Kids' lunch box ideas you probably haven't thought of

 

It's time to make lunchtime fun again
Pictured: Rusty the Fox Bento Box - £5.95 

With summer fast approaching it’s time for packed lunches on the playgrounds, and here at dotcomgiftshop we’ve been on the lookout for some simple, healthy and tasty lunch ideas which offer something a little different from the sandwiches and biscuits that grace the usual British lunchbox.

From simple quick ideas to something more adventurous, whether you throw lunches together in the mornings or like to prepare in advance there’ll be something in our list suited to your family.

 

In the morning

 

Snappy meals for when you're in a hurry
Left image: Eats Amazing  Right image: Daisies and Pie 

You don’t have to go mad with complicated ingredients or recipes for these quick and easy lunches.

Sandwiches

If you like to get arty, a bit of creativity can make sandwiches loads of fun. Eats Amazing is full of great ideas like the minion sandwich above, as well as some more seasonal creations such as eyeball sandwiches for Halloween. 

Leftovers

We’ve all been known to take last night’s leftovers in to work, but they’re ideal for the kids too and can make good, filling foods at lunchtime. If you’ve made fajitas the night before, you can transform them into ham and cheese quesadillas with a simple recipe from Daisies and Pie, and if you are looking for something super healthy, Katie from Feeding Boys has come up with a great Fish Finger Pitta creation to pack some wholegrain into your kids diet.

Or to keep it simple, a small Thermos flask will hold perfect lunchtime portions, take a look at The Organised Housewife’s blog for loads of flask-friendly food like rice, noodles or soup from the day before, or My Mommy Style, who suggests a portion of chicken nuggets in a Thermos. 

 

The night before

 

Cook a bigger batch and have some for yourself too
Left image: Cook the Story  Right image: Skinny Jeans Food

Pizza

Pizza is one of the most versatile foods around, and if you grab a pizza base and make it at home you can get all your kids favourite toppings on whilst keeping it healthy by scattering on vegetables like sweetcorn, peppers and red onions. And for any arty folk who fancy a creative challenge, Eats Amazing have a great tutorial for turning a pizza into the Gruffalo.

Pasta

Simple pasta recipes like Skinny Jeans Food’s pasta on the go are quick to prepare and great for lunchtime - cook a batch and freeze it ahead of time but don’t forget to have a look at Cook The Story’s top tips for packing frozen pasta for school. She has advice for keeping meals healthy too, her most important tip? “Don’t make it complicated. I aim for a protein, a carb, a vegetable and a fruit in every lunch.”

 

In advance

 

If this doesn’t cause a hush to fall over the canteen, nothing will
Left image: Nom Nom Paleo  Right image: MIKI Yoshihito

These showstoppers take a little longer to prepare, but can be fun to create and a really nice surprise for the kids when they open their lunchbox. 

Miki Yoshito’s Maisy-themed bento box is a cute example of the way you can customise your child’s lunch to match their favourite character - give it a go if you think you’re arty enough!

For something really adventurous, try a Smörgåstårta from Time to Cook Online and make them a scandinavian sandwich filled with pea, goat cheese and mint or go all out with Nom Nom Paleo’s prosciutto-wrapped frittata muffins. 

You can even have a go at a homemade Cornish pasty at lunchtime, or some three bean sausage rolls - check out from Lavender and Lovage, and Tinned Tomatoes respectively for the recipes.

 

Something extra

 

It’s the little things that make lunchtime lovely
Left image: Rusty The Fox lunch box - £4.95  Right image: Dress Up Dolly baking set - £5.95

For a balanced meal, think about adding in a fruit salad or some chopped up vegetables: Veg Kitchen has some great tips for making healthy foods more appealing to young tummies, including packing tasty dips and cutting up fruit into bite-sized chunks. You could even make your child’s lunch into a mini buffet filled with finger foods, like the quick and easy cheese and tomato egg muffins from The Crazy Kitchen.

Most children have a sweet tooth - pop over to Delish to discover a world of simple homemade desserts that will satisfy their sugar cravings, or have a go at baking Little Grazers’ mini banana and raisin muffins. Don’t forget to check out our full range of kid's lunch bags and boxes to make sure it all gets to school safely!