What to Pack for Lunch for School

What to Pack for Lunch for School

We hope that this What to Pack for Lunch for School post inspires you. 

Packing the Perfect Back to School Lunch

What to Pack for Lunch for School

Main Dishes

• Korean BBQ Beef Tacos: Seared beef strips marinated in your favorite Korean BBQ sauce, wrapped in tortillas with kimchi, rice, and pickled vegetables.
• Chicken and Cheese Quesadillas: Add black beans, corn, or jalapenos for extra flavor.
• Breakfast Burritos: Scrambled eggs, cheese, salsa, and black beans in whole wheat tortillas.
• Mason Jar Salads: Layer lettuce, veggies, protein (chicken, tofu, etc.), and dressing in a jar for easy shaking at lunchtime.
• Spicy Chicken Skewers with Veggie Dips: Grilled chicken chunks marinated in your favorite spices with hummus or ranch dip for dipping.
• Turkey Meatloaf Muffins: Baked in muffin tins for a fun and portable option.
• Edamame and Vegetable Stir-Fry: Quick, easy, and packed with protein and fiber.

Sandwiches & Wraps

• Pizza Burgers: Mini burger patties topped with pizza sauce, mozzarella, and pepperoni.
• Cucumber & Cream Cheese Sandwich: Spread cream cheese on whole wheat bread, and top with sliced cucumber and fresh dill.
• Chicken Caesar Salad Wraps: Use grilled or baked chicken, romaine lettuce, Parmesan cheese, and homemade or store-bought Caesar dressing.
• Grilled Ham & Cheese: Classic and comforting, add spinach or tomato for extra nutrients.
• Tuna Melt Pita Pocket: Flaked tuna mixed with mayo, celery, and red onion, warmed in a pita pocket with melted cheese.
• Turkey Pesto Panini: Grilled on sourdough bread with roasted red peppers, spinach, and mozzarella cheese.
• Mediterranean Chickpea Salad Pitas: Marinated chickpeas, cucumber, tomato, feta cheese, and hummus on pita bread.
• Korean Beef Wraps: Bulgogi beef, lettuce, kimchi, and rice in seaweed wraps.
• Falafel Wraps: Falafel balls in pita bread with hummus, tahini, lettuce, tomato, and cucumber.
• Egg Sandwich: Scrambled eggs with cheese on toast or a bagel.
• Grilled Peanut Butter & Jelly: A timeless favorite, use different jams for variety.
• Turkey & Cheddar Lunch Roll-Ups: Spread pesto on tortillas, and roll up with turkey and cheddar cheese.
• Chicken Ranch Wraps: Shredded chicken with ranch dressing, lettuce, tomato, and cheddar cheese in a tortilla.
• Tuna Salad Sandwich: Combine tuna with mayonnaise, chopped celery, and red onion on whole wheat bread.
• Black Bean Burgers: Hearty and healthy, with avocado crema, salsa, and lettuce on a whole wheat bun.

Chicken Salad Cucumber Cups Recipe

Sides & Snacks

• Rainbow Veggie Sticks with Ranch Dip: Mix bell peppers, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, and celery for a colorful and crunchy snack.
• Edamame with Sriracha Mayo: Steamed edamame tossed with a spicy Sriracha mayo dipping sauce.
• Hummus and Veggie Roll-Ups: Spread hummus on whole wheat tortillas, add shredded carrots, cucumber, and spinach, and roll up.
• Trail Mix with Dark Chocolate: Customize your mix with nuts, dried fruit, seeds, and dark chocolate chunks.
• Greek Yogurt Fruit Parfait: Layer Greek yogurt with granola, berries, and a drizzle of honey.
• Baked Sweet Potato Fries with Spicy Ketchup: A healthy and satisfying alternative to regular fries.
• Pickled Carrots and Cucumbers: Crunchy and tangy snack with a probiotic boost.
• Rice Cakes with Avocado and Everything Bagel Seasoning: Quick and filling option for on-the-go teens.
• Homemade Popcorn with Nutritional Yeast: Sprinkle nutritional yeast for a cheesy flavor boost.
• Dark Chocolate Pretzels: Satisfy their sweet tooth with a healthy twist.
• Roasted Chickpeas: Seasoned and baked for a crunchy and protein-packed snack.
• Fruit and Nut Butter Skewers: Thread grapes, strawberries, and apple slices onto skewers with almond butter or peanut butter.
• Guacamole and Chips: Healthy dip with whole wheat tortilla chips.
• Hard-boiled Eggs: A classic protein snack for on-the-go teens.
• Frozen Yogurt Bark: Mix your favorite yogurt with toppings like granola, nuts, and chocolate chips, freeze, and break into pieces.
• Banana “Nice” Cream: Blend frozen bananas and your favorite toppings for a healthy ice cream alternative.
• Popcorn with Parmesan and Herbs: Air-popped popcorn tossed with Parmesan cheese and dried herbs.

