The Gourmet Mama

Gourmet Mama’s Back to School Packed Lunch Guide

August 24th, 2012 |

packed lunch

It’s that time of year again! Kids are heading back to school and the joy of summer is over. It’s time to start thinking about what you’re going to send off to school this year and let’s face it, that’s not always so fun. Fortunately, we’re here to help you out! Scroll down past the safety info to get to the recipes!

Lunch Safety

First, it’s important to know the rules about packed lunches and to make sure that you’re not accidentally sending off something that will go bad by lunch. The general rule of thumb is to make sure things are cold until lunch! You can do this in a few different ways.

1. Freeze that juice box! Or water bottle or whatever beverage you’re sending. The frozen drink will thaw by the time your child is ready to eat, but in the meantime, it will keep cold food cold.

2. Pack the night before. Making lunch the night before helps mornings go smoother, but it also has the advantage of keeping the food in the fridge all night so it’s chilled for the next day!

3. Use an insulated lunch bag. These are awesome for keeping food at the right temperature and they come in some cute designs.

Recipes for Packed Lunches

All of these recipes are ones that we’ve featured at some point on Gourmet Mama and they are all excellent for packing in your child’s lunch. Click on the photo to go to the recipe.

Snacks

Kids need ongoing fuel, so packing a couple of snacks in their lunch bag is a good way to make sure they get it. They can either eat during recess or wait and have their snack foods as an appetizer with lunch. Some kids prefer to eat on the bus home. In any case, it’s a good idea to have a few nice extras on hand.

Toasted Garlic Pumpkin Seeds

Herbed Soda Crackers

Cheesy Eggplant Sticks

Sesame Honey Crackers

Roasted Pepper Crackers

Sandwiches and Wraps

Sandwiches are pretty standard for school lunches, but here are a few fun alternatives to the whole PB&J option. Wraps can be another fun way to switch things up!

Quick "Grilled" Chicken Sandwich

Cucumber Cream Cheese Sandwich

Steak Sandwich

Tangy Chicken Rollups

Super Simple Chicken Wraps

Chickpea Burritos

Garlicky Bread Sticks

Homemade Pizza Pockets

Misc. Dishes

If you’re looking to give your child something a little more interesting than a sandwich, here are a few ideas.

Simple Ham and Tomato Pasta

Ground Beef Scramble

Garlic Ginger Chicken Stir Fry

Garlic Cauliflower

Quick and Easy Mango Chicken

Ginger Beef Empanadas

Sweet and Sour Lemon Chicken

Kid-Friendly Chilli

Chicken in Creamy Curry Sauce

Soups

Soups can be kept cold or served hot in a thermos! Look for a wide mouth thermos that will let your child spoon the soup right out.

Chicken Corn Chowder

Curried Potato Soup with Grilled Chicken

Carrot Corn Vegetable Soup

White Bean Parsley Soup

Chunky Gazpacho

Roasted Pumpkin Corn Soup

Roasted Red Pepper and Carrot Soup

Salads

What could be better than a delicious salad in your lunchbox? While most kids aren’t in favor of a lettuce and tomato type salad, there are plenty of fun alternatives that your children might enjoy.

Purple Cabbage Salad

Green Mango Salad

Rainbow Salad

Roasted Corn and Cabbage Salad

Raw Carrot-Beet Salad

Desserts

Dessert is the best part of the meal, right? If you want to make sure that your kids are getting homemade goodies instead of just the packaged stuff (though there’s nothing wrong with a cookie from a box when you’re in a rush!), then these recipes might just be what you’re looking for.