These homemade “Lunchables” style school lunch ideas are not only simple to make, but they’re fun and easy for your child to eat! It might even keep your kids seated in the cafeteria five extra minutes, so they don’t come home starving and cranky. Plus, they can even help you build them!

I think a great way to get your little kids interested in lunchtime is to make their lunchbox fun! Delicious too, of course, but if it’s pleasing to the eye and fun, they’re more likely to eat it. Even better if they can help build it – what kid doesn’t like to build stuff!?

These school lunch ideas are like homemade Lunchables®, but more creative than the store-bought kind, yet still realistic and won’t have you prepping lunch until 10pm at night!

Don’t miss these fun Sandwiches on a Stick, too!

Lunch Ideas For The Sandwich Lover

• Inside-Out Sandwich: This is ideal if you’ve got two lunches to prepare. Make the same sandwich, one on white bread and the other wheat. Then using a small cookie cutter, cut out a shape from the center and swap them! Include some trail mix and apple slices to go with it.

• Puzzle Sandwich. Make any sandwich you like, remove the crusts, then cut with a puzzle cookie cutter. Served with chips and fruit.

• BLT Roll Up. A cross between a BLT sandwich and pinwheels, this BLT roll up includes a flour tortilla with mayonnaise and cooked bacon strips. Extra mayo on the side and tomatoes and alfalfa sprouts (or lettuce.)

• Breakfast For Lunch. Waffles with a side of blueberries and pistachios (or a different nut), and some chocolate chips. Include a small container of maple syrup!

• Corndog Muffins. Just follow the directions on the Jiffy Corn Mix box and put a 1/3 of a hot dog slice on top before baking. Do this the night before and then just heat up in the morning. Buy a block of cheese, cut into cubes, and poke a piece of a pretzel stick in the center. Include your favorite fruit!

Lunch Ideas for The Builder

• Build Your Own Pizza. Ritz crackers, pepperoni, Colby Jack cheese, and black olives. Include some pizza or marinara sauce.

• Build Your Own Taco. Tortilla Scoops, black beans, shredded cheese, diced tomatoes, and chopped lettuce. Or swap the beans for cooked chopped chicken. Include a container of salsa.

• Build Your Own Sushi. Roasted seaweed, sweet rice, imitation crab, sliced carrots, sliced cucumber, and a container of soy sauce.

Lunch Ideas for The Dipper

• This is perfect for the kid who is not really into sandwiches, but loves finger food and dipping! Shown are toasted bread cubes, cucumber and red bell pepper sticks, Kielbasa coins, with Ranch dressing.

• Change it up! Same concept as above, but includes toasted bread cubes, celery and carrot sticks, fully cooked kielbasa, with Thousand Island dressing.

Tools To Build The Lunchboxes

• 2-ounce Condiment Cups with Lids – These condiment cups are perfect for a little bit of sauce or dressing. You can get 100 of these for like $5!
• 3-cup Rectangular Container – any brand will work, but I love the Caperci brand and also the Lock & Lock kind because they’re airtight and so easy to open and close. Plus they have a removable divider, so they can be used for so many other lunch ideas.

Breakfast Recipes for School and On The Go

• Freezer Breakfast Sandwiches
• Freezer Breakfast Burritos
• Bagel Egg Boats
• Overnight Oats

I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!