“It’s stressful enough having to come up with dinner ideas every night. And then we have to pack lunches on top of that!”
This is something I hear from you guys all the time.
And I get it!
Which is why I decided to start this school year off right, and create the ultimate cheat sheet for packing lunches: a lunch box menu.
What is a lunch box menu?
Our lunch box menu is a big list of lunch packing ideas, broken down by category. On this list you’ll find:
- Sandwiches and wraps
- Non-sandwich main courses
- Condiments
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Snacks
This makes it really easy to shop for and pack lunches. All you have to do is pick one item from each (or almost each) list every day. The possibilities are endless!
Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post contains affiliate links, meaning that if you choose to click through and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Download the lunch box menu here:
Printer-friendly version
When you click the link above, also get a printer-friendly version of the menu, so be sure to grab whichever one works best for you!
How I use the lunch packing menu
You can use this menu any way you want to. 😉 But here’s a little explanation of how I use it:
- I use the Bentgo Kids lunch box for my kids. It has 4 main compartments, and a small 5th compartment in the middle.
- Each day, I choose either a sandwich, wrap, or a non-sandwich main course.
- Then I fill the other 3 main compartments with a fruit, a veggie, and a “snack.”
- If the main course takes up more than one compartment (like chips and bean dip, for example) then I skip one of the other categories for that day.
- I use the small 5th compartment for a condiment or for a treat like chocolate chips, chocolate covered raisins, nuts or, MMs.
My favorite lunch packing tools
Here are a few of my favorite lunch packing products:
Bento boxes
We love the Bentgo Kids lunch boxes. They have not leaked at all for us, and I pack dips and sauces all the time.
However, I have heard from some people that they might leak if you try to pack a really watery fruit, like watermelon or applesauce. In that case, I would add a piece of Saran Wrap on top of that particular compartment.
| Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bentgo Kids Prints Leak-Proof,… |
$29.99 |
Buy on Amazon |
|
Bentgo Kids Bento-Style 5-Compartment… |
$27.99 |
Buy on Amazon |
The Bentgo Kids are recommended for kids age 3-7. After that, I would consider switching them to the Bentgo Pop or the Bentgo Modern, which can both hold larger portion sizes.
| Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bentgo Pop – Leak-Proof Lunch Box &… |
$29.99 |
Buy on Amazon |
|
Bentgo Modern – Leak-Resistant Bento… |
$34.99 |
Buy on Amazon |
Insulated lunch bags
We got these Bentology lunchboxes, and they fit the Bentgos perfectly. There’s a tiny bit of extra space to add an ice pack and some silverware.
| Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bentology Lunch Box for Girls-Kids… |
$14.99 |
Buy on Amazon |
|
Bentology Lunch Box for Girls – Kids… |
$14.99 |
Buy on Amazon |
Ice packs
Along with the insulated bags, these have kept the kids’ lunches nice and cold until lunchtime.
| Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Cool Coolers by Fit & Fresh 4 Pack XL… |
$11.99 |
Buy on Amazon |
Water bottles
We have these water bottles for the kids. They’re not totally indestructible, but they hold up for at least a year or two of daily use, and are inexpensive. They’ve been a good option for us.
| Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
EYQ 32 oz Water Bottle with Times… | Buy on Amazon |
Other fun stuff
Here are a few other things we have that are not necessary, but have made lunch packing (and eating!) a little more fun for us:
See examples of lunches I’ve packed:
If you’re interested in seeing real examples of lunches we’ve packed, check out this post I wrote about school lunch ideas.
You can also follow me on Instagram and Facebook, because I often share pictures and videos of the lunches I’m packing over there.
I hope you found this helpful! If you did, do me a favor and share it.
And have a great school year!
-Laura
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