A great list of school lunch box ideas plus the best lunch box packing essentials that every busy families need to make lunch packing easier!
Welcome to the 31 Days of School Lunch Box Ideas List!
I know how busy and intense the transition from lazy summer days at the pool to adjusting back to the 6:30 am wake up calls can be…so I thought I’d help out by sharing a different lunchbox idea each day this month.
You can get my favorite free printable downloads by filling out the form below!
The Best Lunchbox Packing Tools
When it comes to packing lunch boxes for my boys, I need sturdy products that will last ALL year and into the next!
Which is why I recommend the following lunch box packing essentials…everything from containers to ice packs to lunch bags.
Find your new favorite and durable products here:
2022 Back to School Essentials
Erin's favorite back to school essentials in 2022
EasyLunchboxes - LUNCH "Three"
3-Compartment Food Containers for School, Work, and Travel, Set of 4. Various colors available.
EasyLunchboxes - LUNCH "Five"
5-Compartment Food Containers for School, Work, and Travel, Set of 4. Various colors available.
EasyLunchboxes - OVAL
Reusable 4-Compartment Food Containers for Work, Travel and Meal Prep, Set of 4, (Classic)
EasyLunchboxes - SNACK
4-Compartment Boxes, set of 4. Various colors available.
4 Pack Slim Ice Packs, Perfect for Lunchboxes
Reusable & Long-Lasting, Perfect For Your Kid's Lunch Box, Camping Accessories, Insulated Lunch Bag, Beach Cooler Bag & More, 4PK, Blue
Bentgo Glass - SALAD
Leak-Proof Salad Container with Large 61-oz Salad Bowl, 4-Compartment Bento-Style Tray for Toppings, 3-oz Sauce Container for Dressings, and Built-In Reusable Fork (Rose)
Bentgo - SALAD
Stackable Lunch Container with Large 54-oz Salad Bowl, 4-Compartment Bento-Style Tray for Toppings, 3-oz Sauce Container for Dressings, Built-In Reusable Fork & BPA-Free (Purple)
Bentgo - Kids
Leak-Proof, 5-Compartment Bento-Style Kids Lunch Box - Ideal Portion Sizes for Ages 3 to 7, BPA-Free, Dishwasher Safe, Food-Safe Materials (Green)
Bentgo - Classic Stackable
All-in-One Stackable Bento Lunch Box Container - Modern Bento-Style Design Includes 2 Stackable Containers, Built-in Plastic Utensil Set, and Nylon Sealing Strap (Gray)
THERMOS FUNTAINER - Water Bottle
12 Ounce Stainless Steel Vacuum Insulated Kids Straw Bottle, Blue
Hydro Flask KIDS
12 OZ Kids Wide Mouth Straw LID and Boot Plumeria
Contigo Kids Water Bottle
with Redesigned AUTOSPOUT Straw, 14 oz., Dinos, 2-Pack
Insulated Lunch Bag KIDS
Genteen Lunch Box Kids Double Zipper Kids Lunch Bag,Durable Soft Bag & Freezable Lunch Bag - Boys Mens Lunch Bag Reusable Lunch Bag for School,Work,Outdoor (Blue)
Lunch Tote Bag
BUILT Gourmet Getaway Soft Neoprene Lunch Tote Bag - Lightweight, Insulated and Reusable Black
2-Pack Euroscrubby: Your New Best Cleaning Friend
Meet your new best cleaning friend! If you don't have a Euroscrubby by now, you need to order one right now! They're fun, colorful, and efficient cleaners. Definitely needed for your kitchen and bathroom.
Grocery List & Meal Plan Notepad
The most popular printable PDF on $5 Dinners is now in tearpad form!
