It’s only the 2nd week of school and we’re already hearing complaints about what’s for lunch. Even though I was satisfied with PBJ on Wonder Bread EVERY day for 4 years, kids these days seem a bit more discriminating. The following DIY lunchbox ideas will help make the food you send look and taste more appealing – and will hopefully distract the kids long enough to eat without complaining. If only there was an app for that!
P.S. Ready to get an A+ in lunch prep? Here’s our ultimate guide to healthy school lunches and 10 back to school recipes our kids can’t get enough of!
15 Cute and Clever DIY Lunch Box Tricks
1. Fruit Messages from Cake Whiz
Here’s a way to add a fun surprise message to your child’s lunch box. We’d stick with the peel-able fruit, personally.
2. Open Faced Sandwiches from Flavours Treat
Cut out white bread or simply use rice cakes to make animal open faced sandwiches the kids will love.
3. Sandwich on a Stick from Bless This Mess Please
Classic sandwiches can quickly become boring. But put the same ingredients on a stick and your kids will find them fun again.
4. Lego Sandwich from Eats Amazing
What looks like elaborate Lego-shaped sandwiches is actually so easy to make! We don’t know a kid who wouldn’t appreciate these.
5. Cheese ‘Men’ from Lemon & Basil
Use your gingerbread men cookie cutters to cut out Monterey Jack (or any other sliced) cheese, and serve them on top of crackers.
6. Heart-Boiled Eggs from Rad Megan
What kid wouldn’t want to taste this little egg? And don’t forget to pack salt and pepper holder with it – you can use a cute contacts carrier for that!
7. Panda Sandwich from The Culinary Tribune
Use any fillings for these panda sandwiches, they’re sure to be a hit! The whole thing is made using a kit you can find on Amazon.
8. Haunted Chicken Parm Bento from Adventures in Bentomaking
Perfect for Halloween, but could totally work anytime of the year. Bento ghosts are easy to make from sliced cheese, and they’ll make any meal “haunted”.
9. Mango Kiwi Homemade Fruit Leather from Hello Nest
Sometimes kids will find fruit to taste too… “healthy”. That’s when you should pop out the fruit leather – it tastes like candy! Plus you can roll it up and tie with colorful string to make it even more appealing.
10. Apple Fruit Yogurt Donuts from Hello, Wonderful
Donuts for lunch? Sure, just make them apple donuts instead! They’re topped with yogurt and more fruit and they taste lovely.
11. Uncrustable Freezer Sandwiches from Princess Pinky Girl
These PB&J sandwiches couldn’t be more convenient! You can make a big batch and freeze them, then use them for lunch boxes every now and again.
12. Cut Fruit in Shapes from Fun With Mama
This post has a lot of good lunch box tricks, but we especially love how simple this one is: cut out fruit with cookie cutters, and make them exciting again!
13. Tangerine Snail from Kraze Magazine
My little one usually needs help peeling his fruit, so this idea accomplishes that while creating a happy little snail lunch box friend.
14. Baked Apple Chips from Hello Glow
Got a little chip lover? Skip the fat, salty potato chips, and pack healthier apple chips instead. For a savory version, they might like zucchini or radish chips.
15. Cheese and Crackers Bento from Martha Stewart
This bento box has more than one good idea inside! We love the strips of deli-sliced ham wrapped around whole wheat pretzels, and the star-shaped cheese on crackers, too.