15 Delicious and Fun School Lunch Ideas
If you already anticipate the busyness and rush of the back-to-school season, you are not alone. For many parents, one of the biggest stressors is having to prepare healthy lunches for kids day in and day out. It’s easy to run out of creative ideas and resort to packing PB&J sandwiches with an apple — on day two!
Here’s the thing — it is possible to make your child a good meal without hours of prep. Beat the back-to-school madness with these 15 school lunch ideas you can rotate and adjust for endless inspiration!
1. Tuna Tortillas
This deliciously easy and healthy meal is ready in under 10 minutes — perfect for busy mornings. Drain a can of tuna and mix with mayonnaise, hummus or cream cheese. Add some finely chopped onions, a bit of lemon juice and a sprinkle of salt to taste. Warm a few tortillas in a hot pan for a minute on each side, and then spread the mixture on the tortillas. Wrap them up and slice them in half, and they’re ready to go.
2. Chicken Sausage Quesadillas
Chicken sausage quesadillas are the perfect lunch if your child craves a burst of color and flavor. Cook up some sweet Italian chicken sausage with a mix of colorful stir-fry veggies. Place a tortilla on a hot pan, and top it with grated cheese, sausage and veggies. Let it cook open-faced for a few minutes, and then fold it in half before taking it off the stove. They can pop it in the cafeteria microwave for a melty, cheesy lunchtime treat.
3. Tuna Noodle Salad
Pasta salad is a quick and easy option when you are strapped for easy lunch ideas for kids — and this pasta salad is anything but boring. Prepare some noodles and allow them to cool — you can do this the night before to save time. Mix some tuna with light mayonnaise, diced pickles and diced cucumbers. Add some corn, season with salt and lemon to taste, then toss with the noodles.
4. Club Sandwich With Turkey and Avocado
Sandwiches are quick and easy, and they can also be filling and delicious. Mash avocado with salt, pepper and a squeeze of lemon. Spread the avocado on lightly toasted bread, then top with turkey slices, lettuce and tomato. The combination of healthy fat and protein is a winner!
5. Cheesy Sausage Quiche Muffins
If your kid has access to a microwave during lunchtime, you can whip up cheesy sausage quiche muffins. They make a tasty, high-protein lunch that will keep your kids ready to learn. While frying a pack of cheese and basil sausages, mix six eggs with grated cheese and finely diced bell peppers, and season with salt and pepper.
Allow the sausages to cool, then chop or remove the meat from the casings and add to your egg mixture. Add the mixture to a greased muffin pan and bake until the egg is set. Delicious! Best of all, there might be some extras for you to enjoy for lunch, too.
6. Sausage and Egg Wrap
A sausage and egg mixture is so versatile. You can make the cheesy sausage quiche muffins above or scramble eggs with cooked garlic, rosemary and tomato sausages. Spread some cream cheese inside a tortilla, and scoop the cooked sausage and egg mixture on top. Add some fresh cherry tomatoes and wrap it all up. Your kid can pop it in the microwave for a breakfast-for-lunch delight!
7. Colorful Couscous Salad
Couscous makes one of the easiest and quickest meals. Add roasted peppers and onions, fresh cherry tomatoes, fresh cucumbers and crumbled feta into the cooked couscous for a colorful, nutritious and easy school lunch. You can also add chopped sausages or another protein to make the salad more satiating.
8. Stir-Fried Rice or Pasta
Make the most of your leftover noodles or rice by reinventing them for your kid’s lunch! Add some chopped onions, seasoning and quick-cooking veggies like spinach to a hot pan. Throw in your leftover rice or pasta, and this meal is good to go.
9. Assorted Lunchbox
Taking inspiration from bento boxes and packing a lunchbox with an assortment of goodies is simple but effective. First, add a protein like sausage, turkey, hard-boiled eggs or tofu. Next, pick a grain, such as tortilla chips or multigrain crackers. Finally, slice up your kid’s favorite fruits and veggies. You can also include hummus, yogurt dip or another dip.
10. Nuggets, Fruit and Chips
There is nothing wrong with sending your kids to school with some good old-fashioned chicken nuggets. You can jazz up this classic dish by adding a cup of yogurt and fruit to your child’s lunchbox and throwing in some chips or crackers and cubed cheese into the mix.
11. Fruity Pancakes and Yogurt
Fruity pancakes are perfect when your child craves something sweet for lunch. Prep a batch of pancakes and include a container of flavored Greek yogurt for your kids to spread on top. Toss in some strawberries and blueberries, and they’ve got a meal straight out of their favorite breakfast place. Easy!
12. Hamburger and Veg Sticks
Few things can beat a good old homemade hamburger using quality ground sausage meat or sweet Italian sausage patties. You can round out this meal by cutting up some cucumbers or carrots and serving it with a dip to make it healthier.
13. Italian Sausage Tortilla Pizzas
This easy lunch idea is perfect for kids who always want pizza! Spread pizza sauce on top of a tortilla. Top with grated cheese and slices of your kid’s favorite Italian or chicken sausages. Pop in the air fryer until the cheese is melted, then slice and allow it to cool. Your kids can heat it back up at lunchtime.
14. Pita, Hummus and Veggies
Let pita be your answer to the question of making a quick and easy school lunch. Warm the pita, then cut it open. Spread hummus or cream cheese inside, and stuff it with your child’s favorite fresh veggies, such as lettuce, carrots, cucumber and tomato. You can also add some protein, like pieces of chicken sausage with kale, tofu or turkey.
15. Cream Cheese and Cucumber Sandwiches
Pack a picnic meal for your child on those hot days when you are all out of kids’ lunch ideas! Spread cream cheese on sliced bread, and top with sliced cucumbers for an easy meal. You can also add slices of deli meat for protein or some seeds for extra crunch, flavor and essential fatty acids.
Make Your Kid’s Favorite Lunch With Premio Foods
There is no need to plunge into an overwhelming cooking schedule the second your kids go back to school. You can let the relaxed holiday atmosphere linger with these school lunch ideas for kids that are easy and quick to put together, especially when you use Premio Foods sausages!
We have been making fine Italian sausage for over 40 years and pride ourselves on using quality ingredients and no fillers. We have a variety of sausages you can use to create your child’s lunches, including breakfast sausages and chicken sausages that offer 60% less fat than USDA data for pork and beef sausage.
Explore our range of flavorful recipes for inspiration, and use our store locator to find delicious Premio Sausages for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks!
