Easy School Lunches
Keep It Simple, Silly
Packing healthy and delicious lunches for your kids can feel like a daily challenge, but it doesn't have to be! With a little planning and these easy-to-make recipes, you can send your kids off to school with lunches they'll love.
Make-Ahead Magic: Prep for the Week
The key to stress-free lunch packing is preparation. Dedicate some time on the weekend to cook up larger batches of items that can be easily incorporated into different lunch combinations.
Roasted Veggie Medley: Roast a variety of colorful vegetables like carrots, broccoli, and sweet potatoes. These can be packed on their own or added to salads and wraps. If you want to make small batches the night before, you can use your air fryer with easy-to-use non-stick inserts for less mess.
Hard-Boiled Eggs: A classic lunchbox staple. Cook a batch of hard-boiled eggs on Sunday and peel them before storing in the fridge. You can keep your hard-boiled eggs separate from the raw eggs using an egg tray organizer.
Homemade Chicken Salad or Tuna Salad: Make a big batch of either and store it in the fridge. It's perfect for sandwiches, wraps, or crackers.
Pasta Salad: Prepare a large bowl of pasta salad with your kids' favorite ingredients like veggies, cheese, and a light dressing. We love to shake up our own dressing recipes with this convenient dressing mixer bottle.
Mini Quiches: These make adorable and satisfying lunchbox treats. You can make a variety of flavors like spinach and feta, or bacon and cheese. You can bake a bunch in silicone muffin trays and easily pop them out for storage in the freezer until you pack that day’s lunch.
Quick and Easy Lunch Ideas
Let’s face it - life happens. Fret not if you aren’t able to make lunches ahead of time. These are some great options to quickly pack in the morning before school:
Wrap It Up: Tortilla wraps are a versatile option. Fill them with leftover grilled chicken, hummus and veggies, or peanut butter and jelly for a classic twist.
Salad in a Jar: Layer salad dressing at the bottom of a jar, followed by protein, veggies, and toppings. When ready to eat, just give it a shake!
Leftover Love: Repurpose last night's dinner into lunchbox-friendly portions. Think leftover pizza, chili, or stir-fry. There are stylish and durable insulated food jars for both hot and cold lunches to keep them at the right temperature and spill-free.
Sandwich Surprise: Upgrade the classic sandwich by adding a fun spread like pesto or avocado, or including a variety of cheeses and meats.
Mini Meal Prep: Create individual portions of meals like mini quiches, stuffed peppers, or breakfast burritos for easy grab-and-go lunches.
Variety is the Spice of Life: Charcuterie boards aren't just for adults. We love the snackle box for packing a variety of proteins, nuts, dried fruit, veggies, crackers, etc.
Healthy and Fun Snacks
Don't forget to include a variety of healthy snacks in your child's lunchbox. Here are some ideas which can all travel well in silicone food containers:
Fresh fruits and vegetables with hummus or yogurt dip
Trail mix with nuts, seeds, and dried fruit
Greek yogurt with granola and honey
Rice cakes with nut butter and sliced banana
Whole grain crackers with cheese
Remember, the key to packing healthy and enjoyable lunches is to involve your kids in the process. Let them help choose ingredients and pack their own lunches. With a little planning and creativity, you can create lunchboxes that your kids will look forward to.
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