School Resources

20 Tasty Back to School Lunch Ideas for Any Student

Children are heading back to school soon. Pack them a school lunch so fun that they won’t want to trade lunches this year. Make their lunch the coveted lunch with a substantial main dish and fun extras in it each day.

How to choose back to school lunch ideas

When choosing what to send children for lunch this year, first check the school’s guidelines on things like nut allergies. Then, consider if your child likes sandwiches or prefers leftovers or even breakfast items. With insulated lunch boxes, thermoses, and Instacart at your service, the possibilities are endless.

Back to school sandwich lunch ideas

These traditional sandwiches will help keep most picky eaters happy, and these sandwiches are easy to prep in the morning:

1. Tuna salad

Homemade Fresh Tuna Salad Sandwich with Lettuce

Customize a simple tuna salad sandwich with your child’s favorites. Add some dill pickles and a slice of cheddar cheese for flavor and crunch.

2. Egg salad

Egg salad is a lunchtime favorite. Hard boil a bunch of eggs ahead of time, and let them cool before mashing them and mixing them mayo, mustard, and spices.

3. Cream cheese sandwiches

Cream cheese sandwiches have become popular since you can prepare them in so many different ways. Some of the favorites are cream cheese and jelly and cream cheese and cucumber sandwiches.

4. Chicken salad sliders

Combine drained canned chicken with mayo and spices and place the filling between the lettuce and cheese so the slider bun doesn’t get soggy. Send with veggies and ranch dip.

5. Apple peanut butter & jelly

Take classic PB &J up a notch by adding thinly sliced apples on one bread slice along with your favorite jelly. It would pair well with raspberry or strawberry. Remember, if your child attends a nut-free school, use sun butter.

Non-sandwich school lunch ideas

Nowadays, lunch isn’t always about sandwiches. Get creative and pack your child something they love:

1. Pepperoni pizza rolls

Pepperoni Pizza Rolls on a counter.

Packing your child homemade pepperoni pizza rolls will make them feel special. They’re easy to make using pizza dough, sauce, mozzarella cheese, and pepperoni.

2. Turkey pinwheels

Kids that hate sandwiches often love pinwheels. Try adding cream cheese, turkey, sliced tomatoes, and lettuce, and cut it into rounds.

3. Ham and cheese mini quiches

If your children hate sandwiches, but you want them to eat healthily, these ham and cheese quiches are a wonderful solution. You can even sneak some broccoli in it.

4. Cool ranch chicken nuggets

Add some cool ranch seasoning to your next batch of chicken nuggets. They’re easy to prepare from chicken tenders. You can send a few in their heated thermos with some ranch dip.

5. Quesadillas

Children love cheesy-filled quesadillas, and they’ll eat them, even if they’re not steaming hot. Add some salsa and tortilla chips as a side dish.

Breakfast for school lunch ideas

If your child prefers breakfast, these items transport easily and taste delicious, even at room temperature:

1. Waffle sandwich

Waffle Peanut Butter Sandwich

Pack either a mini waffle sandwich or cut a large frozen waffle in half and make one. Fill it with cream cheese and jam or Nutella, depending on what the school allows.

2. Mini frittatas

Mini frittatas are perfect because you can bake up eggs, cheese, and your child’s favorite foods in a muffin tin the night before. They taste good at room temperature, and add some fruit with them.

3. French toast sticks

French toast sticks are a fun and portable lunch idea. You can send them as is to dunk in maple syrup, or you can skewer them on a stick with blueberries and strawberries and dust with powdered sugar.

4. Baked oatmeal

Baked oatmeal tastes almost cakelike instead of the gloppy texture of regular oatmeal. It reminds kids of an oatmeal cookie since it’s made of quick-cooking oats, applesauce, and spices. Add an apple and some string cheese for protein.

5. Breakfast burrito

Breakfast burritos are a fun idea. You can even send the scrambled eggs in an insulated thermos to keep them warm. Supplement it with a flour tortilla, shredded cheese, and sour cream.

Thermos school lunch ideas

The thermos can be used for sending hot or cold school lunch meals. If you are sending a hot item, heat the thermos first, then heat the food before putting it in a heated insulated thermos:

1. Alphabet pasta

alphabet noodle soup on table.

Instead of sending canned pasta, make your own alphabet pasta. It’ll fill a few thermoses and send extra cheese on the side to top the pasta.

2. Creamy chicken soup

Leftover creamy chicken soup is always a favorite, especially if you made it out of tender chicken and lots of veggies. Send some homemade rolls with it.

3. Meatballs

Send some meatballs cooked in homemade sauce, along with a sub bun and some mozzarella cheese slices. Your child can build a meatball sub.

4. Corn on the cob

Many kids love eating corn on the cob at lunchtime. Just boil it for a few minutes and seal it in the thermos. It’ll be a treat.

5. Smoothie

Consider sending cold items, too, like a smoothie in their thermos. It’s easy to prepare using frozen berries. Add a pita sandwich and some snacks.

Final thoughts on how to make a school lunch

When making your child’s school lunch, begin by selecting the right lunch box. Those brown bag days are over with. Use an insulated box with reusable containers and a sturdy thermos. Make sure they bring home uneaten food. You’ll know what they don’t like so you don’t prepare it again. Talk with the kids to see if they have their own lunch ideas and have them assist you in shopping on Instacart for the back-to-school lunch menu.

Instacart

Author

Instacart is the leading grocery technology company in North America, partnering with more than 1,400 national, regional, and local retail banners to deliver from more than 80,000 stores across more than 14,000 cities in North America. To read more Instacart posts, you can browse the company blog or search by keyword using the search bar at the top of the page.

Most Recent in School Resources

19+ Simple Cooking Activities for Kids

School Resources

19+ Simple Cooking Activities for Kids

Let's get real: The most epic adventures happen in the kitchen. No, we're not talking about microwave dinners and takeout boxes. We're talking about transforming your kitchen into a culinary playground for your mini-mes!  These…

Jun 14, 2024
How To Get Groceries Delivered to Your Dorm (Quickly and Cheaply)

School Resources

How To Get Groceries Delivered to Your Dorm (Quickly and Cheaply)

As a college student, the last thing you want to do is go to the grocery store between studying, attending classes and having fun with friends. Going off-campus is a hassle and long lines at…

Aug 30, 2023
21+ Graduation Party Food Ideas for Large and Small Groups

Events

21+ Graduation Party Food Ideas for Large and Small Groups

Graduation day represents a major milestone and is a great cause for celebration. Many students graduate at the end of their last semester, usually in the spring or winter months—this may influence the location of…

Jul 18, 2023

Free delivery or pickup on your first order of $35 or more. Sign up now! Terms apply.