Now that summer vacation has passed, you're probably not looking forward to trying to come up with quick, creative, and healthy school lunches that won't come back home untouched.
As parents, we've got so much on our plate—if you'll excuse the pun—you likely don't need yet another task. If you need ideas and inspiration for back-to-school lunches that will be easy to make, healthy, and possibly your kids' new favorite, read on!
Make It Simple: The Right Tools
Before we get into the delicious ideas, we think a few tools can help make packing lunch easier for your kids to enjoy eating.
- Bento or Compartment Lunch Boxes
Bento boxes, or boxes with compartments within them, are a game changer when it comes to packing lunches that are easier for kids to use. Why are bento boxes so fantastic? These compartmentalized containers are reusable, washable, and excellent for getting the portion sizes right. Next, they can help you build a balanced meal and prevent leaks between items or from the container. Bento boxes provide space for various foods, and everything can be packaged ahead of time, saving you the effort of creating a lunch every morning in a rush to get the kids ready and out the door. - Insulated Lunch Bag or Lunch Box
Keeping various food items that need to be chilled or hot at the right temperature is vital. Not just because no kid or grown-up likes eating hot grapes but because food can rapidly grow the bacteria responsible for food poisoning.
Make sure to choose a high-quality insulated lunch box that can keep cold food cold and hot food hot.
Adding a chilled freezer gel pack can also ensure it remains at safe temperatures for food that should remain cold.
Other items to consider for lunches include:
• Insulated thermos for juices, water, or hot liquids like soups.
• Snack or sandwich bags. Many reusable, washable versions exist for those looking to lessen environmental impact.
• Don't be ashamed to stock up on grab-and-go healthy options if possible. There will come a time when the bread accidentally runs out, or the deli meat is gone. You can find a wide range of healthy options for kids' lunches that can be thrown together at the last minute before your next grocery shopping trip.
Now that we've discussed tools and supplies let's get into the lunch ideas!
Easy Sandwich fillings for Back to School Lunches
In most cases, the sandwich is one of the most accessible and popular choices for parents to make that kids enjoy. When it comes to what bread is best, you likely already know which kind your child likes. Whether it's whole-wheat bread, pita, whole-wheat tortillas, or flatbreads, here are a few suggestions on fillings to get your creativity started:
- Peanut butter and banana
- Cream cheese and red or green pesto
- Peanut butter and jam
- Jam
- Cheese
- Cream cheese and cucumber
- Egg and mayo
- Tuna and mayo
- Salmon and mayo
- Ham salad
- Turkey salad
- Chicken salad
- Chicken and pesto
- Roast beef
- Salami
- Hummus only
- Hummus and veggies or hummus and protein (meat, seafood, tofu, etc)
Consider what fillings will be 'wet'. For instance, many vegan filling options, such as:
- Cucumber
- Mixed salad
- Tomatoes
- Roasted peppers
- Grated carrot
Or condiments such as:
- Mustard
- Ketchup
- Hot sauce
- Vinegar
--can all add moisture to a sandwich. We're guessing that neither you nor your kid will like a soggy sandwich. To combat that, try packing the condiments or 'wet' fillings in separate containers and let your child make their sandwich at school (if they are old enough.)
Easy Sides For School Lunches
Packing lunch can get monotonous; some kids aren't always guaranteed to want or eat the same things. You can keep it exciting and ensure enough to fill them up with little to no food waste by giving them fun and easy sides for their lunches.
Sweet:
- Raisins
- Apples or applesauce
- Dried fruit
- Granola
- Banana
- Blueberries
- Grapes
- Mandarins
- Peaches
- Pineapple
- Raspberries
- Strawberries
- Watermelon pieces
- Banana chips
- Honey nut cheerios
Can be sweet or savory:
- Cottage cheese
- Rice or rice pudding
- Beef, chicken, turkey, or pork jerky
- Trail mix
Savory:
- Wheat or gluten-free pretzels
- Tortilla chips
- Rice cakes
- Crackers
- Popcorn
- Cheese sticks, cubes, or slices
- Edamame
- Boiled egg
- Assorted nuts
- Sunflower seeds
- Baked, low-salt kettle chips
- Pita chips
- Bell peppers
- Roasted or raw broccoli
- Raw or honey-roasted carrots
- Celery sticks
- Cherry or grape tomatoes
- Corn
- Cucumber
- Kale chips
- Leafy green salads
- Sugar snap peas
- Roasted sweet potato
- Sweet potato chips
- Roasted nuts
- Roasted chickpeas
- Zucchini slices
- Fruit cups
- Yogurt cups
Homemade side ideas:
- Mixed fruit
- Fruit-flavored yogurt parfait
- Savory or sweet energy balls
- Broccoli and cheese tater tots
- Fruit leather
- Ham and cheese apple wraps
- Baked Zucchini chips
- Soft pretzel bites
- Whole wheat or chickpea macaroni and cheese bites
Our ideas and suggestions above can be mixed and matched: sandwich breads switched out or even deconstructed. With these tasty, healthy, sweet, and savory options, you'll find packing school lunches quicker and more straightforward than ever.
At Wholey, we're always striving for ways to make mealtime, no matter what that may be, a world of exciting flavors. Whether you need the freshest ingredients delivered to your front door so you can skip the lines at the grocery stores to inspiration that helps you combat food fatigue—we'll be here to help you.