These school lunch ideas are quick and easy to prepare, with ingredients you can feel good about and that your kids will enjoy! Make your kids school lunches with real food that doesn\u2019t break the budget.<\/p>\n
![\"School](\"https:\/\/dontwastethecrumbs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Two-Week-School-Lunch-Meal-Plan-Cover.jpg.webp)
\n<\/picture>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nWhen we switched from homeschooling to a traditional school several years ago, I had NO IDEA how tricky and troublesome packing a school lunch could be.<\/p>\n
Sure, I heard of some lunch-packing hacks for parents to make it easier, and those were great\u2026but it didn\u2019t solve the issue of WHAT to pack for lunch!<\/p>\n
There are millions of kids in the world, and those kids have parents. Surely, I\u2019m not the only one who struggles with this?! Hopefully, these TWO WEEKS of school lunch ideas can help!<\/p>\n
What are some quick and easy school lunch ideas?<\/strong><\/h3>\nMaking simple, real food recipes with plenty of fruits and veggies, along with homemade versions of fun items, means your kids will look forward to their school lunch!<\/p>\n
WHAT\u2019S INCLUDED IN THESE SCHOOL LUNCH IDEAS FOR KIDS:<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n- 100% real food school lunch ideas<\/strong> for kids that are simple, straightforward, and kid-friendly.<\/li>\n
- TWO WEEKS worth of healthy lunch ideas.<\/strong> We both know that cooking once to eat twice (or more)<\/a> is a huge time saver in the kitchen. Well, it\u2019s even more so for school lunches!<\/li>\n
- All of the recipes are easy to make and can easily be made in under an hour<\/strong> (some you only cook once and save the extras for another lunch)!<\/li>\n
- All meal components are made from scratch to help cut down on costs.<\/strong> If you aren\u2019t prepared to make bread, crackers, or pizza sauce from scratch, feel free to substitute store-bought. (Just know, your total price will go up, and be sure to check for these ingredients to avoid<\/a>.)<\/li>\n
- The kids actually like these school lunch ideas!<\/strong> Sending food the kids don\u2019t like is throwing your grocery money into the trash can \u2013 literally! Not so with these recipes \u2013 they\u2019re all kid-tested and requested.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/dontwastethecrumbs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/18-Hacks-for-Packing-Lunch-7.jpg\")
\n<\/picture>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nWHAT\u2019S NOT INCLUDED IN THESE EASY KIDS SCHOOL LUNCHES:<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n- This plan is not tied to a specific grocery store or price point.<\/strong> Not everyone has access to the discount grocery stores like ALDI or Grocery Outlet. Even though it\u2019s not tied to a price point (like my $50 ALDI Meal Plan<\/a>), it is still frugal and budget-friendly. Without a discount grocery store, this plan rings in at under $40. Compare that to the cost of a hot lunch for my kids \u2013 $3.25 PER KID, per meal (that\u2019s $65 for two kids for two weeks)!\n<\/li>\n
- Spices, oils, mustards, and vinegar.<\/strong> We aren\u2019t using an enormous amount of these staples in these easy kids\u2019 lunch recipes, and you probably already have them in the pantry.<\/li>\n
- Precautions for food allergies.<\/strong> My family is blessed to not have food allergies, so I don\u2019t specifically plan for them in these lunch recipes for kids. With a few tweaks, I think this school lunch meal plan would work in most food-allergy families too.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
WHAT ABOUT BREAKFASTS OR DINNERS?<\/strong><\/h2>\nThis plan for kids\u2019 school lunches doesn\u2019t include any breakfast or dinner recipes because obviously, this is a school LUNCH meal plan! Here\u2019s my list of easy breakfast ideas<\/a>, including cinnamon waffles and instant oatmeal packs!<\/p>\nMeal planning for dinner is a different process \u2013 I can help you with that too<\/a>!<\/p>\nAs a bonus, the ingredients you buy for this school lunch meal plan will provide extras you can use to help with breakfasts and dinners. Use the \u201cBonus Meal Ideas\u201d section in this post to create your own breakfasts and add to your dinner menu. Those are just some ideas to get you started, but they\u2019re there to help you use the ingredients you\u2019re already buying.<\/p>\n
