With back-to-school season approaching, now’s the time to start mentally preparing for getting into a routine, helping kids with their homework and prepping and packing a whole hell of a lot of school lunches.
It can be hard to keep up with kids’ ever-changing taste buds, especially when you’re trying to keep their meals balanced. Last week, they couldn’t get enough of ham sandwiches. This week, they’d like to live exclusively on cookies… We get it. But don’t worry. These lunches are tasty and balanced and provide a variety of fruits and vegetables.
We’ve also made sure they’re simple to prepare and pack since the last thing parents need is to spend hours crafting meals that are just going to get tossed around in a backpack. Even if your child has dietary restrictions, this list provides options that can easily be made vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free and more. We can’t, however, guarantee they won’t swap with the kid who brings candy for lunch. You’re on your own there.
A version of this article was originally published in September 2017.
Turkey Wrap With a Side of Apples & Almonds
Cut the wrap into pinwheels for a little extra fun.
Pasta Salad With a Side of Cherry Tomatoes & String Cheese
Pasta salad can be made in bulk and served as a side dish during weeknight lunches too. And it's a good place to sneak in more veggies.
English Muffin ‘Pizza’ With a Side of Baby Carrots & Yogurt Dip
Everyone loves pizza, and you can make the dip sweet or savory depending on your child’s tastes.
Hard-Boiled Eggs With a Side of Cucumber Slices, Cheese Cubes & Crackers
Prep hard-boiled eggs and they keep for up to a week in the fridge. Slice cucumbers the night before or in the morning. Protein, fat, carbs — a quick, simple, balanced meal.
PB&J Sandwich With a Side of Apples & Carrots
A classic sandwich kids adore that will keep them full and energized.
Quesadilla Slices With Bell Peppers & a Side of Avocado Cubes
Try coating the avocado cubes in olive oil or lemon juice to keep them fresh until lunchtime.
Caprese Skewers With Pretzels & a Side of Blackberries
Kids love the pop of the skewered cherry tomatoes. You can even try growing the basil at home and letting kids pick the leaves the night before.
Tuna Salad With a Side of Celery & Saltine Crackers
Kids can have fun piling the tuna salad onto the celery sticks or the saltine crackers.
Salami, Provolone, Whole-Grain Crackers & Grapes
If it's good enough for a dinner party, it's good enough for a school lunch. Kids can have fun building their own cracker sandwiches.
Hummus, Grilled Chicken, Pita Bread & Kale Chips
Chicken and hummus make for a filling lunch that will help keep their brain engaged for the rest of the school day.
Pin This!
Save these ideas or share with a friend.
Leave a Comment