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Elizabeth's Kitchen Diary

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Lunch Box Ideas for Children and Adults

25+ Easy Lunch Box Ideas for Children & Adults

Published on September 8, 2017 • Last updated September 7, 2020 by Elizabeth Atia

A creative lunch box ideas post in collaboration with Brioche Pasquier.

Lunch Box Ideas for Children and Adults

If, like me, you’re suddenly faced with the daunting prospect of making packed lunches again after the kids have returned to school after the summer holidays, you might be looking for some new packed school lunch box ideas. Kids (and some grown ups too!) can be seriously fussy eaters and there’s nothing more frustrating than packing a lunch box only to have to empty most of it back out into the bin after school. Argh, all that food waste!

So, here’s a sneak peek into three of my lunch box ideas. There are three different themes, which vary somewhat, of course, depending on what I can source from the local shop, with components that my family will actually eat.

Yes, that’s sushi. Yes, my family have rather interesting tastes!

Lunch Box Idea Japanese Inspired

First up here’s my Japanese-inspired sushi lunch box. This is one of my 10-year old daughter’s favourite lunch boxes, with smoked Shetland salmon sushi. We learned recently that sushi is remarkably easy to make. I follow the recipe for this smoked salmon and avocado sushi, but substitute the avocado for thinly sliced cucumber for lunchboxes, as I don’t want the avocado to brown.

To accompany, toasted sesame noodles made with medium egg noodles cooked according to the packet instructions, drained and then rinsed under cold water. I drizzle the cold noodles liberally with sesame seed oil, sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and then either toss with julienned carrot strips and sliced spring onion or simply pop a few vegetable flower shapes on top, depending on who it’s for (ie: my daughter or my husband).

For the sweet treat: wasabi peas, a fortune cookie and some fresh fruit.

Lunch Box Idea Italian-Inspired

Next up, my Italian-inspired lunch box with a selection of antipasti and a home bake. I will include either bread sticks, sliced sourdough or ciabatta bread along with a pot of my simple and incredibly creamy hummus, peanut butter (we don’t have a nut-free school) or cream cheese.

To accompany, sun-dried tomatoes, kalamata olives and a selection of Italian sliced meat and cheese (salami and smoked provolone are pictured). As always, there are fresh fruit and vegetables too, and for this particular lunch box, I included a slice of my family’s favourite homemade banana cake. I’ve recently tweaked this recipe too, and my dark chocolate chunk banana courgette bread is making regular lunch box appearances too.

Lunch Box Idea Brioche Pasquier

Last but not least, above is my eight-year-old son’s favourite lunch box (except the fruit, of course, which I keep sticking in and he refuses to eat!). This lunch box features many of his favourite things including Brioche Pasquier Pitch Chocolate Chip Brioche. Sometimes I’ll include other brioches from their range: their chocolate filled Pitch, Pains au Lait or Pains au Chocolat.

Did you know that the chocolate filled Pitch brioche came about in 1986 when one of the Pasquier sons would take a Pains au Lait out with him while playing sports? To make it more interesting, he would pop a chocolate bar into the centre and this gave their father the idea of filling the Pains au Lait with a chocolate hazelnut filling.

To accompany the brioche we’ve got smoked sausage, something I never knew about until I started attending Parent-Toddler groups here in Shetland and it was always served at snack-time; mini gouda cheese, fresh fruit and vegetables. This time I’ve added ants on a log, something my grandmother used to make for me: peanut butter is used to fill the gap in a celery stick and raisins (ants) are dotted along the top. Something a bit fun, and tasty too.

What sort of things do you put in your packed lunches? I’m always looking for inspiration, so do let me know in the comments! Meanwhile, here are XX other lunch box friendly recipe ideas!

25 Easy Lunch Box Recipe Ideas OTHER LUNCH BOX IDEAS YOU MIGHT LIKE

Bento Sushi Rice Shapes 
Hot Smoked Salmon Salad
Chewy Trail Mix Oatmeal Cookies
Cheesy Sweetcorn Muffins
Caprese Pinwheel Sandwiches
Packed Lunch Pizza Swirls
Chocolate Quinoa Bars Recipe
Sunny Picnic Quiches
Quick & Easy No Cook Tasty Snack Bars
Vegan Chickpea Curry Salad Sandwich
Tahini-Free Hummus Recipe
Homemade Mini Rustic Oatcakes
Vegan Muffin-tin Sushi Cups
Smoked Salmon & Asparagus Mini Crustless Quiches
Vegan Gluten Free Falafel Recipe
Banana Breakfast Muffins
Cheese & Olive Savoury Picnic Muffins
Coconut Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies
Pear Crisps
The Best Cheese Straws (and Three Extra Flavours)

SHOP THIS POST

Sistema Bento Cube Lunch Box
YumBox – the UK’s favourite Bento Box

This is a paid post in collaboration with Brioche Pasquier. Thank you for supporting the brands who make it possible for me to do what I love: mess up my kitchen and share recipe stories.



