20 Easy School Lunch Ideas for Kids
Packing school lunches day after day can get tiring, especially when you're trying to send something healthy that your kids will actually eat.
These 20 easy school lunch ideas are quick to prep, simple to pack, and perfect for elementary and middle school kids.
I've included picky-eater favorites, high-protein lunches, breakfast-for-lunch ideas, and several make-ahead options to make busy school mornings easier.
Gluten Free Note
Many of these lunches can easily be made gluten free by choosing your favorite gluten-free bread, pasta, tortillas, and crackers. If you're preparing food for someone with celiac disease or a gluten sensitivity, be sure to check labels and avoid cross-contact during preparation.
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How to Build a Balanced Lunchbox
I like to use this easy formula for a lunch that is balanced and filling:
Protein + fruit/vegetable + carbohydrate + healthy fat + fun food or treat
You don't have to include every component every time—the goal is simply to use this formula as an easy guide when you're stuck on what to pack.
Easy School Lunch Ideas
Here are 20 school lunch ideas that are sure to be winners with your kids. Many can be prepared ahead!
Picky-eater approved lunch ideas:
DIY Snack Box. Fill a bento box with a fruit, a veggie, string cheese, meat stick, mini hummus or guacamole and some crackers. You could also add hard-boiled eggs, trail mix, dried fruit, pretzels, veggie dip. The options are endless.
Mini Bagel Pizzas. Easy to make ahead - my kids like these room temp.
Chicken Nuggets. Make in the morning (I use frozen) and let cool before putting into a bento box or thermos to prevent them from getting soggy.
Mac and Cheese. Classic and easy to make ahead - try making your own with a pasta like Banza for added protein!
Quesadillas. Keep it simple with just tortillas and cheese, or you could try adding chicken, black beans, spinach, or bell peppers.
Grilled Cheese. Make ahead and cut into strips.
Classic PB & J. I know this seems like a no-brainer, but I added it to the list because you can actually meal prep and freeze sandwiches! Game changer! You can make a bunch of sandwiches, wrap them, freeze them, and just take one out in the morning.
High protein lunch ideas:
Turkey and Cheese Rollups or Pinwheels. These are super easy to throw together. Roll up some turkey and cheese together, and cut into little rounds. Add a few pickles on the side - simple and easy and perfect for a bento box.
Simple Pasta Salad. Make with a high protein pasta, and add chicken, cheese cubes, cucumbers and a simple dressing.
Taco Bowls. Add taco meat and rice to a thermos with some shredded cheese on top. Pack with some tortilla chips on the side.
Pasta and Meatballs. Leftover pasta and meatballs make a great high protein lunch. Just warm in the morning and add to a warm thermos!
Chicken Salad. Make a batch at the start of the week, and pack with crackers, fruit and veg.
Turkey Meatballs. Add to a thermos to eat plain, or send a dipping sauce.
Breakfast-for-lunch ideas:
Mini Pancakes. Add berries + turkey sausage
Waffle Sandwich. Two waffles with peanut butter and banana!
Breakfast Burrito. Try an easy burrito with scrambled eggs, cheese, and turkey sausage.
Mini Bagel + Cream Cheese. Pack with fruit on the side - a kid favorite.
Egg & Cheese Breakfast Sandwich. Easy to prepare ahead, and makes for a filling lunch.
Overnight Oats. Send in a thermos with berries and banana.
Yogurt Parfait. Pack yogurt in a cooled thermos with granola and berries on the side.
Make-ahead school lunch ideas:
Many of these lunches can be prepared ahead to make school mornings easier. Try making pasta salad, chicken salad, turkey meatballs, breakfast sandwiches, or PB&J sandwiches in advance. You can also prep fruits and vegetables, portion snacks, and stock your refrigerator with grab-and-go options over the weekend.
How to Make School Lunches Easier
Here are five tips for making school lunches quick and easy - because busy moms don't have time for complicated lunches!
#1: Start with the right container.
Having an idea how of much your child eats, and what types of food he or she likes, is important in determining the right lunch container. Maybe it's a bento box with small sections for a variety of foods, maybe it's a lunch box with a thermos for hot food or room for a sandwich. You can find some of my favorites, below.
#2: Make a list.
It can help to make a list of the foods you know your child will eat at school. Even if it's short, you can use the list to make sure you have those items on hand each week, and just rotate through them. Most kids don't seem to mind repeat meals if they like what they are eating. You don't need to be reinventing the school lunch each week. I tend to stick to the same 2 or 3 meals and just rotate through each week.
#3: Plan for leftovers.
If you have meals that are surefire winners with your kids, make some extra to send as lunch. It could be pasta with meatballs, mac and cheese, chicken, ground beef, rice, vegetables. My son loves leftover taco bowls or chili and my daughter loves leftover pasta. Just warm it, put it in a thermos and off it goes.
#4: Do a little meal prep on the weekend.
I know this might not sound appealing, especially if you are already meal-prepping your dinners, but a little planning on the weekend can go a long way in packing lunches during the week. Wash and cut veggies and fruit so they are ready to pop into lunchboxes, stock your fridge with easy-to-grab options like string cheese, yogurt pouches, or hard-boiled eggs.
#5: Have the kids help.
I've found that upper elementary kids and older can pack their own lunches as long as they have the supplies needed and a formula for what they should include. Have easy to reach snacks and fresh foods in your fridge or pantry that your kids can grab and add to their lunch boxes.
The Best Lunchboxes
Some of our tried-and-true favorites.
Bentgo makes our favorite Bento box lunchboxes. I like that I can pack a variety of different things without using lots of different containers. Here are our favorites:
- We've used this Classic Bentgo box for years, it's best for preschool through 2nd grade.
- We also love the Bentgo Chill with a built-in ice pack - these are also great for summer camp.
- We also have the Bentgo Stainless Steel box, it's best for older kids since it has larger compartments.
- I love this brand new stainless steel option with removable lid!
You can find all of our favorite gear for school including lunchboxes, thermoses, water bottles and more in my back to school essentials.
Where to Read More
For more school ideas, check out my easy and healthy school snack ideas and my snacks for active kids all of which are gluten free and kid-approved!
For some easy meal prep tips, check out my easy meal prep for busy moms and 5 healthy meal prep breakfasts for kids.
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