15 Super Easy Back to School Lunch Ideas

ByChris Updated on

Let’s talk making back to school lunch ideas easy!

Have your kiddos already started school? Or maybe they are getting ready to go back to school soon. Either way, you are probably looking for a variety of lunch ideas. Here’s a look at 15 Back to School Lunch Ideas we have shared made and loved.

15 Back to School Lunch Ideas

15 Back to School Lunch Ideas

These 15 ideas, plus a few thrown in, include dairy-free lunch ideas, gluten-free lunch ideas, healthy lunch ideas, lunch ideas for picky eaters and a lot more!

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Back to School Lunch Supplies

Dairy-Free School Lunch Ideas Recipes

5 Back to School Dairy-Free Lunch Ideas a

Lunch Box Idea #1 – Hard Boiled Eggs with Avocado

This healthy dairy-free lunchbox idea has two hardboiled eggs and some favorite lunch box sides like grapes, orange and pretzels.

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5 Back to School Dairy-Free Lunch Ideas b

Lunch Box Idea #2 – Turkey Rolls with Apples

This healthy dairy-free lunch has three turkey rolls, strawberries, blueberries, cucumber and apples with walnuts.

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5 Back to School Dairy-Free Lunch Ideas d

Lunch Box Idea #3 – Chicken Strips and Hummus

This is one of my favorite dairy-free back to school lunch ideas pairing chicken strips with hummus and carrot sticks. Add a bunch of grapes as a side!

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5 Back to School Dairy-Free Lunch Ideas c

Lunch Box Idea #4 – Pinwheels and Banana Chips

This dairy-free back to school lunch idea is healthy because it rolls ham and spinach inside a flour tortilla creating a cheese-free pinwheel. Add some orange slices, carrots and banana chips!

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5 Back to School Dairy-Free Lunch Ideas e

Lunch Box Idea #5 – Celery, Turkey, Pepperoni and Salad

This dairy-free lunch for kids at school is a big meal which works great for kids who just need a little extra food at lunch time. Start with celery with almond butter and add pepperoni rolled into turkey slices. Then make a little cucumber and tomato salad with blueberries and blackberries on the side.

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Gluten-Free Lunch Ideas for Kids Lunch at School

5 Back to School Gluten-Free Lunch Ideas a

Lunch Box Idea #6 – Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps with Banana Chips

This gluten-free lunch is something you may want to make some extra for yourself! Make a double recipe (see below) and save some for your work or home lunch as well as your child’s lunchbox! Make the chicken salad lettuce wraps paired with applesauce and banana chips.

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Banana Chips
Applesauce

Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps Recipe
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. In a mixing bowl, add the chicken, apple slices, celery, grapes and chives and combine
  2. In a separate bowl, mix together the yogurt, dijon mustard and lemon juice
  3. Combine the two bowls and add salt & pepper to taste
  4. Fill the lettuce slices with the chicken salad mixture
5 Back to School Gluten-Free Lunch Ideas b

Lunch Box Idea #7 – Chicken & Cottage Cheese

This gluten-free lunchbox idea is one of the simplest on the list and can be created on those busy mornings when time just seems to run out! Start with left-over chicken pieces and a scoop of cottage cheese. Add blueberries and cucumber slices for fun!

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5 Back to School Gluten-Free Lunch Ideas c

Lunch Box Idea #8 – Pepperoni Turkey Rolls and Pistachios

Another simple gluten-free option for kids school lunch! Start by rolling pepperoni into turkey slices and sprinkle a little cinnamon on some apple slices with a little lemon juice to keep them from browning. Add a handful of pistachios and a bunch of grapes.

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5 Back to School Gluten-Free Lunch Ideas d

Lunch Box Idea #9 – Ham Roll Ups with Spinach Salad

This gluten-free lunch is full of surprises. Start with spinach and tomato salad, add rolled up ham slices and a bunch of grapes. Then cut some carrot sticks and serve with a little honey!