Work & School Lunches: DIGITAL PDF
Work & School Lunches: PDF + BAG HOLDERS
Work & School Lunches: DIGITAL & PRINTED PDF + BAG HOLDERS
Cookbook: 15-Minute Freezer Meals
Cookbook - 5-Ingredient Freezer Meals
Cookbook - Freezer to Slow Cooker Meals
Cookbook - Freezer to Instant Pot Meals
Cookbook - Freezer Friendly Dump Dinners
Cookbook - Real Food Freezer Meals
Other Money Saving Back to School Resources on $5 Dinners
- Ultimate Back to School Freezer Meals List
- Back to School & Work Lunches Meal Plan
- Make Ahead Breakfast and Snacks Plan
- Nut-Free School Snack Ideas
31 School Lunchbox Ideas
Here’s the list we shared, with Day 31 at the top, moving down to Day 1 at the bottom. Tap on each one to be inspired and get any recipes.
(Not all have a recipe, some are just simple ideas and combos.)
BEST Back to School Freezer Meal Plans from MyFreezEasy
Kelly Lester (@EasyLunchboxes) says
Wow – can’t wait to share all these fantastic lunches! Thank you so much for featuring my EasyLunchboxes Erin 🙂 – Kelly
Megann says
Super excited about finding this. The hardest part for me is the planning & you’ve taken the guess work out of it! These look just as fun to make as I’m sure they’ll be to eat. can’t hardly wait for the new school year now.
Alissa says
My problem is adjusting for teenagers that eat ALOT. However, thinking of the 3 components helps so much. Thanks again.
Kim says
Hi I love the lunchbox ideas so far! My problem is my Son does not eat cheese nor will he eat lunch meats and Peanut putter is not allowed at school or nuts of any kind. Last year he took whole grain chicken nuggets and grapes everyday, This was his choice. Any way I can switch it up to something a little less boring. any help please. Thanks
Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom says
I think you just have to keep trying different things Kim!
You can use Sunbutter, which is very similar to PB, but made with sunflower seeds!
Sophia Armstrong says
Almonds are not a nut, they are a seed. I have had students that are allergic to peanuts that are perfectly fine eating almond butter. Look into it. That can open up so many fun snacks.
AD says
Almonds are nuts. Nuts are seeds. Some people are only allergic to some tree nuts, but are fine with peanuts and some tree nuts. Some are allergic to only peanuts. Some are allergic to all of them. My child is allergic to all tree nuts but is totally ok with peanuts.
shannon says
Yep, I am sensative to tree nuts, but fine with legumes aka peanuts which are not really a nut at all.
Shelley says
Almonds are most certainly nuts!!!!!!!!!! Peanuts are legumes, and that’s why it was ok for someone with a peanut allergy to eat almond butter. Please don’t tell people that almonds aren’t nuts!
Tiffinay says
How did your son heat of the chicken nuggets? Or did you cook them in the morning and put them in a thermos?
Danielle @ Mom Inspired Life says
Love all these ideas!! Thanks for sharing.
Christina Martin says
Great ideas.. especially for my picky eater!!
Brianna Carroll says
This is awesome!
Brianna Carroll says
These are awesome!
Brianna Carroll says
Awesome!
Debbie Carson says
No kids, but what a great way to spice up my husband’s lunches. Usually he eats leftovers, but with your weekly planner printout, I can write in what was made and also let him know the extras he can take. Very nice! Thanks!
Jennifer says
Hi Erin! I love all of these great ideas! Helps me think outside the cold cuts sandwiches I send everyday. I know this will sound silly but do you just send everything in those ziplock compartment boxes and not worry about temperature? Pretty much just send everything cold? I am assuming, yes? Some things will get yuck, texture wise, if put in a thermos (French toast sticks, etc) but I want to try to change it up so I am going to try several of these ideas and just keep it cold. Just curious! Thanks!
Jenn K says
Jennifer, For the typical warm foods, Erin recommends serving them in a thermos. For the purpose of this series and consistency with the photos, we placed everything in the Easy Lunchboxes containers. Hope that helps!
Lina says
Can’t wait to try these!
Jennifer says
Perfect! Thank you!
Dominique Smith says
This is very helpful! Thanks for sharing ♡
Erin says
Do you have a recommendation for a good thermos that will really keep the food warm until lunch time? I’ve tried one and it didn’t work too well. …just looking for a suggestion.
