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Containers labelled "Lunch" filled with different foods.
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5 from 3 votes

Awesome School Lunch Ideas (Kids Will Love!)

Over 20 different easy school lunch ideas for kids plus my time-saving make-ahead bin system busy moms everywhere will love.
Author: Karrie

Ingredients

LUNCH MAIN IDEAS

LUNCH FRUIT IDEAS

  • Oranges, (Whole Mandarin, Segments or Slices)
  • Apples (soak for 10 minutes in pineapple juice or Fruit Fresh so they don’t go brown)
  • Bananas
  • Berries (Strawberries, Blueberries, Raspberries)
  • Grapes
  • Cherries
  • Peaches
  • Cut Up Melon (Cantaloupe, Watermelon, Honeydew)
  • Mangoes
  • Kiwi (Peeled & Sliced)
  • Applesauce Cups
  • Diced Fruit Cups
  • Raisins
  • Dried fruit

LUNCH VEGETABLE IDEAS

  • Baby Carrots
  • Bell Peppers, thinly sliced
  • Celery Sticks (with nut butter)
  • Sugar Snap Peas
  • Green Salad with dressing
  • Cucumber Slices
  • Cauliflower (Raw Florets or Steamed)
  • Broccoli (Raw Florets or Steamed)
  • Sweet Potato (Cooked & Diced)
  • Edamame
  • Cherry Tomatoes
  • Olives

OTHER SIDES TO ADD

  • Granola Bars (store-bought or homemade)
  • Cheese (String cheese, Cubed or Squares of cheese, or Babybel cheese)
  • Yogurt Cups
  • Homemade Go-gurt Tubes
  • Chips
  • Crackers
  • Pretzels
  • Fruit Snacks or Fruit Leather
  • Popcorn
  • Mini cups of hummus
  • Beef jerky
  • Nuts (if your school doesn’t ban for allergies)
  • Homemade Granola or Trail mix
  • Graham crackers
  • Homemade cookies or Brownie Bites (bake a big batch and individually bag them up)
  • Special treats, candy or snack cakes (usually for a holiday)

DRINK IDEAS

  • Water Bottle (mini size are fun)
  • Drink packet mix for bottled waters
  • Chocolate Milk
  • Milk
  • Juice Boxes (100% juice)
  • Yogurt Smoothies

Notes

Tips for Freezing Sandwiches:
If you’re going to add condiments before freezing, add them between the cheese and the meat. That way you keep the condiment from penetrating the bread and making it soggy and gross when it thaws.You can also just get some individual condiment packages and throw them in your lunch bag the morning of.Do NOT add lettuce, pickles, peppers or any other vegetable to the sandwich before freezing it. Frozen veggies always come out slimy and less than appetizing. If you’ve got to have some veggies on your sandwich, you could always make up individual bags of sandwich fixings and add it to the cold refrigerator lunch bin.

Lunch Idea Combos:

Combo #1:
  • Turkey & Colby Jack Cheese Sandwich
  • Mandarin Orange
  • Carrots
  • Chips
 
Combo #2
  • Cheese Quesadilla
  • Strawberries
  • Celery Sticks + Peanut Butter
  • raisins
 

Combo #3
 
Combo #4
 
Combo #5
  • Veggie Hummus Wraps
  • Sugar Snap Peas
  • Orange Slices
 
Combo #6
  • Croissant BLT sandwich
  • Carrots + Ranch
  • Apples
  • Chips
 
Combo #7
  • Bagel & Cream Cheese
  • Sliced Smoked Turkey
  • Raspberries
  • Granola Bar
 
Combo #8
  • Hummus + Pita Bread
  • String Cheese
  • Fruit Leather
  • Cucumber Slices
 
Combo #9
  • Crackers, Meat & Cheese
  • Olives
  • Carrots
  • Hummus
  • Grapes
 
Combo #10
 
Combo #11
 
Combo #12
  • Sesame Noodle Salad
  • Yogurt
  • Cantaloupe
 
Combo #13
  • Almond Butter (or Peanut Butter) & Jam Sandwich
  • String Cheese
  • Popcorn
  • Applesauce
 
Combo #14
  • Ham & Swiss Croissants
  • Sugar Snap Peas
  • Apple Slices
 
Combo #15
  • Hard Boiled Eggs
  • Cubed or Diced Cheese
  • Whole Grain Crackers
  • Celery & carrots with ranch
 
Combo #16
  • Tuna on Pita Bread
  • Carrots + Ranch
  • Banana
  • Granola Bar
 
Combo #17
  • Deli Meat & Cheese Kabobs
  • Crackers
  • Pears
  • Yogurt
 
Combo #18
  • Tortilla Chips & Salsa (or Guacamole)
  • Orange Bell Peppers
  • Sugar Snap Peas
  • Kiwi (Peeled and Sliced)
 
Combo #19
  • Nutella & Banana Tortilla (or crepe) Roll-up
  • Pretzels
  • Broccoli & Ranch Dip
  • Fruit Leather
 
Combo #20