100 New Lunchbox Ideas To Try

MacLean dumped his backpack on the kitchen table as usual after school.

Author:
Erin Collard
Updated:
Nov 16, 2018
Original:
Sep 30, 2013

”Notice anything different, Mom?”

I looked over. ”Uh…no. Looks like your sack lunch, uneaten as usual.”

MacLean made that “13 year old boy exasperated noise” that he’s been perfecting. ”Yeah. Because it’s the same lunch I’ve had for 3 days!”

“But…but you like yogurt and oranges!” I hedged.

“No, Mom. It’s the same exact lunch. You haven’t changed anything for 3 days. Why don’t you just tell the world you’re trying to murder me through Salmonella?”

Have I mentioned that my twins definitely picked up my Drama Queen streak?

But it’s true. I must have just assumed I’d already packed it, or something. Man, I do suck, don’t I?

Anyway, here’s a lovely list of 100 new ideas to try for packing lunch from home. The lovely girls over at Family Fresh Cooking.com did all the work collecting them for us. Thank you!

100 New Lunchbox Ideas To Try

Here is a list of 100+ recipes from around the web to get you started.

Bars

DIY power bars and granola bars are simple to prepare and are a great way to save money, use healthful ingredients and they taste amazing! See Brownies and Bars on Pinterest ~ lots of these are decadent, but fun to look at anyway!

Banana Molasses Granola Bars Anja’s Food 4 Thought
Chocolate Hazelnut Larabars The Healthy Foodie
Crispy, Gooey Trail Mix Bars Family Fresh Cooking
Coconut Rolled Raw Energy Balls Blooming on Bainbridge
Dark Chocolate and Dried Cranberry Granola Bars Thyme
Fresh Fig Bars Healthy Happy Life
Grab and Go Granola Bars Out of the Box Food
Homemade Coconut Luna Bars
No Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bites Bran Appetit!
Telluride Trail Bars Family Fresh Cooking
The Raw Brownie My New Roots

Breakfast-y Snacks

These double as breakfast on the go or delicious snacks. if you are anything like me then you crave breakfast all day long! See loads of great (constantly updated) Breakfast ideas on my Pinterest page.

Acai Bowl Epicurean Mom
Bircher Muesli Ami’s Vegetarian Delicacies
Cinnamon Chia Scottish Oats edible perspective
Double Chocolate Banana Scones (vegan and gluten free) Family Fresh Cooking
Oatmeal Sandwich Bread Eat, Live Run
Peanut Butter and Jam Surprise Oat Scones Yummy Mummy Kitchen
Pumpkin Pie Granola My Baking Addiction
Raspberry Maple-Pecan Granola Family Fresh Cooking
Rise and Shine Breakfast Burritos (make ‘em small for snacks) TidyMom
Spiced Banana Almond Meal Pancakes Roost
Wheat Brioche Buns (top with a healthy spread) Sprouted Kitchen
Whole Wheat Zucchini Bread Pancakes Food Doodles

Cookies (healthy ones)

Want more cookies? Check out my Cookie favorites on Pinterest.

Almond Coconut Cherry Breakfast Cookies Running to the Kitchen
Almond Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe Girl
Apple Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies – Gluten Free Family Fresh Cooking
Brown Butter Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Cookies Naturally Ella
Cocodate Cookies Weelicious
Healthy Carrot and Oat Breakfast Cookies Lauren’s Latest
Lemon Ricotta Breakfast Cookies Family Fresh Cooking
Sesame Date Breakfast Cookies Dessert for Two
Sunflower Seed Butter Oatmeal Sandwich Cookies Family Fresh Cooking
Toasted Quinoa Shortbread Cookies Kitchen Konfidence

Crackers + Crunch

For more ideas follow my Snacks and Nibbles Pinterst board.

Breakfast Snack Bites The Urban Baker
Homemade Parmesan Crackers Yummy Supper
Gluten Free Graham Crackers All Day I Dream About Food
Parmesan Potato Chips Picky Palate
Seedy Crisp Crackers It’s Not About the Recipe
Sesame Crisps food4tots
Spiced Roasted Chickpeas Sweet Savory Sweet Life
Toasty Nuts La Tartine Gourmande
Vegan, Gluten Free Crackers Averie Cooks
Whole Wheat Carom Seed Crackers
Whole Wheat Cheese Crackers Guilty Kitchen
Whole Wheat Cheese Straws Apt. 2B Baking Co

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Fruity Snacks

Berries and sliced fruit and fruit salads are great in the lunchbox. You can also try these recipes. Follow my Tutti Fruitti board on Pinterest.

