5 School Lunch Ideas for Busy Moms

“This post is sponsored by Food Club. All recipes and opinions are my own.”

School days are creeping up on us and the stress of thinking about creative (or even not creative) school lunches has started in my brain.

Only one of my kids actually eats the lunch the school serves because he’s not picky. But I have to make 3 school lunches. Two for teen girls and one for a 7 year old boy. And I’m not about to make three different school lunches so I created 5 different school lunches that will make a variety of kids happy.

These 5 school lunches are not just your boring PB&J sandwiches, they have fresh ingredients and fun sides to keep the kids happy.

I think the sandwich is very important, but I also make sure that the snacks and sides that I send with my kids to school will give my kids energy and help keep them full so they can do their best in class. But cost is also very important to me since we are living on a budget.

That’s where Food Club comes in. They have so many different foods to choose from but at a much better price. Food Club is a national brand equivalent that saves you money! They have a double your money back guarantee, so you know their products taste the best! They’ve been around since 1945 and you can find them at your locally owned and independent grocer. You can find a store near you at https://www.afstores.com/retail-members/find-a-retailer/

Here is a video I made so you can see just how easy these lunches are to make.

Let’s get on with the sandwich recipes now.

1. Turkey Kebab

• 2 Sliced Deli Turkey
• 3 Cheese Cubes (we used Colby)
• 2 Cherry Tomatoes
• 1 large leaf Romaine Lettuce
• 1 Bamboo Skewers
• Applesauce
• Granola Bar
•  Juice Box

Start by sliding one cheese cube onto the stick, then a cherry tomato, one half of the romaine leaf folded into fourths, one slice deli turkey folded into fourths then repeat ending with a cube of cheese to keep everything from sliding off. I cut off the sharp end of the bamboo stick so they aren’t used as a weapon at the school. Ha Ha! Wrap in plastic wrap and put in a lunch box with a Food Club granola bar and applesauce cup. Add a juice and an ice pack and you’re done!

2. Cucumber and Cream Cheese Bagel

• 1 White or Wheat Bagel
• 2-4 Tablespoons Onion and Chive Cream Cheese
• 4 Cucumber Slices
• Dried Dill Weed
• Salt and Pepper

Cut the bagel open and schmear the cream cheese on both sides. Add the cucumber and sprinkle on the desired amount of Dill Weed, Salt and Pepper. Close the bagel up and place in a sandwich container. Add the bagel to the lunch box and add a Food Club Chocolate Pudding and a bag of Pretzels. Add a juice box and an ice pack and you’re done!

3. Chunky Monkey Sandwich

• 2 Slices White Bread
• Chunky Peanut Butter (or other butter if there are allergies involved)
• Honey
• 1/4 Banana

Spread desired amount of chunky peanut butter on one piece of bread. Squeeze about a teaspoon full of honey over peanut butter and mix together. Thinly slice the banana and add it evenly over the peanut butter. Top off with the other slice, cut into fourths and put sandwich in a sandwich container. Add to lunch bag along with a Food Club Fruit Snack, juice, and popcorn. Add an ice pack and you are done!

4. Pesto Turkey Wrap

• 1 Sundried Tomato Tortilla
• 1 Tablespoon Pesto
• 2 slices Deli Turkey
• Sliced Tomato
• Romaine Lettuce
• Shredded Cheese
• Food Club Bacon Bits

Spread the pesto down the middle of the tortilla, roll up turkey sliced and put them down the center of the tortilla. Add tomatoes, lettuce, bacon bits and cheese. Roll up and wrap in plastic wrap. Add the wrap to the lunch box along with a Food Club Fruit and Grain Bar, juice and baked chips. Add an ice pack and you’re done!

5. Strawberries and Cream

• 2 Slices of Wheat Bread
• 2-4 Tablespoons of Strawberry Cream Cheese
• Sliced Strawberries

Spread cream cheese on both slices of bread and add sliced strawberries. Close sandwich and put in a sandwich box. Add the sandwich to a lunch box along with sliced apples and a juice box. Add an ice pack and you’re done!

There you have it, 5 great school lunch ideas. What are your kids favorite school lunches?