MSJA Lunch Box

Snacks & Sides

Here are a few ideas for Snacks and/or Side Items that can be packed with your child's lunch.

Applesauce
Apples & Dip (Peanut Butter or Caramel)
Fruit Cups
Fruit Salad
Bananas
Yogurt
Sunflower or Pumpkin Seeds
Peanuts
Ants on a Log (Celery w/ PB & Raisins)
Raisins
Vegetables & Dip (Ranch or any other dressing)
Pretzels
Crackers (w/ cheese or PB as a bonus)
Goldfish/Cheese-its
Teddy Grahams
Graham crackers
Cookies
Granola Bar
Nutri-Grain Bar
String Cheese
Fruit Snacks
Nachos
Cinnamon Tortilla Chips
Muffins
Popcorn (pre-popped please)
Chips
Jello

Sandwiches & Sandwich Substitutes

Often when we think of "Meatless" Lunches, the first thing that comes to mind is Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches, but if you really think about it (and search/ask around), you'll find that there are PLENTY of other options to keep you (and your child) out of a lunch rut. :-)

PB&J (there, it's on the list...lol)
PB& Honey
PB& Bananas
PB & Apples
Cheese Sandwich
Grilled Cheese
Boiled Eggs
Oatmeal
Beanie Weenies
Hot pockets
Rice & Beans
Spaghetti (w/ marinara, no meat/veggie meat)
Baked Ziti
Lasagna (Cheese, Vegetable, etc)
Chili
Bagel & Cream Cheese
Potato Salad
Peanut Butter Crackers
Banana Burritos
Bean & Cheese Burritos
Cheese or Vegetable Pizza
Fruit Pizza
Pizza Quesadillas
Haystacks
Broccoli & Cheese Pasta
Mac & Cheese
Salad
Muffins
Waffle Sticks
French Toast Sticks
Pancake Sandwich
Veggie Meats (See Morningstar Page)
Scalloped Potatoes
Egg Sandwich
Macaroni Salad
Carrot Salad

Beverages & Drinkables

Mix it up a bit! Would you want to drink the same thing everyday? ;-)

Juice/Juice packs
Milk (Plain, Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry, Soy, Almond, etc)
Water (flavored is good too)
Gatorade/PowerAde
Lemonade
Smoothies (can be packed frozen and allowed to defrost while keeping other items cool until lunch)
Iced Tea

*Be mindful when considering sodas and/or sugary or dyed drinks such as Kool-Aid, especially if your child tends to get hyper or spills/drips often. Likewise, they have little to no nutritional benefit for your child.

Soup, Sopa, & Bouyon

Here are a few ideas for soup varieties that can be sent for lunch. I also recommend heating it in the morning and sending it in an insulated thermos/food container so your child can enjoy a hot lunch without having to wait for the microwave.

Tomato Soup
Cream of Broccoli
Vegetable Soup
Minestrone Soup
Lentil Soup
Potato Soup
Broccoli & Cheese Soup
Spinach & Tortellini Soup

Chef Boyardee (At home recreations/imitations are encouraged!)

You get the point...right? Pasta + cheese or tomato/marinara sauce = easy meatless lunch option that can be preheated in the morning and put in an insulated container (see Hot & Cold Food Tips) for a delicious ready-to-eat lunch without (necessarily) having to wait in the lunchtime microwave line. :-)