Salads & Bowls

• Mediterranean Salad with Grilled Halloumi: Tossed with quinoa, cucumbers, tomatoes, olives, and balsamic vinaigrette.
• Sushi Burrito Bowls: Poke bowls with rice, quinoa, or edamame, avocado, cucumber, carrots, and your choice of tuna, salmon, or tofu.
• Leftover Night Bowls: Repurpose leftover dinners from previous nights, like pasta, stir-fries, or fajitas, into bowls with additional toppings.
• BBQ Chicken Bowls: Leftover chicken tossed with BBQ sauce, rice, corn, black beans, and avocado.
• Salmon Sushi Bowls: Brown rice, edamame, cucumber, avocado, and baked salmon with teriyaki sauce.
• Classic Pasta Salad: Rotini pasta with veggies, Italian dressing, and mozzarella cheese.
• Chicken Waldorf Salad: Chopped chicken, apples, celery, grapes, and walnuts in a creamy mayo dressing.
• Hummus Lunch Box: Dip carrots, celery, bell peppers, and pita bread in homemade or store-bought hummus.
• Fruit & Yogurt Parfait: Layer Greek yogurt with granola, berries, and a drizzle of honey.
• Veggie Salad Bowl: Mix baby spinach, and chopped veggies like cucumber, tomato, and avocado, with lemon vinaigrette.

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Warm Options

• Homemade Sloppy Joes: Ground beef with a sweet and tangy sauce on buns.
• Best Grilled Cheese Sandwich: Use sourdough bread, Havarti cheese, and Dijon mustard for extra flavor.
• Mac & Cheese Bites: Bake leftover mac and cheese in muffin tins for fun finger food.
• Chicken Nuggets: Pair with honey mustard dipping sauce and veggie sticks.
• Pepperoni Pizza Rolls: Mini calzones filled with pizza sauce, mozzarella, and pepperoni.

Sweets & Treats

• Banana Peanut Butter Bites: Frozen banana slices dipped in melted dark chocolate and sprinkled with peanuts.
• Baked Apple Slices with Cinnamon and Raisins: A warm and comforting snack.
• Homemade Energy Balls: Combine peanut butter, oats, nuts, seeds, and dried fruit for a nutritious and energy-boosting snack.
• Apple Crumble Muffins: Mini muffins with a warm apple filling and crumbly topping.
• Trail Mix Cookies: Made with oats, nuts, seeds, and dried fruit, packed with flavor and nutrients.
• Frozen Yogurt Bark: Top Greek yogurt with granola, berries, and chocolate chips, then freeze for a refreshing treat.
• Peanut Butter and Jam Bars: A classic homemade snack with a variety of jam flavors to choose from.
• Rice Krispie Treats with a Twist: Add marshmallows, candy melts, or peanut butter to traditional Rice Krispie Treats for a customized treat.
• Chocolate-Dipped Pretzels: Dunk pretzels in melted chocolate for a quick and easy sweet treat.
• Fruit and Nut Muffins: Packed with fruit and nuts for a satisfying and healthy snack.
• Smoothie Popsicles: Freeze your favorite smoothie recipe in popsicle molds for a cool and refreshing afternoon treat.

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Other Fun Ideas

• Cheese Board Lunch Box: Cubes of cheddar, gouda, and brie with grapes, apple slices, and crackers.
• Homemade Soft Pretzels: Pair with honey mustard or Nutella for dipping.
• English Muffin Pizzas: Top English muffins with pizza sauce, cheese, and your favorite toppings.
• Trail Mix: Customize your own with nuts, dried fruit, seeds, and granola.
• Yogurt Cups: Flavored yogurt with granola and berries for a quick breakfast-inspired lunch.
• Hard-Boiled Eggs: Sprinkle with salt and pepper or dip in hummus.
• Banana Bread or Muffins: Healthy and filling snacks.
• Veggie Sticks & Dip: Ranch dressing, hummus, or guacamole with carrot, cucumber, and bell pepper sticks.
• Popcorn: A light and healthy snack, add a sprinkle of nutritional yeast for extra flavor.
• Apple Slices with Peanut Butter: A classic and satisfying combo.
• Cherry Tomatoes & Mozzarella Skewers: Caprese salad on a stick!
• Mini Pancakes: Make these ahead of time and serve with fruit and maple syrup.

