Easy, Pack Ahead Kid School Lunch Ideas

Packing kids lunches is such a hoot.

It’s one of those parts of parenthood that many of us don’t plan for (or probably really even think about) before becoming parents.

One day, you have to pack your child a lunchbox for school or the park or a playdate. And then you just… never stop packing lunches 🤯

We literally will pack lunches for our kids every single day for YEARS.

If packing lunches sounds totally overwhelming and confusing to you, you’re not alone.

I talk to people all the time who feel at a loss for what to pack their kids. Honestly, sometimes I feel at a loss for what to pack my kids!

Does this lunch have enough protein? Enough fiber?
Do they like these foods?
Will they eat this?
Will the temperature stay okay?
Are the ingredients school safe?
Are they getting enough nutrition?!

And SO. ON.

I keep a list of easy lunches for my kids whenever I’m in a funk or out of ideas. So when you need a guide, a list, or just some easy inspiration – consider this yours.

(PS. If you need a lunchbox, this has been my go to for years! It holds up so well and my kids love the fun patterns.)

What should a kid’s lunchbox include?

While there’s no rule of thumb here – every parent has their own priorities and values – there are some nutrients that I like to focus on as a registered dietitian and mom of 2.

Main:

When I pack school lunches for my kids, I’ll first focus on a “main” to base the lunchbox around. I aim for this main to contain protein and carbohydrates, although sometimes it doesn’t always contain as much protein as I’d like.

In those cases, I add an additional protein to the lunch to make sure it’s filling.

Hot tip: kids need much less protein than many of us realize. Young kids and preschoolers only need about 13-19 grams of protein. They can get this easily!

Additional protein:

If the main doesn’t contain protein, no sweat. I’ll often add something else that gives them a little protein – like cheese or edamame.

Fruit:

My kids’ lunchboxes always have fruit. Why? Because fruit contains so many beneficial vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber.

If your kids don’t eat many vegetables – which is very normal – fruit is a perfectly acceptable substitute. It contains many similar nutrients to vegetables.

And because I find that my kids often eat most of their packed lunch (they’re hungry, they’re eating with peers, and if they’re eating at school, there’s less distraction as they eat as a class), it’s a great time to really ensure they get those important nutrients.

Vegetables:

Ditto on the above with fruit. Lunch is a great time to try and add vegetables to your child’s diet.

Most times, I’ll stick to foods I know my kids enjoy. Sometimes though, I’ll add a new food and see if they want to try it.

While you should always include your foods that you know your child likes, it’s also okay to add new foods here and there. After all, a child doesn’t know if they like a new food if they’re not even given the opportunity to try it.

One caveat here is that sometimes I don’t include vegetables. Some lunches may just have a fruit or even 2 types of fruit instead of a veg. Again, nothing is a black and white rule – just general guidelines to follow.

Fun food:

When my older child was 2, I started adding fun foods to her lunchbox – a few chocolate chips, a gummy or two, a Hershey kiss, etc.

My kids – like most kids – love dessert. It’s objectively delicious.

And the more we can normalize dessert – instead of making it something special that has to be earned – the more our kids can eat it without obsession.

I also often find that adding the fun food increases the likelihood that the rest of the lunch will get eaten, too. Instead of waiting to “earn” a treat, kids can feel like they have the autonomy of choosing when to eat their fun food amid their other lunch foods too.

This is one of my favorite kids for helping kids foster their own healthy relationship with food.