15 Super Easy Lunchbox Ideas Your Kids Will Love
Need ideas for school lunches? Try these kid-approved lunchbox ideas that are both delicious and healthy. They’re simple enough for kids to pack too!
Sending homemade lunches every day can seem like a lot of work. But it doesn’t have to be!
All you need are some simple ideas and a few good supplies. And before you know it, you’ll be able to get into a routine that you’ll hardly have to think about!
Check out this post for a complete list of all of my favorite supplies. They help us pack easy, well-balanced lunches almost every school day!
A couple of times a month, my kids like to choose lunch from school. But they usually just end up eating the chips and the dessert. So it’s a good thing they love lunches from home too! They still get their treat but at least it goes along with a healthy lunch they actually like!
Before I jump into our favorite lunches, there are a couple of things you’ll need to know:
SUPPLIES AND TIPS
These lunchbox ideas use a few of my favorite supplies. (For the complete list, check out this post.) And for your convenience, I’ve linked the supplies you’ll need here.
This post contains affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosures here.
The EasyLunchboxes Containers are first. They’re used to hold most of the food. Here’s how I’ve labeled the 3 compartments in each of the lunches:
And here are a few tips to get the most out of each of these supplies:
EasyLunchboxes
- These are excellent for dividing lunches. But they’re meant to be easy to open, but not leak proof. So to prevent leaks, use the EasyLunchboxes Mini Dippers for sauces, dips and condiments. (They fit right inside.)
- You can also use Glad Press ‘N Seal to keep things contained. Cut up a square and press it around the edges of the compartment you’re trying to seal. Once the lid is in place, it’s 100% leak proof!
Cake Molds
- This set is great because it has different sizes and shapes. Use these to separate compartments of the EasyLunchboxes further.
- 2 cupcake liners can fit in each of the 2 smaller sections. You can also use any variety in the main section.
Soup Container and Big Water Bottle
- The soup container and water bottle are insulated to keep food warm.
- Warm up the food before placing it in the containers.
- Run hot water inside the container first to help keep in the heat even more.
Popsicle Molds
- These are great for yogurt, applesauce and smoothies. Just make sure to leave a little room. The food will expand when it freezes
- Place a frozen popsicle mold diagonally in the main compartment of the EasyLunchboxes container, folding the bottom edge over. Make sure it’s pushing up against the edge so the lid stays on when it begins to thaw.
Extras
- If your kids are asked to bring a snack during the school day, these lunch boxes are great. There’s plenty of room for an extra snack container.
- I didn’t include any desserts in these lunches. My kids pack a treat of their choice every day. It just doesn’t go inside the EasyLunchboxes containers.
- I’m apologizing in advance…there’s a lot of peanut butter. It’s basically as important as the air we breathe over here. If your family has allergies (or if your school has restrictions), try swapping the peanut butter out with your favorite alternative.
EASY & HEALTHY LUNCHBOX IDEAS
These are most of the options we rotate through during the school year. We’ve pretty much gotten into a routine so we don’t have to come up with ideas for a brand new lunch every single day. And that works great since my kids pretty much want the same things over and over anyway.
We’ll mix it up every once and a while, but these are the main lunchbox ideas we keep coming back to. Pick and choose what works for you!
SANDWICHES
LUNCH #1
- Main: Peanut Butter and Jelly
- Small #1: Apple Slices
- Small #2: Cheese Cubes/Carrot Sticks (with cupcake liners)
LUNCH #2
- Main: Peanut Butter and Honey/Cheese Stick
- Small #1: Cherry Tomatoes
- Small #2: Sliced Strawberries
LUNCH #3
- Main: Peanut Butter and Banana
- Small #1: Grapes
- Small #2: Yogurt (with Press ‘N Seal)
LUNCH #4
- Main: Meat and Cheese Sandwich
- Small #1: Small Orange
- Small #2: Olives/Almonds (with cupcake liners)
WARM LUNCHES
LUNCH #5
- Main: Chips and salsa (with Mini Dippers)
- Small #1: Sliced Cucumbers
- Small #2: Blueberries & Raspberries
- Big Water Bottle: Cheese Quesadilla (warm and roll in tin foil before putting in the water bottle)
LUNCH #6
- Main: Popcorn, Cranberries and Almonds/Shredded Cheese & Sour Cream for soup (with Mini Dippers)
- Small #1: Grapes
- Small #2: Crackers (Goldfish, Oyster, etc.)
