13 Kids Lunch Box Ideas That Actually Come Home Empty

Does your kid bring home a lunch box that looks exactly like it did in the morning? You are definitely not the only parent dealing with that. These kids lunch box ideas are colorful, fun and easy to pack, and they are built around foods kids actually like. Many can be made the night before, so mornings get a little calmer. Which one will your little one love the most? Let us find out..

1. Rainbow Bento Box, the Most Colorful of Kids Lunch Box Ideas

Kids eat with their eyes first, and a bento box full of color is hard to resist. Small sections let you pack a little of everything: rice or crackers, a protein, crunchy veggies and sweet fruit. Nothing touches, which picky eaters love. Let your child help choose one item for each section and they will be more excited to eat it. Which color would your kid eat first?

You will need: 1/2 cup cooked rice or crackers, 1/2 cup cooked chicken or tofu pieces, cucumber and carrot slices, cherry tomatoes, 1/2 cup mixed fruit (grapes, berries, mandarin), a small cheese stick, a few pretzels.

How to make it: Cook and cool the rice or chicken the night before. Cut vegetables and fruit into bite size pieces. Fill each section of a bento box with one food. Add a small treat or a note. Keep it cold with an ice pack until lunch.

2. Build Your Own Snack Plate (Easy Kids Lunch Box Ideas)

Some kids just want to graze, and that is totally fine. This build your own snack plate box has a little bit of everything, so they can pick and nibble at their own pace. Mix crunchy veggies, a little dip, a protein and something sweet. It is basically a homemade lunch kit without all the packaging. Quick poll: what does your kid eat first? A) Veggies B) Crackers C) The treat. It is one of the simplest kids lunch box ideas for busy mornings.

You will need: Cherry tomatoes, cucumber slices, baby carrots, 2 tbsp ranch or hummus, sliced turkey or chicken, cheese cubes, a handful of crackers, berries or grapes.

How to make it: Wash and cut all the veggies and fruit. Roll up the turkey slices. Put dip in a small leak proof cup. Arrange everything in a divided lunch box. Pack with an ice pack to keep it fresh.

3. Chicken Ranch Wraps

Wraps are a fun break from the usual sandwich and they hold together well in a lunch box. Tender chicken, shredded cheese and lettuce are rolled up with a little ranch in a soft tortilla. Cut it in half or slice it into rounds so it is easy for little hands. Use leftover rotisserie chicken to make this in five minutes. Does your kid like A) halves or B) little pinwheel slices? Wraps are some of the most flexible kids lunch box ideas.

You will need: 1 large flour tortilla, 1/2 cup cooked chicken shredded, 2 tbsp ranch dressing, 1/4 cup shredded cheese, a handful of shredded lettuce, 2 tomato slices (optional).

How to make it: Spread ranch over the tortilla. Add chicken, cheese, lettuce and tomato in the center. Fold in the sides and roll tightly. Cut in half or slice into rounds. Wrap in foil or parchment so it stays closed.

4. Creamy Pasta Salad

Cold pasta salad is a lunch box hero. It tastes great at room temperature and you can make a big batch for the whole week. Tiny pasta shapes, peas, cheese and diced ham get tossed in a creamy, mild dressing that kids love. Add any veggies your kids already enjoy. It is filling, easy to eat with a fork and perfect for picky eaters. Make ahead kids lunch box ideas like this save your weekday mornings.

You will need: 2 cups small pasta cooked and cooled, 1/2 cup diced ham or chicken, 1/2 cup cheese cubes, 1/2 cup peas, 1/4 cup chopped spinach, 1/3 cup mayo, 2 tbsp plain yogurt, 1 tsp lemon juice, salt.

How to make it: Cook pasta, rinse in cold water and drain well. Mix mayo, yogurt, lemon and salt. Toss pasta with ham, cheese, peas and spinach. Stir in the dressing. Chill and pack in a sealed container with an ice pack.

5. English Muffin Mini Pizzas (Fun Kids Lunch Box Ideas)

Pizza for lunch? Kids will think they won the lottery. These mini pizzas are made on English muffins, so they bake fast and hold up well in a lunch box. They taste great cold or warm in a thermos. Let kids add their own toppings on Sunday night and you have lunches ready for days. What is your kid team? A) Pepperoni B) Cheese only C) Veggie. Pizza style kids lunch box ideas almost always come home empty.

You will need: 4 English muffins split, 1/2 cup pizza sauce, 1 cup shredded mozzarella, mini pepperoni or diced veggies, 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning.

How to make it: Heat oven to 400 F. Toast the muffin halves lightly. Spread with sauce, add cheese and toppings. Sprinkle with seasoning. Bake 8 to 10 minutes until the cheese melts. Cool completely before packing.

6. Easy Rice Ball Onigiri

Onigiri are Japanese rice balls and they are so fun to eat. Sticky rice is shaped into triangles around a simple filling like tuna mayo or salmon and wrapped with a strip of seaweed for easy holding. Kids love how they look, and they are great for anyone who wants a break from bread. Make them in the morning or the night before and wrap each one tightly. It is one of the most fun kids lunch box ideas to try.

You will need: 2 cups cooked short grain rice warm, 1 can tuna drained, 2 tbsp mayo, salt, nori sheets cut into strips, sesame seeds (optional).

How to make it: Mix tuna and mayo. Wet your hands and sprinkle with salt. Take a scoop of warm rice, press a small hole and add a spoon of filling. Cover with more rice and shape into a triangle. Wrap a nori strip around the bottom.

