It’s hard to get back in to the swing of things with work and school, after the holidays–and it’s even harder to return to healthy eating habits! These 5 Post-Holiday, Healthy Back to School Lunch Ideas, and some fun tips and ideas to spic up your kiddo’s lunchbox will help ease the pain a little!
5 Post-Holiday, Healthy Back to School Lunch Ideas
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Most of our Healthy Back-to-School Lunch Ideas feature foods your kiddos enjoy, but here are some fun ideas to fill your own lunchbox or mason jar. We love this amazing Mason Jar lunch hack by Smart School House so much, that we are putting a new spin on it with a few of our own ideas!
Healthy, Back to School Mason Jar Lunch Ideas
Shopping List:
- Hummus
- Wheat Thins
- Salsa
- Scoop Chips
- Bologna
- Cheese
- Crackers
- Vanilla Yogurt
- Cool Whip
- Strawberries
- Blueberries
Use your imagination and make fun combinations of your family’s favorites! I also love packing these summer outings to the beach, playground, picnics, and even road trips!
Healthy Kale Chips
Shopping List:
Instructions:
- First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Next, wash and dry the kale completely.
- Drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with sea salt
- Bake 10-15 minutes until edges are brown.
Sail Back to School with Pepper Boats!
Shopping List:
- 1 Red Bell Pepper
- 1 Green Bell Pepper
- Pimento Cheese
- Cream Cheese
- Chives
- Parsley
Instructions:
- Cut both peppers in half, and scoop out the insides.
- Next, in a mixing bowl, mix together cream cheese and chives.
- Add cream cheese mixture to each side of the red pepper.
- Then, add pimento cheese to the green pepper.
Lunch Box Ideas
I love Bento box containers they are such an easy way to make lunch fancy, and they also cut down on the waste generated from sandwich bags, foil, and saran wrap. and this Fit and Fresh container with the ice pack inside.
This lunch box idea contains Burnt Macaroni’s Zucchini Cupcakes, string cheese, pepper boat (recipe above), pretzel goldfish, and strawberries/blackberries.
This lunch box idea has a hard boiled egg, salami slices, apple sauce, broccoli, and Cheese Its.
And this lunch box contains bologna and cheese, orange, kale chips (recipe above), blackberries, and an Enjoy Life Cocoa Loco gluten free bar.
How Can I Make My Kid’s Lunchbox Fun and Exciting?
My daughter loves when I incorporate fun printables, like knock knock jokes that she can share the kids at her lunch table, or printable lunchbox notes!
She also loves when I pack a theme lunch! In the winter months, around the holidays, I turn my daughter’s lunchbox into a winter wonderland, by using cookie cutters on her sandwich, and smaller cookie cutters on slices of fruit or veggies. Using a marker on the wrapper of her string cheese, I turn it into a snowman! I also love separating all of her little snacks and treats in her bento box with colorful silicone cupcake liners (the paper ones work, too!).
Kids also love to help pack their own lunch! It’s a great way to teach them responsibility, while allowing them to have some (guided) control over what they will dine on the next day!
Over the last couple of days of winter break, I get organized for school lunches, restocking the pantry and fridge. One of my favorite hacks, is using plastic bins labeled with a number, reflecting the quantity of the item my kiddo can add to her lunch (for example, (1) string cheese, or (2) veggies, etc.). I then fill them with prepped and sorted snack items, like string cheese, fruits and veggies that I wash and slice and then package in little containers, pretzels, and other snacks. This way, when my daughter helps to make her lunch (or when I go to make it), everything is ready to go and it cuts down on the time it takes!
Some of Our Favorite Kitchen Products
One of the best things about cooking is the excuse to try new kitchen gadgets! Here are some of our must-have cooking tools:
- Fresh Baby Ice Cube Trays with lids
- Cuisinart Food Processor
- The I Heart Naptime Cookbook by Jamielyn Nye
- Giant Popcorn bowl
- VillaWare Uno Classic Waffle Maker
- Individual Popcorn bowls
- VillaWare Farmyard Waffle Maker
- Taco Holder
- Pyrex Baking Dishes
- Pizza Peel
- Hand Blender
- Pizza Wheel (cutter)
- Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Double Burner Reversible Grill/Griddle
- Pizza Stone
- Cuisinart Chef’s Classic Stainless 5-1/2-Quart Saute Pan with Helper Handle and Cover
- BPA free lunch containers
- Egg Rite Egg Timer
- Fit and Fresh container
- One Touch Electric Bottle Opener
- Half Pint Wide Mouth Mason Jars
- Ninja Professional Blender
- Zoku Quick Pop Maker
- Plano Half-Size Stowaway with Adjustable Dividers – for road trip snacks
- Curious Chef 3-Piece Nylon Knife Set
- Cuisinart 2 Quart Ice Cream Maker
- Victorinox Fibrox Straight Edge Chef’s Knife, 8-Inch
- Lemon Squeezer
- Mason Jars
- Crockpot
- Apple Corer
- Popcorn Bowl
- MaxiMatic double burner hot plate
- Glass Egg carton
- Black & Decker 4 slice toaster
- Hamilton Beach Hand Mixer
- Cuisinart 8-cup Food Processor
- Meat Mallet
- Ice Cream or Cookie Scooper
- Norpro Butter Keeper
- 3-Piece Veggie Peeler
- Garlic Press
Even More School Lunch Ideas
- 15 Back to School Lunch Ideas
- Simple Ways to Make Lunch Fun for Kids
- 5 Meatless and Nut-Free Back to School Lunch Ideas
- How to Pack a Superhero Lunch
- Monster Lunchbox
- Simple & Easy Kid Lunch Ideas
- 5 Back to School Gluten-Free Lunch Ideas
- Must-Have Lunchbox Products
What’s your favorite way to add some fun to your kid’s lunchbox? Comment below!
