Have a child getting ready to start kindergarten or head to school? This How to Pack School Lunches: A Beginner-Friendly Guide walks you through exactly how to get started with packing school lunches, step by step!
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I’m a registered dietitian and a mom who has navigated that moment of panic and overwhelm when you realize you need to start packing school lunches, and have no idea where to begin. Let’s dive in!
Table of contents
- Step 1: Get The Lunch Gear (But Only What You Actually Need)
- Step 2: Practise Using The Lunch Gear
- Step 3: Check in with Your School's Lunch Policies and Routine
- Step 4: Keep Cold Foods Cold and Hot Foods Hot
- Step 5. Simple Lunch Packing Formula
- Step 6: Build a List of Mains and Side Ideas Your Child Already Enjoys
- Step 7: Prep Some Lunch Foods
- Step 8: Create a Lunch-Packing Routine That Works For Your Family
- Step 9: What to Actually Pack in a School Lunch
- School Lunch Packing FAQs
Step 1: Get The Lunch Gear (But Only What You Actually Need)
Having the right equipment can make a huge difference for school lunch packing. Now, don't be alarmed, the price of lunchboxes can get a little crazy. That said, you’ll likely be sending a lunch to school almost every day for the next several years, so it can be worthwhile to invest in a durable, easy-to-wash, and leakproof container that your child can open independently.
The Essentials:
- An insulated lunch bag
- A bento-style lunchbox with 4-5 compartments OR an easy-to-open container (and can create compartments using silicone muffin liners)
- We love The Good Kiind Lunchbox and the Planetbox Rover
- Two ice packs to help keep cold foods cold
- An insulated food jar or thermos if you plan to send warm foods
- We love the OmieBox with built-in thermos
- Two or three small snack containers
- A reusable water bottle
- Child-friendly utensils, if needed
Nice to haves:
- Small silicone muffin liners to help separate foods
- Food picks (*for older children who can use them safely)
- Sandwich and shape cutters (I said nice-to-have, not essential! But these can make lunches a little more fun!)
- Reusable yogurt/smoothie pouches
You can check out all of my school lunch gear recommendations, including lunchboxes with varying price points, here!
Mom Tip
Be sure to label all lunch gear with a waterproof name label or permanent marker! Trust me, lunch containers, lids, thermoses, and bottles are surprisingly easy to go missing.
Step 2: Practise Using The Lunch Gear
Before the first day of school, give your child a few opportunities to practise using their new lunch gear. Show them how to unzip their lunch bag, open and close each container, use their water bottle, and put everything back when they are finished.
I often recommend serving lunches in their school lunchbox at home or take it along on a picnic before the start of school! This gives you a chance to notice whether any lids are too tight, containers leak or certain foods are difficult or messy to eat. It was very eye-opening for me to see which lids and containers my daughter was struggling with and we could then adjust prior to her starting school.
A few things to practise:
- Opening and closing the lunchbox and snack containers
- Unscrewing a thermos lid and screwing back on
- Opening packaged foods
- Using any utensils or food picks
- Opening and closing their water bottle
- Putting lids and containers back into the lunch bag
Children often have a limited amount of time to eat at school, so the goal is to make lunch as easy and familiar as possible, not to expect them to master a brand-new lunchbox on their first day.
Step 3: Check in with Your School's Lunch Policies and Routine
Every school has different policies and routines around lunchtime, so it’s helpful to find out what to expect before you start planning lunches. Some of this information may not be available until closer to the first day of school, and that’s okay.
A few things to check:
- Whether the school has any allergy-aware or food restrictions
- Whether lunches need to be completely nut-free
- How much time children are given to eat
- Whether food can be reheated
- How snacks and lunches are scheduled throughout the day
- Whether the school offers hot lunches, pizza days or other special lunch programs you can sign up for
- Whether support is available if your child needs help opening containers, additional eating time, feeding assistance or other accommodations
It’s also helpful to find out how many eating breaks your child will have. Some schools have one snack break, while others might have two in addition to lunch. Although snacks can be packed inside the main lunchbox, I usually recommend packing them in separate, easy-to-open containers. This can make it easier for your child to know which food is intended for snack and which is for lunch.
Step 4: Keep Cold Foods Cold and Hot Foods Hot
In my experience, schools typically don’t have a way to refrigerate or heat individual lunches, so it’s important to pack cold foods cold and keep hot foods hot until lunchtime.
Pack cold, perishable foods, such as yogurt, cheese, eggs, meat and cooked leftovers, in an insulated lunch bag with a frozen ice pack. If you’re sending warm food, heat it before school and place it in a pre-heated insulated food jar or thermos, following the thermos package instructions.
Health Canada recommends keeping cold foods at or below 4°C and hot foods at or above 60°C. Wash lunch containers and lunch bags regularly.
Step 5. Simple Lunch Packing Formula
You don’t need to create a perfectly balanced or Pinterest-worthy lunch every day. A simple formula can make it much easier to decide what to pack! The dietitian in me wants to tell you to include a source of protein, healthy fat, fibre, and some colour. The mom in me wants to share the simple lunch packing formula I actually use most days.
Main + Fruit + Vegetable + 1-2 Sides (including something fun!)
Main
Choose a more substantial food that usually provides a source of carbohydrates and some protein. This might be a sandwich, quesadilla, pasta, yogurt with granola, pancakes, a muffin with cheese or leftovers in a thermos.
Fruit and Vegetable
Add a fruit and vegetable your child is familiar with and can safely and easily eat. They don’t need to eat both every day, the goal is simply to continue offering variety!
