It is almost the end of August and you know what that means…. school is in session! Now I am going to age myself here, but when I went to school we still started in September! However, nowadays that is not the case and so we need to be rearing ready to go in August. That is where these 5 Easy Kid Lunch Box Ideas ( that aren’t sandwiches!) come in. Not only are we racing around to get all the supplies, back to school clothes etc. but we also need to get food for lunches for the week. It is now the dawn of… needing to pack lunches for our kids everyday! A daunting task… however it doesn’t always have to be. Case in point these 5 Easy Lunch Box Ideas (that aren’t sandwiches!) is going to be an amazing jumpstart for your lunch ideas.
What are the Easy Kid Lunch Box Ideas ( that aren’t sandwiches!) that we will be making?
Breakfast for Lunch:
We all love breakfast no matter what time a day around here. That is why one of the lunches had to be centered around breakfast. What you will find in this bento box is:
Egg Quiches, Cantaloupe, Yogurt and Air Fryer Donut Holes
Fillo Puff Pasty Cups linked here I get them at Dierbergs
*** you can prep the egg quiches & air fryer donuts fast on the weekend for the HOLE week ( see what I did there!)
Meatball Sub Skewers:
There are a lot of skewer lunch trends going on with tortellini’s, but I like to mix it up around here! That is why we are making these SIMPLE Mini BBQ meatballs. They cook at the same temperature as the mini quiches so you can knock both those preps out at once if you want to. This is one of my favorite easy kid lunch ideas that are not a sandwich. What you will find in this bento box is:
Meatball Sub Skewers, Hummus, Grapes, Carrots and Bunny Crackers
Banana Sushi:
This is one of Ainsley’s favorite things to make going on 3 years now. She is all about the banana sushi. You can also doctor it up however you want— but I will say the tortilla matters for this recipe. Why? Am I just being dramatic? No sir! Here is the deal, some brands of tortillas have such a STRONG tortilla taste which you can taste through all the ingredients. You don’t want that, especially with a more sweet recipe. That is why I ALWAYS use Maria & Ricardos. So many great options and these tortillas never take away from the taste of the recipe. We use the Whole Wheat Plus for this recipe. What you will find in this bento box:
Banana Sushi, Pretzels, Peppers with Ranch, Cheese Stick (cut up into bite sized pieces)
Pizza Pasta Salad:
One of my favorite recipes growing up with a spicy spaghetti pasta my mom use to make. That was the inspiration for this Pizza Pasta Salad. It is one of the 5 Easy Kid Lunch Box Ideas ( that aren’t sandwiches!) for a reason. Reason being…. majority of kids love pizza, and you can customize it with ingredients that encompass you kids favorite pizza. For example Ains favorite is pepperoni & black olive. Therefore this pasta salad is based off that. It is NOT too spicy and is more kid friendly with spices. However add in oregano, fresh minced garlic etc. if you are wanting to take it up a notch as a dinner etc.! What you will find in this bento box:
Pizza Pasta Salad, Sliced Mini Cucumbers, Hummus and Gluten Free Bites
Charcuterie Board:
Everyone loves an easy throw together lunch and that is why we are round out our 5 Easy Kid Lunch Box Ideas ( that aren’t sandwiches!) with a Charcuterie Board style lunch. What you will find in this bento box:
Hard Salami Paninos ( hard salami wrapped around mozzarella cheese sticks), Sliced Strawberries, popcorn, halved cashews and Justin’s Peanut Butter Cups
Caramel Apple Dip
This bento box goes Fall mode baby! Skip the sugar packed caramel apples in the store for this healthy salted caramel apple dip inspired bento box. What you will find in this bento box:
Salted caramel apple dip, trail mix, cheese stick, sliced apples and toasted breakfast round.
Mini Hotdog Muffins
These are beyond delicious and I cannot get enough of them. Especially when you drizzle ketchup on top! Depending on the mix you get they can be GF as well. We choose to a mix that is GF, and is not a cornbread type of mix. I wanted the muffins to be savory over sweet. Here is the link but also found in local grocery stores too! What you will find in this bento box:
Mini Hotdog Muffins, ketchup (for the muffin!), cucumber slices, fruit salad, sugar free chocolate chips
Lunch Products I Recommend to buy for Back to Work or School
Perfect to use for these 5 Easy Kid Lunch Box Ideas ( that aren’t sandwiches!)
