“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 and Bentgo 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!
Favorite lunch boxes:
Bentgo Kids: (up to 7 years old) Available in tons of colors and cute prints like this dino one!
Bentgo Fresh (over 7 years old)
OmieBox: For warm food- includes a built-in thermos.
Use code MOMLIFE10 for 10% off.
Insulated lunch bag
The best way to keep everything cold until lunch time, is by packing your kid’s lunch box in an insulated lunch bag with an ice pack.
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.
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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Here you’ll find a 5 page lunch box menu with a choice checklist, as well as 36 different real lunch box ideas for kids to choose from. Free PDF download.
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