When you're a busy parent, putting together healthy school lunches can feel like an endless daily chore. It's easy to fall into a rut of leaning on the same tired repertoire of lunch ideas.
Get yourself unstuck with a handy bento box, and this inspiring list of healthy, kid-friendly lunches. Your kids will be the envy of their lunchroom table, and you just might find yourself packing the same tasty lunch for yourself!
1. Tried and True: Ham and Veggie Sticks
It's hard to go wrong with uncured ham, and some classic carrot and celery sticks. A few rice crackers add a nice crunch, and nutrient-dense blueberries are a sweet treat. Tuck a couple pieces of dark chocolate into the little center for a special finish.
Bento box is Yumbox Presto, in Rose Pink.
2. Not Your Average Tuna Sandwich
We all grew up with tuna sandwiches, but why not try it with a playful, deconstructed twist? Tuck a spoon in with your child's lunch, so they can pile tuna salad onto crisp, rustic flatbreads. Bright stalks of chard mingle with celery to keep things colorful, and sweet peach slices are a cheerful fruit choice. A square or two of toasted coconut chocolate makes a great dessert.
Don't forget the freezer packs to keep that tuna salad nice and cold!
3. Smoked Salmon With Bagel Chips and Cream Cheese
How about a taste of New York, with some smoked salmon and cream cheese? Instead of spreading it on a bagel, opt for lunch-friendly bagel chips or naan crisps. Cucumbers are a cool vegetable sidekick, while fermented cauliflower kraut is a nutrition-packed powerhouse.
For an extra immunity boost, try sending a cute little bottle filled with blueberry pomegranate juice!
Large bento box is Yumbox Presto, smaller box is Yumbox Panino in True Blue.
4. Turkey Roll-Ups With Baby Carrots
Rolled up slices of roast turkey offer good lean protein for this lunch, while grapes and baby carrots are kid-friendly produce that everyone loves. My kids adore these little pouches of almond butter, and it really helps hold them over until afternoon snack time.
Adorable animal crackers in the shape of magical creatures are by Goodie Girl, and magically--they're gluten free and dairy free! Go all in for unicorns by using a playful unicorn-shaped condiment bottle to send some dressing for the carrots, or a little mayo or pesto to enjoy with the turkey.
5. South Of The Border Chicken Nachos
Nachos are always a favorite! I like using chicken for this meal, because it's tidier and more fun than ground beef.
Save time by prepping several meals worth of the chicken at once. I briefly sauté two packages of pre-cooked roast chicken strips, along with half a package of mild taco seasoning (my kids are not fans of spicy taco meat!) Then divide into portions, and freeze the seasoned chicken to have on hand for lunches.
Salsa and guacamole are natural accompaniments, and mango is a delicious fruit to finish with.
I use these allergy-friendly tortilla chips from Siete, because they're gluten-free, dairy-free, and corn-free. Bento box is Yumbox Presto, in Rose Pink.
6. Beef Jerky With Green Bean and Hummus
This is one of my kids' favorite lunches. They just LOVE homemade beef jerky. (This recipe from XOXO Bella is a great one.) Green beans or snap peas are fun to dip in hummus, and little pita chips offer a satisfying crunch.
If your little one loves olives, these are perfect for that little center compartment (olives are a fruit after all!) No little olive lovers in your family? Blueberries are always a good bet.
Pro tip: Not enough compartments in your bento box? Silicone cupcake liners are an instant solution, as you'll see in the smaller blue YumBox, where I've used a cupcake liner to hold the hummus.
7. Decontstructed BLT
BLTs were always my favorite sandwich when I was a kid. My own kids, however, like their BLTs on the deconstructed side. What better way to do it, than with a bento box?
Sturdy flatbreads are once again our friend here, as they hold up well to being piled high with greens, bacon, and little sliced tomatoes. I like to include basil or kale along with the lettuce, and cute little gummy worms are a fun finish to this playful lunch.
Freezer packs, and bento box are by YumBox.
8. Salami with Sweet Peppers
This super-easy lunch comes together in a snap with uncured salami slices, and dairy-free "cheddar" crackers. These little peppers look fiery hot, but they're actually sweet peppers, and SO tasty! Dried fruit is finger-friendly (I've used prunes here, my kids love them!), and pumpkin seeds are a nice finishing crunch.
Box is Presto Leakproof Stainless Steel Bento Box by YumBox.
9. Seaside Shrimp With Mango and Coconut Chunks
This lunch is a fun one to make, and to eat. Grilled shrimp are nice change from the more usual tuna, and they're a tasty way to get some Omega-3s onto the menu. Seaweed crisps are delicious, and they're an incredible source of iodine, vitamins, and minerals.
I like to pair mango and coconut with this lunch, to really finish off the Caribbean feel. If your kids like cocktail sauce, the little center compartment is the perfect spot for it. Or, include a wedge of lime that they can squeeze onto their shrimp!
Box is Presto Leakproof Stainless Steel Bento Box by YumBox.
10. Chèvre and Flatbread With a Colorful Tomato Salad
A nice option for "Meatless Mondays", this lunch revolves around a nice big lump of chèvre. A local goat dairy makes this rosemary-encrusted version that I love.
Paired with crackers or flatbread, and a little cherry tomato salad, this feels like a lunch worthy of the French countryside. Berries and nuts complement the picnic feel, and adorable unicorns stand ready to be filled with dressing for that tomato salad. (Aren't they the cutest thing?)
Unicorn condiment bottles by YumBox.
Products for this slideshow were provided to the author for editorial consideration.
Anna Chesley
Anna Chesley is a freelance writer living a homestead lifestyle, with a special love for family travel, old books, vintage skills, and seaside living. In addition to founding Salt In My Coffee, she runs the website, New England Family Life, as well as The 1800's Housewife, a website devoted to re-creating authentic 1800's recipes.
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