Thanks!
Nicole Mineau says
I have a kid who is impossible to feed looking forward to trying these recipes
Mrs.Bonsell says
These are awesome ideas! I just wish my son wasn’t so dang picky 🙁 I’ve been trying to work with him so he will eat more things. But he works himself up so much that he will gag and throw up as soon as the new food touches his tongue. keeping this though, just in case.
Nicole says
This is great. I love finding new ideas. I’d like to add one for you….a PB and apple wrap. This is one of my kids favorites. I would also add as a tip to readers…for warm foods — put boiling water in the thermos to heat it up first, after a few minutes, dump the water (dry if necessary) and then add the food.
Adrianne Reid says
Some interesting ideas, but I really wish that peanut butter was not featured so heavily. Many school boards do not allow any nut products in the school due to nut allergies, I know our schools do not allow them.
Jenn K says
Adrianne – there are 5 recipes so far with peanut butter out of 24. As Erin states on her posts with peanut butter: For those of you who have peanut free schools, make sure you try Wowbutter! It’s a safe alternative to peanut butter that is made in a 100% Peanut Free, Nut Free, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, and Egg Free Facility, and most importantly, tastes just like the real thing!
Jackie says
Even Wowbutter or Sunbutter are usually not allowed as it is so much like the real stuff that it is hard to tell the difference.
Allison Donaldson says
Wow butter has stickers that you stick on the container that says what it is.
Julia says
Great website. Thanks!!
Lushi says
This is amazing Erin! It’s really helpful because I am on a healthy eating phase and I really need meal planning because I feel so lazy to make food at the last moment.
I am pinning this right now! Thanks for the amazing post 🙂
Andrea says
Wow! This is really great. I’m a working girl and I want to save money by cooking instead of buying and this article really helps me a lot. I can’t wait to try those recipes. It looks really delicious and easy to make. I do not really cook but seeing those pictures keeps me motivated. Thank you so much Erin. 🙂
Sincerely,
Andrea
Michelle says
My son is in Kindergarten, so he does not have access to a fridge or a microwave. My biggest issue is figuring out lunches that can be eaten at room tempeture, and some of this have to be reheated, If you have any additional suggestions please send them my way 🙂 I’ll be using as many as I can out of this fantastic list.
Heidi says
Are most of these eaten cold? Like the sloppy joe sliders, mini tacos, fajitas and beans… My child doesnt have access to a microwave so I was just wondering…
Christi says
These are wonderful ideas and I want to try some of them. I’m wondering the same as some above. Do you put waffles, sloppy joes, Mac n cheese in a thermos? If so, what kind? Will the foods be safe at lunch time?
calandra carr says
Need ideas for picky eater with autism
Jo says
Great ideas will try
Tammy says
I would like to save all 31 days of lunches but not seeing where I can do that. 🙁 Please tell me I am just blind or at least how to do it. Thanks. Need to spice up my daughters lunches.
BillyRose says
I agree. What is, I think, supposed to be the link for the lunch ideas on one page, is not blue/clickable. On another page, I can click it, but I still can’t seem to ‘find’ the recipes! 🙁 I have a friend I would like to share these with; she is pregnant and working, and was just asking a couple weeks ago for lunch ideas/recommendations!
Tara says
I don’t see any of the lunch ideas listed?!?!?!
Kelyn says
Thanks so much for this! Really helps as my youngest is going to school this year and he’s picky! I think he will like a lot of what is shown here though!
Jenni says
hi, I was wondering about the easy lunchbox system boxes, can you put them sideways and the lid will stay out? I know you can’t do wet foods just wondering how it would work being transported sideways, thanks!
Gwen says
Thanks so much for all of the great ideas and recipes!! One thing I found very helpful so my daughter doesn’t lose her lunch box and knows right away which one is hers is adding a Tagtailz. My daughter loves these accessories and they are so cute for keeping the kids backpacks, dance bag and sports bottles so easy to identify. What a great idea!
Nita Chivwara says
send me 31 days of recipes