7 Easy School Lunch Ideas Kids Will Actually Eat
The night before the first day of school, we always end up standing in the kitchen asking each other the same question. What in the world are we going to put in these lunch boxes? Between all of us sisters and a whole lot of little ones, we have packed more lunches than we can count, and the ones that come home empty are almost never the fanciest.
So we pulled together seven easy school lunch ideas that our kids actually eat. Every one of them fits in a single bento box, takes about five minutes to pack, and comes together from things you probably already have in the fridge.
What You’ll Need
You do not need much, but the right box makes all the difference. Once you have a divided box, packing lunch turns into filling in little squares, and that is weirdly satisfying.
- A divided bento box. We use the Bentgo Kids 5-compartment lunch box and it is awesome. The compartments are leakproof, so yogurt + dips stay put.
- An insulated lunch bag that actually fits the box. Nothing worse than a bag that will not zip.
- A set of food picks and sandwich cutters. The shapes are half the reason our kids eat it.
- Silicone dividers and cups. These keep the wet things away from the crunchy things if you don’t have the bento box.
7 Easy School Lunch Ideas
1. The Classic PB and J Box
We had to start here, because it is the one that never fails. A peanut butter and jelly sandwich cut in half, and then the rest of the box does the heavy lifting. A few slices of deli turkey on toothpicks turn a plain sandwich lunch into something a little more fun.
- A peanut butter and jelly sandwich, cut in half
- Deli turkey rolled onto food picks
- Fresh strawberries
- Cucumber slices
- A small scoop of chocolate chips
2. The Waffle and Syrup Lunch
This one started on a morning when we had zero bread in the house, and now our kids ask for it. Two toasted waffles go in the big compartment and a little syrup goes in the dip compartment, so they tear off a piece and dunk it. No sticky plate, no fork, and it somehow feels like a treat.
- Two waffles or pancakes
- A little syrup in the dip compartment
- Cucumber slices and baby carrots
- A few red grapes
- A peeled mandarin orange
3. The Pizza Dipper Lunch
This is a fan favorite around here. Soft naan dippers (we get ours from costco), a scoop of marinara, a little shredded mozzarella, and a few pepperonis. Homemade pizza lunchable for the win!
- Soft breadsticks or a cut up flatbread
- Marinara sauce for dipping
- Shredded mozzarella
- A few slices of pepperoni
- Green peppers or other fun topping
- A small handful of chocolate chips
4. Turkey and Cheese Kabobs
The best part of this lunch is the toothpicks. Roll a slice of deli turkey onto a toothpick, add a piece of cheese, and suddenly lunch is an activity. It takes about ninety seconds and it comes home empty every time.
- Deli turkey rolled onto toothpicks
- Cheddar cheese sticks or cubes
- Pretzels
- Cucumber slices
- Strawberries and apple slices
- Fruit Snacks
5. The Build Your Own Bagel Lunch
A bagel with the topping of their choice-cream cheese, peanut butter, butter and jam, whatever they are into that week.
- A bagel, sliced in half
- The topping of their choice: cream cheese, peanut butter, or butter and jam
- Pretzel twists
- Baby carrots
- Strawberries and apple slices
- A small scoop of chocolate chips
6. The Yogurt Parfait Lunch
This is our answer to the mornings when nobody wants a sandwich. A big scoop of greek vanilla yogurt goes in the biggest compartment, and the toppings ride along in the little ones so nothing gets soggy before lunchtime.
- Greek Vanilla or strawberry yogurt
- Sprinkles and shredded coconut for topping
- Pretzel crisps or graham crackers
- Chocolate chips
- Cucumber slices
- Strawberries and melon
7. Energy Bites and Crackers
This is the lunch we pack when the morning got away from us, because the energy bites are already made and sitting in the fridge. We mix up a batch on Sunday with oats, peanut butter, honey, and mini chocolate chips, and they carry us through the whole week.
- Four or five no bake energy bites
- Whole grain crackers
- Red grapes
- Cucumber slices
- A peeled mandarin orange
- A fruit strip for the sweet spot
Why We Love Packing Lunches This Way
Packing lunch used to feel like one more thing on a very long list. Filling in five little compartments changed that. There is no recipe to follow and no real cooking, just a bit of protein, something crunchy, something fresh, and one small treat. Our kids feel like they got something special, we spend five minutes instead of twenty, and the lunch boxes come home a lot emptier than they used to.
Tips for Easier School Lunches
- Prep on Sunday. Wash and cut the fruit and veggies once, and the rest of the week takes minutes.
- Keep a treat drawer. One small sweet thing in every box is what gets the vegetables eaten.
- Let them help. Our kids pick two of the five compartments, and it cuts the negotiating in half.
- Use the picks. Anything on a toothpick is more interesting than the same thing on a plate.
- Send a slim ice pack. Yogurt and deli meat need it, and a flat one still leaves room for the box.
- Do not overthink leftovers. Cold pizza, pasta, and quesadillas all pack beautifully.
These seven easy school lunch ideas have carried us through a lot of busy mornings, and we keep coming back to them because they are simple and they work. What is the one lunch your kids never get tired of? Tell us in the comments, because we are always looking for a new one to put in the rotation.
Getting ready for the school year? Take a look at our 17 Back to School Books for Kids We Love next.
