Packing school lunches doesn’t have to be complicated. These seven easy lunchbox ideas include a mix of warm and cold meals, fresh fruit, vegetables, snacks, and small treats. You can easily adjust each lunch according to what your child enjoys.
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Pack two Vietnamese shrimp spring rolls with a small container of peanut sauce for dipping. Add cinnamon applesauce, grapes, and a refreshing drink for a light cold lunch.
2. Chicken Nuggets and Mac and Cheese
Place warm mac and cheese inside a thermos and pack air-fried chicken nuggets separately. Add cucumber slices, a yogurt pouch, strawberry crackers, and a fruit roll.
You can replace the cucumbers with carrots, celery, or colorful bell peppers.
3. Mini Corn Dogs and Salad
Homemade mini corn dogs fit perfectly inside a small thermos. Serve them with cucumber slices, watermelon, fruit juice, and a cookie for a treat.
4. Mediterranean Bentgo Lunchbox
Fill a Bentgo box with mini naan dippers, hummus, cucumber slices, mini peppers, and pepperoni-style salami. Add yogurt and a frozen mini banana muffin that will thaw by lunchtime.
5. Chicken Broccoli Alfredo Pasta
Turn leftover roasted chicken into an easy lunch by combining it with fettuccine, Alfredo sauce, and steamed broccoli. Keep the pasta warm in a thermos and serve it with a mini bell pepper, a drink, and a small chocolate treat.
6. Mini Pizza Lunchbox
Make quick mini pizzas and serve them with carrot sticks and a clementine. This colorful lunch is easy to prepare and fun for kids to eat.
7. Salami Sandwich Lunchbox
Make a sandwich with multigrain bread, baby Swiss cheese, lettuce, and pepperoni-style salami. Cut it in half and add orange slices, strawberry-banana yogurt, crackers, and a mini banana muffin.
Add a Sweet Lunchbox Note
A short note can make your child’s lunchtime feel extra special. You don’t need to purchase printable cards, you can simply write a message on a sticky note.
Try messages such as:
- You’re a real slice!
- You are one in a melon!
- You’ve got this!
- You are braver than you think!
- You are my sunshine!
- I love you to the moon and back!
You can also use personalized name labels on lunchboxes, water bottles, food containers, books, and school supplies.
Helpful Lunchbox Tips
- Use a thermos for warm pasta, mac and cheese, or mini corn dogs.
- Include an ice pack with cold foods.
- Add different colors using fruits and vegetables.
- Pack foods your child already enjoys.
- Use small containers to keep dips and sauces from spilling.
- Prepare muffins and other freezer-friendly snacks ahead of time.
These lunchbox ideas are easy to customize and can help make busy school mornings less stressful. Choose your child’s favorite foods, add a sweet note, and you’re ready to go!
Watch the complete video on my YouTube channel, Parenting with Sara, to see how I assembled all seven lunchboxes.