These back to school lunch ideas are fast, easy, and delicious! As your kids are getting ready to head back into the school routine, it’s also time to change the way you grocery shop. Menu planning has made my life a lot easier. I love these lunchbox ideas.
As a result, I’ve rounded up some of the best back-to-school lunches I’ve either shared or found on some of my fellow blogger’s sites that are worth mentioning again. These are simple and fairly cheap alternatives for you to prepare for those back-to-school lunches to make your morning or day run smoother.
Anything you can do to get the kids out the door fast for school with good food options is a win! Make certain to check out my other snacks for kids as well!
This list is great to use and get ahead in the planning of your school lunches! You can easily plan out the week or month from this list of simple recipes for kids. Great for field trip lunch ideas and school days lunch ideas, too.
You can also add these cute Scary Cute Printable Monster Lunch Box Notes!
What foods are best for school lunches?
You’re going to want to stick with foods that don’t need to be kept hot or cold. That way, the food can be stored in a lunchbox and your child won’t have to worry about anything besides opening it up and eating.
I love using bento boxes as a way to hold fresh fruit, chicken salad, or even fun desserts like chocolate chips. Paper sacks can be a great option for disposable lunches and is an effective way to have school meals fast.
Keep in mind that you’re going to want to fill a water bottle or have juice boxes as other great ideas for your child’s lunch.
How do you meal plan for school lunches?
I like to actually meal plan based upon what I know my kids are going to eat. Why waste money stocking their lunch boxes with food items that are just going to sit there?
I also like to look at the sale ads for the week and plan out my menu based on that. Items that are lower in sugar and higher in protein or nutrients add a great amount of value to the day. Since they’ll be running around at school, they need something hearty for their tummies!
If I can cook up some mac and cheese the night before, that is something great to send, too. Pasta salad is good, as is cream cheese and celery, or anything with peanut butter.
What foods are you going to add to your menu planning to get your child to eat lunch at school?
Resources for Back to School Lunches:
- Cutezcute Animal Friends Food Deco Cutter and Stamp Kit
- Yumbox Leakproof Bento Lunch Box Container
- LEGO Lunch Box, Blue
- Evriholder Set of 3 Sandwich Crust Cutters, DynoBytes/FlipperBytes/SweetBytes
- Lunch Punch Transport Shape Sandwich Cutters (Set of 4)
Over 50 Back to School Lunch Ideas
These back-to-school lunch ideas are great for kids of all ages and grade levels!
Keep the kids energized and excited in the first few days of school with a great lunch. Here are some quick and easy options that are sure to wow!
Breakfast leftovers Bento Lunch
Check out how to use the bento leftovers for school lunches to save time.
DIY Pizza Lunchables {Back to School Lunch Box Idea}
You can make your own DIY Pizza kits for kids to take to school instead of paying for Lunchables.
Spring Butterfly lunch idea
You can give your little girl some butterfly love in her lunchbox with this Spring butterfly lunch idea.
Make Your Own String Cheese!
You don't have to pay for string cheese strips anymore because you can DIY with this string cheese tutorial.
Easy Recipes: Creamy Crockpot Chicken Tacos
Want to really change things up give your kids? Give them creamy crockpot chicken tacos for their lunch.
Tuna Avocado Lettuce Wraps
Give your teenager some healthy tuna avocado lettuce wraps sandwiches.
Back to school bento lunch
Here's another bento lunch idea that's easy to do.
Korean Ground Beef and Rice Lettuce Wraps Recipe
If your child isn't into tuna wraps, you can give them this Korean ground beef lettuce wraps sandwich.
Grilled Salmon Sandwiches with Creamy Avocado
Give your kids the taste of the sea with these grilled salmon sandwiches.
Easy Homemade Bagel Bites
I don't know of many kids who don't jump at the chance to eat bagel bites. Now you can easily make homemade bagel bites for them yourself.
Blue Cheese and Turkey Club Sandwich
Check out this awesome spin on the turkey club sandwich in this blue cheese and turkey club recipe.
Peach Pinwheels After School Snack
Thirfty Jinxy has some Del Monte peach pinwheels that your kids will enjoy eating too.
That’s a Wrap: Back to School Lunch Idea
If your kids aren't overly fond of a lettuce wrap, you can check out this wrap back to school lunch idea.
RIO 2 Bento Box
Do you have a Rio movie fan in your home? Then check out this Rio 2 bento lunch idea.
Pepperoni Pocket Recipe
If you have a child who loves Hot Pockets as much as mine do, then you want to run to check out how you can make your own pepperoni pockets.
Gluten Free Protein Bites Recipe for an Allergy Friendly Snack
Do you have a child who isn't overly fond of meat? If so, then these gluten free protein bites may help keep them strong.
