Easy Snack-Inspired Lunch Box Ideas
A new school year brings lots of change for our house with our oldest off to full-day kindergarten. While we’ve had some practice packing lunches over the years for summer camps and lunch bunch programs, this will be the first time I plan and pack a lunch every day.

As we ease into this new school year with many “firsts,” the mama bear in me wants to make sure Teddy’s lunch is filled with familiar favorites that remind him of home and that he loves. At the same time, my registered dietitian nutritionist brain will look to balance a tasting of colorful and wholesome choices with a little sweet treat to make sure he’ll have energy to keep his busy mind and body fueled until the afternoon.

We’re big on snack-inspired meals in our house so Teddy’s lunch box fixings will include a little of each of his favorite foods. A fun new reusable, insulated Bento box lunchbox from Fit & Fresh and colorful silicone baking cups will help make the lunch “presentation” a feast for the eyes, but doesn’t require Pinterest-worthy cooking and baking skills. π

Here’s a list of our familiar favorites (that are kid and registered dietitian nutritionist-approved) that will be on our rotation this week and for weeks to come.
Download my week of easy lunch box ideas to save to your desktop or phone for lunch packing inspiration this year. (Or click the image to save to your Pinterest account!)


At the end of the day, what’s most important is that Teddy EATS his lunch and if that’s the same thing every day, then that’s totally fine!
Whether you’ve been packing kids’ lunches for years or are starting now like us, what are your favorite items to include?
XOXO,
Emily
Love the ideas and your pictures are so bright and beautiful! Great job! Will surely incorporate some of these snack ideas . I love our bento boxes too.
Giuliana
@health_fashion_and_more
Thanks so much, Giuliana! I find the presentation and interesting shapes truly helps make things appealing for my kiddos. It works for me, too! π
Love the ideas! I donβt have kids yet, but honestly, I like these options for myself!!
Thanks, Anna! I completely agree. I’m a snacker myself so I like a little bit of many things for a meal so I’m always on the hunt for ideas to change things up for myself. π
These are such great ideas for lunch! I love that you made a printable too! Thanks for sharing. I will definitely be using these tips for my boys.
Thanks, Jenni! I’m always looking for new ideas so I figured this sheet could offer up a couple new ideas for other mamas. π
My daughter is 3 and in daycare so no lunches yet, but I need to adapt this for myself for at work!