5 Easy and Fun Back To School Lunch Ideas

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Libby’s® Fruits & Vegetables. The opinions and text are all mine. 

Planning school lunches can get a little hectic. I’ve taken on the role of weekly lunch planner, making sure there’s lunches in the fridge for my son when he comes home from preschool. With a newborn in the house, having one less thing for my wife to worry about at lunch time is ideal!

Whether your child eats lunch at school or at home, these school lunch ideas are going to be a home run. All have received the Brayden Seal of Approval!

I’ve teamed up with Libby’s® Fruits & Vegetables to put together these school lunch idea’s that are all really fun and I actually enjoy them all myself. Packing up my son’s lunch with Libby’s® Vegetable Cups are also a great way to get some veggies in his system. They’re a great at-school snack as well since they can be enjoyed warmed up or at room-temperature.

I’ve been fortunate enough that he’s been actually begging me for veggies. His favorite is corn and green beans, and I have yet to hear him complain about eating them. I’ll take that as long as I can get it! Especially as picky as he is.

These vegetable cups are exactly what I’ve been looking for as well. Being the only 4 oz. vegetable cups on the market, it makes it easy for me to pack in his lunch, or pull out of the cupboard and warm up as part of his dinner!

1. Pizzadillas

Pizza meets quesadilla. Its easy to make, and is perfect to eat warm and at room temperature. This is even my favorite for lunch!

How To Make:

Take 2 tortillas and spread pizza sauce on each one. Top with shredded mozzarella and pepperoni; cook on the stove until cheese is melted.

Serve with:

Libby’s® Green Bean Vegetable Cup, Pretzels and Grapes.

2. Apple Sandwich

This idea was an experiment that I wasn’t expecting to be a hit, but this is actually my son’s favorite! Apple slices with cream cheese and turkey making a sandwich! It’s delicious!

It has a little sweet from the apple, of course, but then you get the cream cheese and turkey (the good stuff from the deli!) and it’s absolutely amazing. Definitely something your kids will love to try.

TIP: Dry the apples to help the cream cheese stick!

How To Make:

Slice a Granny Smith apple into quarter inch slices using a mandolin. Dry each slice with a paper towel, then spread cream cheese on 2 slices.  Top one half with turkey then top with the other apple slice. Cut in half.

Serve with:

Libby’s® Pea’s Vegetable Cups, Pretzels and Orange Slices.

3. DIY Lunch

These type of lunches were always my favorite growing up. I’m sure my mother did it for the same reason I do for my kids. It’s so darn easy!

How To Make:

Slice up your child’s favorite deli meat into squares (my son’s fave is salami right now). Pack with cheese and crackers and let them have fun putting them together!

Serve with:

Libby’s® Diced Carrots Vegetable Cup.

4. Peanut Butter & Jelly Sushi Rolls

If you have kids that like sushi, then they’re going to have a blast with these! My son was so excited because he thought they looked like sushi rolls, so I just ran with it and it went over very well!

How To Make:

Using flatbread for pinwheels, take a 8″x 8″ square, and spread a thin layer of peanut butter, followed by jelly. Roll up and place in the freezer for about 5 minutes. Cut into 1 inch pieces.

Serve with:

Libby’s® Sweet Corn Vegetable Cup, Trail Mix and Grapes.

5. Turkey Sandwich Rolls

My son is a fan of anything rolled up. Turkey rolls are one of his favorites, but I’ve had a huge win by getting him on board with sandwich wraps. Except I call them Sandwich Rolls. Whatever you gotta do to get them to eat it, right?!

How To Make:

Place lettuce, turkey and cheese flat on a flour tortilla, (optionally add hummus too!) fold like a burrito, then cut in half.

Serve with:

Libby’s® Green Bean Vegetable Cup, cheese puffs and an apple.

I had to pat myself on the back. Going 5 for 5 on lunch ideas with my son is a grand slam in our house! What is your favorite lunch to make for your children? I’d love to hear your ideas too!

Derek Campanile
Derek Campanile
I'm an IT professional by day. Home cook for the family by night. Follow my blog for easy to make recipes, how-to's and ideas to gather the family at the dinner table!

19 Comments

  1. […] A Pan is full of other recipes and meal ideas that you can make for your family. Check out this article for 5 great lunch ideas for sending your kids back to […]

  2. Hungry_Healthy_Happy says:

    The pizzadillas sound like a great idea for lunch. Who doesn’t want pizza for lunch?

  3. Luci Cook says:

    These are quick and easy to make for school or traveling.

  4. Julia Comil says:

    This looks delicious! The perfect sandwich!

  5. Catherine Brown says:

    The apple sandwich does look delicious! Can always use some creative boxed-lunch ideas. 😉

  6. Azlin Bloor says:

    This is a fantastic collection of packed lunches. I especially love the apple sandwich!

  7. Daniela Miranda says:

    Those turkey sandwich rolls look delicious. And they are so easy to make! I bet they could easily be turned into a tasty appetizer that kids and adults would both love.

  8. Kelly says:

    Great ideas.. I’d pack all of these lunches for myself too!

  9. Haley D. Williams says:

    I love the PB&J sushi rolls! Kids would love that.

  10. Taste n shine says:

    Thanks for sharing such healthy lunch ideas, I love sushi roll idea the most, will definitely try this 🙂

  11. Dahn Boquist says:

    These are great lunch ideas, they are healthy and a nice change from the standard sandwich. I especially like the apple sandwich… I am doing that!

  12. Hanna Isabelle says:

    Oh yum!! I love these lunch ideas

  13. Francesca Amezzani says:

    Ahahaha sorry but I’m Italian and I would never eat these meals: pasta and bread are fundamental to us! The apple sandiwch is absurd but….. I would be curious to try it 😉

  14. Christina Boyer says:

    All of this looks so yummy!!

  15. Such a great ideas! I love the apple sandwich! Totally using that one!

  16. Lavenda Memory says:

    Absolutely loving the apple sandwich idea

  17. Stephanie says:

    These lunches look incredible. I’m almost tempted to make these for myself haha!

  18. Ashley Hargrove says:

    Mmmmmmm, these all look so yummy!!! You’re an awesome dad! I wish my parents cooked for me as a kid. :/

  19. Jojo Hua says:

    Haha, these really were cute! I love them, especially the apple sandwich!

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