Chicken Nugget Bento Lunch
Here's a great chicken nugget bento lunch idea.
Chocolate Pretzel Granola Bars – Peanut Free
Want to give your child a healthy snack that is peanut free? Then give them these chocolate pretzel granola bars that are peanut free.
Toasted Santa Fe Turkey Sandwich
If you have a child who loves Mexican food, why not give them this toasted Santa Fe turkey sandwich.
Life's a Beach...
Are your kids counting down until summer starts again? Give them a bit of summer inspiration with this beach themed sand castle lunch idea.
Pizza Lunchable bento recipe idea
Check out this spin on the DIY pizza lunchable for another way of making pizza.
School Lunch Idea Puppy Themed Bento Box
Do you have a child who loves dogs a lot? Then they may get a kick out of eating this puppy themed meal.
Lunchbox Recipe: CHICKEN AVOCADO WRAPS
Chicken avocado wraps are a delicious way to give your child something different to eat.
Make Your Own Tacos Recipe - Lunch for Kids
You can give your child plenty of independence with this make your own taco set up.
Fathers day grilling lunch idea
Our little boys want to be like their fathers, so don't forget to check out this Father's Day lunch ideas.
Peanut Butter and Jelly Sushi
Give your child the chance to enjoy a fancy meal with these peanut butter and jelly sushi.
Chicken Parm Meatball Pops
Kids love to eat meatballs a lot, and these chicken parm meatball pops are sure to be a big hit.
Back to School Lunch Idea: Copy Cat Lunchable
This copy cat lunchable is a lot cheaper to make than buying the real one.
Taco bento lunch idea
Since I'm a taco lover, I have to include this taco bento idea.
Homemade Beefaroni Recipe
Make your own beefaroni with this homemade beefaroni recipe.
Mini BLT Wraps
These mini BLT wraps are going to be something your kids will ask for repeatedly.
All Star Bento Lunch Idea
Give your child the All Star treatment by giving them this All Star bento lunch.
Let It Snow: A Kid Lunch
For your Frozen fans, they will love this Let It Snow kid lunch idea.
Alien Invasion ~ MTM
Give your child's lunch an alien invasion.
Camping Bento Lunch Idea
Does your child have a field trip planned for the day? Maybe these camping bento lunch ideas may just add to their adventure.
P Is For Pig: A Kid Lunch
Are you working on teaching your kids the letter P? Then you may want to make them this P for pig lunch.
Puppy Chow!
If your child loved the other puppy lunch, then they will go nuts with this puppy chow meal.
Bento lunch recipe: Cinco de Mayo
Celebrate Cindo De Mayo with this bento lunch.
Back to School Lunch Idea: Mini Pizza
Here's another idea for you to give your child the chance to make their own pizza for lunch.
Submarine Bento Lunch Idea
Give your child this submarine bento lunch for a sailing good lunch.
Curried Egg Salad Recipe
There's nothing better than an egg salad sandwich on a hot day. For your child's next Field Day at school give them this curried egg salad meal. Just make sure it's in a cooler that will keep it cold all day long.
Ultimate Grilled Macaroni and Cheese Sandwich
Macaroni and cheese is almost every kids favorite. Now you can give them macaroni and cheese on a sandwich for lunch time delight.
Tweet Tweet ~ MTM
Get your cookie cutters out because your kids are sure to love this tweet tweet meal idea.
Tuna Canoes - A Fun After School Snack or Back to School Lunch Idea!
These are easy to make and great for the kids to eat!
Over 20 DIY Lunchable Ideas That Kids Will Love!
Making your own lunchables is easy with this list.
Baseball Themed Charcuterie Board
So many fun snack ideas for lunches! Sweet treats are good every once in a while.
As you can see, this list of snack ideas for kids gives you so many great choices! Have fun mixing and matching and creating to make the perfect school menu!
Give the kids a voice in this as well so that they can help you meal plan for their days, too!
Helen at the Lazy Gastronome
Saturday 26th of August 2017
Thanks for sharing at the What's for Dinner Link party!
Beverly
Thursday 24th of August 2017
Thanks for sharing your wonderful posts at Over The Moon Party. See you next week. Hugs, Bev
Liz Jo
Friday 19th of August 2016
Perfect for a school age kid!
Thanks for linking up with Welcome Home Wednesdays! Live every Wednesday at 7AM CT.
liz @ j for joiner
Emily
Sunday 7th of August 2016
I get so boring and repetitive with school lunches. Thanks for the inspiration!
Stephanie
Saturday 2nd of August 2014
Love these ideas!!! Thank you so much for linking up at Tasty Tuesday! Your recipe has been pinned to the Tasty Tuesday Pinterest board! Please join us again this week!