We have gathered the best kids lunch box ideas for school made from simple ingredients that you probably already have in the fridge and pantry. Kids will be excited to help you pack their bento style lunch once they see the cookie cutters and kabob skewers, too! Get creative together and make memories while creating delicious and nutritious lunchbox lunches. From fresh and crispy veggie and fruit shapes, to fancy cheese and fruit kabobs, and mini chocolate chip cookies!
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Non-Sandwich Lunch Box Ideas
Break that sandwich rut and treat your kids to something different!
Related: Add lunch box notes for fun and Homemade Frushi Rolls: Fresh Fruit Sushi Recipe Kids Love
There are so many fun and healthy options that aren’t sandwiches, if you find your kids are getting sick of them, and half the sandwich comes home in their lunch box–ugh!
- Make pita sandwiches, or pack cut up pieces of pita with hummus and veggies.
- Use either flour tortillas or iceberg lettuce to make yummy wraps with cheese, veggies, and meat.
- Fill a small container with taco dip and send along a baggie full of corn chips.
- No child will turn their nose up at leftover pizza!
- Make a delicious salad from their favorite fruits and veggies.
- Make a charcuterie themed lunch box, with their favorite deli meats, rolled up, along with cheese, olives, crackers, and veggies. Better yet, make this one for yourself! {giggle}
- Fill a small thermos with soup, and pack goldfish crackers on the side!
Lunch Packing Essentials
Packing your kid’s lunch doesn’t have to be a chore! Here are some of our favorite lunch prep tools and supplies to get the job done the fun way!
- Bento boxes are a MUST! I love the little compartments, and how they keep the different food separated. This is super helpful for picky eaters!
- I use silicone baking cups to hold anything from crackers to berries inside the lunch box compartments. Not only does it add a pop of color and whimsy, it helps hold all those little pieces in place!
- Hydro flask bottles have been all the rage the past couple of years for a reason! They truly keep beverages cold and refreshing, AND you can put stickers on them to decorate and help your kids keep track of their own bottle so it doesn’t get mixed up with someone else’s!
- Hydro flask also makes cute lunch boxes!
- I love these planet box lunch boxes! They are extremely well made stainless steel bento boxes that come with adorable cloth bags, and silicon storage containers that fit inside of the compartments. They come in all different sizes, too!
- How cute is this lunchbox notes/ jokes book? it is full of notes and jokes you can tear out of the book and pack in your kiddo’s lunches as a fun surprise!
- Don’t forget a cute little thermos for soup and hot chocolate! It will keep them toasty all fall and winter long!
- Stock up on mini cookie cutters to cut veggies, cheese, and fruit into fun shapes!
Related: Looking for cute lunch boxes?
Best Kids Lunch Box Ideas for School Lunch Boxes
These Lunch Box Ideas
- Serves: 3
- Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Ingredients: Lunch Box Ideas – Box #1
- Sandwich with Lunch Meat
- Kabobs with strawberries and cheese
- Cheese
- Cucumbers
- Baby carrots
- Pretzels
- Mini chocolate chip cookies
Ingredients: Lunch Box Ideas – Box #2
- Sandwich with peanut butter and jelly
- String cheese
- Kabobs with strawberries, cheese and grapes
- Granola bar
- Circus animal crackers
- Pretzels
- Mini crackers with cheese
- Gummy Worms
Ingredients: Lunch Box Ideas – Box #3
- Lunch meat
- Baby carrots
- Cucumbers
- Clementines
- Hard boiled egg
- Banana
- Cheese
Instructions for Lunch Box Ideas for Kids
These lunch box ideas for kids are SO easy that they can help make their own lunch! It’s a great way to take a little bit off of your own To-Do list, while spending time with them, and teaching them all about responsibility, planning, and cooking!
Step 1
First, cut cheese with mini cookie cutters.
Step 2
Next, cut bread for sandwiches with cookie cutters.
Step 3
Then, roll lunch meat.
Step 4
Thread fruit and cheese on straws for kabobs.
Step 5
Finally, cut fruit and vegetables–and you’re finished!
Prep Time
3 minutes
Total Time
3 minutes
Ingredients
- Box #1
- Sandwich with Lunch Meat
- Kabobs with strawberries and cheese
- Cheese
- Cucumbers
- Baby carrots
- Pretzels
- Mini chocolate chip cookies
- Box #2
- Sandwich with peanut butter and jelly
- String cheese
- Kabobs with strawberries, cheese and grapes
- Granola bar
- Circus animal crackers
- Pretzels
- Mini crackers with cheese
- Gummy Worms
- Box #3
- Lunch meat
- Baby carrots
- Cucumbers
- Clementines
- Hard boiled egg
- Banana
- Cheese
Instructions
- Cut cheese with mini cookie cutters.
- Cut bread for sandwiches with cookie cutters.
- Roll lunch meat.
- Thread fruit and cheese on straws for kabobs.
- Cut fruit and vegetables.
More Kids Lunch Ideas from Kids Activities Blog
Psst… Check out this article if your kid moves slowly when getting ready in the morning!
What is your favorite kids lunch box idea for school? Did we miss something that works well for your student?
