It’s that time of the year again – back to school, back to reality! You know what that means…the morning rush is about to begin. If you are dreading the task of packing lunch already, we have some fun lunch box ideas that will be a hit for both you and the kids!
Before we get into our delicious ideas, let’s emphasise the importance of planning.
Getting everyone ready for school on time can become a bit chaotic and you wonder if mornings will ever run a bit smoother, we know.
Planning your lunches ahead of the week, on the Sunday before, for example, will take the stress of wondering what to whip up for lunch off your plate, and you’ll know which groceries to buy for the rest of the week, so you don’t have to pop out for any missing ingredients at the last minute.
Plus, if you plan ahead, you’ll also curb the chance of your kids eating unhealthily throughout the week.
But…where to start? We’ve got you covered with a week’s worth of scrumptious lunch ideas. Many of these can be made ahead of time or prepped the night before, so assembly in the morning is easy. Sandwiches are a mainstay but you can change it up. Remember, variety keeps it exciting.
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Monday’s cheeky chicken wrap
Pexel
- Chicken Mayo and cheese mini wrap. You can add lettuce, tomato and cucumber.
- Fresh Berries
- Yogurt
- Trail Mix
Tuesday’s cheesy quesadilla
Pexel
- Cheese Quesadilla
- Guacamole
- Salsa
- Tortilla Chips
- Strawberries
Wednesday’s dare devil eggs
Pexel
- Hard Boiled Eggs – Cut in half and a dash of Mayo
- Baby Carrots
- Pretzels
- Peach Slices
Thursday’s mini bagels
Pexel
- Mini Bagels + Cream Cheese. Or any desired filling
- Yogurt Cup
- Baby Carrots
- Fruit Snacks
Friday’s classic PB and J
Pexel
- Peanut Butter and Jam Sarmie
- Cheese cubes
- Fruit Cup
- Chips
Tips for an exciting lunchbox:
- Buy a fun, colourful lunch box.
- Get a lunch box with 3-4 dividers or one big enough to insert smaller containers.
- Fill the lunch box with different foods for a balanced diet. Adding lots of colour is always good.
- Fun-shaped cookie cutters are great for making sandwiches interesting.
- Dinner left overs make a delicious lunch for the next day.
- If your child is a picky eater, allow them to be involved in the lunch packing process. It’s okay to give them the choice every now and then.
- Make sure liquids don’t leak out.
Side snacks to swap out for
- Granola bars
- Pretzels
- Cheese
- Yogurt
- Fruit rolls
- Popcorn
- Crackers
- Chips and salsa
- Fruit cup
- Pudding cup
- Cookies
- Rice Krispies Treats
Don’t forget the drinks
- Water
- 100% fruit juice
- Capri sun
- Smoothies
- Flavoured milk
These are just some ideas for you to take inspiration from. Beats having to wreck your brain to decide what to pack for lunch, right?
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Featured Image: Pexels
