School lunch box ideas are something parents get stumped on and stressed about.  And rightly so!

Feeding children can be hard work, particularly when we’re sending lunch with kids who have a limited list of foods.

Most parents witness picky eating tendencies at some point, but Sienna was the real deal.

Last year was her first time in school.  I was so worried she would starve, or come home with an untouched lunch box.  All that hard work we had done at mealtimes…I was terrified that she would take a few steps backwards.

But Sienna survived.

In fact, she thrived.

And when she came home with an empty lunch box more often than not, I was beside myself.  We had done something right at mealtimes and I needed to tell other parents about it.

My 5-year-old Sienna is now on her way to Kindergarten and lunch box ideas are running wild.

I had forgotten that last year I snapped random photos of her lunches when I wasn’t rushing out the door to school. #raremoment

I wanted to share them with you in case you need some school lunch box inspiration.

NOTE: they aren’t the prettiest photos, nor are they creative (no happy faces or trains here!).  It’s just yummy, healthy, balanced food in a cute little lunch box.

15 healthy and easy school lunch boxes ideas 

• Chicken thighs +  Veggie rice + Roasted peppers
• Grapes
• Homemade onion flax crackers + sunflower seed butter and jam
• Babaganoush
• Yellow peppers

• Sweet potato + rice + ground chicken/salsa
• Apples
• Coconut yogurt (I like Yoso)
• Banana egg pancakes
• Roasted chickpeas + Dried unsulfured apricots)

• Roasted broccoli + breaded chicken
• Olives
• Cucumber
• Hummus
• Apple, celery, cheese salad

• Steamed broccoli + olives + coconut curry chicken
• Veggie quinoa
• Organic cherry tomatoes
• Eggplant dip
• Gluten-free Chocolate Chip Protein Muffin

• Roasted broccoli + steamed carrot sticks + lentils
• Roasted paprika sweet potatoes
• Tomatoes + olives
• Gluten-free Date Blueberry Muffin

• Gluten-Free Veggie Pizza from Daiya (they also make a Mac & Cheeze for those avoiding dairy)
• Tomato sauce + shredded pulled chicken
• Quinoa cookie (from Go Go Quinoa)
• Avocado and beet salad

• Quinoa veggie ball from Farm to Table Meals + Roasted sweet potatoes
• Mackerel (our favourite fish!)
• Cucumber tomato avocado salad
• Coconut flour date muffin
• Roasted chickpeas (from Good Bean)

• Sauteed garlic broccoli + chicken + steamed rice
• Green garlic beans
• Coconut flour muffins + Dried apricots
• Cucumber circles + Tigernuts

• Homemade salmon cucumber sushi
• Cucumbers + hummus
• Pear slices
• Made Good granola bar (not shown)
• Roasted curry cauliflower

• Baby shrimp + Creamy squash pasta
• Orange peppers
• Garlic hummus
• Roasted chickpeas (from Good Bean)
• Pear slices

• Bean chili on spaghetti squash
• Apples
• Roasted chickpeas (from Good Bean)
• Green pea tomato salad
• Hardboiled egg

• Cucumber and curry chicken
• Royal gala apples
• Olives
• Seaweed crisps (not pictured here from Gimme Seaweed)
• Rice crackers + Homemade black bean brownies

• Meatloaf with mustard (Sienna LOVES mustard)
• Roasted cauliflower
• Chicken thighs
• Kiwi
• Guacamole
• Green monster muffin with raspberries + roasted chickpeas (from Good Bean)

• Tex Mex Casserole from Oh She Glows
• Cucumbers
• Babaganoush
• Roasted beets
• Blackberries
• Not shown:  Mary’s crackers

This year I’m challenging myself a little more – fewer cucumbers, less hummus, and chickpeas.  Stay tuned for my next round of school lunches and snacks.

I’d love to hear some of your favourite school lunch box ideas too.  Share below!