Level Up Your Kid’s Lunchbox With These 10 Easy School Lunches

It's winter break, and if your kids are anything like mine, they're super bored with the school lunch menu already. With half the year still ahead of them, they can't eat the same thing every day, and there's only so many kinds of Lunchables to mix it up.

Since we'd all like our kids to eat healthy foods, you can't just pack a granola bar and a bag of sugary cereal and call it a day. So what can parents do to help ease the pain and suffering of school lunch? We've got a few ideas that have gotten us through most of elementary school.

Pasta Salad

This has been my daughter's favorite non-sandwich lunch for years and is always a treat. Whenever you make pasta for dinner, just make the whole pound and put the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. When your kid needs a fun lunch, cut up some vegetables (our favorites are tomatoes and bell peppers), meat, and/or cheese, and toss them together with the cold pasta.

If it looks dry, toss it with a little olive oil or Italian dressing. This is a great way to use up whatever is in the fridge while also getting a little bit of protein and veggies into their lunch. My kids like this with pepperoni or salami, but they've also asked us to make extra bacon so they can include that. We also try to mix up pasta shapes. Macaroni and penne are great choices, but don't forget about orzo, cavatappi, farfalle, and rotini. And you can always buy a pasta salad mix or a salad from the grocery store deli if this becomes a fan favorite.

Tortilla Pinwheels

Sometimes my kids are just bored with bread. Instead of making a sandwich, we'll take lunch meat, cheese, and thinly sliced veggies like tomatoes or cucumbers (or lettuce, if your kids will actually eat it) and roll it up taquito style in a tortilla. Add ranch dressing, mayo, or mustard if your kids like those. Smashed avocado is also a tasty option.

My daughter likes it when these are cut into rounds about an inch thick, so you can see the swirl pattern inside. This is best with big tortillas, but if you have smaller ones on hand, just use a toothpick to secure them so they don't fall apart in your kids' lunch box. You can even try different flavors and brands of tortillas to make this a little different each time. Pack with a side of fruit and maybe a handful of chips.

Kids' Charcuterie

My kids have realized that prepackaged lunch kits usually don't contain the highest quality of meat. Sometimes when they're craving a cracker stack, I bring them to the grocery store with me, and they each pick a nice meat and a favorite cheese, freshly sliced from the deli counter to pack in their lunch.

We get a variety pack of crackers from Costco or the grocery store, and maybe even some party rye for a different carb base. Then, they create their own mini charcuterie in their lunch box with a variety of good meats, cheese, and cracker combinations. My kids like to add cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, apples, and grapes to make a complete meal.

Dip Lunch

This works best if you have a well-refrigerated lunch box and a bento box with separate compartments or lots of small containers. Pick your kids' favorite dip, preferably one that pairs well with both carb-based items like crackers, pretzels, or pitas, and veggies. We like hummus, but we also recently made a whipped feta that everybody likes. Put the dip in one small container or compartment, and fill the rest of the lunchbox with things to dip into it.

Baby carrots, cherry tomatoes, celery sticks, broccoli, bell peppers, and sugar snap peas are all great options for dipping. You can also add a second dip for dessert to make it even more fun. My kids recently discovered chocolate-flavored tahini, which has surprisingly little sugar but tastes great. You could also use a low-sugar Greek yogurt to add protein. It makes a fun way to include fruits like strawberries, oranges, or bananas in the lunch.

Breakfast for Lunch

I like breakfast best when it's hot and fresh, but my kids don't necessarily feel like their pancakes need to come straight off the stove top. You can make pancakes or waffle sticks (homemade or Eggos cut into strips) and pack them in your kids' lunchbox with a container of syrup to dip or drizzle.

There are also lots of prepackaged pancakes and waffles available today. Make sure you look at the nutrition facts and try to find a brand with less sugar and more fiber and protein, if possible. Pair it with a hard-boiled egg and bacon (or Canadian bacon) for a protein, and add a fruit to complete the meal.

Nachos, Taco Salad, or Rice Bowl

Make this more or less healthy depending on what your kid will eat and what you might have on hand. This is especially great for using up leftover taco meat, but you could also cook meat or beans just for your kids' lunches.

Pair the protein with some shredded cheese, avocado, salsa, and/or tomatoes, and sour cream, and put it on a bed of chips, lettuce, or rice, depending on your kids' tastes. If you make it a salad, you can also crumble a couple of chips or a taco shell on top.

Kebabs or Skewers

My kids love caprese skewers, and I do, too, because you can buy all of the ingredients and you don't have to cook anything. String a cherry tomato, a leaf of basil, and a large mozzarella pearl onto a toothpick, and repeat as many times as you need to get your kid a good lunch. One kid likes these with balsamic glaze to drizzle or dip, the other doesn't. You can also cut cooked chicken or other meats into small cubes and pair them with vegetables or cheeses.

Chicken, grapes, and celery are a great combination, or ham, cheddar, and apples. Add a pita or crackers to fill up your kids' bellies with a little bit of carbs. Fruit kebabs are also simple and add a sweet treat. Add a marshmallow to make them dessert fruit kebabs. They pair well with a Gogurt.

Falafel or Chickpeas in a Pita

This one takes some planning ahead, but it's worth it if your kid likes chickpeas and isn't getting much protein from other lunch choices. Make falafel the night before — we like this recipe — or you can use chickpeas alone. Some kids like chickpeas straight from the can, others like the crispy texture of oven-roasted garbanzo beans.

Serve them in a pita with lettuce and tomatoes, on a bun, or plain with a fork. Tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, and other fresh vegetables make a great side for this. You can also buy tzatziki or make your own with Greek yogurt, cucumbers, and dill if your kids want a dip or sauce with this.

Healthy Muffins

The best way to make these is with eggs, veggies, and maybe a touch of cheese and/or bacon, like in this recipe. But if you have a kid who is allergic to eggs or just doesn't like them, you can find a healthy zucchini muffin recipe to get some vegetables in there!

Put a piece of toast or half a bagel and some fruit in with the muffins, and you've got a complete meal!

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