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Keep your kids eating healthy, delicious box lunches, no matter how picky they are! After making lunches for four kids and my grandkids, I can say for sure this is a great list of School Lunch Ideas for Picky Eaters that will make lunch the most exciting part of the day.
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When my kids were growing up, I never liked the idea of sending them to school with a lunch of pre-packaged snacks. But, when you have picky kids – four of them! – making a lunch they’ll enjoy that packs well in a lunchbox is a little tricky.
To me, though, that just means it’s time to get creative and have fun with back-to-school lunches! Many of the best lunch box meals are easy to make in minutes, and are packed with protein and perfect for hiding veggie servings. You can even make them ahead of time, for grab-and-go easy school lunches so you’re not rushing in the morning!
School Lunch Ideas for Toddlers
Toddlers are well known messy eaters, so it’s always a good idea to make sure you’re equipped with easy school lunch ideas that don’t take a lot of coordination to eat and can be sent to daycare and preschool without issue.
Easy peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, chicken nuggets, mini bagels, and pizza slices are all great options that little kids can eat without making a mess.
School Lunch Ideas for Kids
If your kids are a little older, they might start to appreciate meals that are a little more complex. Consider mixing in more vegetables with dip, as well as flavors with more spice or tang like salsa and vinaigrette. Of course, they’ll also love classics like my pizza twists!
School Lunch Ideas for Teenagers
Teens tend to have a much more developed palate, meaning more diverse meals! Salads, leftovers from dinner, and self-assembled meals like taco kits become great lunch ideas for teens.
Easy Snacks for School Lunches
Of course, you’ll want to add some tasty snacks and sides for lunch, too! On top of the main course, here are some great add-ins that are super easy and fast.
- Yogurt + Granola
- Apple Slices + Almond Butter
- Celery Sticks + Peanut Butter + Chocolate Chips
- Pita Bread + Hummus
- Veggie Slices + Ranch (I recommend cucumber, bell pepper, and carrot)
- Crackers + Cheese + Pepperoni + Tomato Sauce = DIY Lunchable!
- Frozen Grapes
- Sliced Banana + Nut Butter
- Cherry Tomatoes + Cream Cheese
- Lettuce + Hard-boiled Egg + Turkey or Ham slices + Salad Dressing
Lunch Box Ideas Tips
- Don’t be afraid to get creative with dips! If your kid doesn’t like the flavor of raw vegetables, they might like those veggies more with a favorite dip.
- Sometimes, a pack lunch can be a whole bunch of snacks in their own little compartments, like a school lunch Bento box.
- You can always make a PB&J more exciting by cutting it into a fun shape with cookie cutters, or making sure to use your kid’s favorite flavor of jam.
- The older the kid, the more likely they are to enjoy less “safe” foods. But it’s always a good idea to start your kids on a diverse range of foods early by mixing them into safe options.
- Make sure to check if your child’s school cafeteria has microwave access before sending anything that needs reheating!
Don’t forget dessert!
Pack a special treat to make lunch an even tastier experience! Including a cookie like my No-Bake Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies or Chocolate Crumbl Cookies can encourage your kid to open up their lunch box.
Easy School Lunch Ideas FAQ
Absolutely! Plenty of lunches are stable in the fridge, and can be made the night before and packed up. I always liked fully assembling all of the cold ingredients right in the lunch box in the fridge, then adding dry snacks like crackers the next morning.
Never underestimate the power of novelty! Cutting sandwiches or vegetables into interesting shapes, packing snacks into lunch boxes with multiple compartments, and including little notes, drawings, or tiny toys (think Kinder eggs) can make lunch more personal and fun.
Meal Planning Ideas for Families
- Last-Minute Dinner Ideas
- Kid-Friendly 20 Minute Meals
- Kid Friendly Weeknight Dinners
- Meals that Freeze Well
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