There are things that I love to buy to make lunches easier or also more fun! We could also use a glitter skewer in our lunch to create a smile during the day right? Below are some items that I LOVE for packing lunches that either make life easier, or cuter 🙂
below are the links to the pictures by number:
- Bento Box Option for Kids
- Salad Bento Box Option for Kids & Adults
- ALL TIME FAVORITE containers. No more dressing spilling or sauces etc. Also these fit perfectly in those circle parts of the bento boxes for sauces so you aren’t having to dig in those hard to clean places, just place the container in it
- Premade Lunch Box Notes— that have space for personalized note on the back from you
- Adult Lunch Box
- Mini Snack Stasher Bag
- Double Layered Adult Bento Box ( love this one for my salads– latches with or without the top tray)
- Fun sandwich cutters for both fruit, sandwiches, veggies etc.
- Type of skewers I use for the meatballs sub skewers recipe (not sharp & are reusable)
- Snack size stasher bag ( I always use these for Ainsley & myself)
- Great Stainless Steal Bento Box option
- Thermos perfect for pasta & soups. Fits great in lunch boxes
- These are super cute food tooth picks that fit perfectly in the Bento Box for kids to use
- Cannot go wrong with uncrustables! This way you can make it at your own home! Also use for tuna salad, egg salad, whatever you hearts desires– not just for PBJ
- LOVE this combo for lunch set up. Ainsley has the exact one– it has everything you need.
5 Easy Kid Lunch Box Ideas ( that aren’t sandwiches!) Recipes
Breakfast for Lunch
Ingredients
- 12 fillo puff pastry ready made cups (linked above)
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup cheddar cheese
- 1/8 cup milk
- 1/2 tsp salt
- cantelope
- yogurt
- air fryer donut holes ( recipe linked above)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees
- In a medium bowl whisk together eggs, milk & salt. Then add in cheese & whisk again
- Place your fillo puff pastry cups on your lipped baking sheet. Then with a spoon, spoon your egg mixture into the cups leaving a little bit of room for the eggs to rise and not over flow.
- Place in oven at 375 for 8 minutes, then enjoy!
- Keep your egg quiches in air tight container for 5 days in the fridge.
- Then can add chopped cantelope, yogurt & donut holes to bento box as well.
Notes
Meatball Sub Skewers
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 tbsp BBQ sauce (more if you'd like to toss them with it in the end)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp dried parsley
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp chili powder
- 1/2 cup shredded cheese
- 1/2 cup gluten free bread crumbs or regular
- sliced provolone cheese
- baguette
- favorite hummus
- sliced carrots
- bunny crackers
- grapes
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees
- In bowl add in ground beef, salt, parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, and chili powder and 1 tbsp of BBQ sauce.
- Then on top of that pour bread crumbs & shredded cheese. You want the seasoning & BBQ sauce to go first, to be closest to the meat for flavor.
- After mix until well combined. Pour 2 tbsp of olive oil into a large frying pan and bring to medium heat. Then place all 20 1 1/2 tbsp sized meatballs into the frying pan.
- Sear for 2 minutes, then flip to the opposite side and sear for 2 more minutes. Then add seared meatballs to baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 8 minutes, and devour!
- Toss with more BBQ before serving if you'd like or BBQ on the side in lunch box. Add a meatball, piece of provolone & toasted square of baguette onto skewer of lunches as seen above.
- Add cut grapes, hummus, sliced carrots and bunny crackers to bento box.
- Keep meatballs stored in air tight container for up to 5 days in fridge.
Notes
Banana Sushi
Ingredients
- 1 tortilla ( see above for the best ones for this recipe)
- 1 banana
- 1 tbsp peanut butter
- 1 tsp honey ( drizzle )
- 1-2 tbsp sugar free chocolate chips
- cheese stick
- ranch dressing
- yellow peppers
- pretzels
Instructions
- Lay out your tortilla, spread peanut butter evenly over the tortilla. Drizzle on top of the peanut butter with honey, then sprinkle the chocolate chips.
- Place the banana at the top of the tortilla and roll tightly until it is completely wrapped. Give the sides a good press with your hands around the roll in order to still ingredients together.
- Then with a sharp serrated knife slice into sushi pieces and enjoy!
