School Lunch Ideas for Every Day of the Week

Say Goodbye to Boring Sandwiches with These EASY School Lunch Ideas

Are you looking for some easy, new ways to add some jazz to your kids’ school lunches?  Check out these themed ideas in “School Lunch Ideas for Every Day of the Week”!

I recently took a poll on Instagram on who would like to see some ideas for back to school lunches.  You guys, 100% of you said YES…making me think this is a struggle for most moms (including myself!)

I’m a “theme” person, so I’ve organized these different school lunch ideas into daily themes. 

My hope is that it will make it easier for you to plan for different types of lunches and that it’ll give your kids something fun to look forward to each day.

I also tested out of few of the following ideas on my 3 year old, and they were a major hit.  And that’s really saying something considering I have been S-T-R-U-G-G-L-I-N-G to get him off the PB&Js he insists on everyday…

Be sure to stick around until the end of the post for my top lunch “supply” recommendations to make packing theses school lunches even easier!

I hope you enjoy!

School Lunch Ideas for Every Day of the Week

Monday: Sandwich

Ok, there’s usually nothing too excited about a sandwich…and you’re kind of limited to what you can pack (nobody likes a soggy sandwich).  But try jazzing up those basic PB&Js  and deli sandwiches with fun sandwich cutters instead!

1. DIY PB&J Crustables (great freezer-friendly option!)
2. Assorted Sandwich Cutters

Tuesday: Wraps/Rolls

I love wraps because you can go sweet or savory!  Plus, it mixes it up from your basic, everyday sandwich.  You could essentially put all the same sandwich goods inside a tortilla, and call it a day!

1. Ham and Cheese Pinwheels
2. Healthy Turkey Wraps
3. Peanut Butter and Banana Wraps

Wednesday: Kabobs

I mean, it’s basically a sandwich on a stick…but how fun do these look for kids??  My toddler LOVES these!

Thursday: Quesadillas (freezer-friendly!)

Quesadillas are such an easy school lunch option because you can prep a bunch at once, freeze them, and then take them out as you need them!

1. Cheesy Quesadillas (with dipping sauces)
2. BBQ Chicken Quesadillas
3. Turkey and Cheese Quesadillas
4. Pepperoni Pizza Quesadillas

Friday: “Lunchables”

These are probably my favorite, and you KNOW your kids would be all over this.  What a fun Friday treat! 

1. Cheese and Crackers (pepperoni works great too!)
2. Pizza (use an English muffin or Naan as the “crust”, and send the sauce in these to make it mess-free)
3. Chicken Taco Bento Box

Bonus Day: Salad

1. Kids Pasta Salad
2. Taco Salad
3. …other pasta salad ideas.

Don’t Forget About the Sides

If lunch that day requires some sides, try mixing and matching these easy ideas:

1. Fruit
2. String cheese/Cheese sticks
3. Veggies + hummus/ranch (use these to keep the hummus/ranch from touching everything!)
4. Veggie Straws/Chips
5. Pickles
6. Pretzels + nutella
7. Peanut butter + apples

My School Lunch Supply Must-Haves for Easy Prep and Storage

Of course you don’t need anything more than a plastic bag or a few cheap plastic containers.  But there are a few items that can make your school lunch prep and storage easier and more fun (for your kiddos).

1. Bento Boxes 

Bento boxes are great because they keep everything seperate.  You can prep a whole week’s worth of lunches at one time with this 6-pack of bento containers! 

Or you can try something like this if you’re looking for something leak-proof (we have this one and it truly does not leak). 

They even have thermos bento boxes that allows you to pack a mixture of hot and cold foods.

2. Sandwich Cutters

Even if all you have time for is slapping a sandwich together at the last minute, different sandwich cutters can add some fun to just a basic sandwich! 

Also, check out this “cut and seal” tool that allows you to make (and freeze for easier prep!) your own Crustables!

3. “Wet Stuff” Separators

I honestly don’t know what to call this category!  These are items you can use if you’re packing some sort of dip, dressing, etc…and you don’t want it touching the rest of the food or making it soggy. 

These little silicone cups are my favorite because they can be used to contain dips, seperate foods if you don’t have a bento box, or used at home for baking!

For different price points and similar items, you can check out these items and more in my “In the Kitchen” section in my Amazon storefront.  

For more back to school posts, check out the following:

• Back to School Teacher Gift (with Free Printable)
• Back to School Breakfast with Target Dollar Spot
• Pineapple Mason Jar Back to School Gift
• “‘I’m Tickled Pink’ That You’re My Teacher” Gift Idea

School Lunch Ideas for Everyday of the Week