100 Lunch Box Ideas Your Kids Will Love
Inside: If you’re stuck in a PBJ rut or just need fresh ideas, here are 100 of them! Get easy kids lunch box ideas with a free printable to post on the fridge.
Packing (and eating) school lunch every day can get a little old after the first exciting week of school.
As a former picky eater, I took the same thing in my lunch box nearly every day: a peanut butter sandwich, an apple, and either a Fruit Roll-Up or a packaged snack cake–probably a Ho-Ho. I’m thankful my kids are open to a wider (and healthier) variety of foods than I was.
As a dietitian-mom who has packed thousands of lunchboxes in her day, I know it can get overwhelming. But I also know it doesn’t have to be fussy, fancy, or take forever.
Here are 100 mix-and-match ideas, whether your kiddo loves sandwiches, like a snacky-style lunch, or needs a no-nut option.
Three ways to pack a better lunch
- Start with a leakproof (or at least leak-resistant) bento lunch box. The compartments makes it easier to pack a variety of things, and you’ll have less packaging waste. Here are my favorite lunch boxes, from preschoolers to teens.
- Before you close it up, do a quick food group check. Missing fruit? Toss in an individual applesauce. Need more protein? Add a cheese stick.
- Post this printable list to make it easier for you and your kids to come up with ideas. Tap the button in the pink box below to get the download.
Get this list as a download you can post on the fridge or keep on your phone when you’re shopping.
100 Lunch Box Ideas For Kids
Protein-rich foods
Makes lunch filling and supports kids’ growth.
- Turkey, roast beef, or ham rolled up
- Turkey, roast beef, or ham cut into squares for a DIY “Lunchable”
- Deli meat slices in lettuce wraps
- Cheese cubes or string cheese
- Hummus & pita
- Hard-boiled eggs
- Sushi
- Salami & cheese rolled up together
- Cottage cheese with fruit
- Yogurt (Greek yogurt is even higher in protein than regular)
- Tuna salad or chicken salad with whole grain crackers
- Egg salad sandwiches
- Mini-quesadilla
- Tuna sandwiches
- Taco fixings (flour tortilla + cheese + tomatoes + meat + guacamole)
- Burritos
- Egg Bites
- Nuts
- Leftover pork or rotisserie chicken
- SunButter on a tortilla
- Individual nut butter packets
- Cold pizza
- Peanut Butter “Burritos” (peanut butter on a tortilla, topped with fruit and rolled like a burrito)
- Black bean dip
- Roasted chickpeas
- Chicken nuggets
- Grilled cheese
- Quinoa salad
Ideas for kids who don’t like sandwiches
If your kid doesn’t dig sandwiches, but you’d like to include deli meat for protein, here are three ideas:
- DIY Lunchable: Cut meat and cheese into small squares and pack along with crackers and some yummy sides like pretzels and fruit.
- Kebabs: Use a popsicle stick or toothpick to skewer pieces of meat and cheese, and you can also include lettuce and cherry or grape tomatoes.
- Roll-Ups: Roll up slices of deli meat by itself, with a slice of cheese, or around a string cheese.
Grain foods
Gives kids needed energy for the school day.
- Pita pockets
- Mini bagels
- Whole grain crackers
- Cold pasta salad (bowtie pasta + veggies + Italian dressing)
- Mini pancakes spread with nut butter
- Mini waffles spread with cream cheese and a sprinkle of cinnamon
- Mini pizzas (English muffin + pepperoni + cheese)
- Rice cakes
- French toast
Fruit
Adds natural sweetness, color, and hydration
- Grapes (fresh or frozen)
- Strawberries, raspberries, or blueberries
- Mandarin oranges
- Sliced oranges
- Mixed berries
- Pears (fresh or canned)
- Melon like cantaloupe & watermelon
- Frozen smoothies in squeeze pouches
- Applesauce pouches
- Dried fruit such as raisins
- Apple slices (here’s how to keep apple slices from looking brown)
- Frozen fruit (thaws by lunchtime)
- Freeze-dried fruit
- Fruit leather
Veggies
- Baby carrots with ranch dip
- Celery with peanut butter and raisins
- Rainbow carrots
- Sweet bell peppers
- Black olives
- Edamame
- Snap Peas or frozen peas
- Grape tomatoes or cherry tomatoes
- Sweet Potatoes
- Pickles
- Side Salad
- Frozen peas
- Cucumbers with hummus
- Veggie Nuggets
Items for Thermos
- Spaghetti
- Chicken or Vegetable soup
- Refried beans
- Meatballs
- Homemade mac & cheese
- Lentils
- Chili
- Rice & beans
- Pesto pasta
- Lasagna
- Ravioli or Tortellini
- Stir Fry
- Oatmeal
Savory Snacks
- Pita chips
- Chips & salsa
- Pretzels
- Seaweed snacks
- Popcorn
- Trail mix
- Jerky
- Sunflower or pumpkin seeds
- Blue corn chips
- Individual cups of guacamole
- Rice crackers
Sweets
- No-bake peanut butter energy balls
- Fortune cookie
- Homemade muffins
- Waffles with cream cheese
- Small piece of chocolate
- Granola bars
- Yogurt-cream cheese dip for fruit
- Banana chips
- Boxes of chocolate milk or vanilla milk
- Yogurt covered raisins
- Graham crackers
- Homemade pudding
Fun Extras
- Note
- Joke
- Sticker
- Note written on a paper napkin
- Cloth napkin so they feel fancy
- Silly drawing
These are such great ideas! I always run in to a problem with my daughter though. She is dairy free and doesn’t eat meat. She just doesn’t like it, which I am fine with. Any other suggestions since those two issues make a lot of options not viable.
Hi Leisa–Protein sources could be hard-boiled eggs, edamame, leftover baked/grilled tofu sticks (a friend of mine packs that for her vegetarian son and he loves it), hummus/pita, nut butters (if school permits nuts/peanuts) or sunbutter, refried beans and non-dairy cheese on a quesadilla, non-dairy milk and non-dairy yogurt, and pasta (grains have protein as well). Here’s a resource I found that may help too: http://www.godairyfree.org/news/dairy-free-lunch-box-recipes
I mean, I am forwarding this to every mom I know! Awesome list Sally!!!!
Thank you Sara!
I agree, awesome list! Thank you so much!!!
Thanks Keri! Hope it’s helpful to you.
What an awesome list, it should be every mom’s go-to guide 🙂
Thanks Lauren!
Where did you find the containers you pack the lunch in? Would you mind sharing a link where I can but them? I’m having a hard time finding some that all three compartments seal to keep all the food fresh. If they don’t all three seal separately, the crackers get soggy.
Amy–they are EasyLunchboxes! I love them. http://www.easylunchboxes.com/
Great list and I love the pictures!
Thanks Sarah!
These are such a great list. It is very helpful and I will follow these ideas to make my lunches.
Amazing post! The ideas shared in this post are creative and awesome.
this is a really helpful post for a mom like me who is always confused what should I prepare for my child. Thanks a lot and keep up the good work
Hi Sally…these are great suggestions! I love the variety that you’ve listed to satisfy even the most fussy of eaters and so many healthy options! I love it so much that I’ve included your link and list in a blog post of my own 🙂