\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/dontwastethecrumbs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Two-Week-School-Lunch-Meal-Plan-2.jpg\")
\n<\/picture>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nTWO-WEEK KIDS LUNCH IDEAS SHOPPING LIST<\/strong><\/h2>\nThe goal with any meal plan is to buy as little food as possible, use everything you buy, and do both without sacrificing taste or quality.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s what you\u2019re buying for two weeks of kids school lunches:<\/p>\n
PRODUCE<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n- Apples, Bananas, Carrots, Celery, Oranges.<\/strong> I\u2019m lumping these all together because none of them are used for a specific recipe, yet you will need two of each for each day\u2019s lunch.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Substitution Ideas: Feel free to substitute any other easy-to-go fruits or veggies when they are in season. We love cucumbers, bell peppers, sugar snap peas, grapes, blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries!<\/em><\/p>\nSpeedy Lunch Tip #1: When you cut up fruits or veggies for dinner or snacks, cut some extra and portion out for lunches. Then you can simply grab and pack in the mornings!<\/em><\/p>\n\n![\"Homemade](\"https:\/\/dontwastethecrumbs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Cheez-Its-Cover.jpg\")
\n<\/picture>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nDAIRY<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n- Butter.<\/strong> This is used in the Homemade Cheez-it Crackers<\/a>. That\u2019s how you get the perfect crunch! If you already have this in your refrigerator, then your out-of-pocket costs just went down!<\/li>\n
- Cheddar Cheese.<\/strong> Because Homemade Cheez-Its<\/a> need cheese. And it adds a bit of tastiness to the Homemade Spaghetti-o\u2019s<\/a>. I personally like sharp cheddar but use whatever is on sale.<\/li>\n
- Greek Yogurt.<\/strong> (Here\u2019s how to make your own<\/a>.) Adding a delicious dip to lunch makes the fruits and veggies just a bit tastier, plus it helps boost the protein in the meal. And what kid doesn\u2019t want a sweet treat?<\/li>\n
- Heavy Cream.<\/strong> Heavy cream is used in Homemade Pudding Cups<\/a>. Even in a real food lunch, kids can enjoy foods that look like their friend\u2019s lunch.<\/li>\n
- Milk.<\/strong> I use this for Homemade Sandwich Bread<\/a>. It\u2019s what helps make it deliciously soft on the inside and crusty on the outside.<\/li>\n
- Mozzarella.<\/strong> Cheese is key in Homemade Hot Pockets<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
PANTRY<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n- Cocoa Powder.<\/strong> This also goes into the homemade pudding cups. I find my kids are more receptive to homemade versions of food when they are chocolate! (Like my Chocolate Hummus<\/a>!)<\/li>\n
- Flour.<\/strong> Making your own sandwich bread and Homemade Pizza Dough<\/a> (for the hot pockets) can help the budget significantly. Plus, my kids love it better than store-bought!<\/li>\n
- Gelatin.<\/strong> This isn\u2019t something everyone has in their pantry, but if you are going to make homemade pudding, you will want some. (I use this brand<\/a>.) Plus, you can use any extra for Homemade Gummies<\/a> or Activated Charcoal Gummies<\/a>.<\/li>\n
- Honey.<\/strong> Instead of using sugar to sweeten, honey is one of my go-to sweeteners. I use it in my Homemade Sandwich Bread<\/a> too.<\/li>\n
- Jelly.<\/strong> This meal plan includes Homemade Uncrustables. Which is basically PB&J but way cooler. (Here\u2019s how to save some extra dollars and make Strawberry Freezer Jam<\/a>.)<\/li>\n
