Personally, I try to avoid foods with high sugar, processed deli meats, and packaged salty snacks as much as possible, but always make exceptions! I usually serve these at room temperature by putting it in the fridge overnight and letting them slowly come to room temperature because my kids eat within 3 hours of leaving home. You’ll notice the lunch boxes I prefer for this age group have five mini compartments to encourage kids this young to try different foods, textures, and tastes. While there’s a regular Bentgo lunch box, it’s very similar to the Yumbox one, and my go-to is the Bentgo 3-pack Fres Pack. Food Art Fun: One of the most creative lunch box ideas is using art to transform lunchtime into a fun eating adventure!

There’s a lot to consider when picking your kids’ lunch box, including the age of the child, their meal preferences (hot or cold), and the amount and variety of foods they like to eat. Macaroni Salad: Pick their favorite pasta shape and throw in kid-friendly veggies like carrots, peas, and corn. From toddlers to teens, I am diving into everything from finger foods and fun snacks to hearty, balanced meals that will keep their energy levels up all day. Adults and teens will love this wholesome, fully loaded lunch box with a hearty tuna pasta salad filling the large box, and pretzels, strawberries, sugar snap peas, and roasted cashews for grazing in the sectioned box.

Include a tube of Stonyfield yogurt and small bite-size items such as edamame, cereal, and blueberries. I hope these kids’ lunch box ideas serve as an inspiration and encourage your little ones to eat more whole foods and especially fruits and vegetables. Try to find little pearl mozzarella and cherry tomatoes to add to it, and it makes for a colorful, nutritious lunch!

There’s nothing more disheartening than your kids coming home from school with a full lunch box that you spent 20 minutes making with only one bite missing.These triangle-shaped cheese quesadillas are a fun shape that is appealing to toddlers, it’s a fun lunch box idea for kids ages 2-5. You can vary which vegetables your child enjoys and pair the vegetable sushi bites with whole edamame in the shell, turkey roll-ups, and fresh fruit like strawberries. This breakfast box is perfect for older kids with a variety of foods like a bagel, grapefruit, cubed cheese, some protein from hard-boiled eggs, and a juicy Roma tomato. This will come down to your own personal preferences, but for me, lunchtime is an opportunity to ensure that my kids are getting a well-rounded meal in the middle of their day when they need energy and stamina for learning and playing.

Now that I’ve covered how to choose the perfect lunch box, it’s time to fill those compartments with colorful, tasty, and nutritious meals. One key design feature is the oversized handle - it's easy to grab, perfect for young children who are still developing fine motor skills. With this approach, they’ll soon learn to appreciate diverse flavors and enjoy a well-rounded, nutritious meal every lunchtime. For example, turn last night’s grilled chicken into a tasty wrap or transform cooked pasta into a refreshing pasta salad.

This is based on my experience with my own kids with the lunch boxes that made the most sense for them and the food types and quantities most suitable for them during that growth stage.

The great thing about them is the two areas that allow for a salad, pasta salad, or sandwich at the bottom, along with toppings, snacks, or condiments on the top.

For more sweet lunch box ideas, check out my post featuring 50 no-bake desserts that are quick and easy! Vegan “turkey” made from tofu – aka tofurkey – which tastes just like the real stuff and doesn’t have all those nitrates and preservatives. If your kids love having sandwiches but you want to avoid deli meats and other processed meats, here are some yummy substitutes.