- Add chopped pieces of cheese stick, sliced yellow peppers, ranch dressing and pretzels to bento box.
Pizza Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 2 cups dried pasta (ABC for school is used here)
- 5 oz sliced pepperoni package
- 1/2 cup sliced black olives
- 1/2 cup mozzarella pearls
- 1 15oz Raos Marinara Sauce
- 1/2 cup Half & Half
- 1/2 tbsp unsalted butter
- favorite hummus
- sliced cucumbers
- GFB Chocolate Bites (linked below)
Instructions
- In large stock pot follow the back of the directions of the dried pasta for 2 cups of it. Reserve 1/8 cup of pasta water.
- Drain pasta in the pasta strainer. Then place pot back on the stove and turn to low heat. Add the 1/2 tbsp butter at the bottom of the pot. Then add in your sliced pepperonis. Heat for 2 minutes, occasionally mixing with large mixing spoon, making sure to keep pepperonis from sticking together too much.
- Then spoon out your pepperonis in a bowl. In the same stock pot back on low heat add in pasta water onto what is left from pepperonis, half & half & 2 cups marinara sauce. Stir until fully incorporated.
- Then add in the cooked pasta, pepperonis, sliced black olives and mozzarella pearls. Add salt, and pepper to taste. Enjoy!
- Add pizza pasta, sliced cucumbers, hummus & GFB bites to Bento Box. Add the remaining pasta in an air tight container and store in fridge for 5 days.
Charcuterie Board:
Ingredients
- 4 Salami Paninos ( linked above)
- popcorn
- sliced strawberries
- halved cashews
- Justins Peanut Butter Cups
Instructions
- Place ingredients above into your bento box and enjoy!
Caramel Apple Dip
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup cashew butter
- 4 tbsp date syrup
- 3 tbsp coconut cream not milk cream in can
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp salt
- Dash of cinnamon
- breakfast round linked above
- sliced apples
- trail mix
- string cheese
Instructions
- In mixing bowl add cashew butter, date syrup, coconut cream, vanilla extract, salt and cinnamon. Mix and fold with a spatula until fully incorporated.
- Cover and then let sit for 30 minutes in the fridge, then serve! Lasts for up to two weeks in the refrigerator.
- Then cut up cheese stick & place with trail mix. Cut up apple into slices, toast the breakfast round– cut it into triangles and put the rest of the box together!
Mini Hot Dog Muffins
Ingredients
- 1 7.4 oz savory muffin mix (linked above) you can use a corn bread type of muffin mix, but I prefer these muffins all savory.
- 3 hot dogs
- 1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese
- any other ingredients on the muffin mix you buy ( on the one linked above you will need eggs, milk, butter or oil)
Instructions
- Preheat oven per muffin package & grease muffin tin
- Make muffins per bag instruction and add the shredded cheese into the batter. Then divide dough evenly into the greased muffin tins
- Take the 3 hot dogs & cut each into fours. Then place a hot dog in the center of each of the muffins.
- Bake per muffin mix instructions. Drizzle ketchup on top and enjoy!
- Keep in air tight container or plastic bag in fridge for up to 5 days.
After Lunch We Need Easy Dinners
We have our easy lunches underway so if you are also looking for some easy dinners during the week I got ya covered! Check out some of our favorite family friendly easy dinners below.
Top Tips for Making Kid Lunches Without Going to the Store
As a working mom, I also travel for my job. With that being said, I always make the lunches ahead of time before my traveling so it is easier on my parents when they watch Ainsley. Also easier on our pocket book, so I am not having to consistently put money in her lunch account. I also still want her to be able have balanced choices too. However, that doesn’t mean I have to run out to the store every time before a trip. This last week I hadn’t been to the store in over a week. So we made them based on what we had on hand. Your creativity & variety doesn’t have to suffer in that case 🙂 Check out these ideas & tips I have for making it work well!
- use frozen fruit / veggies, they will thaw out before lunch time
- get the fun food cutters, always makes kiddos want to try new things more
- repurpose leftovers or what will end up going bad when out of town ( our taco night leftovers for that burrito)
- if your kiddo is of age for nuts & no nut allergies adding those with chocolate chips or dried fruit makes for a great pantry staple snack to always be able to put together
Strawberry Cream Cheese Roll-Ups Bento Box
- sliced carrots
- frozen blueberries
- pretzels
- pistachios
Strawberry Cream Cheese Roll-Up
- 1 piece of bread of choice. Cut off crust then flatten with hand on cutting board. Then smear cream cheese & your choice of jelly on top. Roll horizontal ways, like you are rolling sushi. Cut into “sushi” sized bites & place in Bento Box.