- Pasta.<\/strong> You can make Homemade Spaghetti-o\u2019s<\/a> using whatever small pasta you want, but if you want a similar look to the canned option, go with anelletti<\/a> pasta. (If you can\u2019t find that in-store, ditalini<\/a> is similar.)<\/li>\n
- Peanut Butter.<\/strong> For the Homemade Uncrustables, of course. (Look for the kind that\u2019s just peanuts and salt.) Swap for sunbutter<\/a> if your child\u2019s school has allergy restrictions.<\/li>\n
- Tomato Paste, Sauce, and Whole Peeled.<\/strong> The canned tomatoes are for the Spaghetti-o sauce and hot pocket sauce.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Speedy Lunch Tip #2: If the kids are big enough, put them on some of the lunch prep tasks. Kids can spread PB&J on sandwiches while you chop up the veggies.<\/em><\/p>\n\n![\"Homemade](\"https:\/\/dontwastethecrumbs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DIY-Homemade-Lunch-Meat-3.jpg\")
\n<\/picture>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nMEAT<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n- Turkey Breast.<\/strong> One of the best real food lunch hacks I\u2019ve found is making my own deli meat<\/a>. It took some trial and error, but I can get several weeks\u2019 worth of lunch meat in one batch. Then I freeze it for future use. (Not only does homemade lunch meat save money, but it is much healthier<\/a>.)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Speedy Lunch Tip #3: Plan easy and healthy lunch ideas that can easily be made ahead and then saved in the freezer. This cuts down time spent making lunch when the school days get busier.<\/em><\/p>\nTWO WEEK SCHOOL LUNCH PLAN<\/strong><\/h2>\nWEEK 1<\/strong><\/h3>\nDAY 1: Classic Homemade Spaghetti-o\u2019s<\/a> \/\/ Homemade Pudding Cups<\/a> \/\/ Banana \/\/ Carrot Sticks<\/p>\nDAY 2: Homemade Healthy Lunchables<\/a> \/\/ Apple Slices \/\/ Celery Sticks \/\/ Yogurt Peanut Butter Dip<\/p>\nDAY 3: Healthy Homemade Hot Pockets<\/a> \/\/ Orange Slices \/\/ Carrot Sticks \/\/ Homemade Cheez-it Crackers<\/a><\/p>\nDAY 4: Classic Homemade Spaghetti-o\u2019s \/\/ Apple Slices \/\/ Celery Sticks \/\/ Homemade Pudding Cups<\/p>\n
DAY 5: Homemade Uncrustables \/\/ Yogurt Peanut Butter Dip \/\/ Banana \/\/ Celery Sticks<\/p>\n
WEEK 2<\/strong><\/h3>\nDAY 6: Healthy Homemade Hot Pockets \/\/ Banana \/\/ Carrot Sticks \/\/ Homemade Pudding Cups<\/p>\n
DAY 7: Homemade Lunch Meat Sandwich<\/a> \/\/ Apple Slices \/\/ Carrot Sticks \/\/ Homemade Cheez-it Crackers<\/p>\nDAY 8: Homemade Healthy Lunchable \/\/ Orange Slices \/\/ Celery Sticks \/\/ Yogurt Peanut Butter Dip<\/p>\n
DAY 9: Homemade Uncrustables \/\/ Orange Slices \/\/ Carrot Sticks \/\/ Homemade Pudding Cups<\/p>\n
DAY 10: Homemade Lunch Meat Sandwich \/\/ Yogurt Peanut Butter Dip \/\/ Banana \/\/ Celery Sticks<\/p>\n
Want to know how we packed all these lunches? Here are <\/em>all the best lunch boxes we\u2019ve used<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/dontwastethecrumbs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Best-affordable-school-lunch-containers-4.jpg\")
\n<\/picture>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nBONUS MEAL IDEAS BEYOND KIDS SCHOOL LUNCHES<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n- Chop any extra fruits to add to oatmeal in the mornings for breakfast. Or add to extra Greek Yogurt<\/a> for parfaits.<\/li>\n
- Extra heavy cream and milk can be used for Alfredo Sauce<\/a> for an easy dinner.<\/li>\n
- Double the Spaghetti-o\u2019s and have some for dinner. Or make extra pizza dough and sauce and have pizza for dinner when you make homemade hot pockets.<\/li>\n
- Use extra bread slices for French toast in the morning or pair with a Dinner Salad<\/a> for a quick and easy meal.<\/li>\n
- Add any extra carrots or celery to Vegetable Fried Rice<\/a> or Easy Minestrone Soup<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
ADDITIONAL LUNCH BOX IDEAS<\/strong><\/h2>\nIf you\u2019re packing for high schoolers or adults, you may need to beef up the options on this meal plan. Here are some great healthy lunch box ideas that are filling and inexpensive to add to any of the meals above:<\/p>\n
