Easy Lunch Ideas for Back to School
Summer is flying by, and back-to-school is fast approaching, just weeks away. Whether you have a new preschooler or kindergartner, or you are a veteran Mom, figuring out what to pack for lunch is always a struggle, and we can ALL use a refresher. Need some ideas? Keep reading to see our favorite easy lunch ideas for back to school, the foods that last the best until lunch, and how to pack them to ensure maximum freshness (and minimal mess!)
What Do I Pack For Lunch?
Here’s a checklist for what to pack in your child’s lunch every day:
- Main entree, such as a sandwich or wrap, deli meat, quesadilla
- Fruits and vegetables, such as an apple, a banana, carrot sticks, bell pepper, grapes, or a cucumber
- Dairy, such as yogurt tubes or cheese sticks
- Side snack, such as chips, pretzels, popcorn, or trail mix
- Drink, preferably water or milk
- Dips, such as ranch, hummus, or salsa
Most lunchboxes come with pre-portioned sections to help you fit everything into one place.
Which Foods Last The Longest Til Lunch?
On top of your child’s lunch being nutritious and something they will enjoy, it also needs to be able to last a few hours until lunchtime.
Here are some of the best foods and prep ideas that will still be good until lunchtime:
- Use an ice pack in your child’s lunch to ensure maximum freshness
- Keep your child’s yogurt tubes in the freezer and put one in their lunchbox when they leave. It will defrost by lunchtime, still be cold, and even double as an ice pack helper
- Pre-sliced veggies won’t turn brown by lunch. These can include carrot sticks, bell peppers, and broccoli
- Fruits with peels are best to include with lunch, such as apples, grapes, oranges, and bananas
- Granola bars, jerky, and nuts are a great way to incorporate protein into lunch
How Do I Pack It?
Here are some packing tips when it comes to your child’s lunch:
| Remember food safety. | Utilize an ice pack if a refrigerator isn’t available. If you’re unsure whether a food will still be good by lunch, err on the side of safety and just skip it. |
| Find a leakproof lunchbox. | Kids throw, kick, and drop their backpacks all throughout the day, and this includes their lunch. Make sure their lunchbox is durable, leakproof, and can easily be used by them. |
| Include utensils. | Make sure your child has utensils in their lunchbox, preferably in its own case, so you don’t have to deep clean their lunchbox so often. |
| Watch out for mold. | Many lunchboxes that claim to be leakproof have rubber gaskets that are difficult to clean. In fact, they harbor mold and can impact your child’s lunch. Find a lunchbox without a rubber gasket for the safest option. |
| Be mindful of materials. | Even the most popular lunchbox brands can have toxins in their products. Look for materials that are silicone-, BPA-, phthalate-, PVC-, and lead-free. |
Bento Boxes Kids and Adults Will Love
Innobaby's Keepin' Fresh Stainless Steel Snack Box is a SMART food storage solution for home and on the go, whether you're a toddler or an adult!
Made in three different sizes, these boxes are great for storing sandwiches, pastas, veggies, and more. Our unique divided design keeps food separated and mess-free, completely customized by you with the removable divider!
The double-lined wall keeps food cold or warm up to 2 times longer than standard containers while acting as a protective shell to protect little hands from extreme temperatures.
The airtight hinged lid is a snap to open and close, seals in freshness, and is simple enough for toddlers and small children to use. The perfectly portioned stainless steel bentos are easy to wash, too, thanks to the removable stainless insert. Top rack dishwasher safe. Innobaby's Keepin' Fresh Bentos are also freezer-safe, BPA-free, phthalate-free, PVC-free, and lead-free.
The Cutest Leakproof Silicone Lunchbox
Leakproof without a rubber gasket, made of high-quality silicone, and super fun and cute? Check!
Made with Platinum Silicone, this material does not require plasticizers for its pliability. It's pure and heat resistant, so you can stop worrying about chemicals leaching into your child’s food.
Wondering what’s up with that cover? Your child gets to totally decorate this lunchbox with FlexCharmz! Reward picky eaters, healthy eaters, and lunchbox finishers with these cute charms and watch as they decorate it as uniquely as they are.
Parents love it, too: Enjoy leak-proof protection without the need for rubber seals, thanks to a 2-in-1 silicone plate that doubles as a leakproof seal. Plus, it is microwaveable & oven safe.
The inside tray is made with heat-resistant & BPA-Free platinum grade silicone, so all you need to do is simply remove the tray and reheat. It’s also safe for oven use and safe to microwave!
Utensils With Their Own Case
There’s nothing worse at the end of a long day than opening your child’s lunchbox and seeing the stuck-on food from their utensils. Eww!
That’s why our utensils have their own easy-to-use and easy-to-wash case!
Sized just right for kids, our utensil set is perfect for children transitioning from toddler utensils to larger-sized cutlery, just like mom and dad's. Totally BPA-, phthalate-, PVC-, and lead-free, this no-worry utensil solution comes with a carrying case and ergonomically designed handle, making it a perfect companion for on-the-go school lunches and more!
For more back-to-school essentials and lunch hacks, visit us at Innobaby.com!