wrap
The easiest way to go with this lunch idea, is to do a bit of prep the night before. Cook the bacon, let it cool, and chop. Chop the lettuce and tomatoes, and store all ingredients in separate airtight containers. In the morning, it will take just 5 minutes to spread a bit of mayo on a tortilla and add the pre-prepped ingredients.
(Tip: Check out this tutorial on how to make bacon in the oven for easier prep.)
15. Kid Friendly Hummus
This is a no frills hummus recipe most kids will enjoy. Add slices of their favorite vegetable on the side for dipping. Not into vegetables? Substitute with crackers, strawberry slices, apple slices, or even grapes! Healthy. Easy. Can be prepped ahead of time.
16. Ham & Cheese Apple Wraps
Apples naturally compliment ham and cheese. Leave the bread out this time, by using the apples as the basis for this yummy lunch idea. Want to take it up a notch? Add a side of honey or chutney to the lunch box, so your kid can dip the bites in a bit of extra sweetness. Winner every time!
17. Chicken Quinoa Bowl
Quinoa is a pasta, but a nice light version. We love pasta in my home. If you make this meal for dinner one night, you will probably have leftovers. Add that to your kid’s lunch box for a change of pace. I would also add a small container of chicken broth for extra moisture at lunch time. In the morning, warm both containers up for a couple of minutes in the microwave. Pack them in an insulated lunch bag and everything should be room temperature when lunch time rolls around.
18. Charcuterie Board Lunch Box
I can’t say enough about charcuterie types of meals! All of the veggies and fruits can be cut/sliced night before, stored in airtight containers. When it’s time to pack lunch in the morning, it’s just throwing ingredients into a box. Easy Peasy!
19. Bowtie Pepperoni Pasta Salad
There are a lot of pizza type recipes out there for school lunches. This is one of the best I’ve come across for a few reasons. It has all of the main features of a pizza, and it can be prepared ahead of time. It’s also something that will hold for a few hours without worry. Put an ice pack in the box or bag and it will be yummy at lunch time.
20. Chicken Tender Wrap
Regardless of whether you choose frozen chicken strips or strips you cook yourself, this is a great idea. Either way, you can cook the strips while cooking dinner the night before, and just warm them up again in the morning. I prefer putting any condiments or dressings on the side in the lunch box. They can dip the wrap at lunch time, and everything remains soggy-free and delicious!
21. Mac n Cheese Bites
Homemade mac n’ cheese bites are a yummy treat everyone loves. Make them the night before while cooking dinner. Let them cool and store in an airtight container. In the morning, warm them up in the microwave and pack in airtight box and insulated bag. Boom. Done. Good job, Mom!
22. Homemade Grilled Chicken Bites
I wouldn’t call these guys chicken nuggets exactly. They are more like chicken bites without breading. Even if you cook them the night before and reheat before sticking them into the lunch container, they will hold and still be yummy at lunch time.
23. Homemade Lunchable Nachos
Everyone loves nachos…even little kids! This idea is healthy and easy to implement during the busy work week. Be sure to click through and watch the video on how to pack it all with just a few moments of time!
24. Healthy Lunchable Tacos
Everyone in my house enjoys taco night. Why wouldn’t I add that to the lunch schedule, especially if we had tacos the night before? There always just a little left over from last night’s dinner. Your kid will love opening that lunch box to find more of what they had to tear themselves away from just hours ago!
25. Ham and Cheese Muffins
Did someone say mac n’ cheese with ham? Okay…interest peeked. Wait, you can also prepare the night before with just a few ingredients, and they will still taste good for next day’s lunch with just a few minutes of thought? Count me in!
26. Tortilla Pizza Rolls
This is another great lunch concept, though I would leave a lot of veggie toppings out for my picky son. He’s more of a meat and cheese guy, so I would make a few adjustments. Overall, it’s a nice, easy idea for school lunch that all kids will love!
Final Thoughts
As mentioned, my son is not big into vegetables. He does love fruit, though. I tried to pick the best ideas for kids that require a little more thought. Everything I chose was based upon a few factors:
- Ease for Mom & Dad. Options that can be pre-made for those of us who try to balance work with home life.
- Creative options that involve some sort of healthy food.
- Food that will be delicious even at room temperature.
I hope your kids will love these lunch ideas and create a bit of breathing room for you parents!
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