- Lil Sweetie
Easy Back To School Kid Approved Lunch
Back to school, every parents favorite time of year right? If you pack your families meals we know how time consuming it can be. These quick and easy options are not only convenient but they are a healthier option and super fun and delicious. Avoid getting tired of the same lunches with these new ideas!
Chicken Salad Sandwich
Utilize already cooked shredded rotisserie chicken and add Greek yogurt or light mayo (or both) and salt and pepper. Load on to whole wheat break with some lettuce and tomato and you have a filling meal.
Try adding some optional ingredients into the chicken salad for more flavor:
Dijon mustard
Bacon
Chopped onion
Ranch seasoning
Green onions
Dried cranberries
Fruit Kabobs
Use your leftover skewer sticks from the summer grilling you did and thread your kids favorite fruits onto the skewer. Pack a side of vanilla yogurt with sprinkles to serve alongside the skewers for dipping. Bonus points if you cut your fruits into shapes with cookies cutters.
Pizza Rollups
Load your whole wheat soft tortilla with some turkey pepperoni, pizza sauce, and a mozzarella cheese stick. Spread the sauce evenly out to about 1 inch from the edge of the tortilla to prevent spilling. Put the cheese stick in the center of the tortilla and roll it all up.
Apple Peanut Butter Crunch Wrap
Spread peanut butter evenly within an inch of the edge and add thin apples slices along the center of the tortilla. Sprinkle with chocolate chips and granola. Fold each side and wrap. Super easy and FILLED with delicious gooey peanut butter!
Try adding some other optional toppings:
Raisins
Banana
Cheerios or Cereal
Other nut butters/spreads
Jam
Nutella and banana
Mac & Cheese Muffins
Use your favorite homemade mac and cheese recipe for dinner and put some off to the side. Add chicken or your protein of choice and scoop cooked mixture into a greased muffin pan. top with panko bread crumbs and cheese and let heat through (15-25 minutes). Let them cool off and these are the perfect lunch time treat!
Apple Peanut Butter Energy Bites
Slice apples and top with peanut butter, raisins, and chia seeds. Add it to a tortilla wrap to make it the main lunch item.
Lunch Box Snack Mix
Think trail mix but kid friendly! add banana chips, shredded coconut, raisins, dried cranberries, pumpkin seeds or pepitas, and 4 cups of popcorn. This one you can really add whatever you have in the house. The perfect salty sweet combo for lunch or an after school snack.
Cucumber Hummus Bites
Slice cucumbers into thin rounds and spoon on a small amount of hummus (your favorite flavor). Top with a cherry tomato half, crumbled feta cheese, and freshly chopped parsley. Store in an airtight container.
Turkey Pinwheels
Spread a thin layer of hummus on one side of a tortilla wrap and layer provolone cheese, turkey, and spread the baby spinach on one side. Wrap by folding the edge of the tortilla over the spinach and continue to roll the tortilla as tightly as possible. Slice the wrap into 1-inch rolls.
Try adding some other optional toppings
Ranch dressing
Mayo
Mustard
Use other deli meats and cheeses
Pepperoni Chicken Fingers
Cut chicken breasts into 1.5" stripes width wise. Wrap each piece of chicken with one large pepperoni and place on a lined baking sheet. Folded side down bake at 350* for 15-20 minutes or until the chick is no longer pink. Serve with pizza sauce on the side to dip.
Try adding some other optional toppings
Cheese in the middle
Turkey pepperoni
Bacon
Chicken wrapped in bacon with ranch seasoning
Bento Boxes
Try filling your kids' lunch box with these combos all in one container. They are great snacking options for the kids who like a little bit of everything!
Classic Deli Box
Turkey + Cheddar Roll-up Fresh Berries Yogurt Trail Mix
Mediterranean Box
Hummus Pita Bread Grape Tomatoes Cucumbers Sliced Oranges
Fiesta Box
Cheese Quesadilla Guacamole Salsa Tortilla Chips Strawberries
Hulk Box
Hard-Boiled Eggs Baby Carrots + Ranch Pretzels Peaches or Applesauce
PB+J Box
Almond Butter + Jelly (or PB +J) String Cheese Fruit Cup Chips
Bagel Box
Bagel + Cream Cheese Yogurt Tube Baby Carrots Fruit Snacks
Meatless Box
Veggie Wraps with Hummus Edamame or Snap Peas Clementine Granola Bar
Sweet Box
Pasta Salad/Tuna Salad Yogurt Granola Bar Raspberries
Try getting your kids to help you pack their own lunches. Give them options to create their own wraps or bento box combinations. Now your family will look forward to lunchtime with all these fun new ideas and flavors. Healthy options are possible for the entire family!
