Kid's Lunch Ideas That Aren't a Sandwich

10/12/2023

Kid's Lunch Ideas That Aren't a Sandwich

If you have school-age kiddos, I'm sure you've spent lots of time packing lunches and snacks for them to take along. Now that Noah is in school and I'm packing lunches on the daily, I started feeling like I was running out of ideas of things to make for him. I think anyone would get sick of a sandwich after a while (I know I couldn't eat one every single day for lunch!) so I came up with a few new lunch ideas that are unique, yummy, and nutritious. Keep reading for all of my kid's lunch ideas plus what I like to store everything in. 

School Lunch Ideas

Of course, each kiddo is different and depending on what your child likes (or if they have any allergies etc.) this list could change. My favorite thing about these ideas is that they are so easy to customize to your child's needs and they make it easier on you to give your child variety without a ton of extra work. I pack Noah's lunch in a little bento box so here are some ideas of things to pack in all the different sections, and if you want to see it all come together, watch this reel and make sure to check out my "school lunch" story highlights on instagram! 

• ants on a log (celery + nut butter or sunflower butter + raisins) + a sprinkle of hemp seeds for added protein
• a mini “charcuterie” section with a chopped beef stick, cheese, and pistachios (swap for pumpkin seeds if your school is nut-free)
• quesadillas + to-go packets of guacamole (I use Siete Foods almond flour tortillas)
• spinach banana pancakes aka "Hulk Pancakes"
• pesto pasta salad
• veggie sushi (if your kids will eat it, I wish mine would)
• Turkey Roll Ups
• raspberries stuffed with chocolate chips or blueberries
• sliced cucumbers + hummus
• cherry tomatoes with extra virgin olive oil + everything bagel seasoning
• seedy crackers + mini rice cakes - fun to include a pack of guacamole or hummus for dipping
• nuts, if they're allowed at your school
• pouches - my favorites are Serenity Kids (code WEEKNIGHTBITE for 15% off) & Once Upon a Farm
• Bars - some favorites are  mini @alohamoment bars - low in sugar, high in fiber, and have 6 grams of protein, Elemental Bars (code WEEKNIGHTBITE for 10% off), Skout Bars, and Cerebelly Bars.

​If you have any unique lunch ideas of your own, let me know if the comments! I'm always looking for ways to switch it up for the boys. 

Since I make more of a bento-box-style lunch, I like to store everything in a lunch box that keeps everything in one spot and eliminates waste (i.e. not using 7 different Ziploc bags). I LOVE the silicone bento boxes and lunch products from Austin Baby Co since they are so easy to clean and are the perfect size for kids. Plus, how cute are the little graphics on the lids?? I rounded up my favorites below- simply click the photo to shop each product from Amazon. You can also head directly to the Austin Baby Co. website and use my code LINDSAY15 for 15% off your order!

Click to Shop!

More Amazon School Lunch Essentials

I thought I would include a few more of my favorite Amazon school lunch items that I use to pack lunch! Bento boxes, ice packs, sandwich cutters, and more. Find the full list here or click to shop each product in the collage below!