Deciding what to put in a school lunchbox is one of those things that sounds simple – until you’re doing it every … single … day. I’ve got two school-aged kids who always take their lunch, and while I’d love to say I pack Pinterest-worthy bento boxes, the reality is more like “whatever they’re happy to eat”. Some weeks they get a canteen treat on Fridays, but even then I still need to send snacks.
Many of you have asked which of my recipes are ideal for school lunchboxes, or make great leftovers (especially food that’s just as good cold) and which types of lunchboxes actually survive the school year. So, here’s everything you need to know – lunchbox-friendly leftovers, recipes, snacks, time-saving hacks, the lowdown on lunchbox equipment and ideas that will keep your kids happily fed and your mornings just a little bit easier.
If I don’t have some kind of plan, lunchbox packing turns into a last-minute scramble of “will they eat leftover stir-fry cold?” (spoiler: no). 😂 I’ve found the best way to keep things stress-free is to plan school lunches alongside my weekly dinner meal plan.
Here’s how I do it:
- I figure out which dinners can double as lunches (Tip: Leftover bolognese? That’s tomorrow’s lunch. Ditto schnitzel.)
- I fill in the gaps with easy, prep-ahead options that are either freezer-friendly or require minimal effort.
- By Sunday night I’ve got a plan that minimises morning chaos and keeps my kids actually eating what I pack (most of the time).
Can I let you in on a secret? My kids ignored veggies in their lunch for years. I’d optimistically pack them, and they’d faithfully return home untouched, like a sad little science experiment. Eventually, I stopped. Instead, I worked veggies into what they would eat – salad in sandwiches, or a veggie plate after school. Or I made irresistible veggie-packed treats like corn fritters, zucchini (courgette) slice or spanakopita.
The goal isn’t perfection; it’s finding what works and, most importantly, what will get eaten. If that means packing the same two lunches on repeat, skipping the Instagram-worthy bento box, or accepting that cheese and crackers count as a meal, that is SO okay.
Some dinners just beg to be turned into next-day lunches. These are some of our favourites (I also cover how to keep these cold and leakproof in my lunchbox equipment suggestions, below).
- Leftover bolognese sauce or, even better, a Hidden Veggie Bolognese – Serve cold with rigatoni or penne pasta, making it easy to eat on the go.
- Leftover chicken schnitzel – Delicious on its own or in a wrap/sandwich with salad and whole-egg mayo, or in a roll with pesto, salad and cheese.
- Leftover roasted chicken – Stuff it into a wrap, sandwich or salad (the kids love a cheat’s caesar or pasta salad), or use it in rice paper rolls for a fresh twist.
- Leftover poached chicken – Use it to create The BEST Chicken Sandwich Filling.
- Leftover chicken salads – Asian-style salads are especially delicious and you can dial down the chilli if necessary.
- Leftover Baked Garlic Parmesan Chicken Tenders or Crispy Baked Chicken Tenders – Great used in wraps, sandwiches or on their own with a honey mustard dipping sauce or a homemade barbecue sauce.
- Leftover nachos – Serve cold with corn chips and all the classic toppings for a “build-your-own-nachos” moment, or wrap them up burrito-style in a tortilla.
- Leftover Juicy Homemade Beef Burgers – The burger patties are just as good the next day, eaten cold in a roll with cheese and salad.
- Leftover rissoles – Slice into a sandwich with cheese and pickles or stuff into a wrap with lettuce and mayo.
- Leftover meatballs – Serve cold with toothpicks for an easy protein-packed lunch or toss into a pasta salad.
- Leftover sausages – Perfect in a roll with sauce, sliced into pasta, or just on their own for an easy protein-packed lunch.
- Leftover fried rice – It’s delicious eaten cold straight from the lunchbox – zero reheating required!
- Leftover Spring Roll Bowls – Can be served in lettuce cups or stuffed into rice paper rolls.
- Leftover Pork and Cabbage Dumplings – I make a big batch of these for dinner but the kids also love them in lunchboxes with a quick dumpling dipping sauce.
I make lunchboxes in the morning for no other reason than the fact I’m a morning person – and an absolute zombie come 8 pm (the pyjamas are well and truly on and I’m usually on the lounge with my skincare and favourite TV show by then). But, find a time that works for you. Prep ahead where you can and, when you can’t, keep it simple. Here are some ideas you can make ahead of time, ready for when you need.
- Tuna Miso Soba Noodles – A great salad that’s perfect to make ahead and packs a punch with flavour … the kids love this.
