Here’s yet another “round up” of my kids’ school lunches that I routinely share on Facebook. In case you are new here these links might help set the stage for you:
- School Lunch Roundup I and School Lunch Roundup II blog posts.
- Our favorite school lunch supplies including the divided Ziplock container and what lunchbag we fit all of this into.
- Everything you could ever want to know about the pictured, brightly-colored smoothie/freezie pop molds.
- Why we don’t track protein or worry about getting “enough.”
- Our full recipe index where you can find most (but not necessarily all) recipes pictured below.
Sponsor Shoutout: The Fresh 20 Meal Planning Service
Before we dive into the pictures though I want to make sure you know about our meal planning sponsor…The Fresh 20! Through their service you’ll receive 5 unprocessed dinner recipes each week that can be made from only 20 fresh ingredients (organized shopping list included). The cost is $5/month and you can choose from their Classic, Vegetarian, or Gluten-Free plan. If you are struggling to get a wholesome dinner on the table every night why not let someone else do all the planning for you?
School Lunch Roundup Photos
Whole-grain (ak-mak brand) crackers, Havarti cheese slices, strawberries, carrots, and hummus (for dipping)
Egg salad, whole-grain crackers (Multi-Seed variety), zucchini muffin (made with whole spelt flour instead of wheat), berry/yogurt/spinach smoothie pop, and frozen peas
Chicken noodle soup, whole spelt zucchini muffin, cantaloupe, and water
Sandwich bread pizza (tomato sauce and cheese on top of regular sandwich bread and toasted), melon/blueberries, applesauce, and carrots
Carrots, frozen berry/banana/spinach/yogurt smoothie pop, whole spelt pumpkin muffin, stove-top (homemade) organic popcorn, and store bought applesauce
Homemade tomato bisque, fruit mix (kiwi/apple/cantaloupe), a cold grilled cheese sandwich, and some water
Leftover egg salad, whole-wheat (ak-mak crackers), cheese cubes, strawberries, and leftover cooked broccoli
Red bell pepper slices, hard-boiled egg, 3 mini whole-grain pumpkin muffins, frozen smoothie pop (made with berries/bananas/plain yogurt/swiss chard leaves), and some whole-wheat pretzels (from Trader Joe’s)
Whole-wheat waffle and cream cheese sandwich, an organic ham/cheese roll up (once in a blue moon I buy Applegate organic sandwich meat just to switch things up), some apple slices, and a homemade trail mix (nuts/seeds/raisins)
Sunflower seed butter and honey sandwich, whole-grain pretzels, organic cheese stick, cucumbers, red bell peppers, and hummus (for dipping)
Whole-wheat “pita pizza” (toasted in the toaster oven and served cold), raw carrots, leftover steamed broccoli, and hummus
Leftover veggie corn chowder (warm in thermos), whole-wheat cinnamon raisin bread, and cucumbers/carrots
Hummus & cheese sandwich (topped with a few spinach leaves), carrots, cheese slices, honeydew melon, strawberries, and applesauce
Popcorn, applesauce, carrots, berry/yogurt/spinach/banana smoothie pop, and a whole-grain zucchini muffin
Spaghetti and meatballs (made with carrot bits and defrosted from freezer), an apple/PB sandwich, and water
Whole-wheat waffle/cream cheese/cinnamon sandwich, carrots, plain yogurt mixed with homemade berry sauce, and a hard-boiled egg
A “make your own pizza” lunch with whole-wheat pita triangles (from Trader Joe’s), store bought organic pasta sauce, a little grated cheese, and some “ants on a log” made with sunflower seed butter and raisins
Whole-wheat cinnamon raisin bread/cream cheese sandwich, grapefruit slices, pineapple bits, and plain yogurt mixed with a little vanilla extract, pure maple syrup and frozen blueberries
Refried bean/cheese tostada (cut into 4 triangles and served cold), peanuts, honeydew melon, and an apple/sunflower butter sandwich
Blueberry/spinach/yogurt smoothie pop, carrot, whole spelt pumpkin muffin, popcorn & roasted pumpkin seed mix, and clementines with grapes
Homemade tomato bisque (with whole-wheat noodles floating in it), melon/raspberries, a zucchini muffin, and water.
Leftover Crock-Pot chicken, berry/yogurt/spinach frozen smoothie pop, cheese stick, apple slices, and a whole-wheat banana nut muffin
Please share your school lunch ideas in the comments below!
what great lunch ideas…they are so healthy and great for kids…wish all kids were able to eat this way
I showed some of these meals to my daughter and she said she would actually eat most of it, so I am gonna give it a try and I love how you organize it with the silicone cups.
Can you make my lunch to take to work with me every day? These lunches look downright awesome
Do your kids actually eat all of those items (like frozen peas and broccoli)?