- Soup Container: Tomato Soup
- Big Water Bottle: Cheese Quesadilla (warm and roll in tin foil before putting in the water bottle)
LUNCH #7
- Main: 2 Rolls, Cheese Stick
- Small #1: Cherry Tomatoes
- Small #2: Apple Slices
- Soup Container: Chicken Noodle Soup (try this easy and delicious recipe from Averie Cooks)
LUNCH #8
- Main: Bell Pepper Sticks, Carrot Sticks, Celery Sticks, Ranch (with Mini Dipper)
- Small #1: Cranberries & Almonds
- Small #2: Blueberries
- Soup Container: Macaroni and Cheese (try this easy and delicious recipe from Lil’ Luna)
HOMEMADE LUNCHABLES
LUNCH #9
- Main: (with cupcake liners) Ham Slices, Cut Cheese Slices, Crackers (Saltines, Ritz, Club, etc.)
- Small #1: Boiled Egg
- Small #2: Applesauce (with Press ‘N Seal)
LUNCH #10
- Main: Mini Pizza Rounds (try this easy recipe from The Caterpillar Years), Marinara Sauce (with Mini Dipper)
- Small #1: Shredded Cheese
- Small #2: Extra Toppings (pepperoni, cubed ham & pineapple, etc.)/Carrot Sticks (with cupcake liners)
LUNCH #11
- Main: Crackers, Cubed Cheese,
- Small #1: Small Orange
- Small #2: Tuna (with mayo, chopped celery, salt and pepper) (with Press ‘N Seal)
EXTRAS
LUNCH #12
- Main: Taco Salad (recipe below), Ranch & Tomatoes (with Mini Dippers)
- Small #1: Shredded Cheese
- Small #2: Shredded Lettuce
- Separate Snack Baggie: Tortilla Chips
Taco Salad:
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1 taco seasoning packet
- 1 cup cooked rice
- 1 can black beans (rinsed and drained)
- 1 can corn (rinsed and drained)
- Instructions: Cook ground beef and taco seasoning, drain. Add remaining ingredients.
LUNCH #13
- Main: Breakfast Burrito wrapped in tin foil (eggs, crumbled sausage, shredded cheese)/Banana
- Small #1: Sliced Bell Pepper
- Small #2: Yogurt (with Press ‘N Seal)
LUNCH #14
- Main: Smoothie Pop (our favorite recipe below), Cheese Stick, Almonds (with cupcake liner)
- Small #1: Apple Slices
- Small #2: Muffin (try this great recipe from I Heart Eating)
Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie:
- 1 banana
- 1 heaping tablespoon peanut butter
- ¼ cup yogurt
- 1 large handful of spinach
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ½ cup almond milk
- Instructions: Blend together in blender and pour into popsicle molds. Freeze.
Check out this post for more great smoothie ideas!
LUNCH #15
- Main: Leftovers of their favorite dinner
- Small #1: Boiled Egg
- Small #2: Applesauce (with Press ‘N Seal)
Packing a lunch doesn’t have to be expensive or ultra creative to be healthy (or yummy!). In fact, keeping it simple makes it sustainable. And it even makes it possible for your children to join in on the task!
And if you haven’t used divided containers before, give them a try! They’re great for creating easy, well-balanced lunches that your kids will love.
What do your kids like in their lunches? I love getting new lunchbox ideas!
want to remember this?
PIN IT TO YOUR FAVORITE BOARD
Share this article: