Back-to-School Lunch Ideas: 5 Fun Lunchbox Recipes to Try

The ideal lunch snacks for kids tickles their taste buds and supplies them with the right nutrients. But thinking of what to pack for school lunches can be a chore, especially with kids who tend to be picky eaters. So, we curated a list of fun and easy lunchbox recipes you can try. This article explores different back-to-school lunch ideas, from sandwiches to wraps. We guarantee these will be fun to make and even more enjoyable to eat!

Fun Back-to-School Lunch Ideas

Fruit Slices, Cheese, and Lunch Meat

• 2 oz Buddig Black Forest Ham
• 2 small pretzels
• 2 cuts of goat cheese or fresh mozzarella 
• Ripe grapes

• 1 piece green apple or ripe mango

• Wash the grapes, cut the apples into small cubes, and roll the lunch meat. 
• Place your fruits and lunch meat in the compartment with the most space in your child’s lunchbox.
• The next step is to cut your choice of cheese into bite-size pieces. It is best to skip the cheese if your kid has or may have dairy allergies. Err on the side of caution as dairy products are the most common food allergens. 
• Stuff your cheese and pretzels into one compartment in your child’s lunch box. It’s vital to keep the fruits and lunch meat separate from the pretzels and cheese to maintain the texture of the different ingredients.
• Finally, seal your bento box and pack it in your kid’s lunch bag!

Bacon and Chicken Ranch Wrap

• 2 cups Buddig Grilled Chicken Breast Strips
• ½ cup mozzarella or cheddar, shredded
• 2-3 slices of cooked bacon, chopped
• 4 wraps or burrito-size tortillas
• 2 cups lettuce, shredded
• ½ cup ranch dressing
• 1 small green onion, diced (optional)
• Assorted fruits and vegetables, sliced (optional)

• In a large bowl, place the chicken, cheese, bacon, and ranch dressing. Mix well to combine the flavors. Add green onion if this suits your child’s palette.
• Position the flour tortillas on a large cutting board and top each with a portion of the chicken mixture and lettuce. Fold and tuck the sides in before rolling tightly. Cover with plastic wrap to keep the shape intact.
• Cut each wrap in half for an easy lunch snack for your kid. 
• You may insert slices of available fruits and veggies into the empty compartments.

Ham, Cheese, and Apple Sandwich

• 8 slices Buddig Original Honey Ham 
• 8 slices of multigrain bread
• 1 cup cheddar cheese
• 1 big apple, grated
• 4 tablespoons light mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons mustard
• 2 tablespoons honey

• Put together mayonnaise, honey, and mustard in a bowl. 
• Spread the mixture on four slices of bread.
• Add a layer of cheddar cheese on top. 
• Put two slices of ham and grated apple.
• Assemble the sandwiches and cut each in half.
• Garnish with leftover apple.

Grilled Turkey And Parmesan Sandwich

• 2 oz Buddig Oven Roasted Turkey
• ⅓ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• 8 slices of sandwich bread
• 8 slices of mozzarella cheese
• ½ cup marinara sauce
• Butter, unsalted

• Put a skillet over medium flame. Butter one side of four bread slices, and put them in the skillet with the buttered side down.
• Add a slice of cheese on the four bread slices in the pan. Top with a spoonful of marinara sauce.
• Sprinkle grated cheese on top of the sauce. Add slices of turkey and another layer of cheese.
• Cover with the remaining bread slices.
• Butter the top bread slice and flip.
• Toast each side of the bread for a minute or two.
• Remove from heat and slice the sandwiches in half.

Hawaiian Grilled Cheese Sandwich

• 2 oz Buddig Ham Lunch Meat
• 8 thickly sliced pieces of bread 
• Mayonnaise
• Pineapple rings, fresh or canned
• Cheddar cheese
• Butter
• Fresh vegetables, sliced (optional)

• With a paper towel, blot the pineapple rings dry to prevent bread slices from soaking up the excess moisture.
• Spread two teaspoons of mayonnaise on a piece of bread and top it with ham, a pineapple ring, and a cheese slice. Make sure that the pineapple is between the ham and cheese and not in contact with the bread.
• Assemble the sandwich and butter on both sides.
• Grill the sandwich over medium heat for about 3 minutes or until golden brown. Flip the bread and cook until the cheese is melted.
• Allow the sandwiches to cool down before slicing in halves and packing.
• For extra flavor and nutrients, fill the empty lunchbox compartments with vegetable slices.
• Express your love with a back-to-school lunchbox
• Because there are different kinds of parents and many types of kids, there are also diverse options for preparing a child’s lunch. It’s not always easy to come up with back-to-school lunch ideas, but with fresh ingredients and a bit of creativity, you’ve totally got this! 

Make sure to combine fruits and vegetables with meats in order to provide an interesting mix of colors, textures, and flavors in your kid’s lunch. As long as you have Buddig meats and fresh produce in the kitchen, you’ll be able to make your kid a satisfying packed lunch every day!

This is the core reason behind Buddig’s commitment to making our Gluten Free, MSG-free lunch meats with no artificial flavors accessible to more families and children. Feel free to browse our site for more recipes and use our store locator to find the right lunch meat for your next awesome back-to school-lunch idea!