Baked Applesauce Sweet Peas Kitchen
Dehydrated Apples and Bananas Bev Cooks
Dried Banana Coins The Slow Roasted Italian
Fruit and Yogurt Parfait Back to Her Roots
Fruit Salsa with Cinnamon Chips Laura friendly
Homemade Fruit Leather Georgia Pellegrini
Rainbow Fruit Skewers Brooklyn Supper for Babble.com
Rainbow Fruit Wraps Gimme Some Oven
Raspberry Applesauce Family Fresh Cooking

Muffins and Healthy Cakes

Follow Muffins on Pinterest too!

Almond Meal Banana Muffins Honest Fare
Banana Nut Oat Bran Muffins Two Peas and Their Pod
Berry “Queen” Muffins Scandie Foodie
Brown Butter, Apple and Carrot Muffins – Gluten Free Cannelle et Vanille
Lime Olive Oil Muffins Wears Many Hats
Mom’s Bran Muffins The Moveable Feasts
Paleo Banana Bread Muffins With Style and Grace
Paleo Pumpkin Muffins Multiply Delicious
Peaches and Coconut Cream Muffins Food For My Family
Sweet Strawberry Snack Cakes Family Fresh Cooking
Vegan Pumpkin Cornbread {never} homemaker

Nuts and Seeds

Nuts for Nuts! on Pinterest….for even more nutty ideas.

Dark Chocolate Drizzled Cashews What’s Gaby Cooking
Indian Spiced and Roasted Nuts Donal Skehan
Maple Almonds A Small Snippets
Maple Citrus Roasted Pecans Family Fresh Cooking
Roasted Pumpkin Seeds My Kitchen Addiction

Popcorn

Also followt my Popcorn Pinterest board for more ideas…

Bacon and Pecorino Popcorn A Spicy Perspective
Cheesy Chili Lime Popcorn Bless This Mess
Chili Lime Popcorn whole living
Popcorn 100 Days of Real Food
White Cheddar Popcorn How Crazy Cooks

Pudding

You can follow my Puddings and Custard Pinterest board too!

Cinnamon-Vanilla Chia Seed Pudding An Edible Mosaic
Fruit Pudding Elana’s Pantry
Mango Pomegranate Mousse Beth Michelle
Rice Carrot Pudding Kiran Tarun
Roasted Peach Tapioca Pudding Family Fresh Cooking
Vegan Tapioca Pudding dramatic pancake

Savory Bites

For more follow Savory Bites on Pinterest.

Baked Quinoa Burgers (slice ‘em or make them mini) Fig and Fork
Everyone’s Favorite Teeny Tiny Potatoes Family Fresh Cooking
Mini Caprese Skewers Skinny Taste
Mini BLT Kebabs Family Fresh Cooking
Simple Sweet Potato Fries with 2 Dips Sprout & Pea
Sticky Stacky Sandwiches Super Healthy Kids
Sweet Potato Hash with Canadian Bacon, Red Pepper and Sage Cookin’ Canuck
Quinoa and Currant Summer Salad The Reluctant Entertainer
Quinoa Edamame Salad Our Best Bites

Shakes and Smoothies

A great way to have a cold smoothie for your snack is to freeze it overnight and let it thaw throughout the day. Make sure you use a freezer safe container and you leave room for expansion! Follow Shakes, Floats & Smoothies on Pinterest.

Alien Juice Smoothies Bake at 350
Avocado Smoothie The Little Kitchen
Green Smoothies Aggie’s Kitchen
Frozen Hot Chocolate Ice Cubes (let them melt in milk for healthy chocolate milk!) Family Fresh Cooking
Mixed Berry Smoothies 40 Weeks
Pumpkin Smoothie The Pioneer Woman Cooks
Sugar-Free Orange Julius Add a Pinch
Walnut Date Cinnamon Smoothie Aida Mollenkamp

Spreads and Dips

Kids and adults love dips. Pack organic nut and seed butters or make your own! Dips, spreads and sauces make fruits and veggies more tempting and they add some sustain to your snack. Also follow Dip + Dress + Sauce + Spread on Pinterest.

Avocado and Edamame Spread The Perfect Pantry
Cannellini Hummus with Wonton Chips Once Upon a Plate
Creamy Fluffy Hummus Fresh Tart Steph
Feta Cheese Dip Heather Christo
Green Pea Hummus Meal Makeover Moms
Grilled Baba Ghanoush The Parsley Thief
Lentil Hummus Deliciously Organic
Homemade Nutella Diethood
Sun Dried Tomato Hummus with Crispy Chips Family Fresh Cooking
Toasted Coconut and Hazelnut Butter Top with Cinnamon

Veggie Snacks

Keep containers full of sliced and prepped veggies for grab and go snacks and lunches. You can also make these fun recipes. Eat Your Veggies on Pinterest.