37+ Back to School Lunch Ideas for Every Type of Kid

It’s finally time to trade sunscreen for school supplies, but finding a great new lunchbox is only half the battle. Filling them is a whole other story. Every kid is different, but we’ve put our brains together to come up with solutions for every kind of eater. Whether your kid is picky or foodie, there’s something in here for them!

The Tiny Gourmand—You know the type: They eat avocado toast for breakfast. They can pronounce ‘acai’. They only turn their nose up at broccoli when it’s been steamed with no seasoning, and they’d have an Instagram account if you gave them enough access to your food.

Margherita Pizza on Focaccia by Sina Mizrahi

Caprese Toast by Chayie Schlisselfeld

Panini Wraps by Elky Friedman

Avocado Toast by Chayie Schlisselfeld

Cajun Turkey or Teriyaki Turkey Noodle Lettuce Wraps by Chayie Schlisselfeld

Tuna Rolls by Esther Ottensoser

The Picky Eater—We’ve all met this kid. They usually only like one or two things at a time, and while you could justify giving them the same meal every day, you’d feel better if there were a few more options in the repertoire.

Edible Checkerboard by Esther Ottensoser

Red Light, Green Light, 1-2-3 by Esther Ottensoser

Pizza-Pasta “Muffins” by Temi Philip

Perfect Protein-Packed Pancakes by Rivkah Krinsky

Faked Ziti by Esty Wolbe

The Mini Health Guru—This is the kid you rarely have to fight with to get them to eat their vegetables. Colorful plates are par for the course, and they occasionally tell you when foods are in season.

Broccoli Cheese Bites by Elky Friedman

Zucchini Fritters from OU Kosher

Homemade Fish Sticks by Sina Mizrahi

Egg White Cauliflower Bites by Riva Fogel-Landy

Heirloom Caprese Salad on Rosemary Skewer by Esther Deutsch

The Constant Snacker—Every kid has a snacker side, but this kid has no other sides. It’s not even just junk food; it’s just that they take their meals in stages, via nosh, instead of all at once. Having some healthier nosh-type foods will be a lifesaver!

My Favorite Whole Wheat Muffins by Elky Friedman

Applesauce Muffins from the Dining In cookbook

Granola Biscotti by Deb Perelman

Wholesome Dairy Muffins by Estee Kafra

Breakfast Muffins by Sari Matyas

No-Mixer Granola Bars by Chanie Nayman

The Meat Lover—Also goes by the name “That’s certainly my kid!” This kid would choose a salami stick over a lollipop without blinking an eye, and protein options have really never been a problem for you to find.

Simplified Corn Dogs by Faigy Grossman

Chicken Pretzel Nuggets by Brynie Greisman

Golden Shnitzel Bites by Brynie Greisman

Pita Chicken Pockets from the Nitra cookbook

Sloppy Joe Pita Sandwiches from the Nitra cookbook

Meatball Sliders by Rivky Kleiman

Mini Chicken Dogs by Chavi Feldman

The Food Allergy Prone—Sure, you’ve gotten used to explaining to people that it’s not just that food, it’s also the foods that have that food in them. But sometimes it’s just exhausting trying to think of how to hack this recipe, or replace half of those ingredients. Take a breath. We got you.

Allergy-Friendly French Toast by Chevy Slomovics and Raizy Janklowitz

Vegan Mac and Cheeze by Rebecca Kinzbrunner

Tuna Tacos by Chayie Schlisselfeld

Gluten Free Vanilla “Cheese” Pancakes by Chevy Slomovics and Raizy Janklowitz

Israeli-Style Toast by Chayie Schlisselfeld

The Cheese Fiend—This kid thinks a cheese stick and sliced cheese are two different snacks. But you sometimes get tired of just slapping some American on two slices of bread. Just because your kid has singular tastes, doesn’t mean you can’t make it interesting.