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May 29, 2013
128 Comments

School Lunch Roundup IV (Also great for picnics, camps, road trips, and the pool!)

The school year is coming to a close, but I didn’t want it to end without sharing one more summary of the school lunches I’ve been packing and posting on my Facebook page this year (almost daily!). And as summer is upon us I want to make it clear that these lunch ideas could go far beyond just the school cafeteria. I find myself packing food for the kids all summer long for outdoor picnics, day camps, long road trips, zoo outings, museum visits, and afternoons at the pool. The plastic divided containers (pictured below) are perfect for all of these occasions and are an especially great way to keep road trip lunches mess-free (and waste-free) since the containers serve as your “plate” once you take off the lid. I hope your summer is full of fun activities and travel plans!

To learn more about the lunches we pack here are some links to get you started…

School Lunch Roundup Photos

March 7
Curry chicken salad, whole wheat “ak-mak” brand crackers, cantaloupe, and a small spinach salad with cheese, toasted almonds and olive oil.
April 22
Leftover homemade whole-wheat waffles, oranges/carrots, honey dew melon with strawberries and blueberries, and (to dip the waffles into) plain yogurt mixed with a little maple syrup and vanilla extract.

April 17
Creamy whole-wheat mac and cheese mixed with frozen peas and carrots, cantaloupe, and store bought organic applesauce in a reusable Squooshi pouch.
May 7
Brown rice mixed with organic soy sauce and avocado (served cold), mandarin oranges, leftover baked sweet potato “fries,” and blueberries.
Feb 14
Heart-shaped grilled cheese sandwich (served cold), carrot sticks, popcorn, leftover broccoli, and applesauce.
April 19
Whole-grain (Ezekial brand) pita “crusts,” tomato sauce, and cheese (so she can make her own pizza), orange slices, pistachios, and a salad with spinach/almonds/raisins.
Feb 28
Oranges, homemade whole-wheat chicken nuggets (defrosted from freezer and served cold), honey mustard dipping sauce (equal parts honey and mustard), whole-grain cornbread muffin (also made in advance and defrosted), and dried apple chips.
May 15
Homemade tomato bisque (defrosted from freezer and served warm in thermos), whole-wheat raspberry muffin, honey dew melon, local strawberries, and an organic cheese stick.
Feb 19
Hummus/cheese/lettuce sandwich, carrot & cucumber slices, cantaloupe, and a trail mix with whole-wheat pretzels, organic popcorn, and raisins.
Feb 7
For Valentine’s Day: Heart-shaped cream cheese and strawberry jam sandwich, heart-shaped apple slices, a little spinach salad topped with olive oil and her favorite cheese (Parmesan) in the shape of hearts of course, and a peanut/cashew/raisin trail mix.
Feb 12
Whole-grain zucchini muffin, frozen banana/berry/yogurt/spinach smoothie pop, whole-wheat pretzels (“Unique” brand sprouted grain variety), unsweetened organic applesauce, and a small salad topped with toasted almonds and carrot shreds plus homemade dressing on the side.
April 11
Whole-grain blueberry muffin, organic ham (a very rare purchase for us) rolled up with cheese on fun toothpicks, carrots/cucumbers, plain yogurt mixed with a little honey & vanilla extract, and homemade granola to mix into the yogurt.
Feb 20
Chili (previously made and frozen), a whole-grain cornbread muffin (also previously made and frozen), diced mango, a carrot, a dollop of sour cream (to go on top of the chili), and water to drink.
April 24
Cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, and toasted whole-wheat pita “chips” all to dip into the hummus as well as some melon that we picked up from the Asian market (called Hami I believe).
Feb 21
Homemade whole-wheat heart-shaped biscuit (leftover from dinner), frozen banana/berry/spinach/plain yogurt smoothie pop, apple slices, leftover salad from dinner (with pears and pecans), and a roasted peanut/raw pumpkin seed mix.
Feb 25
Homemade whole-wheat pop tart (defrosted from freezer), cucumbers, red bell peppers, hummus, cheese cubes, and apples.
March 4
Cream cheese and jam whole-wheat “Uncrustable” sandwich, carrot sticks, strawberry, and deviled eggs (made with sour cream instead of mayo).
March 5
Leftover homemade potato soup (warm in thermos) and an apple/sunflower seed butter sandwich.
March 6
Cream cheese and jam on whole-wheat (in a butterfly shape!), popcorn, carrot sticks, and a hard-boiled egg.
March 11
Whole-wheat waffle and cream cheese sandwich, diced apples and cheddar cheese, homemade trail mix (peanuts/cashews/raisins), and kiwi.
March 19
Warm refried beans topped with cheese and sour cream on the side, a banana with an almond butter packet, and frozen peas.
March 25
BLT sandwich (organic bacon, lettuce, tomato, and mayo on an Ezekiel brand whole-grain bun), pineapple chunks, plain yogurt mixed with berry sauce, and homemade granola (to mix into yogurt).
March 28
Frozen berry/spinach/banana/plain yogurt smoothie pop, nut-free trail mix (pumpkin seeds/sunflower seeds/raisins), whole-grain pumpkin muffin (defrosted from freezer), canned mandarin oranges (canned in OJ instead of syrup), and cucumber and radish slices.
April 12
Sunflower seed butter and homemade jam on Ezekiel whole-wheat bread, Babybel cheese, a small salad with carrots/Parmesan/raisins/pumpkin seeds/olive oil, a rare purchase of store bought 100% whole-wheat graham crackers (Mi-Del brand), and sliced blood red oranges.
April 29
Leftover homemade whole-wheat (cold) pizza, diced pineapple, red and green bell pepper slices, and hummus for dipping.
May 8
Homemade tomato bisque (served warm with whole-wheat noodles in it), apple/sunflower seed butter sandwich, leftover (cold) broccoli topped with parmesan cheese, and water.
May 13
Whole-wheat woven crackers (Trader Joe’s brand), cheddar cheese slices, watermelon, sugar snap peas (from the farmers’ market), and carrots.
April 9
Leftover chicken taquito from dinner (chopped up), a mixture of sour cream and green tomato relish for dipping (the relish is kind of like salsa), apple slices, Lara Bar, and canned organic mandarin oranges (that are BPA-free / packed in OJ).
May 16
Whole-grain raisin bread (Ezekiel brand) and organic cream cheese sandwiches, frozen smoothie pop (plain yogurt/bananas/berries/Swiss chard leaves), honey dew melon, strawberries, and a homemade trail mix (raw pumpkin seeds, dried apple rings, & whole-grain organic corn puffs).
May 17
Three pieces of whole-wheat “pizza toast” (served cold), sliced oranges, “ants on a log” (celery/sunflower seed butter/raisins), and frozen peas.
May 21
Homemade pimento cheese, whole-grain (Ak-mak brand) crackers, frozen peas (in the monster bag), apple slices, and trail mix (cashews/almonds/peanuts/dried fruit).
Feb 5
Whole-wheat pita (from Trader Joe’s) stuffed with homemade hummus, white cheddar & lettuce, a rare treat of Kettle brand potato chips, carrots/celery/cucumber mix and a little homemade sour cream-based onion dip for both her chips and veggies.
Feb 6
Whole-wheat noodles and homemade meatballs in the thermos and an apple/peanut butter sandwich.
May 29
Homemade chicken noodle soup (defrosted from freezer and served warm in thermos), whole-grain pumpkin muffin, and caprese salad (tomatoes/mozzarella/basil pesto).

