Back in 2019-2020, when my kids were still going to school in person, I shared on my Instagram stories videos and pictures of how I made their school lunches. A lot of the parents that follow me found them very useful and asked me if it was possible to get all these lunches in one place – and that’s how this guide with 85 days of healthy school lunches came to be.
I truly enjoy preparing healthy school lunches for my kids that are filling, yummy yet simple to make! But when I first began making these lunches I felt overwhelmed and I wasn’t sure what to prep. As parents we have so many things on our plates and school lunches is one more thing to add to our to-do list. But I promise, you can make healthy school lunches in just a few minutes every morning! It doesn’t have to be hard or complicated, you just need a few tools and system in place.
And it is so worth it! Our children’s little bodies are growing so fast and what they eat is so important! By making their school lunches you know what they are eating, and what they’re not. Plus, if you’re like us and eat mostly an organic diet, making your school lunch is the only way your kid can eat organic foods at school.
My hope is this guide will help you get the tools and systems in place so you can easily incorporate making healthy school lunches for your kids. The first part of this guide has some information on how to make these school lunches and second part contains pictures of 85 days of different school lunches.
How long does it take to put together a healthy school lunch?
Every morning I set aside 15 minutes to put together my kids’ school lunches. Usually while the kids are waking up and getting ready for school I make their lunches. Our school lunches are either leftovers from the night before or simple healthy meals I put together when packing their lunch.
I know it can sound like a lot of work, but I promise is not! Once you do a few of these school lunches, you will realize that it is possible to prep multiple school lunches in under 15 minutes.
I have a system that helps me do this quickly: in my kitchen I have a drawer where I keep all the containers and supplies I will need to make their lunch box. This saves me time in the morning because all I need is one place. I also have a mental checklist of 4 food groups I like to add to their lunch box so as I’m prepping their school lunch I make sure I cover these food groups.
I don’t meal plan, so I usually think the night before what I’ll prep for their school lunch and work with the foods I have at home.
What kind of foods to pack in a school lunch?
- Protein
- Fruits
- Veggies
- Carbs
- Extra snacks: I like to send the extra snacks just in case. Most of the time they won’t eat them but I like them to have a backup in case they didn’t like their school lunch or were feeling extra hungry that day.
In our home we eat mostly organic foods, which the exception a few food items that I cannot find organic and the times we eat out. The school lunches are a reflection of that. And because our school has a no-nut policy, all these school lunches are nut-free.
How to make a school lunch your kids will love
Talk to your children! I ask my kids what kind of food they would like to see in their school lunch and do a combination of their suggestions and foods I come up with.
I also pay attention to what they’re eating at home and at school. Sometimes kids like some things one month, and other months they like others things. So I keep an open mind and send them foods that they’re into during that specific week/month.
Also, don’t underestimate the power of a Bento box and food cut in cute shapes! Use things like sandwich cutters, food picks and tiny cutters to turn fruits, veggies and others snacks into cute little shapes. These tools make it super fast and easy to make their food look cute!
What kind are the best containers for kids school lunches?
To be honest, I think this is more of a personal preference. We have many different types of containers but I have found that my kids LOVE eating in Bento style boxes so I mostly use the LunchBots containers for their school lunches. They’re made out of stainless steel and pretty durable – our first set of these is 8 years old and you can’t tell!
When it comes to containers for school lunches there are many options, so I’ve compiled this list of different type of non-toxic containers for your kids school lunches. However, if you’re wanting to use the same containers I’ve used in the school lunch pictures, you can find them here:
Do my kids eat their school lunches cold?
Yes! Not all kids like to eat cold food but my kids don’t really care so they will eat their school lunch cold. Before I sent them cold school lunches I made sure they would be okay with this.
Here’s how I figured out they like cold food: A month before we started school I started paying attention to their eating habits at home and realized they eat so slow that they almost always end up eating cold food. I asked them if it was okay for them to eat cold lunches at school and they both said yes.
Also, our school doesn’t have the option to heat up their meals so eating cold foods is the easiest option for us. However, if your child likes warm foods, I recommend you get insulated food containers so they can enjoy their meals warm.
Are these school lunches nut-free?
Yes, they are nut-free since our kids go to a nut-free school. Let me know in the comments if you’d like me to compile a list of all the nut-free pre-packaged snacks I sent in their school lunches.
85+ Days of Healthy School Lunches
These are pictures of 87 days worth of healthy school lunches. When looking at these school lunches, keep in mind I have 2 children so some of the lunches for the same day vary a bit based on what they like.
Once this school year begins I will continue to share school lunch ideas every week day on my Instagram Stories so make you to follow if you want to have regular school lunch inspiration.
To see a close up of the school lunch, click on the image.
I’d love to make this resource as complete and as useful as possible, so if you have any comments or questions leave them below! I will be sure to update this guide regularly.
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