Balance Bossin’: The Art of Curating the Perfect School Lunches for your Kid

Back to school is almost upon us, which means many more kid-free hours during the day (amen!) but it also means a bit more of a hectic morning routine, especially if you’re in charge of packing lunches. There’s nothing worse than rolling out of bed and scrambling to pack your kids’ lunch, only to find out that a) your fridge is empty or b) your kid refuses to eat anything you have to offer. As if you don’t have enough to think about during those crucial morning moments. While you might assume that throwing some snacks and a sandwich in a bag is a fairly simple task, it’s a lot harder than it seems. You have picky kids to please. And nutrition recommendations. And judge-y parents who will surely shame you for sending anything with artificial coloring. And did we mention picky kids? 

Packing a balanced, delicious and appealing school lunch is an art form. And ideally, if that masterpiece could be pulled together in under 5 minutes, that would be excellent. 

Luckily, we have gathered some of the best, most well balanced, delicious, good-for-you and impossible-to-mess up school lunches around. They’re easy to make, inexpensive to stock up on, adorable, fresh and dare we say it — your kids will love them. So as you gear up for the first day of school and you start to prepare your school lunch meal plans, consider these tips, tricks and tasty treats which are sure to make your child the most envied kid at the lunch table.

3Turkey Pinwheels

Back to school Lunch Turkey Pinwheel

Instead of a traditional turkey sandwich, make cute, bite-sized turkey pinwheels, which are fun to eat and tasty. Serve the pinwheels with cherry tomatoes, a piece of fresh fruit, some pretzels and yogurt and you’re all set. 

Hummus Plate

Hummus School Lunch BeLatina

If your kid likes to build his or her own bite, then a Mediterranean hummus plate is a perfect school lunch. Simply pack hummus, fresh cut up veggies (we love carrots, cucumbers, celery and tomatoes), whole grain crackers, cubes of cheese and for extra protein, some rolled up slices of turkey. 

Rice and Beans

Rice Beans Tex Mex Box Lunch BELatina

If your kids love rice and beans (ours do) then this is a perfect, easy, nutritious lunch option. Opt for brown rice and black beans, both of which are loaded with fiber and protein. And to stay on theme with Mexican cuisine, you can also provide a healthier cheese quesadilla alongside some fresh fruit.