The Ultimate School Lunchbox Packing List
With back-to-school season in full swing I’m back to packing my boys’ lunches every morning. For many parents this feels like a total chore, but I’ve learned to love making school lunch. I have a bento box for each of them, so they’re fun to pack. The compartments make things easy and help guide portion size. So what do I usually pack in my kids’ lunches, you ask? Luckily, my boys are both big on fruits and veggies, so a typical lunch will include things like cucumbers, carrots, grapes, watermelon, and then turkey or chicken. But if crafting a lunchbox menu doesn’t come naturally to you, we’re here to help. My team and I put together a free printable list of items you can check off to make packing school lunch a breeze. Follow the formula of packing 1 main + 1 fruit + 1 veggie + 1 snack food + 1 treat (optional), and you’ll be good to go. Check it out below!
The Ultimate School Lunch Packing List
Protein/Mains
- Turkey
- Chicken
- Tuna
- PB&J (or sunflower seed butter & jam)
- Hardboiled eggs
- Hummus
- Tofu
- Cheese (slices, cubes, or string cheese)
- Bagel and cream cheese
- Bean & cheese burrito
- Quesadilla
- Beans & rice
- Yogurt
- Meat sticks
- Edamame
- Pasta
- Tortellini
- Quiche
Snacks
- Crackers
- Chips
- Snap pea crisps
- Puffs
- Plantain chips
- Pretzels
- Veggie straws
- Rice cakes
- Seaweed
- Nuts (if school is not nut-free)
- Sunflower seeds
- Granola bars
- Olives
- Pickles
- Trail mix
- Dried fruit
- Popcorn
Fruit
- Grapes
- Watermelon
- Cantaloupe
- Honeydew
- Apples
- Applesauce
- Pear
- Tangerines
- Blueberries
- Raspberries
- Strawberries
- Blackberries
- Cherries
Vegetables
- Cucumbers (sticks or slices)
- Carrots
- Celery
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Avocado
- Sugar snap peas
- Grape tomatoes
- Extras: hummus or ranch dip
Treats
- Mini marshmallows
- Chocolate chips
- Chocolate squares
- Fruit snacks
- Cookie
What do you typically pack in school lunches?
I hope my list helps you kick things up a notch.
XO Lauren
Photo: The Little Market
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