How to Prepare a Week's Worth of Effortless School Lunches

Mornings can feel like a whirlwind—between breakfast duties, homework battles, and the frantic search for gym shoes. Add packing lunches to the mix, and it's easy to feel overwhelmed. While we haven’t figured out how to make the lunches pack themselves, we have a simple solution to make mornings smoother: Meal prepping.

Yes, we're recommending prepping your kids' school lunches for the entire week. With a clear plan and a few prepped ingredients, packing lunches becomes a breeze—no stress or last-minute rush. We’ll show you how prepping ingredients ahead of time for five quick and easy lunches will save you valuable time (and headaches).

Tips for School Lunch Meal Prep

• Have a flexible lunch plan for the week. Pick a "main dish" for each day, then prep or buy easy sides (think granola bars, whole fruit, and yogurt cups) to use all week. Consider where you may have dinner leftovers that can double as lunch.
• Prep ingredients that can be incorporated into multiple meals. Prepare one or two protein foods (like hard-boiled eggs, tuna salad, or hummus). Slice vegetables for easy sides or to tuck into wraps and pasta salads. Wash grapes or cut melons in advance.
• Involve the kids. A perk of having prepped ingredients at the ready is kids can help assemble their own lunchboxes! Plus, involving them in meal prep (like mashing eggs for egg salad or mixing ingredients for granola bars) may encourage them to try new foods.

A Week of Quick and Easy School Lunch Preps

We've put together a 5-day school lunch plan, with simple recipes and a Sunday prep guide to help you get a head start. Your kids will love the variety, and you’ll appreciate how fast and nutritious these meals are!

Sunday Lunch Prep Plan

1. Start by boiling a batch of eggs—aim for 2-3 per child for the week. Check out these tips for making perfect hard-boiled eggs, and watch the video to see how it's done:

2. Prepare a batch of Super Easy Hummus, which will be used for Tuesday’s bagel sandwiches and Thursday’s snack packs. Watch the video for simple tips on how to make it.

3. Chop a variety of fresh vegetables. Sliced cucumbers and bell peppers make perfect dips for ranch or hummus. These veggies will also be used to fill Ham Pinwheels and Fresh Veggie Bagel Sandwiches.

4. (Optional) Prepare a batch of Chewy No-Bake Granola Bars for a delicious lunch treat (or after-school snack). This is a great one to let the kids help with!

A Week of Simple and Kid-Friendly School Lunches

Monday: Ham Roll-Ups

Fill a wrap with some of the cucumbers you sliced earlier (these can be prepped the night before and wrapped in foil to keep it intact). Choose whole-grain tortillas to add extra fiber. Complete the lunch with a piece of fresh fruit and a serving of yogurt.

These simple pinwheel wraps are a hit with kids of all ages. Dinogo user Stephanie Mullins shared, "I made this wrap for my teenage son, and he loved it. Simple and delicious."

Tuesday: Veggie-Packed Bagel Sandwich

We love the idea of creating a bagel buffet to get the kids involved in packing their lunch, inspired by recipe tester Butterfly Flutterby's suggestion: "These are absolutely delicious and super customizable. We make them at work by bringing in different ingredients and setting up a bagel buffet line!"

Make this colorful sandwich kid-friendly by swapping the brown mustard for the hummus you prepped earlier. Use mini whole-grain bagels so you can adjust the servings based on hunger levels (one bagel for younger kids, two for teens). Pair it with grapes and a hard-boiled egg for an extra protein boost.

Wednesday: Crunchy Lunch Wrap

Repurpose the leftover whole-grain tortillas from Monday’s lunch to create this naturally sweet and crunchy wrap that’s sure to be a hit. Swap sunflower seed butter for peanut butter to keep it allergen-friendly. Serve alongside fresh veggies and hummus for dipping.

"The girls loved this change of pace for lunch today! So easy to make, healthy, and super tasty... definitely a keeper! YUM!" -- Christina

Thursday: Snackable Bits (Option B: Avocado Egg Salad)

Send the kids off with a fun mix of finger foods for a snack-style lunch—perfect for using up any perishable items from the week, like ham, prepped veggies, and hummus. Add crackers, cheese, and fruit to complete the meal.

Alternatively, turn leftover hard-boiled eggs from your meal prep into a creamy and delicious Avocado Egg Salad! Follow cookingmama's tip and add a little lemon juice to keep the salad vibrant. Serve it in a wrap or alongside crackers.

Friday: Quick Mini Bagel Pizzas

Who can resist Pizza Fridays? We suggest using the leftover bagels from Tuesday’s lunch to make these Quick Mini Bagel Pizzas. They can be prepped the night before and eaten cold, or warmed in the morning and packed in a thermos you’ve pre-heated with hot water.

If you're using regular-sized bagels, recipe tester a.jay87 recommends extending the baking time from 6 to 10 minutes for perfect results.