\n![\"An](\"https:\/\/dontwastethecrumbs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/Soft-and-Chewy-Peanut-Butter-Chocolate-Chip-Granola-Bars-2.jpg\")
\n<\/picture>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nHEALTHY SCHOOL LUNCH IDEAS<\/strong><\/h2>\nDon\u2019t forget to talk about what makes a healthy lunch.<\/strong> As kids get older, they may end up making their lunches themselves rather than you doing it. So, it\u2019s helpful to set a good basis for them so they know the types of foods to include. Here are a few basic questions and answers to get you started.<\/p>\n\n- Where\u2019s the protein?<\/strong> Protein is going to help you feel satisfied and full after meals and keep your blood sugar stable as you digest your food.<\/li>\n
- Where\u2019s the produce?<\/strong> As an adult, I aim for half of my plate to be produce, and I want my kids to get plenty of it too. Aim to always include the fruits and veggies.<\/li>\n
- What else makes this a complete meal?<\/strong> Make sure they know how much food is \u201cenough\u201d for their growing bodies and talk about the other options they have for completing the meal. Focus on real food items over processed foods and know how to tell the difference.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
These are conversations that are going to happen over time, but as we are raising our kids to be independent, it\u2019s valuable for them to know why we\u2019ve been feeding them what we\u2019re feeding them so they can continue to eat well into adulthood.<\/p>\n
MORE EASY AND HEALTHY LUNCH IDEAS<\/strong><\/h2>\nThese kids lunch ideas are a great starting point for packing a healthy lunch. Here are some of our other easy kids lunch recipes:<\/p>\n
\n ![\"School](\"https:\/\/dontwastethecrumbs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Two-Week-School-Lunch-Meal-Plan-Cover.jpg\")
\n<\/picture>\n <\/div>\n\nTwo Week School Lunches<\/h4>\n
Sign up to get instant access to my Two Weeks of School Lunches Meal Plan, <\/strong>complete with recipes and shopping list!!\n\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
- \n
- 100% real food school lunch ideas<\/strong> for kids that are simple, straightforward, and kid-friendly.<\/li>\n
- TWO WEEKS worth of healthy lunch ideas.<\/strong> We both know that cooking once to eat twice (or more)<\/a> is a huge time saver in the kitchen. Well, it\u2019s even more so for school lunches!<\/li>\n
- All of the recipes are easy to make and can easily be made in under an hour<\/strong> (some you only cook once and save the extras for another lunch)!<\/li>\n
- All meal components are made from scratch to help cut down on costs.<\/strong> If you aren\u2019t prepared to make bread, crackers, or pizza sauce from scratch, feel free to substitute store-bought. (Just know, your total price will go up, and be sure to check for these ingredients to avoid<\/a>.)<\/li>\n
- The kids actually like these school lunch ideas!<\/strong> Sending food the kids don\u2019t like is throwing your grocery money into the trash can \u2013 literally! Not so with these recipes \u2013 they\u2019re all kid-tested and requested.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n\n<\/picture>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nWHAT\u2019S NOT INCLUDED IN THESE EASY KIDS SCHOOL LUNCHES:<\/strong><\/h2>\n
- \n
- This plan is not tied to a specific grocery store or price point.<\/strong> Not everyone has access to the discount grocery stores like ALDI or Grocery Outlet. Even though it\u2019s not tied to a price point (like my $50 ALDI Meal Plan<\/a>), it is still frugal and budget-friendly. Without a discount grocery store, this plan rings in at under $40. Compare that to the cost of a hot lunch for my kids \u2013 $3.25 PER KID, per meal (that\u2019s $65 for two kids for two weeks)!\n<\/li>\n
- Spices, oils, mustards, and vinegar.<\/strong> We aren\u2019t using an enormous amount of these staples in these easy kids\u2019 lunch recipes, and you probably already have them in the pantry.<\/li>\n