7. Classic Turkey Club Sandwich

Sometimes a classic sandwich is all a kid needs. Layer turkey, cheese, lettuce and tomato on soft whole grain bread for a lunch that is filling and easy. Cut it into fun shapes with a cookie cutter to make it extra special. Pack the tomato separately if your kid hates soggy bread. Was your favorite school lunch a turkey sandwich too?

You will need: 2 slices whole grain bread, 3 slices deli turkey, 1 slice cheese, lettuce leaf, 2 tomato slices, 1 tsp mayo or mustard.

How to make it: Spread mayo or mustard on the bread. Layer turkey, cheese and lettuce. Add tomato or pack it on the side. Close the sandwich and cut into halves, triangles or fun shapes. Wrap tightly and pack with an ice pack.

8. DIY Crackers, Cheese and Grapes Box

Store bought lunch kits are pricey and often full of extras. This homemade version gives kids the fun of building their own crackers with fresher, better food. Just pack crackers, cheese slices, a little meat and sweet grapes. Kids feel grown up stacking their own bites. It takes under five minutes to put together. Would your kid stack it A) cheese first or B) meat first? Homemade kids lunch box ideas like this cost less than lunch kits.

You will need: 10 whole grain crackers, 4 cheese slices cut into squares, 4 slices salami or turkey cut to size, 1 cup grapes, a few cucumber rounds.

How to make it: Cut cheese and meat to match the size of the crackers. Halve the grapes for younger kids. Arrange crackers, cheese, meat, grapes and cucumber in separate sections of a lunch box. Pack with an ice pack.

9. Hummus and Veggie Dippers

Kids who say they hate veggies often change their minds when they get to dip them. Smooth, creamy hummus makes carrots, cucumbers and peppers way more fun. Add a few pita triangles or pretzels for extra crunch. Homemade hummus takes five minutes in a blender and keeps all week. What is the best dipper? Tell us in the comments! Dips make veggie based kids lunch box ideas way more fun.

You will need: 1 can chickpeas drained (save some liquid), 3 tbsp tahini, 2 tbsp lemon juice, 1 small garlic clove, 2 tbsp olive oil, salt, carrot sticks, cucumber, bell pepper strips, pita triangles.

How to make it: Blend chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, garlic, olive oil and salt until smooth. Add a splash of the chickpea liquid to make it creamy. Spoon into a small container. Cut veggies into sticks and pack them with pita around the dip.

10. Rainbow Fruit Skewers

Fruit on a stick just tastes better. That is a fact every parent knows. These rainbow skewers use strawberries, pineapple, grapes, kiwi and blueberries for a bright and juicy treat. Use blunt straws or short skewers for younger kids. They make lunch feel like a party and are a great way to add fruit without a fight. Which fruit would your kid eat first?

You will need: Strawberries, pineapple chunks, mandarin segments, kiwi slices, green grapes, blueberries, short skewers or paper straws.

How to make it: Wash and cut the fruit into bite size pieces. Thread onto skewers in rainbow order: red, orange, yellow, green, blue. Place in a container and squeeze a little orange juice on top to keep it fresh.

11. Apple Slices With Peanut Butter Dip

Crisp apples and creamy peanut butter is a combo that never gets old. This dip is mixed with a little yogurt and honey to make it extra smooth and easy to scoop. A quick squeeze of lemon keeps the apples from turning brown. If your school is nut free, swap in sunflower seed butter. It is a sweet, filling snack with natural protein.

You will need: 1 apple sliced, squeeze of lemon juice, 2 tbsp peanut butter or sunflower seed butter, 2 tbsp vanilla yogurt, 1 tsp honey, pinch of cinnamon.

How to make it: Slice the apple and toss with a little lemon juice. Mix peanut butter, yogurt, honey and cinnamon until smooth. Spoon into a small container. Pack apple slices next to the dip.

12. Banana Oat Mini Muffins

Mini muffins are the perfect lunch box treat because they are small, soft and not too sweet. These are made with ripe bananas and oats, so they feel more like a snack than a dessert. Bake a batch on the weekend and freeze them. Pop a frozen one in the lunch box in the morning and it will be thawed by lunchtime. Easy win! Freezer friendly kids lunch box ideas are a parent life saver.

You will need: 2 ripe bananas mashed, 1 egg, 1/3 cup honey or maple syrup, 1/4 cup melted butter or oil, 1 tsp vanilla, 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup oats, 1 tsp baking soda, pinch of salt, mini chocolate chips (optional).

How to make it: Heat oven to 350 F and grease a mini muffin pan. Mix bananas, egg, honey, butter and vanilla. Stir in flour, oats, baking soda and salt. Fold in chips. Fill cups and bake 10 to 12 minutes. Cool on a rack.

13. Strawberry Yogurt Parfait to Finish These Kids Lunch Box Ideas

A yogurt parfait in a jar feels like a special treat but it is packed with good stuff. Layer creamy yogurt, sweet strawberries and crunchy granola. Pack the granola in a separate little bag so it stays crunchy until lunch. Kids love pouring it on themselves. Quick question: does your kid like A) vanilla or B) strawberry yogurt best? Thanks for reading these kids lunch box ideas. Packing for yourself too? Try our meal prep lunches.

You will need: 3/4 cup vanilla Greek yogurt, 1/2 cup strawberries chopped, 1/4 cup granola, 1 tsp honey (optional).

How to make it: Spoon half the yogurt into a small jar. Add half the strawberries. Repeat the layers. Drizzle with honey. Seal the jar and pack granola in a separate bag to sprinkle on top at lunch. Keep cold with an ice pack.