Back to school means back to school lunches. Not sure I’m quite ready to dust off those lunch boxes, but it’s time. I am always looking for more ideas, suggestions and inspiration as to what to pack in our lunchboxes. I know I can get bored with the lunches I pack, and I’m certain my kids get bored eating them! So I thought it would be fun to do a round of up of some of the great ideas for school lunch packing that can be found around the blog-o-sphere.
Packing the same thing day after day can get a bit boring (for me and the kids) so finding ways to make lunches creative, but simple enough to make at the crack of dawn, is important. I have rounded up over 50 fun ideas, tips, and tricks for making a great school lunch. Check out what other bakers, cooks, bloggers, crafters and parents around the web have been putting into their lunchboxes. They all look amazing but don’t worry, most of them are really quite simple to make!
I will start off with a few of my own ideas…
Fun & Easy Ideas For School Lunches by Love From The Oven
Our Lunch Box Routine (Lunches Kids Will Eat)
Free Printable Lunch Box Love Notes
My Favorite Lunch Boxes, Ice Packs & Water Bottles
Lunch Box Supplies And Tools by Love From The Oven
Now let’s see what other bloggers are making for lunch!
Cute School Lunch Ideas For Kids from Skinnytaste
Free Printable Lunch Box Notes from Skip To My Lou
Back To Basics Lunch By iPackLunch at Following In My Shoes
Easy Cute Bentos With Stickers by Just Bento
30 Days of Lunchbox Recipes: No Repeats by Peanut Blossom
Project Lunchbox by Family Fresh Cooking
Lunchbox Love Notes Free Printable by Parents Playground NWA
Lunchbox Heros by How Does She
OMGuac Your Lunch from Eat Wholly
Free Printable Lunch Box Idea List from Wendolonia
The Little Dipper Lunch Box by Detroit Mommies
Healthy Back To School Lunches by iPackLunch
13 Ways To Use Tortillas In Your Lunch Packing by Evolving Motherhood
DIY Lunchbox Icepacks by My Kitchen Escapades
Submarine Lunch by Lisa Storms
Back To School Lunch Making Supplies from Family Fresh Meals
Quick & Easy Mommy & Me Bento Lunches by Creative Food
The I Love You Bento by Following In My Shoes
Creating A School Lunch Station from Uncommon Designs
A Week Of Leftovers For Lunch From Keeley McGuire
Checkers Lunch by This Lunch Rox
Feeling Like A Snow Cone From Feeling A Little Lunchy
30 Second Wow Lunches from Momables
2 Tricks For Packing “Real Food” School Lunches by 100 Days of Real Food
An Amazing School Lunch by another lunch
Teaching Kids To Pack Their Own Lunches by Rage Against The Minivan
Sticky Stacky Sandwiches by Super Healthy Kids
Easy Wraps & Roll-Ups For Kids by Mondernmami
Turkey Bento by Glory’s Mischief
Birthday Lunch by Happy Home Fairy
A Sweet Lunch by BentOnBetterLunches (I spy a PEEP!)
Pizza Bento Lunch Box by AnnaTheRed at Parenting.com
Lunchbox Makeover by Scissors And Spatulas at Crafting With Freckles
Green Eggs & Ham Bento by Following In My Shoes
Lego Lunchbox from A Boy & His Lunch
Free Back To School Lunch Printables by Printabelle at Catch My Party
Sandwich Ideas from Wendolonia
Easy Lunch Box Fun from Little Wonders’ Days
Mini Tacos by This Lunch Rox
Spring Lunchboxes by Family Fresh Meals at Betty Crocker
A Very Hungry Caterpillar Lunch By Eats Amazing
Pizza Buns Simple School Lunch by Simple As That
Silly Salad School Lunches by Keeley McGuire
Your Cheat Sheet For Healthy School Lunches from Honestly
Packing A Zero-Waste School Lunch by Pandora’s Deals
OMGuac Your Lunch Pizza by Eat Wholly
Under The Sea Boxed Lunch by Happy Food, Healthy Life
Back To School Organization by Sunny Side Up
Cool School Lunch Planner Free Printable by The Organized Parent
Originally posted August 2013. Updated August 2016.
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selena says
This is AWESOME. Thanks for all the great ideas. For any naysayers out there, I was one of those who would look at bentos and be like, yeah no thanks. But once I got into it I realized a couple things:
1. My kids actually ate healthier. As in, cherry tomatoes were actually consumed. That alone is worth it to me.
2. Lunchtime is something my kids look forward to and a way to feel connected to me in the middle of a long school day apart from family.
3. My family’s relationship with food began to change. Main meals were no longer a means to earning dessert, but became a treat in themselves.
4. It doesn’t take that long to pack lunch. For real.
Seriously if I can do it, anyone can. A peek at a few lunches I’ve packed: http://howaboutcookie.wordpress.com/2013/09/13/bento-school-lunches/
Sarah Romer says
Great round up! We’re only three weeks in to our school season here, and I have already hit a “wall” when it comes to the lunch department, and thought this was great. I shared it on my website today at http://casper.kidsallaround.com/index.php/2013/09/02/making-a-great-school-lunch/ Thanks again for the inspiration!
Christi @ Love From The Oven says
Thanks so much Sarah! 🙂
Deb says
I commented on the wrong post because I got to looking around so much! 🙂
Your blog is just beautiful! Thank you so much for including me! I think you did a nice job at showcasing lunches at all different levels of detail!
Rachel @ Following In My Shoes says
A very fun and cheerful round-up…. thank you so much for including a few of our lunches. 🙂
feeling a little lunchy says
Fantastic list and so honored that you included me in it! Thank you so much!!
Keeley McGuire says
Great round up! Thanks for featuring some of our lunches/ posts!!
Christi @ Love From The Oven says
Thank you Keeley! 🙂
Nina Kowalski says
Hello Christi!
I just wanted to say I really enjoy your website! It is very user friendly and the content is amazing. I love your creativity with the lunchboxes. Using a cookie cutter to make different shapes with fruits can make a big difference for children. It is always good to have a fun factor involved to get kids eating more healthy. Colors can also make a big difference.
I love your creation!
Thank you for sharing.
Laura @ Lauras Baking Talent says
What fun ideas.. I think they could make grown up lunches more fun as well 🙂
ce.leb says
thank you, christi!
even so I dont have kids on my own, I think its super important to let them lern that eating regular and healthy can also be fun!
I dont make lunchboxes for kids, I often make them for my spouse – there is nothing better than a wonderful packed lunch at work!
(and dont be stressed with not so nice comments ;))
thank you for inspiration every week,
best wishes,
celeb
Lisa @ Crazy Adventures in Parenting says
Christi – what a great round up! Bookmarked this, thank you!
I wanted to share that I, too, have a school lunch project on my site called “Operation Awesome School Lunch” that you might want to take a look at. I’m restarting this program again on Monday (when the kids begin school again). This page features our lunch ideas from last year and will be updated Monday-Friday http://crazyadventuresinparenting.com/operation-awesome-school-lunch