Easy And Affordable Back-To-School Lunch Ideas

Cropped shot of an adorable little girl making lunch for herself in the kitchen at home

Packing lunches each day is one of the most challenging aspects of being a parent during the school year. If you don’t plan ahead, you can end up scrambling around in the morning, tossing anything you can find into lunch boxes. On the other hand, if you use the wrong plan, you might end up spending a small fortune on school lunches. Fortunately, school lunches don’t have to be difficult or expensive. Use these easy and affordable school lunch ideas to simplify the process while saving money.

Turkey and Cheddar Roll-ups

Turkey and cheddar roll-ups are easy to make and eat, so they are a hit for school lunches. Toss in some fresh berries, yogurt, and trail mix to round out the meal. This is super affordable, and your little ones will love the food.

Hummus and Pita Bread

Hummus and pita bread is another great choice if you’re searching for lunches that are easy to whip together and affordable. In addition, add grape tomatoes, cucumbers, and sliced oranges to the lunch. The sweetness of the oranges is the perfect pairing for the flavorful hummus.

Cheese Quesadillas

If your kids love Mexican food, they’ll devour a lunch with a cheese quesadilla as the entrée. Then, include some guacamole and chips and salsa to go with the quesadillas. Oh, and you can add fresh strawberries for a little sweet treat at the end of the feast.

Hard-boiled Eggs

If you want to keep things as simple as possible, pack hard-boiled eggs for lunch. Hard-boiled eggs go perfectly with baby carrots and Ranch dressing. Oh, and your kids will thank you if you include some pretzels and applesauce. This lunch is full of mouthwatering, kid-approved flavors, and it won’t break the bank.

Bagel and Cream Cheese

Your kids can enjoy breakfast for lunch when you pack a bagel and cream cheese. This meal can also include some popular lunch staples, such as baby carrots and a yogurt tube. Then, for dessert, throw in some fruit snacks.

Veggie Wraps With Hummus

Your kids will get the perfect mid-day energy boost with a lunch of veggie wraps and hummus. Veggie wraps and hummus taste fantastic when paired with snap peas and a granola bar. Oh, and if your kids have a sweet tooth, pack a clementine in each lunch box.

You might also like: Try Out These Easy Breakfast Ideas To Get Your Day Going

Almond Butter and Jelly

Instead of going with a standard PB&J, pack your kids an almond butter and jelly sandwich. Then you just need to add some string cheese, chips, and a fruit cup to make a complete meal. They’ll gobble it all up and might ask for more when they get home. Almond butter is a phenomenal replacement for peanut butter.

These lunches are quick, easy, and affordable, making them excellent choices for school lunches. Plus, kids love them, so you won’t have to worry about them coming home hungry.

Disclaimer: The stock image is being used for illustrative purposes only, and it is not a direct representation of the business, recipe, or activity listed. Any person depicted in the stock image is a model.