The start of the new school year means many parents need easy school lunch ideas.
However, most of them struggle to balance between nutritious meals and what their child can eat.
That’s why staying organized through advanced planning and having a variety of new, enjoyable, and healthful alternatives is the best way to make preparing simple in the morning.
Plus, meal prepping will save you more money on groceries!
These alternative lunch ideas go beyond typical sandwiches, whether you’re preparing meals for the week or searching for something unique to put in a school lunchbox.
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Alternative Lunch Ideas For Kids
Tacos
Who does not enjoy tacos?
Even though the tortillas won’t be warm when you eat them, warming them beforehand keeps them flexible for filling.
Replace the soft tortillas with tortilla chips if you’re missing the crispness of a firm taco.
Pasta Salad with Vinaigrette Lunchbox
Pasta salad is a fantastic lunch to pack and has many customization options.
Want to eat vegetarian food? Pack olives in place of salami.
Dislike peppers? Try substituting tomatoes!
Bring at least one container that will hold everything together once mixed, which should be about 1 1/2 cups.
Egg Salad Lunchbox
Enjoy hard-boiled eggs alone or diced up and combined with creamy dressing, vegetables, and other ingredients.
Build an egg sandwich or dip a whole-wheat cracker into the mixture.
If you’re preparing lunch the night before, sprinkle some cinnamon over the apple slices to give them a taste and hide any unattractive browning.
S’mores Energy Balls
These two-bite, protein-rich nibbles are jam-packed with all the tastes of a classic campfire treat.
A little marshmallow is placed into the middle, while the base is combined with mini chocolate chips and graham cracker bits.
Even better, you can whip up a sizable batch in just 30 minutes, and they require no baking.
Pizza Roll-Up Bento Lunch
Kids will enjoy this simple roll-up that is inspired by pizza.
Choose various crunchy veggies, such as orange and purple cauliflower, to make them more enticing.
Don’t forget the dip, either!
Use cookie cutters to cut the watermelon into amusing shapes to keep people laughing.
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Turkey & Cheese Pinwheels Bento Lunch
A series of delectable pinwheels comprising bite-sized pieces of lettuce, cheese, and turkey serve as the focal point of this bento box.
While popcorn with chocolate chips makes a delightful snack or dessert, crisp celery sticks and luscious blueberries make for tasty accompaniments.
You can also add teriyaki ham bites for variety.
Packing this healthy lunch is a breeze and may even be prepared the night before.
Packing this healthy lunch is a breeze and may even be prepared the night before.
Breakfast For Lunch Bento Box For Kids
Waffles are included in this Bento box concept of your child’s favorite breakfast foods.
This lunch is filled with nutritious foods you can feel good about offering, and kids will be eager to consume it.
Coconut-Chocolate Chip Granola Bars
If you prepare a batch of these granola bars in advance, you might have a fantastic, lunchbox-friendly snack.
For a sweet treat, these granola bars are chock full of chocolate chips and shredded coconut free of nuts.
You may easily adjust the bake time to get the chewy or crispy granola bars you want.
Smoked Salmon Brown Rice Onigiri
You can use simple seasoned rice to make these Japanese rice triangles or load them with protein.
Cooking some starchier short-grain white rice alongside the brown rice ensures they stay together while still providing a satisfying amount of fiber.
Peanut Butter Banana Roll-ups
Eating lunch is enjoyable with these tasty peanut butter and banana roll-ups.
The sandwich in bite-sized form will be a hit with kids.
As a replacement that is allergy-friendly, try sunflower seed butter.
Rainbow Bento Lunch for Kids
Lunch is enjoyable with this bento box concept.
This portable lunch is a healthy dish kids will want to eat—no more lunches that are just partially consumed.
It features bright carrots and swirled yogurt.
Pizza Bites
These pizza bites reheat well and make delicious lunchtime or leftovers.
You can also alter the filling to suit your children’s preferences.
Although not required, we serve these with a small side of warmed marinara sauce for dipping.
Deconstructed Cobb Salad Bento Lunch for Kids
Children can choose to eat the healthful elements, including vegetables, turkey, eggs, bacon, and avocado, together or separately in this kid-friendly take on the traditional Cobb salad.
Picky eaters will benefit from the ease of carrying everything to school in a bento box, preventing the ingredients from touching.
Pizza Muffin
Make a batch of simple pizza muffins to give kids their favorite flavor in a convenient (and reheatable!) shape.
These nutritious muffins are a simple lunch choice that can be served at home or packed in a thermos.
They also contain shredded carrots for added nourishment.
Hummus Wrap
Vegetarian hummus wraps are filling and incredibly adaptable when made with only a few simple ingredients.
This no-cook meal is simple to pack for lunch at school, work, or home.
And the preparation time is around five minutes.
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Final Thoughts
Making lunches for school in the morning may be challenging, especially if you’re pressed for time and attempting to satisfy eating preferences that seem to shift at will.
But a little planning and lots of options can help you come up with easy alternative lunch ideas for your kids who prefer variety.
Katie Pierce is a teacher-slash-writer who loves telling stories to an audience, whether it’s bored adults in front of a computer screen or a bunch of hyperactive 4-year-olds. Writing keeps her sane (most of the time) and allows her to enjoy some quiet time in the evening before she walks into a room of screaming kids (all of whom she loves dearly) the next morning.