The Easiest Back-To-School Lunch Box Ideas For Kids

“Yay! It’s time to pack lunch bags again,” said no one, ever. Well, maybe the parents who love to splash out on Pinterest with their stylized lunches fit for a fine restaurant, but really, who has time for that on busy school mornings?

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), school meals are crucial in giving kids the nutritional foundation they need for success in the classroom. Needless to say, it’s important to supply our kids with school lunch boxes packed with love.

Here’s the great news: You can do that every morning with these easy lunch box ideas for kids, perfect for the back-to-school season and all year long.

The key to putting together easy lunches for kids on the fly lies in the planning. Learn how to get ready to beat the lunch crunch with easy school lunches that will keep your child satisfied.

1. Make a List…and Check It Twice

We know you’ve probably got the school supply list on your mind, and that’s important. But we have a suggestion for another list you’re going to want to make — and that’s one to take to the grocery store to make sure you have everything you need for nutritious, tasty, and easy lunches for kids.

Did your child swoon over bagel sandwiches in their lunch bag last year? Well, the chances are good that whatever used to top the list has puzzlingly become a thing of the past over the summer. And we know there’s nothing more disheartening than filling your fridge with healthy lunch fixings only to have your child turn up their nose at what ends up in their lunch box. A good strategy is to take them shopping with you so they can help select the items they prefer.

Pro tip: As you make your list, don’t forget to add some hand sanitizer. You can grab a big bottle for their desk and a smaller, portable one to stash in their lunch bag to help keep them healthy all year long.

2. Get the Right Lunch Containers

Packing easy lunches for kids is a breeze when you have a variety of lunch containers that keep your food hot or cold and protect it from being smashed. Of course, part of the fun of school shopping is picking out your school lunch bag or box, so make sure that’s on your school supply list.

But what goes in the school lunch box is just as important. Here are some storage items and lunch containers you might want to consider stocking up on for packing easy school lunches for kids:

• Bento boxes for keeping food items organized and separate
• Different size storage containers
• Sandwich holders
• Soup mug with a lid
• Noodle bowl with a lid
• Lunch "cubes" that hold smaller containers in one
• Water bottle

Save money (and the planet!) with sturdy containers, but try to opt for quick-clean items that can be put in the dishwasher and double-duty lunch containers that can be stowed in the freezer or popped in the microwave.

4. Bring the Fun

Yes, we love to gawk at the Pinterest-lunch parents and marvel over how they do it, but here’s a secret — sometimes, it can be simple to prepare an easy school lunch that looks impressive. Here are five ways to do it.

• Put fun stickers on the lunch bag, the baggies, and the napkin — pretty much everywhere.
• Cut sandwiches or cheese and meat slices with cookie cutters.
• Pack a variety of finger foods in a cute bento box.
• Draw on any fruit that they’ll peel—like bananas and oranges—with a marker.
• Write a love letter on their napkin.

5. Make It Different Every Day

Yep, kids suffer from lunch fatigue, just like you do. The good news is that with this mix-and-match list of easy school lunch ideas — 10 for each category! — you can pretty much make different, easy school lunches every single day. One day you might stash the items in a bento box or other lunch container; another day, you might thread food on skewers like a kabob; and when you’re in a hurry, you can just put them in a zip-top bag.

Ready for the best, easiest lunch box ideas for kids ever? You can print the list, pick one or two items from each category, and voila — instant variety, fast packing guaranteed.