Looking for quick lunch box inspiration? Check out these 3 super simple Packed Lunch Ideas for Kids.

easy lunches for kids

It’s the beginning of the year, and we’re all steadily getting back on track with our eating habits, from meal planning to packing our kids’ lunches. Planning ahead for busy school days is crucial for staying on top of our schedule and not getting overwhelmed by it all.

Packing kids’ lunches can seem like such a chore, but it doesn’t have to be. Today, I’m sharing some tips and tricks for making cool lunch ideas for kids they will actually eat.

That’s right. Nothing is worse than all that prep work getting tossed away at school. The goal is to pack lunches that your kids will enjoy & eat. Yes, even the picky eaters! I’ve got two at home, so it’s familiar territory for me.

TIP #1: After bringing my haul home, I unpack the items into clear containers, so everybody can see the contents. It may seem counter intuitive, but this extra step saves so much time when packing lunches. The kids can pick their own items, which helps them to be more independent. Good news for you!

TIP #2: Another goal when packing lunches is to include good sources of protein. Kids are famous for preferring carbs and dairy. My girls would eat mac & cheese everyday if given the opportunity. A lot of picky kids will turn down a sandwich full of protein-packed lunch meat, mine included.

Simple solution? Offer alternative sources of protein. Most schools have a peanut-free environment, but almond butter or sun butter are welcome in sandwiches, smoothies, and dips. It’s a great way to get some added protein in your kid’s lunch.

Another yummy source of protein is hummus, which comes in many flavors and can be used in wraps, sandwiches or dips for veggies (double-score, mom!).

I used tortillas and sliced up veggies to make this simple hummus wrap:

And if your kiddos still need some encouragement to fuel up at lunchtime…

TIP #3: Make it fun! It takes just a couple minutes to skewer fruit and make a fruit salad kabob. Or to cut cheese slices into shapes using cookie cutters. Even better, have the kids do it! Again, the more they are involved, the more likely they are to eat their lunch, right?

handy tools to throw together these easy lunches in no time:

• plastic bins – clear for easy viewing, dishwasher safe, good for pantry or refrigerator
• bento box – keep items separate, easy for kids to open, dishwasher safe

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How to do school lunch prep for the week?

I like to use leftovers and deli meat sandwiches or wraps at the beginning of the week. I’m sure to wrap each individual sandwich tightly in plastic wrap or a bag before adding it to the container. Later in the week, I take advantage of more packaged (but still nutritious) items, such as applesauce pouches, raisins, trail mix, wholegrain crackers, nut butters, and cheese sticks.

What are some toddler lunch ideas?

Mostly, toddlers can eat anything the bigger kids or adults eat, just cut it smaller to appeal to them. They will love peanut butter and banana wraps, lunch meat rollups, chicken nuggets, mac and cheese bites, or pasta salads that can be eaten with fingers – how fun!