Homemade School Lunch

Are you out of ideas when it comes to packing your child's lunch? Do you just throw a Lunchables in a bag with a juice box and call it a day? Well, I have some good news for you! Packing a wholesome and nourishing lunch for your child isn't difficult. I have put together some ideas to help get your creative homemade school lunch packing juices flowing!

When I send lunches with my kids to school, I pack them in this awesome lunch box! It is durable, doesn't create trash, and it keeps the food cold with a cold pack on top. The kids like the different sections and they are really easy to clean. Plus these little containers are great for holding dips and yogurts.

Usually, when I prepare a lunch for my kids I include a sandwich. My kids LOVE sandwiches, so I make them. But I don't HAVE to include a sandwich. However, since we are talking sandwiches, I will tell you about their favorites.

Lox with cream cheese and capers
Salami with mustard and cheese
Peanut Butter and Honey
Peanut Butter and Jelly
Cream Cheese and Jelly
Cream Cheese and Turkey with Lettuce
Pastrami and Swiss with mustard
Cheddar cheese with mustard
Ham and cheese with mustard
Egg Salad

Along with the sandwich I include cut up cheese, some fruit, and something fun (popcorn, dilly carrots, a cookie, etc).

Do you have to do it like this? No! Everyone has different tastes and preferences as well as dietary restrictions. But, I am pretty willing to bet that most parents get bored of what they are packing in their child's lunch.

Here are some ideas on ways to fill your child's homemade school lunch with a nourishing meal they can enjoy while they are at school.

Some Guidelines for Homemade School Lunch

Keep it simple. Whole foods will suffice. No need to get all fancy.
Keep out the crap! No artificial colors, flavors, or high fructose corn syrup. These aren't going to help your child at school, so leave them out! Read those labels to help you find the junk!
Let your child help you pack their lunch! If they get to pick out some of the foods, they will be excited to eat it!

Fruits

grapes, berries, kiwi, oranges, apples, cherries, pineapple, peaches, melon, avocado
dried fruits like raisins, dates, apricots, mangoes, pineapple

Sliced Veggies

cucumber, carrots, bell pepper, jicama, snow peas, broccoli, cherry tomatoes, green beans, cauliflower, celery (ants on a log!)
DIPS! homemade ranch, hummus, homemade dressings

Sandwich Alternatives

Hard boiled eggs
rolled deli meats and cheeses
rolled lox with cream cheese (and capers)
Pasta Salad, Tuna salad, Chicken salad
Homemade muffins
Bacon wrapped dates, prosciutto wrapped around melon
Build your own TACOS!
Bean and cheese tortilla roll up
Cold quesadilla
Nut butter on a tortilla

Other Fun Foods

Popcorn, nuts
Applesauce, yogurts, fruit leathers
chips and salsa (or guacamole)
Block cheeses (cut into sticks or cubes)
Homemade trail mix
A square of dark chocolate
Fermented foods like sauerkraut, dilly carrots, fermented berries
Sea Snax or rice crackers

Beverage

Oh! We can't forget the drink! My favorite beverage for a child's lunch? Water. Just plain old water. Sometimes they like mint water. But for the most part I just send water. There are tons of flavored water recipes on the web! Go look. Lemon and lime are popular, too.

Packing a homemade school lunch for your kids doesn't need to be complicated or labor intensive. Providing a variety for them and switching it up can keep lunch time exciting AND nourishing.

What are your favorite foods to pack for your kids?