We rounded up 20 back to school lunch ideas to spice up those lunch boxes while making your life easier!
Growing up when my siblings and I would take a packed lunch to school, the other students would beg to swap their lunch with ours. They knew how good of a cook my mom was and they saw how much effort she put into our lunches. We all especially loved her sandwiches.
I look back and am just so thankful for the mother she was to us during that season of our lives. We would wake up in the morning to her freshly making our lunches for the day. We could see how much she loved us through her effort and time that went into making our meals.
If you are on this post, then it is obvious you want to be that for your child as well. Back to school can be such a chaotic and crazy time. You are just trying to get the kids out the door on time but then on top of that you have to come up with lunches each day. We hope that this post will give you some creative inspiration and make your mornings a bit easier (and quicker).
Now, these ideas are healthier options. We believe that everything can be included in a healthy diet in moderation. It is not about striving to have the healthiest food for your children, but rather being mindful of what we are giving them. Again, everything in moderation and balance.
We have compiled 10 “main dish” lunch ideas and then 10 “side dish” ideas.
10 Main Dish Lunch Ideas for Back to School
These turkey rolls ups are the perfect size for younger kids. They are packed with protein and can easily fit in a lunch box. Not to mention super easy and quick!
This chicken salad sandwich is made with Greek yogurt instead of mayo making it so filling and full of protein. Simply making the chicken salad and serving it with cracker instead of in the sandwich would be great too!
Ham and cheese sliders are a great lunch idea because they are a perfect size for younger kids and you can make them in large batches which means meal prepping for the week ahead! Not to mention they are just as good cold as they are hot.
Aren’t these pizza scrolls just so cute?! They are made with Greek yogurt, but your kids will never know. They do a good job at hiding some veggies in there as well which would be perfect for your pickier eater. Honestly, I may have to make these for my husband and me!
Wraps are a great way to pack all of your nutrient needs in one. These southwest chicken wraps are full of protein and veggies and made with a delicious sauce! You may even want to add these to your own lunch rotation.
Similar to the wrap above, quesadilla’s are a great option! They taste just as delicious room temperature as they do when they are fresh out of the oven. Not to mention, they are so many amazing dips you could have to go along with it that would add extra nutrients.
Pasta salad is oh so delicious! This herby lemon chicken pasta salad is full of protein and not to mention full of so much flavor.
You truly can never go wrong with a classic sandwich. They never fail. This turkey sandwich is made in a croissant which is a fun way to spice it up a bit.
I think every child, and honestly everybody, loves chicken nuggets! This recipe shows you how to make chicken nuggets at home using more mindful ingredients.
This copycat Starbucks protein box provides variety to ensure boredom at lunch will never be an issue!
10 Side Dish Lunch Ideas for Back to School
Energy balls are a great way to pack in some protein in a small bite. They are so delicious and easy for your child to eat. Not to mention they taste like dessert, so I think it is okay to say they double as dessert too! For more energy ball recipes, check out our energy ball e-book with 5 delicious energy ball recipes!
Everyone loves a good muffin. These homemade blueberry muffins are made with cottage cheese. They are a high protein side to a meal. I may have to give these a try!
You can never go wrong with an addition of fresh fruit. This post shows a yummy and kid friendly dip to pair with some fresh fruit to spice it up.
Along the same lines as energy balls, these are banana oatmeal energy bars. They are a quick homemade granola bar that are a great recipe to make in bulk at the beginning of the week for your meal prep. These oatmeal bars are also freezer friendly.
Homemade popcorn is a great snack to munch on and is a bit healthier than potato chips. This post shows you how to make amazing stovetop popcorn in just 5 minutes!
I remember as a kid I wanted so bad for my mom to by “gogurts.” Although, I am glad she didn’t because there are much healthier options. I love how this post shows you how to make “gogurts” at home with just two ingredients.
Trail mix is a great way to get a variety of nuts, seeds, and dried fruit in your child’s diet. Nuts actually help fuel brain health. Nuts are great for brain health which makes it perfect to give to your student!
Hard boiled eggs are another great snack to prep at the beginning of the week and have them ready in your fridge. They are a great high protein and easy to eat snack. This recipe shows you how to make them so they peel easy!
Fruit rollups are a fun addition to a lunch that your kiddos will love. This homemade fruit rollup recipe is so easy to make and is made with real fruit.
Pretzels are such a good addition to a lunch box. These garlic ranch flavored pretzels look so yummy and a great way to give some pretzels a new life.
If you tried any of these snacks for your kiddos, we would love to hear about it! Leave a comment down below telling us all about it.
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