- Tuna sushi – Or try sushi sandwiches for even easier preparation … no rolling required!
- Tuna and mayo – Classic and simple, in a wrap, sandwich, tossed through a pasta salad or even with crackers for a fun DIY lunch.
- Egg and mayo – A timeless combo, great in a sandwich, wrap or as a filling for mini sliders. Make the egg and mayo filling and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Curried Egg Sandwiches – Prep the filling ahead and store in the fridge to easily make up the sandwiches in the morning.
- Ham and cheese – Whether it’s a croissant, wrap or sandwich, this one’s an oldie but a goodie.
- Sausage rolls – A fantastic lunchbox addition! I like to add finely grated zucchini (courgette) and carrot for an extra boost of veggies. They can also be made ahead (check out the recipe for details).
- Spinach and Feta Rolls or triangles – Delicious cold.
- Spanakopita Greens Pie – Great eaten cold, so ideal for lunchboxes. Freeze in individual portion sizes.
- Zucchini Slice – A protein-packed zucchini (courgette) slice that’s just as great cold as it is hot, and easy to batch-cook.
- Cheesy Corn Fritters – Crispy and delicious, they hold up well in a lunchbox and are a great way to sneak in extra veggies.
- Mini Lunchbox Pizzas – These two-ingredient dough mini pizzas are my favourite, but you could also use English muffins, halved and topped with your favourite pizza toppings.
- Lunchbox Protein Pancakes – Packed with natural protein … no protein powder needed! Great with fruit and yoghurt but also really tasty on their own.
- Portuguese-style Chilli Chicken Wrap – Make the chicken ahead of time, then in the morning assemble it in wraps with whatever salad veggies are in the fridge. Swap the chilli sauce for mayo for little eaters.
Snacks are arguably the most important part of the lunchbox. I’ve provided a list of snacks that we personally gravitate towards, ready for you to mix and match depending on your family’s tastes and dietary requirements.
Crunchy and savoury
- Cheese and crackers – with sliced cheese.
- Popcorn – homemade or store-bought (lightly salted or plain).
- Mini rice cakes – with cream cheese.
- Pretzels – a salty, crunchy option.
- Potato chips (crisps) – I try to opt for the ones with no additives.
- Roasted chickpeas or broad beans – protein-packed and crunchy.
- Homemade pita chips – with hummus or tzatziki.
- Corn chips – plain or with guacamole or tzatziki on the side.
- Plain pasta – leftover pasta (especially easy-to-eat penne or rigatoni) tossed with a nut-free pesto.
Because some mornings, life happens. On those days I reach for my emergency lunchbox fillers. I like to have these on hand at all times, to save my sanity! They include:
- Cheese and crackers.
- A yoghurt pouch.
- Whole fruit – banana, mandarin or apple.
- A quick wrap (ham and cheese, tuna and mayo, or whatever’s in the fridge).
- Leftovers from the night before.
- A bag of popcorn or potato chips (crisps) – the additive-free types.
I’ve been through enough leaky containers and lost lids to know that not all lunchbox gear is created equal. Here are the types of lunchboxes, bags and drink bottles I swear by:
Lunchboxes
- Bento boxes – Great for variety and keeping everything separate, without leaks! I use the large-sized Yumbox Tapas Bento Lunch Boxes for everyday use and the Yumbox Snack boxes for the days when the kids get a canteen order and require snacks only.
- Insulated lunch bags – An ice pack is a must in summer, especially if the lunchbox sits in a hot classroom all day. I use Montiico Large Insulated Lunch Bags.
- Stainless steel lunchboxes – More durable and keep food fresher, but they’re heavier and not always leakproof.
Drink bottles
- Leakproof and insulated – With hot Australian weather, leakproof and insulated bottles are non-negotiables. I use Frank Green Ceramic Reusable Bottles, which are stainless steel and ceramic-lined with customisable lids.
Other handy tools
- Reusable sandwich bags – Great for packing chips (crisps), crackers or popcorn (individual bags can be more expensive).
School lunches don’t need to be fancy, they just need to be eaten. If your kids love the same ham sandwich every day? Perfect. If they only eat cucumber sticks and crackers? Also perfect. It’s likely your kids will go through phases, so just ride the wave. My rule is simple: if it gets eaten, it’s a good lunch. Remember, there’s no point building a super healthy lunchbox if it remains uneaten. And if all else fails, don’t stress. There’s always tomorrow.
