Easy Lunchbox Ideas for Back to School

If you’re anything like me, when the new term starts you’ll be organizing like crazy, determined to give your kids healthy, tasty meals for every day of school. But, after about a week, daily stress will kick back in, and it'll go back to the same old plain food. This time, it’s going to be different, and I’m going to make sure I give my kids great, easy, fun lunches every day. You can too, by using some of these ideas. These will all work if your kids go to school or as homeschool lunch ideas.

Varied Sandwiches

People often say that it’s dull to have sandwiches all the time, but that’s only true if it’s always the same filling. The following suggestions all work on any bread type, depending on your child’s preference, or using wraps instead.

● Turkey and cheddar. The cheese helps to moisten the otherwise dry meat. For another tasty twist, try adding cranberry sauce as well.

● Grilled cheese. It doesn’t matter if this has cooled down by the time they eat it, but it’s better warm. The best way to do this is as quesadillas, so using wraps instead of bread.

● Almond butter and jam. A spin on the classic PB & J, this version provides health benefits due to the nutritional value of almonds.

● Veggies and hummus. Be adventurous with this one, trying out different vegetables and flavors of hummus.

Other Mains

If you want to go for something different from sandwiches or wraps, try out these alternatives…

● Hard-boiled eggs. They can be eaten hot or cold and go great with salad, particularly lettuce or celery.

● Pasta salad. Again, the pasta can be eaten straight away as a homeschool lunch or left to chill in the refrigerator, ready for school the next day.

● Kabobs. Loads of options here! Try meatballs and cheese, or peppers and tomatoes, or ham and mushrooms, to name but a few.

● Crackers and cheese. The kids can assemble these themselves when they’re eating them. There are hundreds of varieties of cheese to choose from, but I recommend a hard cheese like cheddar or Emmental.

● Chips and guacamole. On their own, the chips couldn’t count as a main meal, but add some smashed avocado, and you’re on to a winner!

Fruits & Veggies

For a healthy lunch, fruits and vegetables make for the best sides to add to the lunchbox. There are so many options for you with this, but here are some of my favorites:

● Oranges, satsumas, or tangerines.

● Apples (probably sliced, especially for little ones).

● Grapes, sultanas, or raisins.

● Berries are superfoods, so definitely good to include some of these (for example, strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries).

● Salad vegetables, such as grape tomatoes, cucumber, or celery.

● Tropical fruits like mango or watermelon.

● Raw vegetables like baby carrots, mini sweetcorn, or snap peas.

Other Snacks

If you want to give them a ‘treat’ but still keep the idea of healthy eating in mind, try one of these:

● Granola bars.

● Yogurt.

● Trail mix.

● Fruit cups.

● Granary crackers.

● Breadsticks.

Drinks

Giving them something to drink that’s healthy can be harder, but here are some options:

● Bottled water.

● Fruit smoothies.

● Milk.

I hope this has given you some inspiration for making healthy, tasty, simple lunches for when the next term starts, whether your children will be going into school or staying at home with you.