- Precautions for food allergies.<\/strong> My family is blessed to not have food allergies, so I don\u2019t specifically plan for them in these lunch recipes for kids. With a few tweaks, I think this school lunch meal plan would work in most food-allergy families too.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
WHAT ABOUT BREAKFASTS OR DINNERS?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
This plan for kids\u2019 school lunches doesn\u2019t include any breakfast or dinner recipes because obviously, this is a school LUNCH meal plan! Here\u2019s my list of easy breakfast ideas<\/a>, including cinnamon waffles and instant oatmeal packs!<\/p>\n
Meal planning for dinner is a different process \u2013 I can help you with that too<\/a>!<\/p>\n
As a bonus, the ingredients you buy for this school lunch meal plan will provide extras you can use to help with breakfasts and dinners. Use the \u201cBonus Meal Ideas\u201d section in this post to create your own breakfasts and add to your dinner menu. Those are just some ideas to get you started, but they\u2019re there to help you use the ingredients you\u2019re already buying.<\/p>\n
\n\n<\/picture>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nTWO-WEEK KIDS LUNCH IDEAS SHOPPING LIST<\/strong><\/h2>\n
The goal with any meal plan is to buy as little food as possible, use everything you buy, and do both without sacrificing taste or quality.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s what you\u2019re buying for two weeks of kids school lunches:<\/p>\n
PRODUCE<\/strong><\/h2>\n
- \n
- Apples, Bananas, Carrots, Celery, Oranges.<\/strong> I\u2019m lumping these all together because none of them are used for a specific recipe, yet you will need two of each for each day\u2019s lunch.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Substitution Ideas: Feel free to substitute any other easy-to-go fruits or veggies when they are in season. We love cucumbers, bell peppers, sugar snap peas, grapes, blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries!<\/em><\/p>\n
Speedy Lunch Tip #1: When you cut up fruits or veggies for dinner or snacks, cut some extra and portion out for lunches. Then you can simply grab and pack in the mornings!<\/em><\/p>\n
\n\n<\/picture>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nDAIRY<\/strong><\/h2>\n
- \n
- Butter.<\/strong> This is used in the Homemade Cheez-it Crackers<\/a>. That\u2019s how you get the perfect crunch! If you already have this in your refrigerator, then your out-of-pocket costs just went down!<\/li>\n
- Cheddar Cheese.<\/strong> Because Homemade Cheez-Its<\/a> need cheese. And it adds a bit of tastiness to the Homemade Spaghetti-o\u2019s<\/a>. I personally like sharp cheddar but use whatever is on sale.<\/li>\n
- Greek Yogurt.<\/strong> (Here\u2019s how to make your own<\/a>.) Adding a delicious dip to lunch makes the fruits and veggies just a bit tastier, plus it helps boost the protein in the meal. And what kid doesn\u2019t want a sweet treat?<\/li>\n
- Heavy Cream.<\/strong> Heavy cream is used in Homemade Pudding Cups<\/a>. Even in a real food lunch, kids can enjoy foods that look like their friend\u2019s lunch.<\/li>\n
- Milk.<\/strong> I use this for Homemade Sandwich Bread<\/a>. It\u2019s what helps make it deliciously soft on the inside and crusty on the outside.<\/li>\n
- Mozzarella.<\/strong> Cheese is key in Homemade Hot Pockets<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
PANTRY<\/strong><\/h2>\n
- \n
- Cocoa Powder.<\/strong> This also goes into the homemade pudding cups. I find my kids are more receptive to homemade versions of food when they are chocolate! (Like my Chocolate Hummus<\/a>!)<\/li>\n
- Flour.<\/strong> Making your own sandwich bread and Homemade Pizza Dough<\/a> (for the hot pockets) can help the budget significantly. Plus, my kids love it better than store-bought!<\/li>\n
