If you're like most parents and you need some inspiration when it comes to filling lunchboxes, print this list and stick it to your fridge. Then when you're half-asleep and struggling to get everyone ready in the morning, your 'lunchbox ideas' list will give you a helping hand.
In no particular order, here we go...
- Popcorn Trail Mix – popcorn, mini pretzels, raisins, coconut chips & puffed wheat, with a sprinkle of cinnamon
- Cooked pasta (farfalle or penne are good choices) and cheese cubes
- Quesadillas – fill with grated cheese, beans (refried beans are good!), leftover meat if you have it and toast in fry pan or George Forman grill. Cut into triangles.
- Cookie-cutter shape sandwiches
- Homemade pitta chips – cut up pitta pockets, spray with olive oil, sprinkle with mixed herbs and bake in oven.
- Pinwheel wraps – spread wraps with cream cheese, sprinkle with grated carrot, raisins, shaved ham, chicken or grated cheese. Roll tightly and cut into pinwheels.
- Boiled (and pre-peeled) eggs
- Shredded chicken or chicken drum-stick
- Toasted seeds – mix together sunflower seeds, sesame seeds and pumpkin seeds, and cook on stove top in frying pan until golden.
- Cheese on toast (option to spread bread with vegemite first)
- Left-overs or homemade soup in a flask (with crusty bread on the side)
- Lebanese cucumbers
- Homemade or store-bought bliss balls
- Homemade rice pudding (add cinnamon and fruit)
- Mini meatballs (good for freezing)
- Carrot sticks and hummus
- Chunks of roasted kumera and pumpkin
- Bacon and egg pie
- English muffin mini pizzas – spread with tomato paste, add grated cheese and salami circle and a sprinkle of oregano and bake in oven
- Pita pockets – fill with grated cheese, shaved ham, grated carrot, lettuce and mayo or relish
- Mini muffins – sweet or savoury
- Left-over cooked sausages
- Olives and sundried tomatoes
- Corn on the cob
- Pita pizza – add your toppings of choice to round pita bread and bake in oven.
- Manuka Honey on rye bread sandwiches
- Waffles – super-easy with a waffle maker
- Cruskits, corn thins or rice crackers with cheese slices
- Cucumber, celery & cheese chunks
- Dried apricots or dates filled with cream cheese
- Mini tins of pineapple (for kids who can manage opening a pull-back tin lid)
- Yoghurt with fresh fruit added
- Cooked streaky bacon
- Mini fruit salad of fruits in season (add a toothpick to prevent sticky fingers)
- Fruit bread (with butter)
- Sweet (apple and cinnamon) or savoury (cheese and ham) pinwheels
- Frittata, quiche or cheese omelette (chopped up)
- Homemade jelly with fresh fruit added into jelly mixture
- Japanese or Korean mini rice balls
- Edamame beans
- Crispy cooked chickpeas
- Falafel balls
- Corn chips, salsa & sour cream
- Cheese straws – cover ready-rolled puff pastry with grated parmesan cheese (press down), slice into strips, twist and bake in oven
- Homemade Anzac cookies
- Weetbix Slice
- Homemade fresh Thai spring rolls
- Chunks of salami or sliced ham
- Biltong
- Coconut Chips
- Square of good quality dark chocolate
- Homemade muesli with yoghurt
- Mini carton of plain milk
- Mini corn fritters (good for freezing)
- Mini bread savouries – grease muffin tins, line with slice of bread, add beaten egg, bacon or ham, veges of your liking, sprinkle with cheese and bake
- Old fashioned club sandwiches – with mashed egg, grated cheese, ham, lettuce
- Homemade sausage rolls (add grated carrot and mixed vegetables in the meat mixture)
- Old-fashioned cheese rolls
- French toast (add a dash of cinnamon in the mixture)
- Rice salad – use leftover rice and add, grated carrot, chopped cucumber, peppers, chicken and corn. Add a dash of soya sauce.
Check out our CUTEST Bento Boxes EVER!
