5 Lunch Box Ideas for Kids-Part 1

Finding good, healthy food options to pack in your child's lunch can seem like a tough task. Last year I got stuck in a lunch rut, and found myself packing a sandwich and chips for my boys everyday. I started to notice when the lunchbox would come home at the end of the day, the sandwich was still in the lunchbox and had not been touched. I knew I needed to come up with a better plan for this year. A few weeks before school started, I sat down with my boys and began listing off a bunch of lunch ideas. They would give me a yes or no, and I wrote everything down so I could refer back to it later. This school year, I have been changing it up, and so far my boys are loving it. Their lunch boxes are coming home empty and I'm happy to know that they are getting the nourishment to fuel their bodies to allow them to focus on their learning at school. I also want to note, these meals can be packed ahead of time for kids who are home with you all day. Then, all you have to do at lunch time it grab them from the refrigerator and lunch is served! Here are a few of the ideas I've been sending with the boys.

1. Mini pizzas - Bake on grands biscuits, spread a little spaghetti sauce and cheese and other desired toppings (pepperoni, hamburger, canadian bacon, etc). After they came out of the oven, I wrapped the individual pizza in foil before placing it in their lunch box. My son proudly told me that it was still warm at lunch! Fruit and fruit dip (made with plain yogurt and maple syrup), and cucumbers.

2. Make your own lunchable. I used crackers, pepperoni, and cheese. You could also use deli ham or turkey meat to change it up. A mini orange (peeled for my youngest school age son), and scooby snacks (like graham crackers) with a dollop of icing to dip them in! 

3. Salad. This one make my heart happy. My two elementary age sons specifically asked for this lunch. They love salad. I packed the dressing on the side to add later. Strawberries, and hummus and Naan bread. They have had this meal a couple times already.

4. Peanut Butter, Strawberry Jelly, and Banana Roll Up- I was pleasantly surprised at how delicious this was, and super easy to make. Add a side of fruit, and and some goldfish or other snack and you are set.

5. Mac and Cheese-For this lunch I used a thermos to keep the mac and cheese as warm as possible. Bring water to boiling in a small sauce pan and then pour into empty thermos. Put the lid on and let set for at least 5 minutes and then dump the water out, and dry with a paper towel. Then place warm mac and cheese inside. My son loved this lunch and he happily reported after school, that his mac and cheese was still warm at lunch! Add some fruit and a snack and you are set. These scooby snacks (graham crackers) with the addition of some milk chocolate and white chococlate chips was the perfect way to finish off lunch!

Five more non sandwich lunch ideas are coming to the blog next Monday! Check back for more inspiration. What other fun lunch box ideas do you have to keep kids excited about lunch?

Grocery List (some of these ingredients you will already have on hand):

crackers

pepperoni

cheese (pre cut or to cut into slices)

box of Scooby Snacks or graham crackers

icing 

lettuce

tomato

shredded cheese

salad dressing

cucumber

yogurt 

hummus

Naan bread (or you could use crackers you already purchased for the homemade lunchable)

gold fish

tortillas

peanut butter

jelly

biscuits

mac and cheese

chocolate chips

various fruit:

strawberries

bananas

apples

oranges

peaches