Back to school: 10 ideas for the lunchbox

Last week, at our annual play date with Beth and Amy and the kids, Beth asked for suggestions for school lunches, since she has not ever had to make them before. Before school started last year, I posted a list of 13 lunch ideas. But today, while having brunch with Jen and Bharat today, we got to talking about making school lunches and ideas for things besides sandwiches. So, with the help of the trusty booklet that came with my kid’s Laptop Lunchbox, here are 10 no-sandwich lunch ideas:

1. Yogurt, granola and fresh berries, baby carrots
2. Crackers, cheese and grapes, sliced tomatoes
3. Pitas with hummus, cucumber slices, kiwi
4. Pancakes with syrup, hard boiled egg, fruit salad
5. Mini Bagels with cream cheese, apple slices
6. Pasta salad (with peanut dressing, or your child’s favorite), shredded carrots, bell peppers
7. Quinoa salad with tomatoes, basil and avocado, orange sections
8. Bean and cheese burrito, jicama and cherry tomatoes
9. Tortilla with cheese slices, edamame, strawberries
10. Chicken noodle soup, whole grain crackers, carrot and celery sticks, watermelon

And here are some gadgets you might consider having in your lunch-making arsenal:

Laptop Lunchbox

Lunchbot (get the Uno and the Duo for the most flexibility)

Thermos Food Container (this one has a spoon that hides inside the lid)

Stainless water bottle