"If there’s one thing that puts a speed bump in my morning routine, it’s making lunch for my kids. Every Sunday, I grocery shop channeling the Barefoot Contessa, eager to come up with healthy and creative school lunch ideas. But, by the time Friday morning rolls around, the kitchen pantry is near empty, and it’s another PB&J with a bag of chips haphazardly thrown into their lunch boxes. Should I be surprised when they come home in bad moods? Absolutely not. When I’m feeding my children healthy meals, they are happier and enthusiastically follow my instructions. When I’m feeding my children meals that can be found in the aisles at the nearest convenience store, it’s like a bomb of emotions has exploded in our home.
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The elementary school that my children attend doesn’t provide a lunch program, so it’s up to me to make sure that I send them off for the day with a healthy lunch. In our school district, there are 185 days of school. With two children, this means that I have to make 370 lunches during the school year—so it’s no wonder that I easily fall into a rut sometimes.
Below, I’ve put together a comprehensive guide to making the best school lunches for your kids this school year. From a school lunch shopping list of ingredients and my best tips and hacks to make packing lunches a breeze to 30 school lunch ideas for kids—broken down by Bento Box inspo and creative lunch mains that aren’t sandwiches—read on for everything you need!
School Lunch Grocery Shopping List
Proteins:
- Deli ham
- Deli turkey breast
- Shredded chicken
- Pepperoni
- Salami
- Mini hot dogs
- Meatballs
- Cheese slices or cubes
- Hard-boiled eggs
- Greek yogurt
- Nuts (if allowed)
Fruits & Veggies:
- Grapes
- Apple slices
- Strawberries
- Bananas
- Blueberries
- Raspberries
- Blackberries
- Pears
- Orange slices
- Peaches
- Cherries
- Watermelon
- Fruit cups (like Mandarin oranges)
- Applesauce cups
- Dried fruit
- Carrots
- Celery
- Snap peas
- Cherry tomatoes
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Mini cucumbers or cucumber slices
- Mini bell peppers or bell pepper slices
- Jicama sticks
- Hearts of palm
- Black olive cups
Carbs:
- Crackers
- Pita bread
- Pretzels
- Tortilla chips
- Sun Chips
- Wheat Thins
- Triscuits
- Animal crackers
- Popcorn
- Granola
- Dry cereal
Dips:
- Ranch
- Blue cheese
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- BBQ sauce
- Peanut butter (or nut butter alternative)
- Guacamole
- Hummus
Dessert:
- Banana bread
- Mini chocolate bar
- Fruit snacks
- Pudding cup
- Mini muffins
- Oreos
- Nutella & Go! pack
- Chocolate chip cookie
- Tootsie Pop sucker
- Gummy candy
- M&Ms
- Chocolate chips
Bento Box School Lunch Ideas
Back in my school days, kids brought packed lunches in simple plastic lunch boxes (with a matching thermos, of course) or in disposable brown paper bags. But today, the Bento lunch box is all the rage. Personally, I love the simplicity and organization of Bento boxes. They’re leak-proof, keep food separated, and help me visually organize my kids’ meals. So, what does a Bento-style kids’ lunch include, you ask? They’re essentially just deconstructed meals, often made up of carbs, proteins, fruits/veggies, some type of dip, and a dessert.
Since I’ve implemented this new way of making lunches, my kids come home with empty lunch boxes every day—a serious mom win. In addition to buying and prepping items from the school lunch grocery shopping list outlined above, we’ve rounded up 10 Bento box and Lunchable-style school lunch ideas to make your kiddos this year.
1. Pizza Lunchable
Not only is this DIY Lunchable easy to put together, but kids have a blast assembling their own mini pizza for lunch with the ingredients. This one includes thinly sliced pepperoni, mozzarella cheese cubes, black olives, roasted red bell peppers, pita chips, and hummus.
2. Protein Bistro Box
This Starbucks-inspired Bistro Box features several protein-rich foods to keep kids feeling full throughout the school day. Assemble this lunch using peanut butter (if allowed in your child’s school), grapes, an apple, a hard-boiled egg, a Babybel cheese, and flatbread triangles. A huge bonus of this Bistro Box? It also makes a great lunch for moms to bring to work or eat while working from home!
3. Apple and Peanut Butter Sandwich Bento Box
This classic Bento box lunch includes apples with peanut butter (or a nut butter alternative), a handful of blueberries, nuts, and chocolate chips (for a little treat!), two hard-boiled eggs, and some carrots and celery. Healthy and easy to assemble: a win-win for busy moms during back-to-school season!
4. Salami and Provolone Lunchable
This DIY Lunchable includes carrots, olives, cucumber slices, radishes, raspberries, and crackers. Add in some salami and provolone cheese, and kids can create their own mini sandwiches!
