This post contains a sponsored inclusion of Cerebelly, but all of the opinions within are those of The Everymom editorial board.
I’m new to the school lunch game since my 3-year-old just started preschool this year. However, I quickly realized that there are very few ways to make a packed lunch look interesting to my picky kid. He only likes a handful of meals, and I mean, how many possible variations of a sun-butter and jelly sandwich can I make? I’ve had to get creative with how I present the same five options. He seems to love a good theme and will eat most of his meal if it looks cool—I’m sure many parents are in the same boat. Seeing as fall is right around the corner, I’m taking all the ideas I can get from the season.
You can lean into the autumnal vibes by cooking a new fall-inspired meal, but if your kid is on the pickier side like mine then seasonal snacks and lunch accessories will be the easier route. Most kids are creatures of habit and may push away the strange-looking meal in their lunch box if they’ve never eaten it before. I also prefer to err on the side of caution with school lunches because I want to be sure he will eat his whole lunch and get all the nutrients he needs for the long school day. It’s also simpler to pack items you know they already love, cut them into new shapes, and add fun elements. In the spirit of the season, here are 10 fall-inspired ways to get your kid excited about their school lunch.
Cerebelly
Anytime I want to ensure my LO will eat at least one part of his lunch and get brain-building nutrients, I pack Cerebelly Smart Bars. The Sweet Potato Blueberry bars are the perfect fall flavor and I love that they're made from whole foods and have organic, veggie-first ingredients. It's a win-win for mom and kiddo.
Cerebelly
This sweet potato and peach puree would be a great fall-flavored addition for littles who love smoothies. You can also use it as a sandwich spread, add it into a pasta sauce, or mix it into yogurt. Since all of Cerebelly's products are made with 16 essential nutrients critical for healthy brain development, it's a snack you can feel good about.
Amazon
Cookie cutters work great for cutting food into fall-inspired shapes like pumpkins and leaves. Try them with sandwiches, quesadillas, and other meals.
Amazon
We also love these Halloween shaped cookie cutters for the kiddos who love spooky season.
Amazon | Tanlade
Cupcake liners can be used for packing various kinds of small snacks or fruit within a bento lunch box. It's a low-lift way to spruce up a boring snack.
Amazon | Mombake
Foil cupcake liners are a little more flexible for smaller snacks and tightly packed lunch boxes.
Amazon | Weraru
Place candy eyeballs on any food item and your kid will light right up when they open their lunch that day.
Amazon | Crafterlife
Cocktail picks can also be used as fruit skewers for older kids and an interesting way for them to poke and pick up their food.
Amazon
These picks have five different halloween designs and are also super fun for decorating food.
Amazon
Our preschooler adores getting little notes from us in his lunch box. His teachers always make sure to read them to him and they help him on days when he misses us a little extra.
This post contains a sponsored inclusion of Cerebelly, but all of the opinions within are those of The Everymom editorial board. We only recommend products we genuinely love.
