Fun School Lunch Ideas for Kids: What to Bring for Lunch?
If you’re packing school lunches every day, we’re here to help.
Kids can definitely be picky, but packed lunches are often repetitive. I know I’ve had the same 3 kids lunch ideas for pretty much forever.
So…we found you some new school lunch ideas for kids!
6 Creative School Lunch Ideas for Kids
What’s for lunch? Check out our 6 fun school lunch ideas for kids to love:
Want to have fun with your kids’ breakfast too? Find 17 breakfast ideas for kids, or grab The Scoop to stay in the know too!
1. Easy Kids Lunch Ideas: Add Shape & Character!
One of the simplest ideas to make your lunch time more fun is to add fun shapes, faces, & animals into normal lunches! The possibilities are endless, and easy, which is why it’s my favorite school lunch idea for kids.
…stars, hearts, dinosaurs, animals, or even their favorite character! This is an easy lunch idea for kids of all ages, even toddlers! You can improvise with whatever you have in your fridge…
All you need are some cookie cutters. Use large cutters for sandwiches and small ones for snacks like cheese and fruit.
If you have time to get fancier, you can decorate the shapes you make. Your kiddos will be sure to get a kick out of their sandwich with a silly face! Use round items like grapes, olives, or sliced boiled eggs for the eyes use a cracker for a nose or beak, and slice snacks like cheese or fruit into the shape of a grin.
2. Put their Food on a Stick
I’m not sure what it is about kids & sticks, but eating their favorite foods off of a stick is just so much more fun for them. (what a great school lunch idea)
Food Kabobs make a great healthy lunch idea too. You can ensure your child is getting all the nutrients they need and have fun while doing it!
Any part of the lunch can be made into a kabob. It can be the main course of meat and cheese, veggies such as cherry tomatoes and cucumbers, fruits like strawberries, or a variety. For the stick, you could use many things. You could make it edible by using something like a pretzel stick; however, popsicle sticks and drink stirrers will work great too!
Just remember, especially with younger kids, to stay away from anything sharp.
3. Give your Kids Lunchbox a Theme!
Kids will sure to have a ball with your themed school lunch ideas! You could go tons of different ways with this!
Shape school lunch ideas could be a bagel sandwich packed with an apple and a cookie. Or do a color theme! Another fun theme could be basing the food in their lunch on their favorite TV show or book.
An under the sea theme lunch could have a submarine shaped sandwich, Baby Belle cheese, and fruit/dried fruit in sea shapes like below. You could also add a Spongebob shaped sandwich, goldfish crackers, star-shaped fruit like Patrick, or blueberries for the water.
Any of these themed lunch ideas can also be made into a healthy option too! Below, there are a few different themed lunch ideas for kids, check ’em out!
Pro tip: Use upcoming holidays for Halloween, Easter, Thanksgiving & Christmas lunches for your kiddos.
4. Write Fun Notes or Joke in School Lunches
Some school lunch ideas for kids can be simple. Don’t forget food isn’t the only way to add excitement to lunchtime.
Adding a fun note or message is a great way to brighten lunches and let your kids know you care.
Words of encouragement, a compliment, a simple” I love you, from mom”, or a funny joke will be sure to put a smile on their face. Jokes and riddles are also fun because kids you can make them smile or get them thinking. It also gives them something to share with their friends to talk and giggle about during lunch.
To do this, cut up strips and tape or lay them on the inside of the lunch box. Write the riddle or joke in big print on one side and the answer or punch line in smaller print on the other side. To find material for your jokes you could get a joke book or simply search kid-friendly jokes online!
5. Let your Kids Help Pack Lunches!
Letting your child help prepare their lunch is a great bonding activity and they will be sure to have a great time with it.
This is one of the best lunch ideas for kids because it’s also fun and teaches them about food groups and nutrition. Not only is getting them involved fun, but it’s also a nice way to encourage and ensure that their lunch actually gets eaten once they get to school.
Kids like to take pride in things they can call their own!
You can also let your child create their own school lunch ideas. If they made it, odds are they made it with stuff they like to eat!
6. Make a Roll Up Sandwich
Make a deli sandwich into a roll up or wrap. You can still give your kids a healthy lunch but also make it more exciting than just a sandwich. Stuff spinach or lettuce, turkey, cheese, & tomatoes into a wrap…maybe more if your kids aren’t picky!
You can also cut the deli roll up into pieces to make sushi for kids!
Pro tip: Use toothpicks to hold the tortilla in place after you cut it.
We hope these school lunch ideas for kids are helpful. Your kids are sure to enjoy a little surprise from you in their lunchbox! Maybe these ideas for lunch will also help the kiddos eat a little healthier too…fingers crossed
If you have other ideas, leave them in the comments!
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From our family to yours, iFamilyKC.