Hi Carlie. They do!
~Amy
[...] every day on Facebook I share the school lunches that I pack for my daughters and almost every day there are a lot of questions about these lunches. [...]
I’m starting or wanting to cut sugar out of my familys meals need some ideas on subtitutes.
Hi, we struggle to use anything ith egg or nuts as there are children at school with allergies. Can you tell me where you go he frozen ice pop contine nd how long it stays frozen for?
Hello Mary. You can find a link to the smoothie pop molds here: http:http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/08/24/my-favorite-school-lunch-supplies/. They won’t stay frozen beyond a couple hours but if they are secure in the lunch box, they work great as a squeeze tube by lunch time. ~Amy
That link doesn’t bring me to the molds. So do you also pack ice packs in the lunch? My kids lunch is packed at 645am and they don’t eat it until 1115 and 1215 consecutively. I’m worried I’d have a pile of liquid. Even the Thermos’ won’t stay warm that long and I’m at a loss!
Oops! I corrected the link. Try again: http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/08/24/my-favorite-school-lunch-supplies/.
~Amy
I use klean kanteen for my coffee (i have a insulated thermos) and they work! I pour my coffee before i go to bed and when i am on my way to work the next day it is the perfect temp (very warm!) i havent tried the little containers but i think they should solve your soup problem!
well worth the $$!!
On School Lunch Roundup III, in the 3rd meal down (Chicken noodle soup, whole spelt zucchini muffin, cantaloupe, and water), can you please tell me more about the small stainless steel(?) container?
Hi Ian. This post will answer your question and provide a link: http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2013/01/14/lunch-ideas-for-all-ages-with-lunchbots/. ~Amy
Thanks so much, Amy!
Do you know if the Trader Joe pita pockets are freezable?
Hello Julie. Sure, you can freeze them. ~Amy
I was just a Trader Joe’s today looking at their whole wheat pita pockets. The second ingredient in them is unbleached enriched wheat flour. Is this a change in the ingredients or do you feel that this is ok because the first ingredient it whole wheat flour? I see that the package I have just says “wheat pita pockets”. I did not see a “whole wheat” option. Am I missing it?
Unbleached is better than bleached! I am trying hard to avoid so much dependance on wheat at all in my home after learning that it’s a GMO product and totally different today than what it used to be. But it’s SO hard to find other options and seems like most of these lunches rely heavily on wheat products/ingredients. Would love some other options.
Hi Marina. I tried to find product details on TJ’s website but could not. These links shows it as 100% whole grain: http://www.fatsecret.com/calories-nutrition/trader-joes/whole-wheat-pita-breadhttp://www.fooducate.com/app#page=product&id=824B690A-6B67-11E0-A55F-1231380C180E. ~Amy
Thank you Amy! I asked last time I was at TJ’s and learned that the bread varies by location because they try to use local bakeries. I live in Oregon and they do not carry 100% whole wheat pita. The second ingredient is unbleached enriched wheat flour and it contains preservatives. Bummer! Good to know that not all products are the same.
I have tried to give my boys fruit in their lunches and I am just starting your program. How do you suggest keeping the sliced apples and bananas looking fresh?
Hi Judy. Squeezing on a bit of lemon juice works wonders! ~Amy
Great ideas, but how do you keep your lunches looking that pretty by the time they take their lunch box out at school?
Hi Kari. Lisa did a recent post on the life cycle of a school lunch: http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2013/04/12/school-lunch-life-cycle/. I think it will address your curiosity.
~Amy
Have you ever thought about including a column on 100 days of purchased at school lunches to highlight the state of what a school district considers a lunch. I love your site and do my best to send health stuff. However what about the kids on free lunch programs who are forced to eat some pretty awful stuff out of financial need.
Hello Pam. You might find this post interesting and relevant: http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/09/07/book-review-fed-up-with-lunch/. ~Amy
Another good recommended reading California cuisine and just food.
Great lunch ideas! Could you please post the recipes for your whole wheat cinnamon raisin bread and zucchini muffins? Thanks.
Hello Nicole. Here you go: http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2011/05/25/recipe-whole-wheat-cinnamon-raisin-bread-for-bread-machine/ and http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2010/06/25/recipe-zucchini-bread/. ~Amy
I created a 30+ days of lunches page for my blog. You can check it out here, if you’d like:
http://adventuresintheballpark.blogspot.com/p/whats-for-lunch.html
I ended up going over 30. I made lunches for my husband, but then realized they could be for kids too.
These look awesome. Thanks for the inspiration. I really like how you used the reusable cupcake wrappers to separate different food items. I never thought of that. Almost everything is very simple and nutritious.
thanks you!