101 ideas for healthy school lunch boxes

I confess. I’m stuck for school lunch box ideas. Yes, I know it’s the beginning of the school year and inspiration should be at an all-time high … but what can I say? Beyond a Vegemite sandwich, an apple and a muesli bar, that lunch box is looking pretty sad.

Even I can’t fake any level of excitement by my (let’s be honest, humble) offering. And I already know how thrilled my son is going to be when he sees what’s on offer.

So the team at Babyology put our heads together to come up with 100 fresh and healthy new ideas for the school lunch box and now we’re sharing it with you. And we’ve kept it allergy-friendly too, so no peanut butter in sight!

18 super sandwich fillers

1. Vegemite and cheese
2. Bacon, lettuce and tomato
3. Salmon, avocado and cream cheese
4. Turkey and cranberry sauce
5. Banana and honey
6. Grated apple and sultanas
7. Nutella and banana
8. Roast chicken and avocado
9. Chicken and pesto
10. Tuna, corn and mayo
11. Egg salad
12. Hommus and ham
13. Pastrami and pickles
14. Mustard, ham and cheese
15. Roast beef and Dijon mustard
16. Avocado and cheese
17. Tuna, mayo and lettuce
18. Bacon and egg 

21 snazzy sandwich alternatives

1. Banana pancakes
2. Mini pizzas
3. Potato salad
4. Cheese, deli meat and crackers
5. Cheese, cucumber, grape tomato and pepperoni stick kebabs
6. Ham and cheese croissants
7. Veggie spring rolls
8. Chicken and tomato sauce quesadillas
9. Banana and Nutella wraps
10. Bagel with cream cheese
11. Quinoa pikelets
12. Breadsticks with dipping sauce
13. Rice salad
14. Pasta salad
15. Raisin bagel with butter
16. Chicken and pesto wraps
17. Cucumber and cream cheese sushi
18. Veggie tacos
19. Zucchini and cream cheese balls
20. Tortilla chips with guacamole and salsa
21. Chicken, avocado and cream cheese wraps

11 savoury delights

1. Savoury muffins
2. Mini quiche
3. Cheesy damper scones
4. Feta and spinach triangles
5. Cheese and Vegemite scrolls
6. Mini sausage rolls
7. Homemade chicken nuggets with sweet chilli sauce
8. Pizza scrolls
9. Mini meatballs and dipping sauce
10. Twiggy sticks
11. Stuffed pita bread

24 snacks on the side

1. Homemade no-bake muesli bars
2. Popcorn
3. Yoghurt
4. Hot cross bun with butter
5. Veggie or fruit chips
6. Sultanas in cottage cheese
7. Banana bread
8. Zucchini bread
9. Zucchini slice
10. Protein balls
11. Apricot bliss balls
12. Roasted chickpeas
13. Boiled egg
14. Cheese straws
15. Oven-baked pita bread with dip
16. Babybel cheese
17. Trail mix
18. Pretzel sticks
19. Homemade fruit leathers
20. Mini muffins
21. Roasted pumpkin seeds
22. Rice pudding
23. Apple sauce
24. Fruit cake

20 fresh fruit and veggie snacks

1. Apple chips
2. Watermelon pizza with feta
3. Kale chips
4. Edamame with a dash of salt
5. Sugar, snow or snap peas
6. Greek salad – cherry tomatoes, feta cheese, cucumber, red onion drizzled in olive oil
7. Carrot sticks and hummus
8. Celery stop lights – celery with cream cheese and Smarties
9. Rice crackers and avocado
10. Dried pineapple rings
11. Seed butter and sultana celery sticks
12. Fresh fruit kebab
13. Frozen berries with yoghurt dip
14. Cucumber sticks and tzatziki
15. Melon with cottage cheese
16. Strawberries with hazelnut sauce
17. Dried mango slices
18. Apple slinkies
19. Dried banana, apricot and sultana medley
20. Blueberry or grape butterflies

7 sweet treats (for every so often)

1. Anzac bickies
2. Jam drops
3. Fairy bread
4. Milo balls
5. Rice Bubble squares
6. Honey joys
7. Chocolate mousse