Make your back-to-school mornings easier this fall with these 40 fun school lunch box ideas. You will find healthy lunches, creative bento boxes, sandwich, pinwheels, wraps, and hot lunch box recipes that even your picky eater will love.
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Even though it feels like summer has just begun, the aisles are already filling with back-to-school gear like backpacks, notebooks, and snack ideas to get ready for the new school year. If you are a planner like me, then you know it’s the perfect time to start figuring out what to pack for school lunches to beat the back-to-school rush.
Instead of scrambling the week before classes start, you can begin stocking up on containers, and compiling a list of easy go-to lunch ideas so you are prepared ahead of time. Simple and fun ideas that your kids will love in place of boring sandwiches every day.
So, to help you achieve this, I thought I would gather up some fun school lunch box ideas so you can start planning for the new school year now and skip the stress. These simple lunch ideas are perfect for kids, teens, and picky eaters and hopefully will make your back-to-school mornings a little easier this fall.
Looking for more easy back-to school recipes?
- 70 Easy Back to School Breakfast Ideas for Kids
- Mix and Match Lunch Ideas for Kids
- 30 Easy and Fun After-School Snack Ideas
- 52 Easy Back to School Dinner Ideas
40 Fun School Lunch Box Ideas
These easy and fun school lunch box ideas include everything from creative Bento lunch box ideas, healthy options, sandwiches, wraps and pinwheels, hot lunch recipes, sides, and sweet snacks.
Creative Lunch Box Ideas for Kids
1
Cultivating Brilliant Minds
How To Make A Dinosaur Lunch Idea for Kids
Your kids will love these dinosaur lunch ideas with dinosaur-shaped sandwiches, broccoli trees, pretzel fossils, & grape dino eggs.
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2
Kim Schob
PB & Jelly Banana Sushi Tortilla Wrap
Tired of sending your kids to school with sandwiches for lunch? This peanut butter & jelly banana sushi is wrapped in a tortilla for the perfect bite-sized lunch idea.
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3
The Soccer Mom Blog
Easy Zoo Themed Lunch for Kids
Learn how to make these easy zoo themed lunch for kids with a cute lion pita flatbread and other healthy animal food ideas.
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4
Mom Foodie
Chicken Taco Bento
This Chicken Taco Bento Box Lunch is a great way to use up leftover chicken, and assembling tiny tacos to munch on gets kids eating their veggies without fuss.
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5
Cultivating Brilliant Minds
The Best Lunch Idea For Kids: Flower Garden Lunch
Turn lunch into a blooming garden with a flower garden lunch with flower sandwiches, citrus petals, & greens.
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6
The Soccer Mom Blog
Healthy Soccer Themed Bento Lunch for Kids
An easy and healthy soccer themed kids lunch that’s ready in minutes & provides lasting energy for the school day.
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Healthy Kids Lunch Options
7
Momables
Make Healthy Lunchables for School Real Quick
Find healthy lunch swaps and learn how to make them ahead of time and keep them fresh.
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8
The Forked Spoon
Protein Snack Pack
These Protein Snack Packs are filled with hard-boiled eggs, almonds, hummus, and crunchy veggies for an easy and delicious lunch idea perfect for school lunches.
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9
Get Inspired Everyday!
Healthy Tuna Salad
This Healthy Tuna Salad is made with mayo or Greek yogurt, & it’s great with spinach & apple.
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10
Mommy Evolution
Pizza Pockets - Power Your Lunchbox with a Healthy Option
These pizza pockets are a delicious and healthy lunch option. Plus, you can make them ahead of time and freeze to enjoy later.
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Sandwich Lunch Box Ideas
11
Kitchen Divas
Homemade Uncrustables
Homemade Uncrustables are soft, freezer friendly sandwiches, stuffed with your favorite fillings, like peanut butter, strawberry, Nutella, PB & J and more.
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12
Little Spice Jar
Grinder Salad Sandwich
This version of the viral TikTok Grinder Salad Sandwich is loaded with thinly sliced deli smoked turkey, lots of iceberg lettuce with pepperoncini's to make the most delicious tangy salad sandwich.
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13
Flavours Treat
Kid Friendly No Cook Vegetable Sandwich (Lunchbox Idea)
Try this kid friendly no cook vegetable sandwich that's perfect to pack in your kids lunchbox.
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14
The Wholesome Spoon
BBQ Chicken Salad
This BBQ Chicken Salad is an easy lunch recipe. with cooked chicken, BBQ sauce, mayo, cheese, pickle, lemon, and garlic.
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15
The Cookin' Chicks
Best Egg Salad Recipe
Looking for an easy egg salad recipe? This recipe only requires a handful of ingredients and can be whipped up in no time.
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Wraps and Pinwheels
16
The Salty Marshmallow
Veggie Wraps
Veggie Wraps are the perfect healthy school lunch idea. Packed with fresh ingredients and full of flavor, these wraps are super versatile and loaded with nutrients.
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17
The Buttery Fairytale
Easy Chicken Salad Wrap
This chicken salad wrap is made with soft tortilla wraps that envelop creamy and meaty chicken salad. It’s so easy to make and perfect for a quick lunch.
