School Lunch Ideas That Are Not Sandwiches: 12 Easy Options

Pasta salad, quesadilla wedges, muffin-tin egg cups, snack plates and thermos soup all work as school lunches without any bread. A filling lunch usually combines a protein, a fruit or vegetable and a grain or starch, and it must stay at a safe temperature until lunchtime.

The twelve ideas below are grouped by how they travel: cold, hot in a thermos, or fine at room temperature for a few hours with an ice pack nearby.

Which non-sandwich lunches work cold?

Six lunches travel well in an insulated bag with an ice pack.

• Pasta salad: short pasta with cooked chicken or chickpeas, diced cucumber or peppers, and a light dressing.
• Build-your-own pizza kit: small rounds of flatbread or mini pitas, a container of sauce, shredded cheese and sliced toppings, assembled at the table.
• Snack plate: cheese cubes, whole-grain crackers, sliced turkey or beans, grapes and cut vegetables in a divided box.
• Hummus with raw vegetable sticks and pita triangles, plus a piece of fruit.
• Hard-boiled eggs with fruit and a small portion of crackers or toast fingers.
• Yogurt parfait: plain or vanilla yogurt layered with fruit and granola, with the granola packed separately so it stays crisp.

Which lunches need a thermos?

Soup, chili, baked pasta and fried rice stay appetizing in a wide-mouth insulated food jar. Three options:

• Soup or chili with beans, vegetables or shredded meat.
• Macaroni and cheese or baked pasta, with a side of raw carrots or apple slices.
• Fried rice with egg, peas and diced cooked chicken or tofu.

Fill the jar with boiling water for several minutes before packing, then empty it and add the piping hot food. Many leftovers from dinner reheat well this way, and our list of easy weeknight dinners picky kids will eat includes meals that make good next-day lunches.

What can be made ahead and eaten at room temperature?

Quesadilla wedges, egg cups and rice balls hold up well when packed the night before.

• Quesadilla wedges: a tortilla filled with cheese and beans or chicken, cooked until crisp, cooled and cut into triangles. Serve with salsa or guacamole in a small cup.
• Muffin-tin egg cups: beaten eggs with cheese and chopped vegetables, baked in a muffin tin until set. They reheat in a microwave or go in the lunchbox cold.
• Rice balls: seasoned cooked rice shaped around a filling such as cooked salmon or cooked vegetables and wrapped in a strip of nori if the child likes it.

How long can packed lunch food sit out?

Perishable food should stay at 40°F (4°C) or below until it is eaten, and hot food should stay at 140°F (60°C) or above, according to mainstream US food safety guidance. The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service advises discarding perishable food that has been unrefrigerated for more than 2 hours, or for more than 1 hour when the air is above 90°F (32°C).

• Use two ice packs, or one pack and a frozen juice box or yogurt tube that thaws by lunchtime.
• Chill cooked food in the refrigerator before packing it.
• Keep the lunch bag out of a hot car and out of direct sun.
• Throw away any perishable leftovers that come home. The foodsafety.gov site has more guidance on packing lunches.

How do I get my child to eat something new?

Serve the new lunch at home first, on a weekend, so the food is familiar before it goes to school. Pair one new item with two foods the child already likes, and keep portions small. Letting a child choose between two options the night before, or help assemble the pizza kit or snack plate, usually makes the lunch easier to finish. If a child refuses a food, offer it again later in a different form rather than adding pressure.

What about allergies and school rules?

Many schools restrict nuts or other allergens in lunchboxes, so check the school’s written policy before packing anything with nut butter, sesame or egg. Label containers with the child’s name. For any question about a child’s allergy, special diet or poor appetite, talk to your pediatrician.

Quick answers

Can I pack these lunches the night before?

Yes for most. Assemble pasta salad, egg cups, quesadilla wedges and rice balls, refrigerate them in sealed containers, and add the ice pack in the morning. Pack yogurt parfait and pizza kit parts separately.

How many items should a lunchbox have?

Three to four small items cover the basics: one protein, one fruit or vegetable, one grain or starch and, if you like, a small extra such as cheese or yogurt.

Can I reheat dinner leftovers for lunch?

Yes, if the leftovers went into the refrigerator within 2 hours of cooking. Reheat them until steaming hot, then pack them in a preheated thermos.