Pack a School Lunch Your Child Will Actually Eat

I have noticed that lots of kids at my school bring lunches their parents packed that they don’t even like. When kids don’t like their school lunch, many won’t eat it. Some even ask their friends for their lunches or snacks instead. Parents, I think kids should start helping pack their lunches when they are around eight years old, with Mom or Dad checking their lunch to make sure it is healthy. As they get older, they can do more of it themselves.

Letting kids help choose and pack their own school lunch can make them more excited about eating what they bring to school. It also teaches them important life skills and helps them become more independent.

Here are some easy lunch ideas your kids can help make!

1. Chicken Sandwich

Chicken sandwiches are delicious and can make a filling school lunch. All you need is two slices of whole-wheat bread or any bread your child likes. Add some cooked chicken, fresh lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise and cheese. Put it all together, and you have a tasty chicken sandwich!

Parents, you can let your child choose whether they want lettuce, tomato or cheese. That way, they can make a sandwich they will enjoy eating.

2. Tuna Sandwich

A tuna sandwich is quick and easy to make. Tuna is a source of protein, which helps your child get the nutrients they need. To make one, you need two slices of bread, one can of tuna and about one tablespoon of mayonnaise. First, drain the tuna and put it in a bowl. Add the mayonnaise and mix everything together. Spread the mixture on the bread and cut the sandwich in half. If your child wants more flavour, they can add a little relish or some finely chopped celery.

3. Fresh Fruit Salad

Fruit salad is a colourful and tasty addition to a school lunch. You can use your child’s favourite fruits, such as strawberries, watermelon, mango, cherries, apples and raspberries. Wash the fruit, remove any pits or inedible parts, and cut it into small, bite-sized pieces. Mix everything together and put it in a container with a lid.

You can also make a simple fruit dressing using mashed raspberries, a little honey and lemon juice. If you want to use vinegar or olive oil, add only a small amount, since these ingredients can change the flavour quite a bit.

Keep the fruit salad chilled until it is time to pack the lunch.

4. Ham and Cheese Sandwich

A ham and cheese sandwich is another easy lunch that kids can help prepare. Take two slices of bread and add three or four slices of ham, some cheese and a little mustard. Add cucumber slices for some extra crunch.

Your child can choose the type of cheese and whether they want mustard or another spread. They can also choose what kind of bread they like.

Personally, I love my ham and cheese sandwich on a croissant or a bun. Sometimes changing the bread can make the same sandwich feel completely different!

If you want to make your child’s lunch more interesting, let them choose how they want their sandwich. They are more likely to enjoy it when they have a say in what goes into it.

Remember to keep sandwiches with meat and cheese cold until lunchtime.

5. Mac and Cheese with Vegetables

Does your child love mac and cheese? You can make it with Kraft Dinner, Annie’s or another brand your family enjoys.

Prepare the macaroni and cheese according to the package directions. Then add some vegetables your child likes, such as cooked broccoli, carrots, or chopped bell peppers. You can also add another favourite vegetable.

Mix everything together until the vegetables are evenly distributed. Let it cool slightly before packing it into a clean, insulated food container.

If your child prefers their vegetables on the side, that’s fine too! The important thing is to include foods they enjoy.

6. Cream Cheese and Jam Bagel

A cream cheese and jam bagel is another easy lunch that kids can make with a little help from their parents. Cut a bagel in half and spread cream cheese on it. Then add your favourite jam and put the two halves together.

You can use strawberry, raspberry or another jam your child likes. Add some fruit, such as grapes or strawberries, and a yogurt for a simple lunch.

7. Chicken Wrap with Jane’s Chicken Strips

A chicken wrap is another lunch that kids may enjoy making themselves. Cook the Jane’s chicken strips according to the package directions and let them cool enough to safely put into the wrap.

Place the chicken strips in a tortilla and add lettuce, cucumber, tomato or cheese if your child likes them. You can also add a little ranch dressing or another sauce.

Let your child choose what they want in their wrap. When kids get to make their lunch the way they like it, they may be more excited to eat it at school.

8. Campbell’s Chicken Noodle Soup

Campbell’s Ready to Serve Classic Chicken Noodle Soup can be an easy lunch for kids who enjoy soup. It is quick to prepare, which can be helpful on busy school mornings.

Parents can heat the soup according to the directions on the can and put it into a good insulated food container that is made for keeping food hot.

Add some crackers in the lunch,  a bun on the side. Your child can help choose what they want to go with their soup.

9. Salads

Salads don’t have to be just lettuce and vegetables. Parents can let their child choose the ingredients they enjoy. Try adding chicken, cheese, cucumber, tomatoes, carrots, pasta or other favourite ingredients.

If your child doesn’t like traditional salad, try a different kind. The goal is to find something they will actually eat.

10. Chili

Chili can make a warm and filling school lunch, especially on a cold day. Parents can make a pot of chili ahead of time and save some for the next day’s lunch.

You can make chili with ground beef, beans, tomatoes and your favourite seasonings. You can also add vegetables such as peppers or corn if your child likes them.

Heat the chili and put it into an insulated food container that is made for keeping food hot. You can pack crackers, a bun or some shredded cheese on the side.

If your child likes chili, let them help choose what goes into it. Making lunch together can make kids more interested in eating what they packed.

11. Quinoa Salad

Quinoa salad is another option for parents looking for something different. Cook the quinoa and let it cool before adding vegetables such as cucumber, tomatoes, carrots or peppers.

You can also add chicken, cheese or chickpeas. A simple dressing can be added before packing or put in a small container on the side.

Let your child choose which ingredients they want. If they don’t like one of them, leave it out.

12. Perogies

Perogies can be an easy and tasty school lunch. You can cook them ahead of time and pack them in an insulated food container to keep them warm.

Add your child’s favourite toppings or dipping sauce. Some kids like sour cream, while others may enjoy them with a little cheese or even cooked bacon.

You can also add some fruit or vegetables on the side.

Perogies are a good example of why school lunches don’t have to be the same every day. If your child enjoys them, they are more likely to eat their lunch instead of bringing it home.

Let Kids Help!

Parents, letting your children help pack their lunches is a great way to teach them responsibility. Even children as young as 4 can help choose their fruit, put snacks into containers or pick which sandwich they want.

As they get older, they can learn to prepare simple meals and pack more of their lunch themselves. You can supervise younger children, help with knives and hot foods, and check that everything is packed safely.

The goal is to help kids learn to make their own lunches while making sure they have food they actually want to eat.

When children have a say in what goes into their lunchbox, they may be more willing to eat it. It can also make mornings easier for parents and help children develop skills they will use for the rest of their lives.