Bonus

When we recently went camping I used our divided lunch tray as a way to pack appetizers for all the campers! It worked out perfectly.

Appetizers
Carrots, hummus, roasted almonds, pistachios, and olives.

What are your favorite packed lunch combinations? Please share in the comments.

Reader Interactions

128 Comments

  1. Loved your lunch ideas and I really appreciate the point that you openly tell as brands and stores :) Thank you so much!!!

    Reply

  2. How do you pack hot and cold foods together in the same lunch? For example, the tomato bisque and cheesestick and muffin. Where do you put the ice pack for the cheese stick without making the soup cold?
    Thanks.

    Reply

    • Hi Jen. The ice pack goes under or around the portion you want to keep cold. Also, the contents of the thermos should not be affected much from an ice pack. I typically further separate the thermos and cold items with a cloth napkin. :)

      Reply

  3. Hello! My hubby just got a new job that requires him being on the road for lunch. These meals look awesome! They are perfect. So many healthy varieties… Thank you so much for sharing!!! <3

    Reply

  4. Hello! I recently read in a a publication from Healthy Green Schools that Baby Bel cheese contains GMO RBGH. Do you know if this is still true? The booklet also said Pirate’s Booty is GMO but their website indicates they now offer some non-GMO products. I can’t find anything with an update on Baby Bel. Thank you in advance for any info you have!

    Reply

  6. Thanks for the fantastic insight. I’m left in charge of packing my son’s lunch and although I’m pretty creative I do appreciate the pictures and information you’ve shared. It certainly will e useful as I plan out a new school year.

    Happy eating and thanks again.

    Doug

    Reply

    • They are typically dressed when packed. You can also pack a small container if you prefer to keep it separate.

      Reply

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