School Lunch Ideas

Ideas to go beyond the average sandwich lunch.

Main Ideas

Of course, sandwiches
- Ham, Turkey, Pepperoni, Salami, PB&J, Cheese, Egg Salad
  - Our kids are picky - so some of these are not options in our house. The ones that are can be made fun with shapes. Pampered Chef also has a cut-n-seal that will give you that Uncrustable feel the kids love. Or cut in sticks so they are easy to handle.
Quesadillas
- Cheese, bacon, pepperoni, chicken
Hot dogs, cut in half
Pasta Salad
Make your own lunchables
- Crackers, cheese cubes, and ham cubes
Thermos full of (for older kids):
- Spaghetti-Os
- Soup
- Mac n Cheese
Wraps
- Bacon, Tomato, Ranch
- Turkey, Provolone, Honey Mustard
- Pepperoni and Mozzarella
- Fun Kabobs - cut the sharp tip off
  - Ham chunks and cheese cubes
Salad
Meat and Cheese Roll Ups
Pigs in a Blanket

Side Items and

Carrots
Pretzels, pretzel sticks, or pretzel chips
- with Hummus
- with other dips (like french onion, ranch)
Pita/Pita Chips
Nuts
Boiled eggs
Cucumber, Tomato, Feta/Mozzarella salad
Sugar Snap Peas
Black Olives
Goldfish
Chips
Cheese-Its
Crackers
- PB, Cheese, Chives
Pickles
Cheese Sticks
Tortilla Chips
- Salsa
- Small taco fixings
  - lettuce, tomato, cheese, meat
  - Guacamole

Sweet Treats

Watermelon
Yogurt
Pudding
Jellos
Cookies
Fruit Kabobs - cut the sharp tip off
Blueberries
Bananas
Grapes
Apples
Oranges - peeled
Strawberries
- with fruit dip
Banana
Applesauce
Fruit/Granola Bars
Kiwis
Graham Crackers
Rasins/Yogurt Covered Raisins
Celery Sticks
- Ranch
- Peanut Butter

Drinks

Check out Amazon for Drink in the Box: Here - we don't use this - yet. But we are seriously considering it as a means to decrease our plastic waste
Water mixies
- Ask if your kids are allowed to carry water bottles throughout the day. Our schools allow it as long as its not a distraction for the kids.
- Pack an extra mix for lunch.
Water
Milk - when seasonally appropriate - I don't pack this in the south. We never know what weather will do and milk can curdle on a stomach.
Juices - a favorite in our house says energy, but that comes naturally from fruit. Either way, we aren't allowed to send it, so check this out.
PowerAdes or Gatorades for those hot days
- We drink PowerAde Zero. This is great for our child who has marching band practice in the brutal heat. Hydration starts before practice.

*** Check with your school on limitations with regard to allergies and school rules.

*** This page is not meant to give advice on nutrition. You should consult your pediatrician or the USDA on nutritional guidelines and build lunches with this advice in mind.

*** Make sure your lunches are temperature appropriate. Keep on ice what is necessary to keep cool. Don't pack anything that could spoil or might get too warm to eat without a cooling agent such as a blue ice pack.

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