Master List of Simple Lunch Box Ideas

Here it is! The Master List of Simple Lunch Box Ideas!

I know many of you send lunches with your kids for school and/or pack lunches for yourself or your spouse for work. Here’s hoping this list offers you some fun variety and nourishment that goes far beyond a sandwich! :)

Hopefully you already grabbed the Master Lists of Simple Lunch, Breakfast, and Snack Ideas. I’m covering my fridge with these lists to make our transition from summer break to a school schedule a little bit easier. If you haven’t already, be sure to download all these handy lists here!

Now for today’s list:

The Master List of Simple Lunch Box Ideas

Your Real Food Master Simple Lunch Box Ideas List

You can download this entire list here. But I’ll share it all on this post for reference also. I also recommend that you pin it so you can find it quickly as needed!

 

Meaty Recipes for your Lunchbox

If at home, we eat many of these hot. But in a packed lunch, we don’t mind eating them cold!

• Cream Cheese BLT Sandwiches
• Taco Corn Fritters
• Turkey Ranch Pinwheels
• Quesadillas (cheese only, or add leftover meat if you prefer)
• Salmon Patties
• Pigs in a Blanket
• Lazy Dogs
• Taco Quesadillas
• Bbq Beef and Cheese Hot Pockets (made with any filling you like; tastes great hot or cold)
• Chicken Salad (with bread, crackers, or lettuce)
• Tuna Salad (with bread, crackers, or lettuce)
• BLT Wraps
• Calzones (made with any filling you like; tastes great hot or cold)
• Whole Wheat Pizza Swirls
• Pizza
• Beef Summer Sausage
• Cheesy Turkey Sausage Stromboli
• Corn Dog Muffins
• Pizza Pockets
• Popcorn Chicken
• Spanish Rice

Food You Can Heat and Pack in a Thermos

• 20-Minute Taco Soup
• Cheeseburger Macaroni
• Cheeseburger Soup
• Chicken Noodle Soup
• Chicken Soup with a Kick
• Homemade Tomato Soup
• Pizza Soup
• Potato Soup
• Skillet Taco Pasta
• Taco Rice Dinner

NOTE: Here’s a fantastic thermos option that comes in all kinds of fun varieties and patterns. It’s stainless steel inside and out. It keeps cold food cold for 7 hours and hot food hot for 5 hours! Check out your options here. 

Hearty Dips for Chips

Pack these dips in small wide-mouth jars with a bag of tortilla chips to go with them!

• Easy Cheesy Bean Dip
• Homemade Guacamole
• Black Bean Salsa
• Hamburger Cream Cheese Dip
• Hamburger Sauerkraut Dip

Hearty Salads

• Bacon, Egg, and Avocado Salad
• Ham and Cheese Pasta Salad
• Taco Salad
• Black Bean Taco Salad
• BLT Chopped Salad

Fun Ideas to Add to Your Lunchbox

• Peanut Butter Muffins (naturally gluten free and can be made into sandwiches!)
• Any of these fun and delicious Muffins
• Zucchini Carrot Bread
• Hot Chocolate Souffle
• Raspberry Lemon Cream Cups
• Nectarine Cream Cups
• Coconut Fudge Bars
• Chewy Granola Bars
• Cranberry Nut Trail Mix
• Granola Bar Cups

Now let’s look at good fruit and veggie add-ons. I listed apples and carrots first, because those are a given. But wait till you see all the other fun options to give your lunch box some life!

• Apples
• Carrots
• Bananas
• Clementines
• Oranges
• Applesauce
• Peach Cups (100% juice)
• Grapes
• Cherry Tomatoes
• Sweet Peppers
• Side Salad
• Blueberries
• Sliced Strawberries
• Raspberries
• Blackberries
• Sliced cucumbers
• Celery
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Pears

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Psssst! I LOVE silicone cups like this to make Fat Bombs  and Muffins. But how about also using them in lunchboxes to separate food items from one another! This 28-pack is deeply discounted right now!

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Free Printable Lunchbox Cards for you

Find FREE printable Lunch Box Cards HERE and HERE.

Awesome Lunchboxes and Containers

Here are some really cool lunchbox options, as well as containers that work great to send food to work and school!

This Rubbermaid Salad Container comes with a blue ice freezer pack that snaps directly onto the food containers to keep your lunch cold. They are BPA free and very versitile!

Here’s another one that can be used for all kinds of foods!

If you prefer Stainless Steel, this one is a little pricier but super durable.

As for lunchboxes, this one is Double Decker so you can keep cold food cold and hot food hot! (P.S. I love this pink one!)

This simple insulated lunch bag has all kinds of fun print patterns for kids to pick from. The price is great too!

Or let your kids choose from these fun varieties of insulated zip up bags!

Would you like to make this Master List of Simple Lunchbox Ideas even simpler?

Sign up here* to receive the entire Master List of Simple Lunchbox Ideas in a free downloadable document! Then you can keep it handy on your computer or print it and put it on your fridge as a super handy reference! You’ll also receive our free Master Lunch, Breakfast, and Snack lists!

*If you’re already on our email list, go ahead and sign up with your email list anyway. This makes it easier for me to get the list to you and you won’t receive double email. You’ll be automatically redirected to a page with the free lists to download!

What are your favorite foods to add to a lunchbox?