20 Creative Lunch Box Ideas
Not every child loves the traditional sandwich for lunch. There is no doubt that every child is different and enjoys his or her favorite foods. When it comes to school lunches, make a commitment to ensure your kids have enough healthy food in their lunch box to keep them fueled and energetic throughout their day.
Yes, it can be tiring making lunches every morning or even at night before bed. Having some fun new lunch box ideas keeps it interesting and, hopefully, easy for you to send your child to school with a nutritious lunch.
If you find a few different meals your kids like, it’s okay to send the same things over again. You are less likely to have a full lunch box come back home again at the end of the day if you take the time to fill it with nourishing, tasty food your kids love.
Another way to get kids to eat the food you so lovingly prepare, is to let them choose what goes in their lunch box. Let them help shop, make the menus and pack their lunches. You’d be amazed what a difference this makes!
Don’t be afraid to feed your kids leftovers! Find a good thermos or two and they can have a healthy hot lunch. It’s so easy to make extra soup, chili or pasta dishes so you will have leftovers.
Always include a healthy drink: either water or juice with no sugar added are good choices
Here are 20 ideas to fill your kids’ lunch box.
For the Non-Sandwich Lover
Snacks that kids love can be put together to make a lunch box meal with lots of variety.
1. Apples and Cheese
sliced apples sprinkled with a bit of lemon juice to keep the apples from browning
cheese cubes
baked pretzel crisps
carrot or celery sticks
2. Fruit and Veggies
baby carrots and Ranch dressing
two mozzarella string cheese sticks
sliced strawberries
Annie’s organic snack mix or natural Cheetos
3. Hummus and Pita Chips
homemade or store bought hummus
sea salt flavored baked pita chips
sliced red peppers or celery sticks
kiwi fruit slices or cantaloupe cubes
4. Chips and Cream Cheese
whipped cream cheese
veggie chips
cubes of turkey or ham
seedless red grapes or peach slices
5. Mac-n-Cheese
homemade mac-n-cheese in a mini thermos (whole grain pasta with homemade cheese sauce) or try Annie’s Brand
sliced strawberries mixed with blue berries, or tangerine slices
small green salad with lettuce and cherry tomatoes
organic chocolate sandwich cookies (2-3)
6. Pasta in Tomato Sauce
Homemade is better. Annie’s is a great choice – 1/2 a can of All Stars, BernieO’s, or P’sghetti Loops in a mini thermos
apple slices
yogurt
7. Chicken Noodle Soup
Homemade is best!
Whole Grain Crackers
Apple slices or grapes
organic juice or water
8. Hard-boiled Eggs
Carrots and Ranch dressing
Goldfish or other crackers
Fresh berries
9. Chicken or Tuna Salad Lettuce Wraps
Put one or two tablespoons of chicken or tuna salad on a leaf or butter or iceberg lettuce and roll up like a tortilla.
Baked potato chips
Orange slices
10. Homemade Turkey Chili
Corn chips or tortilla chips
Strawberries
Snap peas
11. The Homemade Lunchable
My kids think “Lunchables” are cool but I don’t, so we create our own at home.
Sliced ham or turkey, cut to fit on a cracker
Sliced cheese, cheddar, Swiss or Colby Jack
Whole grain crackers
Carrots and snap peas
Apple slices or fresh berries
For the Sandwich Lover!
This is a great place for the kids to get creative. Let them choose their ingredients. Make sure to use whole grain bread or tortillas. Even if your kids complain, keep trying! White bread has absolutely no nutritional value. Also try to buy nitrate free and low sodium lunch meat. Processed meats are not a healthy choice. Put a leaf of romaine or red leaf lettuce, tomato slices and avocado on your child’s sandwich, if they will eat it. Any place you can sneak in extra veggies is good!
12. Turkey and cheese sandwich
Carrot and red pepper slices
Orange slices
Tortilla chips
13. Ham and Swiss Cheese Sandwich
Snap Peas
Baked potato chips
Green grapes
14. Roast Beef Sandwich
French green beans, raw
Guacamole and chips
Blueberries
15. Peanut Butter Sandwich
(be aware of peanut allergies in your child’s classroom)
crunchy natural peanut butter
with organic strawberry preserves or banana slices
seedless red grapes or sliced strawberries
natural Cheetos or other baked chips
Tortilla Roll-ups are a Great Sandwich Alternative
These work best with a thin shmear of cream cheese or hummus to help moisten the tortilla. Here are some suggestions for fillings:
16. Refried beans and grated Monterrey Jack Cheese
Add a little salsa to the cream cheese for extra flavor along with some shredded lettuce
Tortilla chips and mild salsa or guacamole
Celery sticks and cherry tomatoes
Red grapes
17. Pesto cream cheese with turkey slices and Provolone
Small Caesar salad
Apple Slices
18. Hummus Salad Wrap with lettuce, tomato and Swiss Cheese
Baked chips
Carrot sticks
Watermelon
Mediterranean Wraps or Pita Pockets are also great sandwich alternatives.
19. Grilled chicken strips and cheese with shredded lettuce
French green beans, raw with Ranch dressing
Veggie chips
Fresh melon
20. Left over slices of steak with lettuce, tomato and avocado slices.
Sweet Potato chips
Cheese Stick
Green grapes
