Ok guys, cuddle close, scooch in. (yes, I speak in Frozen lines IYKYK)
Back to school season is here and we have to talk about lunch. This is two years’ worth of my “what do I make for lunch today?!” brain dumps. It’s my go-to cheat sheet for school lunches. I made a spreadsheet 2 years ago when Pops started school and have been making additions, subtractions, etc etc on a weekly basis. If I don’t keep it organized, my brain is mush LOL. And now… it’s yours!
Poppy’s school does allow nuts, so you’ll see some nut butter options. If your school is nut-free, swap for sunflower butter or skip entirely.
We use a 5-compartment bento box, and I keep this spreadsheet on repeat, adding new combos as the school year goes. As it stands, there are 3.3 million combos with this list alone. (Thank you dad for doing that math for me lol)
Let’s first break down the hard goods:
This is our favorite bento style lunch box. It’s 5 compartments so that’s how I break down the combos!
Stasher Bags - these things are godsends for snacks
Our water bottle of choice
If I’m sending food that needs to stay hot, I put it in this
Poppy’s preferred lunch box with the most space!
Ok now let’s get into the actual food:
Compartment 1: Main Meal
Arroz con Pollo // stays flavorful even at room temp.
Avocado Sushi // squeeze lemon over to prevent browning.
Bagel + Cream Cheese // mini bagels fit perfectly.
Banana Peanut Butter Roll Ups // roll tight, slice into coins.
Bean + Cheese Burrito // wrap in foil to keep warm. (I make these and buy them frozen from La Palma)
Broccoli Candy Pasta // toss pasta with broccoli + parm for a veg win.
Carne Asada + Rice // leftover carne asada with some leftover rice, just warm it and pop it in the heated container!
Egg Frittatas // bake in a muffin tin for easy portions.
Fajita Turkey Burgers // cut into halves or quarters for tiny hands.
Falafel Bites // great with a yogurt dipping sauce. (I make these and buy them from the store in the frozen section)
Lettuce Wraps // keep fillings separate so leaves stay crisp.
Nut Butter & Jelly Sandwich/Roll Up
Pancakes
Picadillo // leftover from the night before is such a win.
Parmesan Pasta // olive oil helps keep it from clumping.
Pasta with Peas // frozen peas defrost in the lunchbox.
Pesto Pasta // stir in extra cheese to mellow flavor for littles.
Pigs in a Blanket
Pizza Roll Up
Pupusas // cut into wedges, serve with salsa.
Quesadilla // cool slightly before packing to prevent sogginess.
Quinoa Zucchini Cakes // pan-fry for crispy edges.
Ham and Cheese Sandwich Roll Up // pinwheels make them more fun.
Stir Fry // leftover from dinner is always a hit
Tortellini // drizzle with olive oil to prevent sticking.
Turkey Meatballs // pack with a little marinara for dipping.
Fried Rice // great way to use leftover veggies.
Turkey Sandwich // thin slices for easier bites.
Homemade Chicken Tenders // coat with panko for crunch.
Fajita Chicken with rice // slice thinly for little mouths.
Dumplings // I am obsessed with this brand.
Compartment 2: Substantial Snack
Cucumber Sticks + Hummus or Tzatziki // pat cucumbers dry so hummus doesn’t get watery.
Banana + Nut Butter Bites
Prosciutto or Salami Wrapped Mozz Stick
Pita Chips + Hummus
Home Fries // season lightly so they taste good at room temp.
Cucumber + Feta Salad // add a drizzle of olive oil for flavor.
Rice Cake Chips // spread with cream cheese or nut butter.
Chips + Guacamole // pack guac in a small sealed container.
Sweet Potato Fries // roast until crispy so they hold texture.
Tomatoes + Mozzarella // cherry tomatoes work best.
Snap Peas
Cheese + Crackers
Celery Sticks + Nut Butter // fill celery just before packing.
Yogurt + Granola // keep granola separate for crunch.
Carrots + Hummus // baby carrots for easy dipping.
Apple Slices + Nut Butter // brush apple slices with lemon water to prevent browning.
Compartment 3: Fruit
Strawberries // hull & slice for smaller bites.
Grapes // halve for little ones.
Blueberries // no prep needed.
Clementines // peel ahead for quick access but keep whole
Raspberries
Pineapple // drain well so it doesn’t leak.
Cherries (Pitted) // always double-check for pits.
Persimmon // slice thin for sweetness.
Pomegranate Seeds // fun for scooping, I send with a spoon.
Peaches/Plums // slice and store with skin on to hold shape.
Orange Slices // remove seeds for easy eating.
Mango // cut into cubes for less mess.
Banana // send it whole so it doesn’t brown
Watermelon // drain on paper towel before packing.
Apricots // halve and remove pit.
Cantaloupe/Honeydew // use a melon baller.
Kiwi // slice in half and pack a spoon.
Pears // slightly underripe travel better.
Compartment 4: Something Salty
Nuts // mix with dried fruit for variety.
Pirate’s Booty // portion into a cup to prevent sogginess.
Trail Mix
Cheddar Bunnies
Cornichons // pack in a silicone cup to keep brine contained.
Pretzels // pair with cheese or hummus.
Dried Fruit
Graham Crackers
Chips
Castelvetrano Olives // pit-free for little ones.
Dried Seaweed
Cheddar Squares/Tillamook Squares/Babybel
Chickpea Puffs
Snap Pea Chips
Edamame // shelled for easy eating.
Compartment 5: Sweet Treat
Chocolate Chips
Healthy Brownie
Gummy Snacks
Dark Chocolate Drops/M&Ms
Almond Butter Cups
Fruit Leather
Cookies // mini size to fit the box.
Fruit Bars // look for low-sugar brands.
Chocolate Covered Graham Crackers (Trader Joe’s baby!)
Homemade Granola Bars // cut into bite-size squares.
This post took me 17 days to write, infinite scrolling back into my phone, but PHEW it’s all down on paper and we are ready to tackle the year! I’ll update this as I think of new ideas :) Back to school, here we come!!!!
Any other ideas, throw them into the comments!!
I also have and love the feeding littles “lunch box cookbook”. Tons of great ideas like this amazing list! Thank you Gaby!
WAIT does the planet box fit inside the yeti lunchbox?!?! If so I am SHOOK and ordering immediately.