Back-To-School Lunch Box Ideas

 

It’s hard to believe that it’s almost time for school to start up again.   We’ve gone shopping for a few new clothes. My son has grown about two inches over the summer – thank goodness he can wear shorts to school for the first few weeks.  We also have a brand new shiny lunch box!

joes first day of first grade outside (2)

Now comes the hard part — filling that brand new shiny lunch box with yummy and mostly nutritious food that does not break the bank.  My son can kind of be a “boring” eater.  I think he could eat the same thing for lunch every day.  I’m going to try to mix it up a bit more this year, without going too crazy.

I went to Kroger on a mission to find some new lunch box items so we would be ready when School starts.

Back To School Lunches with Kroger

I put together a few options, some are fun, some are very healthy and some are both fun and healthy!  I have added the prices for most of the items to give you an idea of the cost for each lunch box option.    I usually don’t add a drink (we just go for water).  I always shop the sales and use my Kroger card.  It’s worth the time to stop by the Kroger Website and check the coupons before you go.

 1.  The Little Dipper

Back To School Lunchat Kroger - Little Dipper Option b

This option is full of fresh veggies with ranch dipping sauce,  a Kroger yogurt , mini bag of pretzels  and some grapes.

NOTE:  To make the cute little spoon I just used a glue gun to attach some alphabet beads.

Price Breakdown:  Dipping Sauce .88¢, Kroger Yogurt .40¢, bag of Kroger Mini Pretzels .28¢, carrots and celery approximately .50¢ – the zucchini, tomato and green peppers came from the garden.  The optional juice box was .38¢. 

The Kroger Variety Snack Pack was on sale for $5.49 – which includes twenty bags of a chips/ pretzels mix.

Back to School Lunch Ideas Little Dippers

 

 

2.  Ham and Cheese Roll-Up

 

This is pretty basic, ham and cheese roll-up with lettuce, a granola bar, frozen blueberries and a bag of chips or a cheese stick.

Back to School Lunch on stick

Price Breakdown:  Kroger Flour Tortilla .21¢,  slice of  Kroger cheese .23¢, Kroger Honey Ham .59¢,  Kroger granola bar .35¢, string cheese .59¢, a bag of chips instead of the cheese stick would be .28¢.  The frozen blueberries came from our freezer – to add a clementine would be .50¢

Back to School Ham and Cheese Roll-ups on a stick

 

3.  The Fruit and Veggie Shish Kabob Lunch

 

The lunch has cherry tomatoes, cheese, strawberries, kiwi, Kroger Yogurt and Goldfish Crackers.  It’s a fun lunch and pretty healthy too!

Back To School Lunch on a Stick Option

Price Breakdown:  Kroger Peach Yogurt .40¢,  2 slices of  Kroger cheese .46¢, Goldfish Crackers .57¢, Strawberries .33¢, Kiwi .50¢,  Cherry Tomatoes .50¢

Back to School Lunchbox  on a Stick

 

4.  The Classic

 

This is a classic lunch that most kids would eat (I think anyway).    Ham and Cheese sandwich, cottage cheese,  strawberries, carrots and Goldfish crackers.

Back to School Lunch Ideas 3

Price Breakdown:  Cottage Cheese  72¢,  slices of  Kroger cheese .23¢, Goldfish Crackers .57¢, Strawberries .20¢, Carrots .20¢,  Kroger Honey Ham .50¢, Kroger Sandwich Slim .23¢.

Back To School Lunch Ideas

 

5.  Breakfast for Lunch

 

This is a fun one that we do 3-4 times a year.  I usually don’t buy the small boxes of cereal, I just fill a ziploc bag with cereal and send it along.  I just wanted you to get the idea.

Back To School Lunch at Kroger Breakfast 1

Price Breakdown:  Mini box of cereal from multi pack .56¢, clementine .50¢, Kroger milk $1.09, Kroger whole wheat crackers .15¢

Back To School Lunch - Breakfast Option

 

There are quite a few options that don’t really cost that much, most of these lunches ran about $2.50 give or take.  My requirements are that it has to be healthy (most days), inexpensive and quick to put together.

Make sure you follow Kroger for great deals and meal ideas!

On Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Kroger

On Pinterest:  https://pinterest.com/krogerco/

 

 

Detroit Mommies Expert Contributor
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Jennifer M
Jennifer M
10 years ago

I hate packing lunches, but the easiest thing is a frozen individually wrapped hot dog with a side of ketchup.

sarah hirsch
sarah hirsch
10 years ago

i like to freeze a tube of gogurt to put in the lunchbox

Stacy
10 years ago

Fruit! Cut up Grapes, Strawberries, Blueberries, Kiwi!

