31 School Lunch Ideas for Kids (non sandwich)

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School Lunch Ideas for Kids (non sandwich)

Doesn’t it seem like sandwiches for lunch get boring fast? Even as adults, we like to change it up every so often and kids are no different. My daughter is not a fan of sandwiches at all, so we have to get creative! If you are looking for some lunch alternatives as the new school year approaches, take a look at these School Lunch Ideas for Kids. These non sandwich lunch ideas are great ways to keep kids fueled with nutritious food while keeping lunch boredom at bay.

Here are some kid friendly lunch ideas for school!

1. Salads are a great staple.

The reasons salads make such great lunches is because they can be made from anything! Try sending in a veggie and cheese pasta salad, cobb salad, fruit salad, or even potato salad. Add a side of whole wheat bread, and kids will enjoy a healthy and tasty lunch.

2. Yogurt Parfaits are fun!

Send in a container of yogurt along with items to stir in. You can add granola, fresh or dried fruit, nuts, sunflower seeds, coconut shreds, even chocolate chips. Let kids make their own yogurt parfait that is sure to fill them up. Pair with graham crackers and fresh fruit for the perfect lunch.

If you like parfaits, my friend Chellie at Art From My Table has an amazing Breakfast Parfait that kids go crazy for any day of the week! 

3. Salad and Fruit Skewers Are So Easy.

Take wooden skewers or tooth picks and add either meat and cheese, fruit, or even veggies. You can use yogurt or ranch dressing for dipping. Kids will love eating these kabobs, and they;re a lot more fun than eating these ingredients on a sandwich.

4. Try sending mini bites.

Pack a bento box with all sorts of mini bites such as chopped veggies, nuts, raisins, cheese cubes, and other small bites. Kids will enjoy these homemade Lunchables and they are fun to eat by hand. You can add any assortment of mini bites you want, so everyday can be something different.

5. Mini pizzas.

Let kids top an English muffin with tomato sauce and add their own shredded cheese and pepperoni. These mini pizzas are a fun and hands-on lunch, and what kid doesn’t like pizza? You can even add fresh veggies if you want.

6. Wrap it up!

Tortilla shells are great for all sorts of wraps. You can do cheese wraps, meat and cheese wraps, veggies wraps, or even wrap up cooked ground beef (chilled) and cheese. These handheld lunches are a great way to pack in protein and aren’t bound by boring bread.

7. Try soup.

Buy a thermos and send your child’s favorite soup. You can always pair with a salad, fruit salad, crackers, oyster crackers, or fresh veggies and dip. The thermos is sure to keep the soup warm, and as you can imagine this is the perfect lunch for a child during the cold winter months. Soup’s on!

8.)  Tuna Fish and Crackers

9.)  Meatballs and Sauce

10.)  Rice Bowl with Egg and Veggies

11.)  Quinoa Bowl with Meat and Veggies

12.)  Hummus with Veggies or Pita Bread

13.)  Soft Tacos

14.)  Refried Beans, cheese and Chips

15.)  Quiche (veggie, cheese or meat)

16.)  Ham & Cheese Quesadilla 

17.)  Sushi 

18.)  Egg Salad on Crackers

19.)  Beef, chicken or Vegetarian Chili

20.) Pretzel Kabobs (meat/cheese skewered on a pretzel stick)

21.)  Pancakes (savory or sweet)

22.)  Waffles

23.)  Mac & Cheese Muffin Cups

24.)  Chicken Salad on Crackers

25.)  French Toast

26.)  Whole Wheat Muffins (think of healthy combos – apple zucchini, carrot, blueberry, etc.)

27.)  Pizza Casserole

28.) Deviled or Hard Boiled Eggs

29.)  Spiralized Zucchini Pasta

30.)  Veggie Burger

31.)  Zucchini Parmesan Waffles

Bonus:  Quinoa Pizza Bites.  My kids love these for lunch or after school snacks.

Lunchtime Necessities:

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Lunch Box

Ice Packs

Thermos

Water Bottle

As you can see, there are plenty of ways to make lunch exciting without packing a sandwich. Consider these School Lunch Ideas for kids and see how fun, and even healthy,  lunchtime can really be!

If you want a weeks worth of lunch ideas check out this yummy post!

Which lunch suggestion are you looking forward to trying?

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