15 easy school lunch recipes to help you pack like a pro

Step one toward successful lunch hours: Get creative with the box or bag itself. If your school allows your kids to brown bag it, decorate the outside of those plain ol’ sacks with paper cutouts, stickers, rubber stamps or one-off scrapbooking decals languishing at the bottom of your craft supplies drawer. Close the top with coloured paperclips, clothespins or a piece of patterned Washi tape. 

Read more: School lunches: Containers and accessories that work>

A version of this article was published in our September 2014 issue with the headline "Pack like a pro," p. 106. 

If your kids have always been of the sandwich-and-veggie-sticks persuasion, give them a taste of something new: Homemade soup comes together in a snap and is perfect for fall and winter lunches. (All of the variations are so good, you’ll want to save some for your own lunch, too!)

Tip: To keep food hot longer, warm up the Thermos by filling with boiling water. Let sit with the lid on for at least five min before dumping the water and filling the container.

Get the recipe: Chicken Vegetable Soup>

Get the recipe: Italian Wedding Soup>

Get the recipe: Tomato and Chickpea Soup> 

Get inventive and replace last year’s tired old lunch choices with flavour-packed biscuits. Pair with your crew’s favourite sides and snacks, and you’re guaranteed to cut down on the possibility of lunch tradesies.

Get the recipe: Sweet Potato Biscuits>

Get the recipe: Broccoli and Ham Biscuits>

Get the recipe: Apple and Oat Biscuits> 

Who says frittata is just a breakfast food? Make up a batch (or two!) of these simple omelettes for Sunday brunch and you’re good for Monday’s lunch.

Get the recipe: Cauliflower Frittata>

Get the recipe: Zucchini and Feta Frittata> 

Get the recipe: Red Pepper and Cheddar Frittata>

Show us a kid who doesn’t like pasta salad and we’ll show him a salad that will change his mind. Whether it’s our tossed tortellini or our orzo mix with a sprinkling of cheese, we’ve got him covered. If you’re worried about soggy pasta (or have kids who want things “on the side”), pack dressing separately.

Get the recipe: Tortellini Pasta Salad>

Get the recipe: Primavera Pasta Salad>

Get the recipe: Tuna Noodle Salad> 

You might be skeptical about the tortilla: Will it go soft before noon? Will it stay together when your child tries to bite into it? (No and yes, by the way.) But give one of these flavour combos a try and revolutionize the way you and your kids look at this sandwich alternative.

Get the recipe: Breakfast Wrap>

Get the recipe: California Wrap>

Get the recipe: European Wrap>

10 healthy bedtime snacks kids will love>

Fill little tummies and get your kids ready for bed with these tasty options.