Mayumi Tavalero

Growing up, I remember my mom packing some rather unique school lunches for me. When the school bell rang and my friends would gather around the lunch table to see what everyone else was having, I often got mixed reactions. Either they were in awe of my Pizza Tortilla Chip “Sandwich”, or completely grossed out by my Futomaki (vegetarian sushi roll). My mom knew the value of presentation when it came to kids’ lunches decades before Lunchables. She also knew that making lunch FUN was the key! So boring sandwiches, step aside. Here are some of my favorite ideas for packing a great kid’s (or adult’s) lunch, plus a few tips to consider.

Unique school lunch ideas

Meatloaf Sliders – Spread BBQ sauce or mayo/mustard on rolls or mini buns, and add meatloaf cut into small squares. You can also bake the meatloaf mixture in muffin tins for neat individual servings.

Denver Omelet Breakfast Muffins – The time allotted for lunch at most schools is pretty short, so foods need to be easy to eat. Egg muffins are quick to eat, and aren’t just for breakfast. They can also easily be made from leftovers!

Chicken Yakitori – Food on skewers is fun to eat, just make sure to use blunt-end skewers, or trim the sharp end off with pruning shears. You can also thread rolled deli meats, cheese cubes, and cherry tomatoes for lunch on a stick.

Pizza Quesadilla – Make these ahead and refrigerate. Cut into wedges and pack them in foil. Who doesn’t like cold pizza?

Wagon Wheel Pasta Salad – Incorporate interesting and colorful shapes using pasta along with kid-friendly and nutritious veggies like broccoli and carrots.

Pre-Cut Mixed Fruit – Children don’t typically eat much in one sitting, so instead of packing a whole orange or banana that needs to be peeled, serve up a small portion of mixed fruit instead.  If you’re worried about any juices spilling, pack it in a bento box like this one available from Foodom’s Kitchen Store.

Pre-Cut Veggies for Dipping – With dip or without, most kids prefer crunchy raw vegetables over mushy cooked vegetables.

Dips – Kids love to dip food, so indulge them with hummus, salsa, cheese dip, bean dip, pesto, or peanut butter.  This is a great way to add some extra veggies to their diet.

Treats – Be sure to add a treat such as a wrapped cookie tied with a ribbon, a note, or a sticker to let your child know their lunch was packed with love or to celebrate a special achievement.

Adding the extraordinary and a bit of fun to your child’s school lunch is a great way to get them to actually eat their lunch, plus it encourages them to try new foods. And, even if they prefer the classic PB&J or ham & cheese sandwich, you can still jazz it up with an Uncrustable Maker (sandwich cutter for fun shapes).

Take school lunches off your plate

To make life even easier, be sure to book a meal prep appointment through Foodom. Your kids will get wholesome real food made, but all the shopping, cooking, and cleaning is handled by a local personal chef! Starting at just $100 per week! Learn more here.

Get the right equipment for the job

Check out Foodom’s kitchen store! We have a special section with fun back to school lunch supplies, and loads of other high quality kitchen essentials at excellent prices!

More fun meals for kids lunches