One of the frustrating things for parents each day of each school week is the ideas for school lunches. As long as you’re prepared to think out side of the (lunch) box and spend a bit of time on preparation you can come up with plenty more ideas than the standard vegemite sandwich.
To begin with, invest in a decent lunchbox, one that has lots of compartments or get a regular square box and use Tupperware to fill the box with different containers. If you don’t want to risk your Tupperware then snap lock bags suit the purpose also.
I also make my son’s school lunch the night before and not the morning of, it’s too hectic in the morning and this way you are all organised and the lunchbox just needs to go directly in the schoolbag of a morning.
Here’s a rundown of ideas that might help with your kids’ going back to school lunches.
Try fruit skewers with grapes and cherries and pineapple. These can be made with apples and pears too but squeeze with a little lemon juice on them to stop them turning brown.
A mandarin or orange is a bit of fun if you take a black texta and put a smiley face on the skin or write a cute message. Creates a bit of a lunchbox surprise too if they open it to an ‘I love you’ on their orange.
Instead of a sandwich try using a wrap or making a zucchini slice or make some homemade sausage rolls. Salads are good too or even leftovers from dinner the night before, just remember- kids aren’t fussy unless you make them fussy, so eating a cold meal is only going to be a problem if you make it into one.
Dips with vegetable sticks come in handy and are good for little fingers, as are sandwiches made using cookie cutters, or cut into soldiers if you don’t want to waste bread.
Homemade or store bought muesli bars are a good idea for fibre and energy but make sure they’re made with fruit and seeds as nuts are a no-go at school.
Boiled eggs, cheese cubes and ham rolled up are easy and quick for kids to grab if they’re busy bees on their lunch breaks and a ice pack thrown in with the lunchbox will help keep these items cool until eaten.
Try new things in lunchboxes too, capsicum slices and homemade pita chips with some avocado are also fun to eat but nutritionally balanced.
Baby carrots, pretzels and yoghurt makes for another lunchbox idea, and don’t forget a reusable container for the yoghurt and little plastic spoon so it’s not too much of a big deal if the spoon gets lost.
Fruit and Vegetables
Oranges
Apples
Strawberries
Grapes
Peaches
Blueberries
Raspberries
Natural Applesauce
Mangoes
Melon
Baby Carrots
Cucumbers
Cherry Tomatoes
Edamame
Main Ideas
Homemade Savoury Pastries Cheese and Crackers
Hard Boiled Eggs
Pasta Salad
Meat and Cheese Kebab
Pita Chips with Guacamole
Ham and Cheese Sandwich
Veggies with Cream Cheese Pita Bread with Hummus and Veggies
Zucchini Slice Veggie Hummus Wrap
Snacks
Nut Free Muesli Bars
Pretzels
Cubed Cheese
Yoghurt
Fruit Leather
Popcorn
Crackers
Chips and Salsa
Fruit Salad
I hope these ideas have helped you prepare your kids’ school lunchbox for the new school year. Make sure you share some of your own school lunchbox ideas in the comments below.
Thanks for reading.
Simply, Natalie Laura
simplynatalielaura 