Learn how to create a week's worth of easy, delicious back-to-school lunch recipes for kids using the same affordable ingredients.
With back-to-school season quickly approaching, it's time to start thinking about what you're going to pack your kids for lunch because they can't have PB&J every day (or can they??).
To help you ace your lunch game, we're serving up some creative — and super easy — lunch combos that are great for busy routines and your wallet. Based on only 15 total ingredients, many of these recipes use overlapping items for efficient, waste-free lunch planning and shopping.
Deli counter:
Refrigerated section:
Pantry items:
Fresh produce:
Here's a twist to make ho-hum turkey sandwiches a little more exciting. Skip the bread, and instead roll-up sliced deli turkey and your kiddo's favorite cheese and their favorite condiments. Serve with trail mix, pretzels, and grapes for a well-rounded lunch.
Create a charcuterie-inspired lunch box with salami or pepperoni, sliced cheese, pretzels, mixed nuts, grapes, and a sliced banana. Bonus points if you can arrange it in a showoff-worthy bento box.
Re-use the cold cuts from yesterday's lunch and build a DIY pizza box (kids love building their own pies!). Just add a loaf of pita bread (or cut it into a few small round pieces) and some jarred tomato sauce, and let them get creative. Serve with mixed berries and veggie sticks to balance it out. Throw in some Ranch dressing for dipping the crust, too.
Upcycle your accouterments from yesterday and pack a pasta bowl with cheese ravioli and tomato sauce. For younger ones, make it fun by letting them pick out their favorite fork and knife.
Kids love to dip, right? So, pack hummus with all sorts of yummy dipping treats like pita bread triangles, baby carrots, celery sticks, and pretzels. Give their meal a sweet finish with trail mix and some fruit (grapes or berries, whatever's left in the fridge!).
After all that creative flair, it's back to basics with a quick pita pocket sandwich stuffed with hummus and cheese. Serve it with baby carrots and celery sticks (and some peanut butter for that dipping!), grapes, and trail mix.
We'd never forget you, PB&J! But let's shake it up a bit. Stuff a pita pocket with peanut butter and a handful of banana slices for a fun, sweet take on the classic sandwich. Serve it with berries (even better than jelly!), pretzels, and mixed nuts for a complete meal.