- Gelatin.<\/strong> This isn\u2019t something everyone has in their pantry, but if you are going to make homemade pudding, you will want some. (I use this brand<\/a>.) Plus, you can use any extra for Homemade Gummies<\/a> or Activated Charcoal Gummies<\/a>.<\/li>\n
- Honey.<\/strong> Instead of using sugar to sweeten, honey is one of my go-to sweeteners. I use it in my Homemade Sandwich Bread<\/a> too.<\/li>\n
- Jelly.<\/strong> This meal plan includes Homemade Uncrustables. Which is basically PB&J but way cooler. (Here\u2019s how to save some extra dollars and make Strawberry Freezer Jam<\/a>.)<\/li>\n
- Pasta.<\/strong> You can make Homemade Spaghetti-o\u2019s<\/a> using whatever small pasta you want, but if you want a similar look to the canned option, go with anelletti<\/a> pasta. (If you can\u2019t find that in-store, ditalini<\/a> is similar.)<\/li>\n
- Peanut Butter.<\/strong> For the Homemade Uncrustables, of course. (Look for the kind that\u2019s just peanuts and salt.) Swap for sunbutter<\/a> if your child\u2019s school has allergy restrictions.<\/li>\n
- Tomato Paste, Sauce, and Whole Peeled.<\/strong> The canned tomatoes are for the Spaghetti-o sauce and hot pocket sauce.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Speedy Lunch Tip #2: If the kids are big enough, put them on some of the lunch prep tasks. Kids can spread PB&J on sandwiches while you chop up the veggies.<\/em><\/p>\n
\n\n<\/picture>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nMEAT<\/strong><\/h2>\n
- \n
- Turkey Breast.<\/strong> One of the best real food lunch hacks I\u2019ve found is making my own deli meat<\/a>. It took some trial and error, but I can get several weeks\u2019 worth of lunch meat in one batch. Then I freeze it for future use. (Not only does homemade lunch meat save money, but it is much healthier<\/a>.)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Speedy Lunch Tip #3: Plan easy and healthy lunch ideas that can easily be made ahead and then saved in the freezer. This cuts down time spent making lunch when the school days get busier.<\/em><\/p>\n
TWO WEEK SCHOOL LUNCH PLAN<\/strong><\/h2>\n
WEEK 1<\/strong><\/h3>\n
DAY 1: Classic Homemade Spaghetti-o\u2019s<\/a> \/\/ Homemade Pudding Cups<\/a> \/\/ Banana \/\/ Carrot Sticks<\/p>\n
DAY 2: Homemade Healthy Lunchables<\/a> \/\/ Apple Slices \/\/ Celery Sticks \/\/ Yogurt Peanut Butter Dip<\/p>\n
DAY 3: Healthy Homemade Hot Pockets<\/a> \/\/ Orange Slices \/\/ Carrot Sticks \/\/ Homemade Cheez-it Crackers<\/a><\/p>\n
DAY 4: Classic Homemade Spaghetti-o\u2019s \/\/ Apple Slices \/\/ Celery Sticks \/\/ Homemade Pudding Cups<\/p>\n
DAY 5: Homemade Uncrustables \/\/ Yogurt Peanut Butter Dip \/\/ Banana \/\/ Celery Sticks<\/p>\n
WEEK 2<\/strong><\/h3>\n
DAY 6: Healthy Homemade Hot Pockets \/\/ Banana \/\/ Carrot Sticks \/\/ Homemade Pudding Cups<\/p>\n
DAY 7: Homemade Lunch Meat Sandwich<\/a> \/\/ Apple Slices \/\/ Carrot Sticks \/\/ Homemade Cheez-it Crackers<\/p>\n
DAY 8: Homemade Healthy Lunchable \/\/ Orange Slices \/\/ Celery Sticks \/\/ Yogurt Peanut Butter Dip<\/p>\n
DAY 9: Homemade Uncrustables \/\/ Orange Slices \/\/ Carrot Sticks \/\/ Homemade Pudding Cups<\/p>\n
DAY 10: Homemade Lunch Meat Sandwich \/\/ Yogurt Peanut Butter Dip \/\/ Banana \/\/ Celery Sticks<\/p>\n
Want to know how we packed all these lunches? Here are <\/em>all the best lunch boxes we\u2019ve used<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n
\n\n<\/picture>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nBONUS MEAL IDEAS BEYOND KIDS SCHOOL LUNCHES<\/strong><\/h2>\n
- \n
- Chop any extra fruits to add to oatmeal in the mornings for breakfast. Or add to extra Greek Yogurt<\/a> for parfaits.<\/li>\n
- Extra heavy cream and milk can be used for Alfredo Sauce<\/a> for an easy dinner.<\/li>\n
- Double the Spaghetti-o\u2019s and have some for dinner. Or make extra pizza dough and sauce and have pizza for dinner when you make homemade hot pockets.<\/li>\n
- Use extra bread slices for French toast in the morning or pair with a Dinner Salad<\/a> for a quick and easy meal.<\/li>\n
- Add any extra carrots or celery to Vegetable Fried Rice<\/a> or Easy Minestrone Soup<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