Tips

• Get your kids involved in choosing and preparing lunch. Let your teen choose some lunch options to encourage buy-in.
• Get creative with the presentation! Use fun bento boxes, cookie cutters, containers, and skewers to make lunch more appealing.
• Pack lunches in insulated containers to keep food fresh and at the right temperature.
• Pack a variety of colors and textures to keep things interesting. Variety is key! Rotate through different options to prevent boredom.
• Include a fun note or drawing to make your child's day.
• Remember dietary restrictions and allergies when packing lunches.
• Include a cool or hot pack depending on the contents and season.
• Most importantly, pack lunches that your kids will eat!
• Pack lunches in containers that are leakproof and easy to open.
• Don't forget a water bottle! Staying hydrated is important throughout the day.

Ways to Save Money on Lunches

Whether you’re eating out or dining in, food is expensive. If the thought of your latest grocery bill gets you stressed, know that there are simple ways to shop smarter. Here are seven clever ways to save money on lunches this year. Take a few small steps like making a budget or planning your lunches for the week. You'll soon find yourself committed to intelligent ways of saving money and eating well.

Ways to Save Money on Lunches

• Make a Budget: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2019, married couples with children spent 13.3% of their income on food, while single parents with at least one child under 18 spent 14.9%. This, on average, adds up to roughly $8,000 annually. Yikes. If you want to save money on lunches this year, it’s wise to make a budget and stick to it. There are many helpful tools online and apps you can download and use on your phone. You can also access and use templates through Microsoft Word and Excel. These template sheets will guide you through setting up your budget and sticking to it for the year.
• Plan Your Lunches: Once you have your budget established and know how much you can spend on meals, it's best to plan for the entire week. If you want to involve your child a bit more in the process, you can get a whiteboard for your kitchen and write down the names of the lunches you plan on making for each day of the week. You can also include your child in the meal-planning process itself. Get their input and ask what they’d like.  1. Grab a sheet of paper and at the top, write out the days of the week. 2. Select a meal you plan to make for lunch each day. 3. Look up the recipes and write down the necessary ingredients on a separate sheet of paper to make your grocery list for the week.
• Get an App to Shop: When you're shopping at the grocery store, have you ever felt tempted to splurge and buy a lot of unnecessary food? Use a shopping app to stop yourself from buying items you don't need and blowing your budget. These days, most grocery stores have apps you can use to do all your shopping from the comfort of your home. All you have to do is make your online list in advance, and a store attendant will get your items. After you pay and arrange a time to pick up your groceries, the attendant will put your things directly into your car — saving you time and money.
• If You’re Going to Eat Out, Make It Lunch: The bottom line is eating out is often more expensive than making your meals. However, dining out can be a nice treat for you and your children. Don't forget about having food delivered to your home, as most restaurants now offer this option, too. Order food from restaurants smartly and save money. Eat out at lunch. You and your family will get much more bang for your buck if you eat out at lunch. Restaurants often have lunch specials with extra food at half the price. Limit your portion size. Don’t eat your entire meal and take home your leftovers. Don’t eat out as frequently. Based on your budget, limit your meals to once a month or once every other week. 
• Save and Use Your Leftovers: When you make your lunches, make sure you cook significant portions of food. It’s essential to have enough food on hand for your entire family, and having leftovers for later in the week is a great way to save money and help you with meal planning. However, it's not just enough to keep your leftovers — you need to use them, too. They can be delicious as is, but you can also get creative and mix and match meats from previous meals with other ingredients found in your refrigerator. The best rule of thumb is not to let anything go to waste.
• Go With Store Brands: Purchase grocery store products over brand names, and you'll find you save up to 25% on certain items. Other items are really up to personal preference. You may always have a special place in your heart for the brand name Oreos, while your partner may find that the store brand tastes just the same. Experiment with different store brands to uncover significant savings. You can prioritize purchasing store brands on these items: sugar, salt, pepper, and other baking materials in your pantry; frozen, canned, and dried fruit and vegetables; and bread and cheese.
• Shop Produce That’s in Season: When you shop for produce in season, there's a better chance it was grown locally and didn't require the expensive shipping cost across multiple states to reach your hands. This lowers the price for you to purchase. Supporting local farmers is also better for your local economy.  Produce that's in season is at peak nutrients and flavor — an added perk for you. If you want to embrace buying in-season produce for your lunches, teach your children about this sustainable practice, and together you can learn about cooking in season. 

We hope that this What to Pack for Lunch for School post inspires you. Happy packing!