Food 
The school year is just around the corner: a real bummer for most kids, but a time of much rejoicing for most parents. Of course, if you’re a foodie like me, you’re probably already working on ways to make your kid’s lunch the envy of the cafeteria. You may have seen some of the viral videos featuring super creative, fun lunch ideas. Being a professional cook, and a kid at heart, I have a few such ideas myself. These are the lunches I wish I had packed, instead of my rather sad PBJ, applesauce, and pretzel sticks (love you, Mom!).
Bento Boxes
If you love Japanese food as much as I do, you’ve almost certainly had a bento box: the traditional wooden boxes packed with meats (or delicious meat substitutes!) and fresh vegetables. I pick one up from my neighborhood specialty store at least once a week. I think the bento concept is perfect for school lunches: it’s a compact, visually appealing way to pack a fresh, healthy lunch. There is even a company called Bentgo that specializes in fun bento boxes for adults and kids. You can check them out at https://bentgo.com/collections/bentgo-kids
Make Your Own Drink Pouches
When I was a kid, you weren’t cool unless you had a Capri Sun in your lunch box (I know, tell me you were a 90s kid without telling me you were a 90s kid…). I still get nostalgic for those little pouches, but let’s face it, the juice inside wasn’t the healthiest of drinks. Luckily, reusable pouches aren’t too hard to come by (they can easily be found on Amazon). You can fill these with fresh, natural juices for a healthier version of a kids’ classic.
DIY Lunchables
Of course, the other lunch item that “anybody who was anybody” brought to the table (literally) was the classic Lunchable. You know what I’m talking about: the plastic boxes full of crackers, sliced ham, and slightly gooey slices of cheese. They were every kid’s introduction to the charcuterie board. Popular though they were, these lunches weren’t terribly high on nutrition. That’s why I say make your own–it’ll probably come out to a lower price anyway. Buy some good whole-wheat crackers, quality cheeses, and cured meats, and really go to town, making sure to throw in some fruits and vegetables for a balanced meal. Actually, I know several adults who do this for their work lunches, and I’m not judging.
Afternoon Tea
This one may be a little out there, but it is certain to turn some heads and start some conversations. One of the joys of my trip to London was participating in an English “High Tea” ceremony. I love all the little handheld snacks like tarts, scones, and – quite healthy – cucumber sandwiches. I think it could be fun to do something similar with a “tea” themed lunch for your kid. Just make sure to pack a thermos of decaf tea–you don’t want them bouncing off the walls during class!
Cold-Cut Kabobs
This is an idea I came across on Pinterest and I’m low-key obsessed with it. Grilled shish kabobs were always a fun meal at my house growing up (the vegan version with mushrooms, onions, peppers, and pineapple still is!). Try getting some wooden skewers and assembling cold-cut shish kabobs with folded lunch meat, fruits (grapes and strawberries work perfectly), and chunks of cheese. This is definitely an idea for the older kids since there are pointed skewers involved. That said, you could also use pretzel sticks for some fun mini kabobs.
I’d Love to Hear Your Lunch Ideas!
Thinking about all these fun lunch ideas almost makes me want to go back to school again. On second thought, I think I’ll satisfy myself by packing some creative lunches for my friend’s kids. If you have any lunch ideas you swear by, I would love to hear about them in the comments below! Annnnnd there’s the bell. Time for me to get moving!
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