School Lunch Ideas for Kids

Free Printable Kids Lunch Box Guide

One helpful trick is to make a family lunch list. Sit down with your kids and brainstorm lunch ideas they actually like. Post the list on the fridge, keep a copy in your cookbook, and use it when you are packing school lunches or planning easy meals at home.

Easy School Lunch Planning System

What to Pack for School Lunch

How Kids Can Help Pack School Lunches

Kids are more likely to enjoy lunch when they have some say in what goes into their lunch box. Give them a few age-appropriate choices instead of asking them to plan the entire meal.

Need ideas for the main part of the meal? Browse our kids lunch ideas and easy lunch recipes or try these kids sandwich and wrap ideas.

Night Before School Lunch Routine

• Wash and cut fruit or vegetables.
• Portion dips and yogurt into covered containers and refrigerate.
• Portion crackers, pretzels, or other dry snacks into containers.
• Put cold items together in the refrigerator.
• Set the lunch box, napkin, spoon, fork, and water bottle on the counter.
• Ask your child to choose one fruit, one vegetable, and one extra side.

Thermos Lunch Tips

A kid-size thermos can turn leftovers, soup, pasta, rice, chili, and other warm foods into easy school lunches.

Before sending a thermos to school: Make sure your child can open and close the lid without help.

Thermos for Kids

How to Add Variety to School Lunches

• Change the bread: try tortillas, pita pockets, bagels, rolls, crackers, pancakes, or mini waffles.
• Change the shape: cut sandwiches with cookie cutters or make pinwheel wraps.
• Change the container: use a bento box, thermos, snack box, or small divided containers.
• Change the temperature: pack cold pasta salad one day and warm soup the next.
• Change the theme: try taco lunch, breakfast-for-lunch, pizza lunch, picnic lunch, or snack-board lunch.

Bento Box Ideas

School Lunch Packing Tips

• Choose containers kids can manage. Make sure containers seal properly but are still easy for your child to open and close without help. Practice opening new lunch containers at home before sending them to school.
• Pack foods in kid-size portions. Smaller portions can be less overwhelming and leave room for several different foods. Kids can always eat more of another item if they are still hungry.
• Offer variety without packing too much. Include a few different foods rather than filling the lunch box with too many choices. A familiar main food with different fruits, vegetables, or sides is an easy way to add variety.
• It is okay to repeat favorites. If your child enjoys the same sandwich often, keep it in the rotation and add variety through different fruits, vegetables, snacks, and sides.
• Introduce new foods alongside familiar ones. Lunch isn't the best time to send several unfamiliar foods at once. Pair something new with foods you already know your child enjoys.
• Make foods easy to eat. Cut sandwiches, wraps, fruit, and vegetables into manageable pieces when needed. Peel or partially peel foods that may be difficult to manage during a short lunch period.
• Pack dips and sauces separately. Small leakproof containers help keep sandwiches, crackers, vegetables, and other foods from becoming soggy before lunchtime.
• Think about lunchtime cleanup. Include a napkin and any utensils your child needs. Avoid foods that are especially difficult to open, assemble, or clean up unless your child is comfortable handling them.
• Ask what came home. Instead of assuming an uneaten food wasn't liked, ask why it came back. Your child may have run out of time, had trouble opening the container, or simply received too much food.

Kids Lunch Containers

More Kids Lunch Recipes

Looking for more lunch ideas? Find additional kid-friendly recipes and meal ideas for adding variety to lunch boxes throughout the week.