One or Two Sides
Use the remaining compartments for foods that complement the lunch or help make it more filling. This could include a dip, some cheese, yogurt, crackers, a snack bar, applesauce, or another familiar food your child enjoys. I like to include something fun here like a dip, little energy ball, packaged snack, or homemade muffin. Or it might just be cutting their sandwich into a fun shape.
Think of this formula as a flexible guide. Some days it might include each category, and other days might just be what you have on hand - and that's completely okay!
Step 6: Build a List of Mains and Side Ideas Your Child Already Enjoys
Make a simple list of the mains, fruits, vegetables, and sides your child already enjoys. This gives you an easy starting point and saves you from having to come up with brand-new lunch ideas every morning. I encourage parents to have these as a printed copy that can go on a fridge or somewhere visible.
Even a short list of five reliable mains and a handful of sides can create plenty of different combinations. I like to then put these into built out lunchbox visuals and hang them on the fridge!
For more ideas, printable planning examples and templates for you to fill in, get my Dietitian’s Guide to Planning School Lunches!
Step 7: Prep Some Lunch Foods
You don’t need to prep an entire week of lunches at once. Instead, choose a few foods or components that will make packing easier, such as washing and prepping any fruit, chopping vegetables, baking muffins, or portioning out some snacks. For more ideas on easy lunchbox items that can be prepped and frozen ahead of time, check out my post here on 15 Freezer-Friendly School Lunch Ideas.
You can also create a simple lunch-packing snack station in the fridge or pantry with a few easy-to-grab options. I find it helpful when I'm packing lunches to have a mix of pre-packaged snacks and homemade foods on hand, so there’s always something quick and convenient available. We set up this very simple snack station in our pantry with a few grab-and-go snack options that can easily be tossed in a lunchbox. As kids get older, you can even set up a lunch-packing station in the fridge with a few options they can choose from and add to their lunch themselves.
Step 8: Create a Lunch-Packing Routine That Works For Your Family
There’s no single best time to pack school lunches. Some families prefer to pack everything the night before, while others prep a few components ahead and finish the lunch in the morning.
Choose a routine that feels realistic for your schedule. This might mean:
- Packing the main lunch after dinner
- Keeping washed fruit, chopped vegetables and snacks ready to grab
- Having your child choose one or two items from the fridge or pantry
- Emptying and washing lunch containers as soon as they come home
- End-of-week wash of the lunch-bag (if washable, or wipe down)
The best lunch-packing routine is one you can repeat consistently, because the weeks will get busy!
Step 9: What to Actually Pack in a School Lunch
Ok you've got the foundation, now you're ready to actually pack those lunches! I have lots of resources here to help!
- If you need a range of ideas for kindergarten and school, check out my Lunch Ideas for Kindergarten post.
- Have a child who is a bit of a selective or picky eater? I've got lunchboxes specifically geared towards picky eaters here with School Lunchbox Ideas for Picky Eaters.
- Struggling to come up with foods that don't need reheating and need to taste good cold? My Easy Cold School Lunch Ideas for Kids include plenty of options that can be enjoyed straight from the lunchbox.
- Want to get ahead before a busy week? My Freezer-Friendly School Lunch Ideas include items you can batch-prep and freeze.
- If you need ideas without common allergens, see my Allergen-Friendly School Lunch Ideas for kids.
- Getting started with bento boxes? Here is my ultimate round up of favourite Easy Bento Box Lunch Ideas for Toddlers and Kids.
- Looking for more finger food style options? I have a complete list of Finger Foods (For One Year Olds) but many of these handheld food options work for older children as well.
- Need some snack ideas for school lunches? Here are over 25 Healthy Toddler and Kid Snacks for Daycare and School
Safety Tip
Always prepare foods in a size, shape and texture that is appropriate for your child’s age and eating abilities. Some children may need foods cut, cooked or modified differently, even if they are the same age. If your child has difficulty chewing or swallowing, follow the guidance provided by their healthcare or feeding team.
School Lunch Packing FAQs
Every child has a different appetite, and how much they eat can vary from day to day. Start with portions that are similar to what your child typically eats at home, then adjust as you learn what works for them at school.
Pay attention to what comes home, but try not to make assumptions. Check in with your child and get curious: Did they have enough time to eat? Was anything difficult to open? Were they still hungry afterward? Did the amount of food feel like too much?
Some schools have one snack break, while others have two, and snacks may be packed inside the main lunchbox or in separate containers. Check your child’s school routine, then consider all the food they’ll have available throughout the day. Over time, you’ll get a better sense of how much they need and realistically have time to eat.
Yes, definitely. Repeating familiar lunches can make packing easier for you and help your child feel more comfortable at lunchtime. You can pack familiar mains and mix up the sides. Variety can happen across the week rather than in every individual lunch.
Try not to make assumptions! Get curious and check in with your child. They may have had limited time, been distracted, needed help opening something or simply not been very hungry. Ask neutral questions about lunchtime and adjust the amount, containers or types of food as needed.
Yes. Packaged snacks can be a convenient and perfectly reasonable part of a school lunch. Pair them with other foods your child enjoys rather than feeling like everything needs to be homemade.
School lunch is not usually the best time to rely on a brand-new food. Include mostly familiar foods your child feels comfortable eating. You can occasionally add a small amount of a less familiar food alongside foods they already enjoy, without pressure to eat it.
I hope this guide helps you feel confident and ready to pack school lunches!
Ready To Make School Lunches Even Easier?
My two-week Bento 101 Lunch Program will help you build a realistic lunch-packing system that works for your family. You’ll create a list of dependable lunch ideas, learn how to involve your child and put together repeatable lunch combinations you can use throughout the school year.
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