Lunchbox Fun: Easy and Exciting Alternatives to Sandwiches for Kids

Week four of the school year and we are into the groove of things with lunchbox packing :) So here are a few fun lunchbox ideas we've packed that are NOT a sandwich!

First of all, let me say that the sides and extras DO matter. In fact, in the first few days of school, Cori ate those more than what I packed as her "main" dish (some days it's still that way!) I've realized these "snacky" type lunchboxes with a few small bites to choose from really are IT for her, the girl likes options, Ha!

Homemade Fruit cups and smoothies have been a hit and take just a little extra effort to have them prepped and ready to grab and go. Check out our quick weekly prep video over on our Pinterest. For the juice/smoothies, I simply blended up fruit we needed to use up and made some yummy drinks. We used our favorite little bottles to store them. Grab them here on our Amazon storefront! The fruit cups are super customizable, and you can add whatever fruits your littles love or that you have on hand. I will say the coconut water is a MUST, so yummy to drink after you've gobbled up the fruit!

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Okay, So, let's get into these NON sandwich lunchboxes. Now before you say "has she lost her mind" I promise it was simple and easy with this cool gadget I found. I packed, Sushi. I know, I know it sounds like a lot of work to pack for school lunch, but it wasn't at all! The sushi bazooka made it super simple to make Cori's fave, California rolls for lunch. I have a video here.

Another non-sandwich winner has been, Quesadillas! Quick and easy to make, especially because Cori prefers hers with just cheese. Anything else, goes on the side. I can whip these up easily in the morning before we head out, so they stay warm in her lunchbox. Our current go to lunchbox has separate stainless steel containers, perfect for keeping the temp of her foods!

We've a had couple quesadilla lunchboxes so far and they are saved here on our lunchbox ideas Pinterest board :)

Then there's also the stuff that usually goes ON the sandwich, just nix the bread! We call this her "charcuterie box" We made lunch extra fun by adding in a sort of, build your own parfait also. Provolone cheese wrapped with turkey deli slices, turkey pepperoni, accompanied by cucumbers with ranch seasoning, ritz crackers, vanilla yogurt, strawberries and granola for the parfait, plus a Fruit Rollup for a yummy treat. Honestly, I wanted this lunchbox for myself, HA!

So, when you're planning your kids' lunchboxes for the week ahead, Think outside the Bread! Have some fun with lunch, try different things and always include something you know they'll love. Don't be afraid to repeat the same ingredients that were a hit and try them in a new way. We definitely already have some staples just a month into the school year that I know we will be repeating all year long!

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