5. Turkey and Pita Bento Box
Kids will love eating foods from the different sections of this Bento box meal, including blueberries, grapes, cherry tomatoes, hummus, pita bread, turkey and cheese roll-ups, and a few chocolate chips.
6. Yogurt, Granola & Fruit Bento Box
Have a kiddo who can’t get enough yogurt? Let them have all they want and add in this homemade granola that’s way better than anything that can be found in the grocery store. Pair that with some seasonal fruit for a sweet treat and a hard-boiled egg for extra protein.
7. Turkey and Sprout Sandwich Bento Box
You truly can never go wrong with a turkey sandwich, but why stop there? Make it extra healthy by adding some leafy greens that they won’t even know are there. Throw in some fruits, veggies, and a crunchy snack like pretzels and dip, and they’ll be set for a productive school day.
8. Chicken, Avocado & Tomato Sandwich Bento Box
Take your sandwich game up a notch with this healthy and protein-packed option. The chicken and avocado will ensure they have the energy to take on the remainder of their day, and adding some colorful sides like bell peppers and blueberries will make this a well-rounded lunch.
9. Tuna Salad Bento Box
Any little ones who enjoy tuna salad will love this option. Make the tuna spread and send them with either celery and carrots, like pictured here, or with pita bread for dipping. Round out this Bento box lunch with sides including a hard-boiled egg, cheese cubes, grapes, and blueberries.
10. Strawberries and Arugula Bento Box
Having fresh strawberries and a salad is a refreshing mid-day pick-me-up any kid could use. Throw in some flatbread crackers and toasted pecans, and they’ll be satisfied for the rest of the school day.
School Lunch Ideas That Aren’t Sandwiches
Sandwiches are a classic lunch box staple—but after the first few months of school, you might be looking for a few easy-to-make recipes for other main dishes to mix up your child’s mid-day meal. From pizzas and quesadillas to homemade chicken tenders and even a healthy Hamburger Helper dupe, we’re including 20 school lunch ideas that aren’t sandwiches in the list below.
All of the recipes would make great main dishes—just like a PB&J sandwich usually would—that can be added into a Bento-style lunch box and served with fruits, veggies, and other snacks as sides. Or, if your child would enjoy a simpler lunchtime meal, serve any of the below lunch ideas on their own in a classic insulated lunch box. These options are also great peanut-free lunch ideas, too!
1. Easy Tortilla Pizzas
Have some leftover tortillas from taco night? Perfect! Transform them into these easy and delicious pizzas for a fun school lunch alternative to the classic sandwich and sides combo.
2. Baked Chicken Meatballs
Meal-prep-friendly options are always my go-to when it comes to making kids’ lunches. I love these meatballs that I can throw together on Sunday and keep in the fridge until they’re ready to be eaten all week long.
3. Cheese Quesadillas
Whether I accomplish my goal of meal prepping on Sunday or inevitably find myself throwing something for the kids’ lunch boxes together every morning, quesadillas are a great option. They take minutes to prepare, and my kiddos love eating them.
4. Healthy Hamburger Helper
I know there are kiddos who could happily live off of Hamburger Helper, but no parent wants them constantly eating something like that. This recipe is the best of both worlds with their favorite flavors in a healthy alternative and is easy to pack in their Bento lunch box.
5. Baked Broccoli Tots
Help your little ones get their veggies in for the day in the tastiest way possible with these tots that mimic their favorite potato snack—but make it healthy.
6. Mini Egg Frittatas
Egg bites are always great because the ingredients can be customized, and they will always be high in protein. My kids love having breakfast for lunch (or dinner), so these are sure to be a welcome treat for your kiddos, too.
7. Crunchy Baked Chicken Tenders
I can’t think of one child who would say no to a lunch box filled with chicken tenders. This recipe will absolutely be on regular rotation throughout the school year. Don’t forget the dipping sauces, too!
8. Hummus Veggie Wrap
Healthy lunch ideas should always be thrown in the mix, and it doesn’t get much better than this wrap filled with colorful veggies and creamy hummus.
9. Avocado Chicken Salad Recipe
Not only does this recipe have the creaminess of the avocado and the protein of the chicken to satisfy your little one all afternoon, but it’s also one you can prep in 10 minutes or less.
10. Fish Sticks
Frozen fish sticks from a box could never compete! This recipe is great because it uses the air fryer to ensure the sticks are crispy every time. Plus, you have the option to freeze them and have them on hand when you want them.
11. BLT Chicken Salad
A BLT is always a classic lunch option, but opt for a fun twist on the lunchtime sandwich by making this delicious chicken salad instead. This is great to serve in your child’s Bento lunch box paired with crackers or pita triangles.
