5 Kids’ Lunch Box Ideas They’ll Be Excited About

Are you dreading the thought of having to pack your kids’ lunch boxes every morning? Don’t worry — you’re not alone. After all, it can be tedious to come up with creative and nutritious meals that your kids will actually be excited about. Fortunately, we’ve gathered five easy-to-make kids’ lunch box ideas to bring some much-needed variety to their midday mealtime.

These ideas are chock-full of fresh ingredients and healthy, nutrient-dense foods that will fuel them throughout their busy days. They’re also incredibly affordable, so you won’t have to break the bank to feed them healthy and delicious meals. So, if you’re looking for a way to keep your kids’ lunch boxes interesting without much effort, this post is for you!

Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich

A traditional peanut butter and jelly sandwich is a staple for kids’ lunch boxes. However, you can give it a twist by switching up the bread, using creative variations of the PB&J, or adding something extra to make it special.

If your child likes the classic version of this sandwich, give them a choice of various kinds of bread, such as white, wheat, whole grain, and even English muffins or bagels. Try to use natural peanut butter and organic jelly whenever possible.

Switch out plain bread for focaccia bread or pita pockets to change things up when packing a PB&J sandwich in your kid’s lunch box. You could also experiment with different kinds of crackers or pita chips instead of traditional slices of bread.

Another way to make this sandwich exciting is by adding fun ingredients to the basic recipe. For instance, try adding banana slices to the peanut butter or honey instead of jelly. Also, try adding chocolate hazelnut spread instead of peanut butter or sprinkling some granola over the sandwich before closing it up.

Fruity Quesadillas

Quesadillas are a versatile and delicious option to pack in your kid’s lunch box, and you can get creative with the fillings, including adding fruits! Whether you stick to classic kid-friendly choices or explore customizable options, your child will enjoy this flavorful meal.

You can use grated cheese, diced tomatoes, cooked ground beef, shredded chicken or steak, refried beans or black beans with corn, and diced cooked peppers and onions for a traditional quesadilla. To add a touch of sweetness and crunch, include some diced apples or other fruits.

Kids love having choices, so let them customize their quesadilla fillings with various options. They can select from turkey bacon bits, cooked sausage crumbles, thawed and well-drained frozen chopped spinach, roasted vegetables like butternut squash or sweet potatoes, sliced mushrooms or olives, diced cooked sweet potato, sautéed kale, dried cranberries or raisins, diced pineapple, and more.

Make the quesadilla-making process more enjoyable by using cookie cutters to create fun shapes like hearts and stars. This extra touch of creativity will make the meal even more exciting for your kids and add some pizzazz to their lunch box treat.

Veggie Wraps

Wraps offer a simple and nutritious way to make your kids’ lunches more exciting while incorporating delicious vegetables. By providing a variety of wraps and fillings, you can ensure that this meal option remains enjoyable each time you pack it in their lunch box.

Add leafy greens like lettuce or spinach leaves into the wrap filling to add nutritional value. These greens are packed with essential vitamins and minerals that contribute to overall health. Other vegetable-based fillers include shredded carrots, thinly sliced celery, cucumber slices, diced bell peppers, thinly sliced radishes, roasted eggplant slices, and avocados.

When choosing wraps for your kids’ lunches, explore several options. Whole wheat tortillas, whether flour or corn, are a popular choice. Lettuce leaves, particularly butter lettuce, work well as a lighter alternative. Low-carb wraps made from cauliflower, globe artichoke leaves (which can hold more filling), nori seaweed sheets (used for sushi rolls), and collard greens are other flavorful options.

Hummus is a creamy and delicious ingredient for tasty fillings that helps hold the wrap together without additional condiments like mayonnaise or mustard. Flavored cream cheeses can also work great. Protein sources like grilled chicken strips, hard-boiled eggs (or egg salad), grilled tofu cubes, and canned tuna mixed with avocado chunks are excellent additions. Add some shredded cheese to enhance the flavor, if your kids enjoy it.

Hummus and Veggie Plate

Combine the protein-packed goodness of hummus with an array of colorful veggies to create a satisfying and nutritious meal. Not only does this combination provide essential vitamins and minerals, but it also looks visually appealing when arranged in a lunch box.

Start by offering a variety of hummus flavors, including traditional options and exciting variations like sun-dried tomato, roasted garlic, black bean and jalapeno, olive tapenade, and caramelized onion and sage. This allows your child to choose their preferred flavor each day.

When selecting veggies for the plate, think beyond the usual choices. Alongside carrot sticks, celery sticks, and snap peas, consider adding some unique options such as shelled edamame beans (cooked if preferred), halved baby corn cobs, thin wedges of jicama, sugar snap peas without their pods, and strips of bell peppers.

To enhance the presentation, get creative with your arrangement. Use mini bamboo skewers to hold the veggies together on the plate. Arrange them on a bed of fresh and crisp lettuce leaves. Color-coordinate the veggies to make them visually appealing. You can even create “boats” out of bell pepper halves and fill them with homemade guacamole. Embrace the fun aspect of the meal and involve the kids in the process.

DIY Lunchables

Creating DIY Lunchables can be a convenient and nutritious way to incorporate both healthy options and fun treats into your child’s lunchbox without much effort. By offering a variety of choices, you can ensure they have a balanced and enjoyable meal each day.

Start by preparing small portions of cooked meat, such as beef strips, in advance. Let your child choose from the fruits, veggies, and proteins you have prepared. Alongside these, include snacks like yogurt tubes, dips, cheese cubes, crackers, mini muffins, pieces of dark chocolate, granola bites, or fruit leathers.

While you can include treats, make sure there is plenty of room for proteins, fruits, and veggie mixes. Offer crunchy dippers like jicama sticks or celery alongside dip options, such as homemade ranch dressing made from full-fat Greek yogurt, hummus, or guacamole. Provide choices like whole wheat pitas cut into triangles, prepped whole grain crackers, whole wheat wraps, or mini rice cakes painted with natural food coloring. Get creative with the options.

Having choices allows your child to feel a sense of control over their lunchbox. Vary the proteins daily, such as lean cuts of chicken strips or tuna salad, and include vegetable dippers like grape tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, mini bell pepper halves, and jicama cubes. Additionally, offer a variety of fruits and grains throughout the week to keep things interesting. This way, every day will look different, providing a sense of variety and excitement.

By following these five lunch box ideas for kids, your child will never dread opening their lunch again! With so many options available, even picky eaters will surely find something they’ll enjoy eating every day. Remember that variety is key since it is truly the spice of life when packing school lunches for children.