Kid-Friendly Lunch Box Ideas (Ones Your Kid Will Actually Eat) | Homemade Lunch Box Recipes
A collection of homemade, kid-friendly lunch box ideas.
With school picking back up, the lunch box dilemma is officially back on the table. Us moms want to send our kids to school with a nutritious lunch. Unfortunately, they want to be sent to school with jelly beans and cotton candy. Surely, we can find some middle ground. This is a list of homemade lunch box ideas, that leave us mommas feeling guilt-free and our babies with full, happy tummies.
Full disclosure: I am a mother of two sweet little girls -- one is seven, and the other three, and they are some of the pickiest eaters around. I'd even go as far as to say they can be little terrors at the table. However, these are recipes I have managed to get away with, scot-free. Less stress for me, more nutrition for them. I'll have more of that, please.
Many of these lunch box ideas are freezer-friendly, and make-ahead. Below each recipe, you'll find packing tips to help your mornings run smoother, and your mommy workload alleviated. This list is a happy medium of healthy options, like kid-friendly turkey burgers, as well as fun options like mini corn dogs and homemade chicken nuggets. Enjoy!
MINI TURKEY BURGERS
This is a healthy, make-ahead lunch box idea for kids and toddlers, featuring a ground turkey patty and sliced bread. Fast and easy for mom to make, fun for kids to eat!
MAKE AHEAD TIP: Make a batch at the start of the week, allow the burgers to cool and proceed to wrap them tightly in wax paper. Once the burgers are wrapped, place them in a freezer-safe zip-top bag and freeze them. The night before, simply pull a patty out of the freezer and place it in a lunch box container, along with two pieces of wheat bread, toasted or not toasted, whichever you (or your kiddo) prefers.
Click here for the Mini Turkey Burgers recipe.
MAC AND CHEESE
A kid-friendly lunch and dinner idea: A stovetop, no-bake, homemade shells and cheese.
HOW TO PACK IT:
Place child-sized portion of shells and cheese in lunchbox container, and refrigerate overnight. The morning of, pull out the container, and pack along with other lunch box items. Don't forget the fork, if using.
If you'd like it to be warm at lunch time, heat up about a cup of water in the microwave in a microwave-safe container for about 2 minutes, or until boiling hot. Carefully, transfer the water to a stainless steel, insulated food jar (i.e., a food thermos), and seal for 5 minutes. In the meantime, microwave a child-sized portion of shells and cheese at 30 minute increments, until just warm.
Empty the water from the thermos, and transfer the warmed shells and cheese into the thermos. Seal and pack in child's lunch. Don't forget the fork, if using.
Click here for Homemade Shells and Cheese recipe.
EASY BAKED MEATBALLS
A simple and easy recipe for Italian-style meatballs, made with ground beef and fresh bread crumbs.
MAKE-AHEAD TIPS:
Bake the meatballs and allow them to cool. Place the meatballs on a rimmed sheet pan, lined with wax paper. Transfer to the freezer, and allow to sit for 2 hours. After the time is up, transfer the meatballs to a freezer-safe, zip top bag, removing as much air as possible before sealing.
HOW TO PACK IT:
If using frozen meatballs, remove child-sized portion of easy baked meatballs from the freezer and place in the lunch box container to thaw overnight. The morning of, pull out the container, and pack along with other lunch box items.
Click here for Easy Baked Meatballs recipe.
HOMEMADE CHICKEN NUGGETS
A recipe for homemade, crunchy chicken nuggets, perfect for toddlers, kids and grown-ups alike.
MAKE-AHEAD TIPS:
Make the chicken nuggets and allow them to cool. Place them on a rimmed sheet pan, lined with wax paper. Transfer to the freezer, and allow to sit for 2 hours. After the time is up, transfer the chicken nuggets to a freezer-safe, zip top bag, removing as much air as possible before sealing.
HOW TO PACK IT:
If using frozen chicken nuggets, remove child-sized portion from the freezer and place in the lunch box container to thaw overnight. The morning of, pull out the container, and pack along with other lunch box items.
Click here for Homemade Chicken Nuggets recipe.
MINI CORN DOGS
A recipe for corn dog muffins, featuring a quick and easy corn dog batter and hot dogs.
MAKE-AHEAD TIPS:
Make the mini corn dogs and allow them to cool. Place them on a rimmed sheet pan, lined with wax paper. Transfer to the freezer, and allow to sit for 2 hours. After the time is up, transfer the corn dogs to a freezer-safe, zip top bag, removing as much air as possible before sealing.
HOW TO PACK IT:
If using frozen corn dogs, remove child-sized portion from the freezer and place in the lunch box container to thaw overnight. The morning of, pull out the container, and pack along with other lunch box items.
Click here for Corn Dog Muffins recipe.
PIZZA BAGEL BITES
How to make perfect bagel bites at home and freeze them for later use. Recipe features miniature bagels, sauce, melty Mozzarella cheese and pepperoni. A kid-friendly dinner and make-ahead lunch box recipe.
MAKE-AHEAD TIPS:
Make the pizza bagel bites and allow them to cool. Place them on a rimmed sheet pan, lined with wax paper. Transfer to the freezer, and allow to sit for 2 hours. After the time is up, transfer the bagel bites to a freezer-safe, zip top bag, removing as much air as possible before sealing.
HOW TO PACK IT:
If using frozen bagel bites, remove child-sized portion from the freezer and place in the lunch box container to thaw overnight. The morning of, pull out the container, and pack along with other lunch box items.
Click here for Pizza Bagel Bites recipe.
KID-FRIENDLY PASTA SALAD
Kids lunch box idea featuring a kid friendly pasta salad (without mayo!): Tortellini pasta salad loaded with green vegetables and Cheddar cheese.
MAKE-AHEAD TIPS:
This pasta salad is great cold or at room temperature. Simply make a batch at the start of the week, and pack a child-sized portion in a lunch box container the night before shipping your little off to school. The pasta will keep well for four days.
Click here for Kid-Friendly Pasta Salad recipe.
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