12. Healthy Tuna Noodle Casserole
This is one of our favorite lunch ideas because we can make it for dinner the night before and then send it to school with the kids as leftovers. Consider this a lighter version of a family favorite that doesn’t compromise a single ounce of flavor.
13. Ground Turkey Flautas
Another great option to make at home and send to school as leftovers are these turkey Flautas. They’re as lean as they are delicious and can be made in the air fryer or baked.
14. Ham & Cheese Apple Wraps
When I find myself in a pickle at the end of the week when the groceries are dwindling, this is a great option to turn to. These ham and cheese apple wraps can be made with ingredients I almost always have on hand. They’re also the perfect sweet and savory combination.
15. Sheet Pan Pizza
Not only is this recipe totally customizable, but it can also be made in 30 minutes. Make it as healthy as you want while still ensuring your kiddo will be excited when they get to lunch. Plus, it’s a big enough portion to serve your kiddos slices all week long!
16. Chicken Vegetable Soup
Kiddos will feel right at home when they open their lunch to homemade chicken soup. This recipe is packed with chicken and veggies. Toss it in a quality thermos, and it’ll still be warm by the time lunch rolls around.
17. Turkey Burgers
This healthy turkey burger will, without a doubt, fill the kiddos up until the end of the day. Lunch ideas are the best when they can be made ahead of time, and this is a great option to do just that.
18. Chicken Kabobs
We can never go wrong with chicken, veggies, and our little one’s favorite dipping sauce. Just leave the skewers at home and add these deconstructed kabobs to your kiddo’s lunch box.
19. Hidden Veggie Lasagna
Some kids simply don’t enjoy eating their veggies. When we run into this issue, it’s nice to have a hidden veggie recipe on hand. Both kids and parents will love this lasagna recipe that masks the flavors of the veggies within and can be made gluten-free.
20. At-Home Chipotle Burrito Bowl
If you can’t go a week without hearing, “Can we get Chipotle?” compromise with this copy-cat recipe. Kids will be showing this off in the lunch room, telling their friends it’s the real deal.
School Lunch Ideas, Tips & Hacks
Prep lunches on Sunday
Preparing and packing daily lunches can be time-consuming. I’ve found that prepping the week’s worth of school lunch meals on Sunday afternoons works best for me. After our family’s weekly grocery run, I wash all fruits and veggies, cook some chicken breasts and other proteins that I will use for the week, and make sure all the lunch boxes are clean. And, I write down what I will pack for lunches each day so I don’t have to think about it during the hustle and bustle of each school day morning!
Utilize leftovers
When it comes to packing school lunches, I always try to incorporate leftovers from our weekly dinners as much as I can because it’s both budget-friendly and saves me time. Assembling Bento box lunches with lots of ingredients is great, but sometimes mixing in leftovers keeps mid-day meals feeling fresh and exciting, too. And if my littles enjoyed eating the meal during dinner the first time around, I know they’ll definitely eat it for lunch—a great hack for even the pickiest of eaters.
Make the same lunch every day
I don’t know about you, but managing the mental load of the school year is a lot to handle. After a few months, I quickly find myself feeling decision fatigue with all of the school-related tasks. Coming up with creative school lunch ideas is often the first thing to fall off my long list of weekly to-dos. But, you know what? There’s no rulebook that says parents need to pack a brand new and exciting school lunch for their kids every. single. day. I often make the same school lunch for my children each week, and they don’t mind it at all. Don’t overthink these packed lunches, moms, your kids will be thrilled to eat their favorites, and they thrive when given routines.
Lean into the school’s hot lunch
If you’re feeling the lunch-packing burnout, remember that it’s also perfectly OK to have your kids opt into the school’s hot lunch option, if they offer one. Your kids likely won’t remember every thoughtfully-curated and perfectly-packed lunch you make them during each school year. But they will remember feeling energized and successful during their days thanks to a full belly regardless of whether the meal was homemade or purchased at school. Don’t hesitate to lean into hot lunch options to give yourself a break—or, better yet, sign them up for the whole year!
Gabriela Garcia, Contributing Writer
Gabriela is a Chicago-based writer, mom-of-two, and founder of The Beauty Edit. She loves to cook food that her children don’t eat and pretends to be a bibliophile when in reality she’s a Bravo TV and chip addict.
Julia Poulter, Senior Managing Editor
With more than 10 years of editorial experience, Julia is passionate about bringing motherhood stories to life and providing moms with interesting and informative parenting content. Prior to joining The Everygirl Media Group in 2019, she served as Executive Editor at Closer Weekly. As The Everymom’s Senior Managing Editor, Julia helps manage the brand’s editorial calendar and content strategy.