The average school year is about 165 days long. If our math is correct, that means about 164 days (we're assuming at least one pizza party along the way!) of having to figure out how to make sure our K-12 age kids have are fed and happy during the school year. When kids are in the earlier grades, lunch is a little easier. Find the superhero-themed lunch box of their dreams, throw in some squeeze packs of applesauce and a sandwich, and then trust that their teacher will get to the lunch room on time.
For older kids, including middle and high schoolers, the whole school lunch thing can get trickier. For one thing, a lot of students have lunch periods that are really short (like 25 minutes or less) and by the time they get to the cafeteria and wait in line for hot lunch, they are left with hardly any time to eat. Older kids have also outgrown the cutesy lunch box phase and are developing more sophisticated tastes in food. That, plus the major growth spurts, means that an applesauce pack and half a sandwich just isn't going to cut it! We're here to help with 20 great ideas for snacks, main options, and even cool water bottles to make bringing lunch amazing for bigger kids!
Nature's Bakery Raspberry Fig Bars
$6
from
Nature's Bakery
Bigger kids are often going through big growth spurts, which means that they may need a snack with some substance in their backpack. We like the Nature's Bakery Raspberry Fig Bars because they are plant based (make the vegan or vegetarian big kid happy!), have whole wheat, and are soft and tasty.
Hydro Flask Kids Insulated Lunch Box
$44.95
from
Hydro Flask
According to the middle schoolers in our lives, Hydro Flasks are the must-have water bottle. We love the water bottles for how they keep water icy for hours, which is also what we love about the insulated lunch box. This colorful (but not overly cute) lunch box will keep things like yogurt, lunch meat, and other perishable items cold and safe to eat, even for kids who have the latest lunch period of the school day.
Veggicopia Pitted Green Olives
$20.99
from
Veggicopia
OK, this may be a controversial choice! Olives are one of those things that people either love or hate, but for the kids who've been eating olives off their fingertips for years, this is a great savory snack! These are also gluten-free and don't require utensils, so easy-peasy for the olive-loving big kid!
Annie's Organic Dipped Granola Bars
Big kids still want a little treat in their lunch! We like the Annie's Organic Dipped Granola Bars (the caramel flavor is so good) because they are nut allergy safe (so they don't break any school rules about peanut products), organic, and way less sugar than a candy bar would be.
Impossible Homestyle Meatballs
Whether it is for animal-loving reasons or a burgeoning sense of environmental awareness, older kids often want to explore veganism or follow a vegetarian diet. Parents often worry about making sure these growing kids are also getting enough protein, which makes the Impossible brand's Homestyle Meatballs a great choice for dinner as well as tasty option for lunch leftovers the next day! With 12 grams of protein, these will keep them full all afternoon. We suggest cooking them with some barbecue sauce and then keeping them in a compact thermos to keep them warm (see next slide for a great option for thermos). Yum!
Stanley All-in-One Food Jar
This stainless steel food jar will keep food warm or cold for up to 12 hours, so it is a great choice for older kids who like a hot meal for lunch. Meatballs (or meatless meatballs), soups, or leftover pasta all will fit in this jar, which also comes with a handy spork. Who doesn't love a spork?
Chicas Blue Corn Tortilla Chips
Here's an easy lunch option for kids who like a little spice: fill a small container with several tablespoons of cream cheese and top with 1/4 to 1/2 cup of salsa. Some jicama sticks or these restaurant-style blue corn tortilla chips (We like the Chica's brand for crunch and quality ingredients) is both delicious but also has a good balance of carbs, protein, and fiber to keep kids feeling full.
Aircarbon Forks
One of the challenges of sending kids to school with a packed lunch is knowing that things like silverware don't always make it home. It can't feel wasteful and not environmentally friend to send plastic utensils, so we're into these reusable, plastic free, and biodegradable forks as a good alternative to losing all our home forks!