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18
Budget Delicious
Chicken Bacon Ranch Wraps
Chicken Bacon Ranch Wrap made with leftover chicken is a super easy and budget-friendly lunch loaded with chicken, veggies, and creamy ranch.
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19
The Recipe Nest
Chicken Wrap
This chicken wrap is made with juicy chicken, crunchy lettuce, onion and cucumber, sweet tomatoes, and a smooth ranch dressing.
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20
Kitchen Ready Betty
Turkey and Cheese Pinwheels
Turkey and Cheese Pinwheels are easy to make & fun to eat. Made with cheddar, bacon & ranch, it's a delicious lunch recipe everyone will enjoy.
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21
On My Kid's Plate
Baked Ham And Cheese Pinwheels
Hot ham and cheese pinwheels with crescent rolls are the perfect melty lunch idea. These roll ups are quick to make and great for kids!
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22
The Chaotic Table
Crack Chicken Pinwheels
Not every school lunch has to be another turkey or ham sandwich. These crack chicken pinwheels are a fun switch-up that fits perfectly into lunchboxes and actually gets eaten.
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23
Thriving in Parenting
Rainbow Veggie Pinwheels
This rainbow veggie pinwheel recipe is perfect for a colorful lunch idea that everyone will love. It's a quick and easy recipe that's perfect for school lunches.
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Hot Lunch Box Ideas
24
Saving Talents
Easy Pepperoni Pizza Muffins Kids Can Make
Children will love helping make dinner with this recipe for easy pepperoni pizza muffins that kids can make.
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25
The Slow Roasted Italian
Easy 3 Ingredient Mac and Cheese
This simple 3-Ingredient Mac and Cheese is ultra creamy and loaded with ooey gooey cheese kids will love.
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26
Small Town Woman
Mozzarella Pepperoni Crescent Rolls
These super easy Pepperoni Crescent Rolls take just a few minutes to prep and cook. Plus, they are super kid friendly and picky eater approved.
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27
TwoSleevers
Mini Meatball Pasta
Mini Meatball Pasta combines tender little meatballs, marinara sauce, and pasta for a hearty lunch option that kids will be excited to eat.
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28
Homemade In The Kitchen
Grilled Cheese Roll Ups with Tomato Soup Dipping Sauce
No more boring grilled cheese! Grilled Cheese Roll Ups with Tomato Soup Dipping Sauce is a fun hot lunch option to enjoy at home or take to school.
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29
Nibble and Dine
Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
These classic chicken nuggets taste even better than store-bought, and they can be made in under 25 minutes.
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Easy Lunch Box Sides
30
I Heart Naptime
The Easiest Homemade Trail Mix
This trail mix recipe is easy to make and perfect to add to lunch boxes or enjoy as an after-school snack.
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31
Homemade Cinnamon Applesauce
Try this easy homemade cinnamon applesauce that's made with fresh McIntosh apples, brown sugar, and a sprinkle of cinnamon for the perfect cozy fall treat.
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32
Noshing With the Nolands
Peanut Butter Popcorn Recipe
This Peanut Butter Popcorn is sweet, salty and perfect to add to lunch boxes for an easy side.
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33
In the Kids Kitchen
Honey Glazed Crockpot Chex Mix
A classic party snack made even easier with this Crockpot Chex Mix recipe! It's a perfect combination of sweet, salty, & crunchy!
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Sweet Treats
34
Tessie's Table
Homemade Granola Bars Done Right
Whip up these easy homemade granola bars with oats, nuts, and a touch of chocolate that are perfect for adding to lunch boxes for a sweet treat.
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35
Fox Farm Home
Mini Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
These mini banana chocolate chip muffins are a great bite sized snack for kids. They are easy to make for a quick after-school snack or lunch box treat.
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36
In the Kitch
Mini Apple Pies: A Fall School Snack Recipe
These mini apple pies perfectly capture that warm, cozy feeling of coming home from school on a crisp autumn afternoon.
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37
365 Days of Baking and More
Funfetti Rice Krispie Treats
These Funfetti Rice Krispie Treats are perfect for a lunch box or after-school snack. Take the Rice Krispie treats you love, combine them with some Funfetti cake mix and some sprinkles and you’ve got an easy no-bake dessert that your kids will love.
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38
Thrifty Jinxy
Apple Sandwiches Recipe
These apple sandwiches made with apples, nut butter, granola and raisins are perfect for an after school snack or to add to a school lunch box.
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39
Maria's Mixing Bowl
Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies
These peanut butter and jelly cookies are loaded with classic peanut butter cookie flavor and peanut butter and jelly buttercream filling for an irresistible sweet treat kids will love.
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40
Chocolate Peanut Butter Puppy Chow
This easy puppy chow recipe is a fun, no-bake treat that combines the delicious flavors of chocolate and peanut butter with an extra pop of color and crunch from Reese's Pieces and M&Ms.
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Looking for more easy kid-friendly recipes?
- 30 Days of Kid-Friendly Recipes for Picky Eaters
- 42 Kid-Approved Crockpot Dinners
- 50 Kid-Friendly Dinners for Busy School Nights
- 56 Best Picky Eater Dinner Ideas
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