Lori
Lori
10 years ago

My sons favorite is Better Made barbecue potato chips

Alex
Alex
10 years ago

Great ideas! My kids would love these! We always shop at Kroger so these will go on my list for sure!

Amanda
Amanda
10 years ago

String cheese is always a good option! And I keep forgetting about it!

Adriane
Adriane
10 years ago

I used to love to get fresh fruit (except bananas which bruised to easily) I really liked grapes or cut up melon.

Aly Mashrah
10 years ago

I love adding fresh fruits to my child’s lunch.

Susan Christy
Susan Christy
10 years ago

Turkey spread with cream cheese and wrapped around a pickle spear.

Elena Vo
Elena Vo
10 years ago

Home-made fruit roll-ups! So easy to make.

Elise
Elise
10 years ago

Lots of variety- love your ideas! Healthy snacks that cover the food groups are my favorite: crackers, cheese, lunch meat or leftover meat from dinners, fruit, veggies with dip, hummus, etc. Anything to mix it up from the sandwich!

lizzy
lizzy
10 years ago

I always love to put a little surprise in their lunches: whether is be a small toostie roll or a little “I love you” note!

Alison
Alison
10 years ago

Fruit and popcorn

kolpin
kolpin
10 years ago

hummus and pita chips are one of my favorite things!

rafflecopter: daniel

Amanda Starr
Amanda Starr
10 years ago

Turkey and cheese roll ups

meredith
meredith
10 years ago

I like to add hummus and carrots

Jamie
10 years ago

I love to add homemade surprise treats in my daughters lunch box

Mindy S
Mindy S
10 years ago

I like to leave special foods that my children don’t get often like the squeezable applesauce or chocolate milk.

Sara Floyd
Sara Floyd
10 years ago

I love fresh fruit!

David
David
10 years ago
David
David
10 years ago

My favorite item to include in the school lunches are snack cakes. The kids love them, and despite the food pyramid and teachers telling them otherwise, it isn’t going to hurt them.

katherine
katherine
10 years ago

poptarts

Jill H
Jill H
10 years ago
Jill H
Jill H
10 years ago

I love to add apples to the lunchbox.

Marcia Goss
Marcia Goss
10 years ago
Marcia Goss
Marcia Goss
10 years ago

My granddaughter likes raw veggies and dip.

Cindy B
Cindy B
10 years ago
Cindy B
Cindy B
10 years ago

Our grandson enjoys squeezable applesauce pouches in his school lunch.

Sonya Morris
Sonya Morris
10 years ago

My kids love grapes & other fresh fruit in their lunch boxes.

Jessica To
Jessica To
10 years ago

I like to put yogurt sticks and pretzels!

Matthew
Matthew
10 years ago

I like to add a kid friendly mix – craisins, raisins, goldfish, cherrios and put it in a little container – the kids love it

Tabitha P.
Tabitha P.
10 years ago

i like the small chip bags.
it’s easy to just grab and throw it in.

Liz
Liz
10 years ago

When I was little, I used to enjoy PB sandwiches and yogurt.

Sadie B.
Sadie B.
10 years ago

I love to put in strawberries. They are always a devoured fruit in our household.

Sara G
Sara G
10 years ago
Sara G
Sara G
10 years ago

I love to add personal notes or write on their napkins! To this day, my older kids talk about the notes I left in their lunches!

Heather K
Heather K
10 years ago

I love to put a banana with a message carved into it in my daughter’s lunch box. She loves them too!

Heather K
Heather K
10 years ago
Livivua Chandler
Livivua Chandler
10 years ago

Little notes and snack packs

Livivua Chandler
Livivua Chandler
10 years ago
Livivua Chandler
Livivua Chandler
10 years ago
Mary Happymommy
Mary Happymommy
10 years ago

Pinned–https://pinterest.com/pin/400046379370888932/

#2

Mary Happymommy
Mary Happymommy
10 years ago

Pinned–https://pinterest.com/pin/400046379370888932/

#1

Mary Happymommy
Mary Happymommy
10 years ago

I like to put yogurt in their lunchboxes.

Noreen
10 years ago

My daughter loves tofu and cucumber

Jessie C.
Jessie C.
10 years ago

I like putting fresh grapes in their lunch boxes.

Jessie C.
Jessie C.
10 years ago