Thank you to Applegate for sponsoring this post!
When I was growing up, 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).
Though my kids are definitely open to a wider (and healthier!) variety of foods than I was, there are staples that make regular appearances in their lunch boxes too: PBJs, raisins, applesauce, whole grain crackers. I also like to pack Applegate deli meats, including my younger son’s favorite (Black Forest Ham), my older son’s favorite (Roasted Turkey), and my favorite (Genoa Salami). I love that Applegate’s meat comes from animals raised humanely without antibiotics and hormones, because that’s important to me. Learn more about their “worry-free meat” and snag a coupon here.
What about kids who don’t dig sandwiches? Here are three ideas for using deli meat:
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.
Want more lunch box ideas? I received so many stellar suggestions from you in the comments on my Back to School Giveaway that I compiled them into ONE MAMMOTH LIST below.
Click here to get a free printable of the list!
100 Lunch Box Ideas
Protein-Rich Foods
- 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
- Chicken salad with whole grain crackers
- Egg salad sandwiches
- Mini-quesadilla
- Tuna sandwiches
- Taco fixings (flour tortilla + cheese + tomatoes + meat + guacamole)
- Burritos
- Egg Frittatas
- Nuts
- Leftover pork or rotisserie chicken
- Sun Butter 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
- Chicken nuggets
- Grilled cheese
- Quinoa salad
Grains
- Mini bagels
- Pita pockets
- Whole grain crackers
- Cold soba noodle salad
- Cold pasta salad (bowtie pasta + veggies + Italian dressing)
- Mini pancakes spread with nut butter
- Mini pizzas (English muffin + pepperoni + cheese)
- Rice cakes
- French toast
Items for Thermos
- Spaghetti
- Chicken or Vegetable soup
- Refried beans
- Mini meatballs
- Homemade mac & cheese
- Lentils
- Chili
- Rice & beans
- Pesto pasta
- Lasagna
- Ravioli or Tortellini
- Stir Fry
- Oatmeal
Fruit
- Grapes (fresh or frozen)
- Strawberries, raspberries, or blueberries
- Mandarin oranges
- Sliced oranges
- Pears (fresh or canned)
- Melon like cantaloupe & watermelon
- Frozen smoothies in squeeze pouches
- Applesauce pouches
- Dried fruit such as raisins
- Apple & peanut butter sandwiches
- Frozen fruit (thawed by lunchtime)
- Freeze-dried fruit
- Fruit leather
Veggies
- Celery with peanut butter and raisins
- Rainbow carrots
- Sweet bell peppers
- Black olives
- Edamame
- Snap Peas
- Grape Tomatoes
- Sweet Potatoes
- Pickles
- Side Salad
- Frozen peas
- Cucumbers & hummus
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 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
Click here to get a free printable of this list!
Disclosures: I am a member of the Applegate Sandwich Board advisory group and am compensated for my time. All opinions are my own!
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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.