It’s time for the kids to head back to the classroom — and, as a parent, you need inspiration for lunch! All these fresh meal ideas are about having fun and enjoying wholesome goodness.
Discover snacks and treats to fit every taste bud and personality, such as lunches inspired by international cuisine and delicious plant-based chocolate for dessert.
Learn how to create a tasty and interesting spin on the midday meal, and then find out which lunchtime products and school supplies will encourage your children to eat healthily.
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Table of Contents
Make Lunch More Fun
Everyone knows what a lunch box looks like, but what if you could find something that fits your kids’ meals better? A bento box features different compartments and is perfect for younger students. With a bento, you’ll save on buying plastic lunch bags — and they’ll get what they like in one convenient container.
The best boxes are durable and leakproof, making them just as versatile as they are adorable. Pack any food you like because they’ll hold everything from sushi salads to coconut milk yogurt and raisins or nuts.
Make it more fun to open when you buy one in your child’s favorite color or shop for one featuring fun illustrations. Make sure it’s a BPA-free product and snaps together to keep everything inside. . Write your child’s name on the bottom or the top with a permanent marker. Now lunch is more fun and easier to find!
Lunch bags are still popular because they’re lightweight and flexible. They fit into larger backpacks and often have room for cold packs. Older kids will love stylish, on-trend lunch bags with shoulder straps.
They look like a messenger bag or purse, but they wipe down easily and include a handy waterproof liner. Many include bright colors and cute prints that stand out like fashion accessories. Look around, and you’ll discover pretty pastels and cool tie dye patterns. Other popular prints for this school year include fruit and mini butterflies.
A couple of plastic kid skewers can help secure loose fruit and vegetables. We’re also loving colorful reusable ice pack “buddies” that look like unicorns or panda bears. Create whimsical sandwiches with cookie cutters or sandwich cutters.
When you’re ready to seal the bag or box, leave a positive affirmation or an encouraging note. At the end of the lunch break, your child will be full and motivated to finish class!
Create a Plant-Based Lunch
Plant-based lunches are more popular than ever. Kids of all ages can enjoy healthy, delicious meals at school made with nutritious ingredients and without animal products.
This school year, it’s all about picking lunches your children like and putting a spin on it.
Let’s say your students like tortilla wraps:
They’ll love one that’s full of colorful veggies and zesty hummus. Create a rainbow wrap with butter lettuce and carrot sticks, and then fill the tortilla with yellow peppers or purple pickled cabbage. Whole chickpeas and guacamole are other tasty ingredients that can make the wrap even more colorful.
Do your kids like to eat with a spoon? A plant-based bowl or quinoa salad tastes satisfying after hours of class. As a bonus, it includes delicious ingredients for a complete meal. Fill them with fresh corn or cucumbers.
You can even add cherry tomatoes or include shelled edamame. If your kids like acai, pack a cold acai bowl mixed with fruit toppings and filling granola. Strawberries and blueberries balance perfectly with the superfood acai’s flavor.
Reward your little one with a sweet plant-based treat. Vegan chocolate bars are a rich and fudgy ending to a delicious meal.
Pack a square or two so they can be satisfied without going overboard. Other delicious lunch caps include vegan oatmeal cookies or crispy graham crackers.
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Include a Tasty Treat
Sometimes, all a student needs is a positive pick-me-up! If your child loves chocolate, you don’t have to feel guilty when you pack them plant-based dark chocolates made with simple, wholesome ingredients. If they like fruit, add a few chocolate-drizzled bananas or strawberries.
No-bake vegan cookies and cookie dough balls are easy to make — and they’re always appreciated inside a bento or lunch bag.
There are so many ways to do an interesting take on a tasty kids’ treat. A chocolate chia smoothie is made with whole foods and will taste just like a shake. Try making a savory chai spice pudding or a chocolate chia pudding with blueberries.
Other excellent choices for a student lunch include vegan parfaits with berries and granola and chocolate mousse made with rich avocado.
A fruit salad is just as colorful as a rainbow wrap but balances savory snacks for a well-rounded lunch. Along with staples like berries and bananas, you can include colorful fruit like kiwi or papaya. Some kids love homemade trail mix, so make one with dried fruit chips or shaved coconut.
Make pound cake or lemon cake, and then pack a slice for the next day. Other wholesome, tasty snacks for a kid’s lunch include fruit pizza and flavored biscotti. Feel free to use your imagination!
Choose a New Meal Each Week (or Month)
It’s easy to get into a lunch rut, so partner with your kids to choose a new meal each week. If it becomes too overwhelming, commit to a new dish monthly.
Look through options on the internet alongside your students to find lunches that are tasty and easy to pack. Give bonus points if all the ingredients are nutritious or made with plants.
Let everyone have a say in lunch ingredients and tasty treats. Then narrow your choices with a vote.
Make the tradition more fun when you announce the new meal on a whiteboard or chalkboard. For families with multiple children, alternate between new meal choices. That way, everyone gets to be creative and have a turn.
Take a poll to see if your current rotation is working. After all, there’s no reason to keep a snack or ingredient on the lunch menu if no one likes it.
Swap it out with something more interesting or inviting. This process gives your kids a chance to learn about nutrition and make healthy choices. For some families, it feels like a fun game or friendly competition!
Eat by Cuisine
Stay inspired for lunch with global cuisine! There are many ways to enjoy food and learn about world culture as a family. For instance, households that enjoy Asian-inspired meals can design a menu with featured favorites like fried rice or pad Thai.
A Mediterranean bento box may include a tasty lentil salad or pita sandwich. Go Mexican with an enchilada or tamale, and then sample Turkish food with baklava or stuffed rice balls.
Try French cuisine together or spend a week going Greek. Your family may like getting to know food from Lebanon or Spain — or want to try something from the Caribbean or Morocco.
If your kids like having breakfast for lunch, you can pack bagels or pancakes. They may even like having a second helping of their favorite oatmeal or cereal.
Add to the global cuisine experience by letting them eat their food with their hands or a pair of chopsticks.
The food will look and smell so delicious that you’ll want a helping for your own lunch. When you learn about plant-based world cuisine, you’ll give your entire family a chance to cook and explore together.
Everyone will smile when they think back on the memories while eating lunch!
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Enjoying a Wholesome School Lunch
The school day is more fun when you have a delicious and satisfying lunch.
Make it as nutritious and fun as possible with these interesting, unique ideas.
Your children will certainly appreciate these 5 Back to School Lunch Ideas for Kids the effort you put into the food and packaging.
Who knows? You may even find a new snack for yourself!
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