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5 Back to School Gluten-Free Lunch Ideas e

Lunch Box Idea #10 – Wrapped Tomatoes with Walnuts

Take small slices of tomato and wrap them with turkey slices to make the entree of this gluten-free back to school lunch box recipe. Then add a hard-boiled egg, some walnuts and a bunch of grapes.

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Healthy Lunch Ideas for Back to School

5 Healthy Back to School Lunch Ideas

Lunch Box Idea #11 – Zucchini Cupcakes & Pepper Boats

This healthy back to school lunch idea is packed with things that your child’s neighbor will not have in their lunchbox! Start with a pepper boat of cut green pepper filled with pimento cheese spread then add a cheese stick, pretzel goldfish, blackberries and strawberries plus a zucchini cupcake.

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5 Healthy Back to School Lunch Ideas g

Lunch Box Idea #12 – Salami Rolls and Broccoli

This healthy lunch box will keep your kids going all day long with salami slices rolled up, a hard-boiled egg, some cheese-it crackers, a few broccoli trees and some applesauce.

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5 Healthy Back to School Lunch Ideas

Lunch Box Idea #13 – Bologna & Kale Chips

This healthy lunchbox idea is packed with flavor. Start with a bologna and cheese stack and kale chips. Then add an orange, some blackberries and a baked granola bar.

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 School Lunch Ideas for Picky Eaters

For each of the lunches, we used these BPA free lunch containers.

5 Back to School Lunch Ideas for Picky Eaters b

Lunch Box Idea #14 – Pizza Rolls & Cheerios

OK, this just might be my favorite back to school lunch idea which must mean I am a picky eater too! Make a simple pizza roll with crescent rolls filled with sauce and shredded cheese. Add oranges and pineapples plus a handful of Cheerios.

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5 Back to School Lunch Ideas for Picky Eaters c

Lunch Box Idea #15 – Waffles with Peanut Butter & String Cheese

Another picky eater back to school lunch idea is to harness the power of breakfast with this simple waffle sandwich filled with peanut butter, nutella or almond butter. Add a yogurt, string cheese, cracker stack and a bunch of grapes.

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5 Back to School Lunch Ideas for Picky Eaters e

Lunch Box Idea #16 – Ham Wraps & Bananas

This picky eater lunch is simple and quick. Spread butter on a flour tortilla with a slice of ham (throw in some cheese if that makes your child happy) then add three fruits: bananas, strawberries and oranges.

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5 Back to School Lunch Ideas for Picky Eaters f

Lunch Box Idea #17 – Turkey Rolls & Apple Slices

And last, but not least we have one more back to school lunch idea that has cheese and crackers, rolled turkey slices, apple slices and some applesauce.

Shopping List
  • Cheese & Crackers
  • Turkey rolls
  • Apple slices
  • Apple sauce or Chocolate Pudding

All of these recipes for back to school lunches appeared on the live stream, Family Food Live with Holly & Chris on the Quirky Momma Facebook page.

Back to School Breakfast Recipes

Which back to school lunch recipe will you try on the first day of school?

Chris is a writer, TV producer and foodie! She enjoys writing about food and teaching others how to cook and prepare simple, family dishes on her food blog, Burnt Macaroni.

Follow her on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and Instagram as she teaches herself and her kids how to cook!

4 Comments

  1. With all of the nut allergies and so many schools not allowing them, why are you suggesting kids pack foods that kill their classmates???????!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

  2. As with anything else, you should use some common sense. If your child or your child’s classmates have allergies and/or certain foods are prohibited by the school, substitute something else that probably won’t kill them or their classmates.

  3. Quiet Time says:

    Thanks for some really great ideas – our school doesn’t allow any tree nuts so these will be adjusted. But these seem so simple and yummy for the wee ones.

  4. Kristen Yard says:

    You are so welcome! Yes, you can definitely tweak these ideas to fit any dietary preferences or needs!

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