Lunch Box Ideas

Gathering Lunch Box Ideas

• Fruit cups - These can be purchased at the store or you can slice up fruit and create your own concoctions. If you peel and slice apples, be sure to drizzle them with lemon juice so they won't turn brown.
• Applesauce cups - The store-brand is inexpensive and great for children who enjoy applesauce.
• Thermos of soup - Hot chicken noodle or vegetable soup will taste delicious on a cold day. Make sure the lid fits tightly but not too tightly so that your child can open it with ease at lunch time. Remember to include a spoon.
• Cheese cubes - Send cubed cheese to school using cheddar or Colby cheeses.
• Muffins - Make the regular-sized ones or mini muffins. Bake up a bunch using a quick recipe, store them in the freezer, and take out as needed. With so many varieties to choose from, surely you can find a muffin your child likes.
• Frozen yogurt - If you are worried about yogurt spoiling in warmer weather, try sending frozen yogurt with your child in the morning. By lunch time, it should be thawed and provide a nutritious and delicious treat. Even if it is still a little icy, eating it is fun, just like eating a Popsicle!
• Granola and dried fruit mixture - Take standard granola and add extra fruit. You can also make your own granola.
• Celery and carrot sticks - Cut the veggies and pack them with a dipping sauce of honey mustard or ranch dressing.
• String cheese - These are just plain yummy.
• Cookie-cutter sandwiches - Using cookie cutters, cut soft white bread into shapes. First, cut the crusts off the bread (use them later to make a breakfast recipe) and then cut two slices of bread with the cookie cutters to make shapes -- stars or circles. Place your child's favorite sandwich ingredient between the slices. You can spread jelly, or mayonnaise and cheese, or pimento cheese.
• Granola and fruit bars - These are store-bought. Buy the store brand or watch for the name brands to go on sale.
• Raisins or dried cranberries - If your kids like these, they are great sources of vitamins. Easy to eat, these fruits are also easy to pack.
• Tortillas with melted cheese - Place cheese on top of a flour tortilla and melt in the microwave. Then add another tortilla on top of the cheese to make a sandwich. Cut the tortillas in half and wrap in cellophane, then place in the lunch box.
• Bagels with peanut butter - Tired of peanut butter and jelly on regular loaf bread? Try placing peanut butter on a plain or cinnamon-raisin bagel.
• Graham crackers with peanut butter - Smother peanut butter between two graham crackers for a healthy treat.

Investing in Plastic Containers

While you can put your child's lunch items into Ziploc baggies, you can cut down on costs by purchasing some small Tupperware or Gladware containers. Inside these, you can pack the cheese cubes or sandwiches. Make sure your child knows to bring these home each day so they can be washed and reused. Over the course of a school year, you will save money on reusable wear versus throw-away baggies.

Caution About Food Spoilage

If you live in a warm or hot climate and are afraid of your child's ham sandwich being spoiled during those hours before lunch, consider slipping an ice pack into his lunch box. You can use an ice pack when you send cheese as well. Insulated lunch sacks are also good for keeping certain foods cool.

Get Packing

With these lunch box ideas, you can stock up on staple items each time you make a trip to the grocery store. At the end of the day, ask your children if they liked the soup or tortillas with melted cheese that you packed in their lunch. If they did, make a note of that so you can continue to pack the foods your children particularly enjoy. Some items they may not like, so there is no need to try it again. Sometimes, kids do change their likes and dislikes over the course of a year, so stay on top of their preferences.

Lunches for You

These suggestions for lunch box foods need not be for your children only. You may benefit from them when you take your lunch to work as well.

Now that you have some new lunch box ideas, there is no need to get discouraged when it comes time to making lunches.