Looking for fun ways to pack your kids’ lunchboxes with frugal and filling foods? We’ve got you covered with this HUGE list of 40+ kids lunchbox ideas!
Let’s be real…packing lunches is not something we often look forward to.
I mean, maybe you’re the mom who enjoys dreaming up cute themed Bento Box lunches, but if not, we have a great line-up of frugal, filling, fun, and relatively easy lunches your kids should love!
40+ Frugal & Filling School Lunch Box Ideas
A big thanks to so many of our followers for sharing their favorite school lunch ideas over on our Facebook Page!
Kids Lunchbox Ideas: Sandwiches and Wraps
Sandwiches and wraps are pretty traditional school lunch items — but these ideas offer a little bit of a twist to help you get out of your lunch-packing rut.
Tortilla with their choice of turkey, ham, pepperoni, and cheese
Mini ham and cheese sandwiches on Hawaiian rolls
Homemade uncrustables (you can even buy an uncrustable maker)
Peanut butter and banana in a tortilla, cut into rounds
Mini bagels and cream cheese
Chicken caesar wraps
Any type of “wrap” with their favorite meats and cheeses
Nutella on whole wheat bread
Pizza wraps (put a little pizza sauce, cheese, and toppings in a tortilla)
“Subs” on hot dog buns
Pizza Sliders (pizza meat, mozzarella cheese, and a little sauce on small buns)
Hot Lunchbox Ideas
Many people suggested using a Thermos to keep foods hot. Alternatively, if your child has access to a microwave, send them with a little plate to warm up their lunch at school.
Leftovers! Whatever you had for dinner the night before, re-heated and packed in a Thermos
Mini waffles and chicken nuggets for a play on chicken and waffles
Mini pancakes! Send along syrup, peanut butter, jelly, honey…whatever else to dip or spread on!
Chicken/beef and rice in a Thermos
Grilled Chicken Drumsticks (make a double batch for dinner & send leftovers for school lunch)
Grilled cheese sandwich and soup
Baked potato with cheese, sour cream, and bacon
Homemade pizza
Leftover pizza
Pizza rolls
Chili or any other favorite soup
Mac & cheese or spaghetti
Chicken nuggets or fish sticks
Mini corn dogs or hot dogs
Taco meat and cheese with a bag of Fritos for a “walking taco”
Other Creative Lunchbox Ideas for Kids
Our followers had so many clever lunch ideas — perfect for those days when the pantry is a little sparse, the leftovers are gone, and you just can’t make one more sandwich!
Parfait bowls (layer honey, oatmeal, fruit, yogurt in a little container)
Homemade lunchables
Hummus & pita bread
Salami, cheese cubes, pretzels, sliced fruit, and hard boiled eggs
Nachos/quesadillas
Deli meat wrapped around a cheese stick
Salad mix, grape tomatoes, and some shredded chicken
Pasta salad with added chicken and veggies
Mini muffins with a hard boiled egg and cheese stick
A bag of cereal (they can purchase milk from the school lunch line)
Trail mix and beef jerky
Yogurt + fruit
Energy bites with yogurt
A drinkable smoothie or protein shake with pretzels and goldfish
Apple and/or banana with peanut butter + a cheese stick
For more frugal, filling, and fun school lunch ideas, check out the comments on this post. You might also find some great ideas here, here, and here!
