School Lunch Ideas Without the Sandwich
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Beyond The Sandwich – Mix It Up With Different Lunch Foods
PB&J or ham and cheese sandwiches are two of the most common lunch foods at school. While sandwiches are excellent for a school lunch, they are not your only alternatives. This is the Lunch Your Child Would Rather Not See in Their lunchbox that is often the case.
You can pair a protein with a side dish or soup, or pack a salad, pasta salad, hummus, and pita chips. There are many ways to create a lunch that is both healthy and exciting. One way is to ditch the sandwich in favor of more creative options like:
- Fruit salad with peanut butter, honey, or your favorite nut spread for dipping.
- Rolled up in a tortilla with cheese and fresh veggies for a healthy wrap. My boys like rolled-up tortilla with peanut butter, banana, and a bit of honey.
- A bowl of yogurt with low-fat granola, strawberries, or banana slices.
- Hummus and pita chips dipped in hummus
Leftovers from last night’s dinner
I don’t know about you I enjoy a nice meatball with cheese in my lunch!
A soft taco wrap (not all of it was used last night) using a whole wheat tortilla with beans, rice, cheese, peppers, onions, and fresh vegetables surrounding it.
Healthy Salads For Lunch
Salads are another great lunch option, particularly for older children. Get a container with a tight-fitting lid and add all your child’s favorite salad ingredients minus the dressing in there.
Start with a bed of lettuce greens, add raw veggies, croutons, bacon bits, nuts and seeds, and the likes. Top it with a source of protein like cheese, hard-boiled egg, ham or turkey, or even some grilled chicken.
Now before you think a salad is just a few lettuce leaves and a tomato slice. There are so many different kinds of lettuce available, as well as countless other types of leafy greens. These can be added fresh to your child’s lunch box along with any other ingredients you like such as:
- Carrots, cucumber, and broccoli
- Cheese cubes, grapes, or apples
- Dried cranberries or raisins
- Grains such as quinoa or wild rice stuffed in a pepper half
- Pumpkin seeds sprinkled on top of the salad
- Roasted red peppers, pine nuts, feta cheese crumbles, and garbanzo beans
Pack dressing in a separate container along with a fork and napkin and lunch is done. You can assemble the salad the night before and store it in the fridge. The key is to make sure all your ingredients are very dry. If you’re washing your lettuce, use a salad spinner, or dry it on some paper towels before starting to pack it. Cutting everything into small bite-sized pieces will ensure that the lunchtime salad is easy to eat.
Make it a Wrap!
A wrap made with whole wheat tortilla and filled with hummus, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, and bell peppers. You can add any other veggies you want or have on hand such as celery sticks or avocado slices.
A quick and easy alternative to a sandwich is a wrap. Grab some tortillas and fix your child’s favorite sandwich as a wrap. Wraps are also great for adding lots of lettuce and extra veggies.
When you’re done adding your toppings, roll it up like a burrito and if desired, cut it in half. The wrap is good as is, or you can pack a small serving of salad dressing to dip. Ranch is always a favorite around here.
Bring a Soup!
Pack a soup in a thermos for school lunch!
Soup in a thermos is always a great lunch option. It’s filling, nutritious, and delicious. There are so many different kinds available that the possibilities are endless. Make your favorite soup or use one of these recipes:
- Black Bean Soup
- Creamy Tomato Soup
- Chicken tortilla
- Spicy Vegetable Avocado Soup
- chili
- A soup you know your child LOVES
Fresh Fruit is important!
Ask your child what their favorite fruit is and bring it to school for lunch! You will be adored. It can be grapes, an orange or apple, pears, pineapple, watermelon… anything goes! Fresh veggies and hummus go great with these options as well. Our kids like to dip the apples in the hummus, others like to dip it in peanut butter.
Who Doesn’t Love Snack Food And Lunchables?
I have yet to meet a child that doesn’t love Lunchables. But have you looked at the price of those found at the grocery store lately? Plus I’m not the biggest fan of the food options. Why not make your own version instead with fresh ingredients and food you know your child will eat. Start with some sandwich meat and cheese cut into bite-sized pieces, after all, isn’t that what they are. Add some fresh raw veggies like sliced cucumber, cherry tomatoes, and baby carrots. Throw in some fresh or dried fruit and you have a delicious, healthy, homemade version.
Of course, you can turn any of your child’s favorite snack foods including popcorn, trail mix, crackers, cheese, fruits and veggies and the likes into lunch. Grab a container with lots of little dividers (bento boxes are perfect) and fill them up with kid-friendly favorites.