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A note for parents: Some of the lunch accessories mentioned below could be choking hazards for younger children. Please exercise caution.
Rock Their Lunchbox :: 5 Fun & Easy Lunch Ideas (Even Picky Eaters Love!)
Now that the back-to-school chaos is in full swing, I’m sure I’m not the only one looking for kids’ lunches that are (1) easy to prepare and (2) actually going to be eaten.
I’ll be the first to admit: I’m a sucker for a Pinterest-worthy bento box full of fun-shaped melons and cheese slices and teeny tiny forks with character faces. But who has the time (or energy) for all that?
In an effort to make mealtimes more fun and productive for my picky eaters, I’ve purchased a few items over the years. I used these FunBites cutters when we were doing baby led weaning, but they also work great on fruits, cheeses, and cold cuts. Later on, I bought this set of sandwich cutters, tiny cookie cutters, and tiny picks, which turned out to be the gateway to these other sandwich cutters that make homemade Uncrustable sandwiches. If you want to go all in, I’d opt for this set that includes everything. But of everything I’ve mentioned so far, the Uncrustables maker is my favorite and the one we use the most (because the filling possibilities are endless!). The tiny forks and picks are precious, but I only allow my kids to use them at home for now so that they use them appropriately and I’m not worried about them getting lost at school.
While gadgets and accessories are great, you really don’t need to spend extra money to make a fun, creative lunch your kids will enjoy.
Here are 5 quick and easy ideas for you to rock your kiddo’s next lunchbox:
Fruity PB&J Kabobs
Swap a flour tortilla for the bread in your next PB&J sandwich! Spread a tortilla with peanut butter and jelly and roll it up. Slice into pinwheels. You can stop here and serve as is, or you can take it a step further and thread the pinwheels onto a skewer alternating each pinwheel with fruit like strawberries or sliced bananas.
Pizza Lunchable
Lunchables felt like the height of luxury when I was a child. I wasn’t a fan of the pizza ones because I didn’t acquire an appreciation for cold pizza until college, but my kids LOVE a Pizza Lunchable (even though they’ve only ever had my homemade version). It’s way cheaper to make them at home using mini naan (like these Naan Dippers) as the base and adding whatever toppings your kids like. I’ve had these Bentgo Chill lunch boxes for years, but Sam’s Club has recently had several Bentgo lunch kits on sale as well.
Pretzel Picks
If you’re comfortable giving your kids pretzel sticks in their lunches, this one’s fun! Include bite-sized cheese slices/cubes and deli meats sliced into coins for them to spear with the pretzel sticks. My kids love to do this (and it helps hone their fine motor skills!).
Homemade Protein Balls (or Bars)
Like so many moms, I worry my kids aren’t getting enough protein. These protein cookie dough recipes and this cheesecake dip recipe are great options as a side or dessert. But for something that seems a bit more substantial, you might like to try some protein balls (or bars) like this recipe. It’s a one-bowl, no-bake recipe that requires no special tools. We call them “cookie dough balls” so the kids think they’re having a treat.
Sandwich Sushi
This one is one of my favorites! It’s totally customizable to suit your tastes and only takes a few minutes more than making a regular sandwich. Simply trim the crusts off your bread and use a rolling pin to roll the bread thin. I like to slightly overlap two pieces and pinch them together to make one long, narrow rectangle. Spread the bread lightly with mayo and/or mustard, if desired. Top with a thin layer of cold cuts. Along the longer edge, lay down cheese sticks sliced in half lengthwise and then thinly sliced pickle. Roll up like a jellyroll and slice into pinwheels. So fun for the kids to help with too!
Pro Tip: Be sure to dry the pickle strips as much as possible with a paper towel before placing them in the center of your “sushi roll” to avoid sogginess.
BONUS: We’ve recently started encouraging our kids to pack their own lunches and have been using this customizable chart from Etsy to help them do so. It helps them learn responsibility and also increases the chances of them actually eating the food! Win win!
