I usually pack my kid’s lunch every day, but it gets difficult to come up with new lunch box ideas. My daughter is allergic to peanuts and oats, which rules out many of the ideas I see online. Here are lots of lunch box ideas including many allergy-friendly ideas. 

Bento Box Lunch Ideas

I saw a cute blog the other day devoted to Bento box lunches. I’m not going to go out and buy my kids Bento sets, but I did take a look around my kitchen and found some items I could use. These sandwich holders are from Tupperware. I got them a long time ago. They worked out really well. I was able to separate items using paper cupcake holders.

lunch box idea

In one cupcake holder is slices of meat and in the other cut up cheese. The cut-up cheese was what was leftover after making those cute little bears out of cheese. I used a Teddy Bear Cookie Cutter to make them.
 
I made ants on a log using celery, cream cheese, and raisins. (I have to throw out there that my children absolutely hated the ants on a log and made it clear that they were not only disgusting but stupid. Aren’t children fun.)
 
Then I just used grapes and carrots to fill up extra space so that nothing was moving around.

These are the exact same sandwich holders I have in different colors. I love them.

Big Hero 6 Bento BoxBig Hero Six Bento – Bento boxes are so much fun and not hard to make! This one features that lovable Disney character, Baymax. Put some fun in that lunchbox! 

Homemade Gluten-Free Pizza Lunchables that are vegan, allergy-free, & grain-free too! This healthy, kid-loved, and mom-approved make-ahead lunch recipe will make the school year a bit more fun!
 

Lunch Box Wrap and Sandwich IdeasTuscan Chicken Pinwheels

Tuscan Chicken Pinwheels are rolled with a creamy chicken filling! Italian flavors combined in one easy-to-make dish makes this a great lunch box meal!

RELATED  Parenting Book Recommendations

Turkey Club Ranch Wrap will take you 5 minutes to throw together. Make it with leftover turkey or deli meat. Either way, this tortilla wrap recipe makes a great lunch box meal for kids and adults alike!

Lentil Avocado Veggie Wrap – Healthy vegan school lunch ideas are simple when you know what ingredients to use. Lentils are perfect for any meat replacement. They’re packed with protein and other vitamins and minerals.

Grilled chicken wraps are perfect for a quick summer lunch! They’re packed with flavor, easy and quick to make and perfect for packed lunches and picnics.

Cheeseburger Rollups are a great lunch that you can put together in minutes! Using leftover ground beef, this is a great one that everyone will love!

Vegan Tempeh Sandwich – Don’t you just love a crisp sandwich with a smoky kick mixed with the smooth, nutty taste of avocado? Then you are going to enjoy this drool-worthy Vegan Tempeh Sandwich. It’s a whole lot healthier than your traditional BLT, but you’re guaranteed to be just as satisfied after your plate is polished off.

Turkey Avocado Club Sandwich

Apple and Brie Sandwiches

Homemade Lunch Box Snack IdeasBaked-pizza-pockets

Pizza Pockets – A healthy homemade pizza pop (pizza pocket) stuffed with Mediterranean flavors like black olive, feta cheese, and spinach. It’s only 4 Weight Watchers Freestyle Smart Points and a healthy lunch (hot or cold) for the kids’ lunch box! 

Mac and Cheese bites – Take Mac and cheese go with these fun bite-size pieces! 

Pepperoni String Cheese roll-ups – Back to school lunch prep just got a whole lot easier! You can make these kid-approved pepperoni string cheese roll-ups in 2 minutes or less! 

RELATED  Creating The Perfect Playroom For Your Kids

Bacon-wrapped cheesy crackers – super addicting, super easy make-ahead with just 4 ingredients!

Air Fryer Pizza Rolls – A family favorite, these wholesome kid-friendly air fryer pizza rolls are sure to be a hit in your household! Great as a snack or a meal, they’re so easy to make that your little ones can help make them as well. 

Instant Pot Corn Dog Bites – The best thing is that you need only four everyday ingredients and a few minutes to whip up Homemade Corn Dogs that are so much healthier than fried corn dogs.

Cheddar and Spinach Muffins make a delicious savory baked good that will be a great lunchbox meal idea for your kids, packed with hidden veggies! 

Cheese Zucchini Muffins make a great healthy lunchbox meal for your kids or savory snack and breakfast – packed with hidden veggies! 

Carrot cake protein bar snacks are the best homemade protein bars. They’re completely vegan with no cooking required. That’s why they make an amazing and healthy back to school lunch item.

Savory vegetable muffins are packed with flavor thanks to Cheddar cheese, sage, garlic, cumin, and plenty of vegetables. They’re perfect to make at the weekend and then enjoy in packed lunches.

Dessert Ideas for LunchboxesStrawberry Rice Krispie Treats

Strawberry Rice Krispie Treats – Send your kids a little love when they go to school by packing these adorable and delicious heart-shaped strawberry Rice Krispie treats. Your kids will surely have a blast helping you make them as well! 

Tahini chocolate chip cookies are nut-free, refined sugar-free, and vegan. They’re easy to make and perfect for a healthy treat.

RELATED  Best Postpartum Night Gowns for Nursing

Healthy Applesauce and Spinach brownies are low-fat and weight watchers friendly, at only 3 WW points on the blue plan per brownie.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls – Naturally sweet, loaded with energy, these vegan chocolate peanut butter energy balls are delicious, healthy, and perfect for an after-school snack, or whenever you’re needing a bit of a “pick-me-up” to your day. They are the perfect grab and go treat for any busy family.

Simplifying Lunches

To make lunch packing easier throughout the week, make pre-portioned sides and snacks that can be ready to grab and go. Use snack size ziplock bags or small reusable containers and create individual portions of grapes, berries, baby carrots, crackers, popcorn, raisins, and other fruits and veggies.

When your kids are making their lunches they can quickly check the pantry or fridge and grab want they want. You will also want to buy convenience foods that come individually packaged like trail mix, granola bars, cheese sticks, beef jerky, apple sauce, fruit cups, and yogurt. 

Still looking for more ideas? Check out these meal prep tips by nutritionists

25 Lunch box ideas for kids

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.