Rice Bean & Cheese Burrito Bento Box
- frozen corn
- sliced kiwi
- Lily’s dark chocolate caramel chocolate bar pieces
- Siete tortilla chips
Rice Bean & Cheese Burrito
- On tortilla of choice smash black beans drained from can, with a fork as the first layer on the tortilla. Then add rice, then shredded cheese on top. Wrap into a burrito, then place on stove top frying ban for a few minutes on each side to brown on each side. Cut in half & place in Bento Box.
Ham & Cheese Tortilla Bites Bento Box
- frozen edamame
- sliced apples
- pirates booty
Ham & Cheese Tortilla Bites
- with small sandwich cutter, cut out 10 small circles from tortilla, to create 5 sandwiches. Use same cutter to cut circles from ham steak. Then can cut those circles in half width wise to make thinner ham circles. Then cut 5 small circles of whatever cheese you’d like. Then layer the small bites. Tortilla, ham, cheese then tortilla. Place in Bento Box and enjoy.
List of No Make Snacks That Are Always in our Cart
I posted a reel this past week on IG ( if you don’t follow me there come & join the HGHF family on there @honestfoodie_blog) I got a request asking if I could put a list together of the snacks I put on that reel for a go to resource. These are snacks that require NO prepping. We all need those throw in the lunch box snacks. These are ones that when you have to go packaged I turned to for sure.
365 Peanut Butter & Cheese Crackers–
Why we love these: it is very hard to find crackers that do not have enriched flours, these and the ones below are some of the only snack crackers I have found that are not GF that use no enriched flour. Enriched flour long story short ends up turning into sugar fast and stores as unwanted fat. That is why I am always on the search for snacks that do not have this. I get them in store at Whole Foods.
Annie’s Snack Variety Pack-
Why we love these: Same as the above!
Already Peeled Hard Boiled Eggs-
Why we love these: Ainsley loves hard boiled eggs, so it is so nice that stores now have them already hard boiled & peeled. It makes for a quick snack to throw in or make quick easy egg salad for lunches. Here is our favorite egg salad!
GoGo Squeez Happy Tummiez (blend of fruit & veggies on the go)
Why we love these: Love that there are NO added sugar in these. It also has plant based prebiotic fiber that helps develop a healthy gut in your kiddo!
The Gluten Free Bites (Dark Chocolate Coconut)
Why we love these: These are one of my FAVORITE sweet treats to put in Ains & my lunch. They have 5 grams of protein per serving as well.
Go Macro Kid Bars
Why we love these: The bars that we always get because they are high quality ingredients and have less sugar than other nutrition bars. Our favorite is the cinnamon roll!
BEAR Real Fruit Fruit Rolls
Why we love these: Fruit by the foot has 14 grams of added sugar, artificial colors and preservatives— that is why we do these! They taste amazing, real fruit and no added sugar. Ainsley loves these!
Cascadian Farm (No Added Sugar) Granola Line
Why we love these: Store bought granola is packed with sugar, I love his new line Cascadian Farm has launched! VERY minimal ingredients and no added sugar, but sweetened with fruit. The only thing I don’t know about is “natural flavors” been looking into that more. But this is my favorite no prep, store bough granola alternative.
Quinn Whole Grain Sea Salt Pretzel Sticks
Why we love these: Do not hate me but I really actually do not like regular pretzels. I do not like the leftover taste in your mouth after pretzels. These do not have ANY bad after taste and are the best pretzels trust me.
The New Primal Snack Mates
Why we love these: Love New Primal beef sticks anyways & so these new kid ones they came out with are awesome. They are mini & easy to rip off the packet!
Cedar’s Snack Pack Hummus & Chips
Why we love these: Cedar hummus is my favorite so these little packs are so convenient and perfect.
Uncured Hard Salami Paninos
Why we love these: These are my go to for easy snack or lunches like you see above! Such a great source of protein.
As always if you ever have questions or ideas that you are looking for for lunches or recipes in general. Never hesitate to reach out to me. Always here!
XO-Alaina
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