Stonefire Dippers Original Naan Dippers
Naan dippers are a versatile option for bigger kid lunches. They pair well with a Thermos of soup or as a dipper for some red pepper hummus. They can also be topped with a nut butter and jam or some deli meat for some mini-sandwiches.
Happy Belly Old Fashioned Oats
At some middle and high schools, the first lunch period can be as early as 10 a.m. For kids who eat lunch that early, some brunch-inspired options can be a solid choice. Overnight oats are a super healthy option (there are tons of easy recipes online, with the only key being to use old fashioned oats instead of quick cooking), especially when paired with some fresh fruit.
Chocolate Peanut Caramel Truffle Lara Bars
Larabars are a great option for either the lunch box or for a quick snack before after school sports or activities! The new Chocolate Peanut Caramel Truffle has a richer flavor but is still gluten free, plant based, and vegan friendly!
Hydro Flask Lightweight Water Bottle
A good water bottle is clutch and Hydro Flask bottles are basically indestructible and they keep drinks so cold that they can even be used for a lunch time smoothie, too. The lightweight version of the bottle holds 21 ounces but isn't too heavy to carry in a backpack. Kids will want to personalize their bottle with some stickers, which can be helpful to make sure they can find it again if it ends up in the lost and found!
Wholly Guacamole Homestyle Minis
We'd happily eat guacamole with basically anything — chip, veggie, spoon. These mini cups are great as either a side item with some veggie dippers or to be part of a chicken soft taco lunch. A cup of guacamole, a few small tortillas, some sliced bell pepper, and some cooked chicken is all a big kid needs for an enviable school lunch!
Wonderful Pistachios No Shell Variety Pack
Pistachios are a great option for adding some protein to lunch, especially for kids who don't love lunch meat. Getting a no shell pack is critical because kids for sure don't have time to shell nuts at lunch! Pairing one of these single-serve packages with some fresh fruit and a yogurt is a lunch that takes less than two minutes to pack. Unless maybe we're the only ones whose kids are chronically running five minutes behind before school?
Starkist Tuna Creations Ranch Pouch
Tuna packets are the ideal option for kids who like fish and moms who don't want their kid's backpacks to smell like a pier. These handy packets are great with crackers or to make a tuna sandwich at school. Bonus — no soggy bread! Nobody needs a soggy sandwich!
Osmo Everything Bagel Sea Salt Blend
No, we are not advocating for sending kids to school with a jar of salt! But the Everything Bagel Sea Salt Blend is really tasty and a good way to add flavor to a meal. We love it sprinkled on top of cucumbers (slice cukes before school, throw some of the blend into a small container, kid can sprinkle as much as the like during lunch) or mixed into plain cream cheese for adding to a bagel sandwich. Kids who like more of a kick will like the spicy version.
And if parents want to sprinkle some of this on their own lunches, nobody will be the wiser!
Food To Go Snack Pods
$8.99
from
The Container Store
These BPA-free reusable containers are a nice mix of sizes that will make it easy for big kids to bring condiments or seasonings, squishable fruits (nobody wants a flat blueberry), dressing for veggie dipping, or granola to go with a yogurt or some overnight oats.
Chomps Beef Sticks
We're not going to name names, but we might know a kid or two who is prone to getting hangry, so these high-protein beef sticks are a go-to for stashing in the backpack for a quick snack or to add some protein to lunch, especially during peak growth spurt season!
Peanut Butter Monster Trail Mix
What's a lunch without a little treat? The Peanut Butter Monster Trail Mix from Target is a peanut butter lovers dream come true. It has peanuts, peanut butter cups, peanut pretzel balls, and some raisins, too! With 5 grams of protein this is a lunchtime dessert that will help keep them full.
Nature Valley Crunchy Dips Salted Caramel Squares
Yes, these do have whole grains and are comparatively low in sugar when compared to candy or cookies, but they are still definitely in the dessert/treat category for school lunches! Bigger kids will enjoy the salted caramel flavor of this crunchy snack (and so will any parents who grab one for themselves, no shame in the snack stealing game!).
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