ADDITIONAL LUNCH BOX IDEAS<\/strong><\/h2>\n
If you\u2019re packing for high schoolers or adults, you may need to beef up the options on this meal plan. Here are some great healthy lunch box ideas that are filling and inexpensive to add to any of the meals above:<\/p>\n
\n\n<\/picture>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nHEALTHY SCHOOL LUNCH IDEAS<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Don\u2019t forget to talk about what makes a healthy lunch.<\/strong> As kids get older, they may end up making their lunches themselves rather than you doing it. So, it\u2019s helpful to set a good basis for them so they know the types of foods to include. Here are a few basic questions and answers to get you started.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Where\u2019s the protein?<\/strong> Protein is going to help you feel satisfied and full after meals and keep your blood sugar stable as you digest your food.<\/li>\n
- Where\u2019s the produce?<\/strong> As an adult, I aim for half of my plate to be produce, and I want my kids to get plenty of it too. Aim to always include the fruits and veggies.<\/li>\n
- What else makes this a complete meal?<\/strong> Make sure they know how much food is \u201cenough\u201d for their growing bodies and talk about the other options they have for completing the meal. Focus on real food items over processed foods and know how to tell the difference.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
These are conversations that are going to happen over time, but as we are raising our kids to be independent, it\u2019s valuable for them to know why we\u2019ve been feeding them what we\u2019re feeding them so they can continue to eat well into adulthood.<\/p>\n
MORE EASY AND HEALTHY LUNCH IDEAS<\/strong><\/h2>\n
These kids lunch ideas are a great starting point for packing a healthy lunch. Here are some of our other easy kids lunch recipes:<\/p>\n
\n\n<\/picture>\n <\/div>\n\nTwo Week School Lunches<\/h4>\n
Sign up to get instant access to my Two Weeks of School Lunches Meal Plan, <\/strong>complete with recipes and shopping list!!\n\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
- Where\u2019s the produce?<\/strong> As an adult, I aim for half of my plate to be produce, and I want my kids to get plenty of it too. Aim to always include the fruits and veggies.<\/li>\n
- Extra heavy cream and milk can be used for Alfredo Sauce<\/a> for an easy dinner.<\/li>\n
- Chop any extra fruits to add to oatmeal in the mornings for breakfast. Or add to extra Greek Yogurt<\/a> for parfaits.<\/li>\n
- Flour.<\/strong> Making your own sandwich bread and Homemade Pizza Dough<\/a> (for the hot pockets) can help the budget significantly. Plus, my kids love it better than store-bought!<\/li>\n
- Cheddar Cheese.<\/strong> Because Homemade Cheez-Its<\/a> need cheese. And it adds a bit of tastiness to the Homemade Spaghetti-o\u2019s<\/a>. I personally like sharp cheddar but use whatever is on sale.<\/li>\n
- Butter.<\/strong> This is used in the Homemade Cheez-it Crackers<\/a>. That\u2019s how you get the perfect crunch! If you already have this in your refrigerator, then your out-of-pocket costs just went down!<\/li>\n
- Spices, oils, mustards, and vinegar.<\/strong> We aren\u2019t using an enormous amount of these staples in these easy kids\u2019 lunch recipes, and you probably already have them in the pantry.<\/li>\n
- TWO WEEKS worth of healthy lunch ideas.<\/strong> We both know that cooking once to eat twice (or more)<\/a> is a huge time saver in the kitchen. Well, it\u2019s even more so for school lunches!<\/li>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/dontwastethecrumbs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/18-Hacks-for-Packing-Lunch-7.jpg.webp)
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\n<\/picture>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/dontwastethecrumbs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Best-affordable-school-lunch-containers-4.jpg.webp)
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