Category: Sponsored Post

About Elizabeth Atia

Daydream adventurer. Expat Canadian. Foodie. Calls Shetland home.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sheila

    November 3, 2017 at 3:21 am

    This is gold. I love all of these lunch box ideas. I can’t wait to try them all and hopefully, it will eventually make a picky eater finish his lunch. Thank you!

    Reply
  2. Laura H

    September 14, 2017 at 6:15 pm

    I love that you make sushi for your kids lunch boxes! My mum used to do that for me too and it was my fave day of the week 😀

    Reply
  3. Yaya

    September 12, 2017 at 8:39 pm

    These are great recipes and are so much better than your typical cheese sandwich type of lunch. I love the sushi and know that my kids would LOVE it! xx

    Reply
  4. The London Mum

    September 11, 2017 at 11:10 pm

    I absolutely love brioche.. far too much actually. I can eat a lot of them in one sitting lol

    Reply
  5. Emily Leary

    September 11, 2017 at 2:47 pm

    What a fantastic list, it’s packed with ideas I know my kids would love, and I expect most children would feel the same!

    Reply
  6. Ana

    September 11, 2017 at 12:39 am

    You have the best idea for lunch boxes. No wonder the last one is a favourite, the choc chip brioches look delicious x

    Reply
  7. Beth @ BethinaBox.com

    September 10, 2017 at 9:32 pm

    I have no words… Your lunchbox ideas are amazing. I only wish I was as organised and thoughtful when it comes to their lunchboxes.

    The reality in our house is a few pieces of fruit haphazardly sliced thrown into a tupperware container while grabbing the bread and slapping on some butter and drinking my coffee. My 7 year old quite enjoys making her own lunchbox which helps a great deal.

    Reply
  8. Jaymee (@_TheMumDiaries)

    September 10, 2017 at 3:14 pm

    amazing lunch ideas! With 3 boys to make for, i often find inspiration lacking x

    Reply
  9. Gareth Torrance

    September 10, 2017 at 1:40 pm

    These are great ideas! And ones that I can use now for me when I go to work! Cheers

    Reply
  10. Baby Isabella and Dawn

    September 9, 2017 at 9:45 pm

    Fantastic lunchbox ideas and it’s great that you included adult ones too! My mummy would like to make/roll her own sushi and I’m sure it would save loads of money doing it herself x

    Reply
  11. Healthy & Psyched

    September 9, 2017 at 9:37 pm

    I wonder how my boyfriend would feel if I started making his lunch like this. They’re just so cute!

    Reply
  12. Loving life with little ones (Sarah Humphreys)

    September 9, 2017 at 9:28 pm

    Lunchboxes have evolved so much, I must get more creative with my daughter’s lunch now she has a packed lunch or I can see her getting bored of her dinner, some fantastic ideas here.

    Reply
  13. Mummy Times Two

    September 9, 2017 at 9:00 pm

    Oh wow what incredible ideas, I’ll definitely be coming back for inspiration next time I get stuck for ideas.

    Reply
  14. Anosa

    September 9, 2017 at 7:48 pm

    These lunch box ideas are definitely a must try. I would love to prepare my own food with these recipes. Can’t wait to try all of it.

    Reply
  15. Amy Hunt

    September 9, 2017 at 7:17 pm

    I recently sent this link to my sister, I didn’t realise it was your website! Fabulous ideas!

    Reply
  16. nicol

    September 9, 2017 at 4:02 pm

    I love how lunchbox ideas has grown so much since I was a kid. I remember those sandwiches, crisps and a piece of fruit days

    Reply
  17. Sarah Bailey

    September 9, 2017 at 3:43 pm

    What some awesome looking lunchboxes I can’t believe how simple they are to make as well – what a great idea!

    Reply
  18. Patrick

    September 9, 2017 at 3:05 pm

    This is a nicely written and thought out blog entry. Planning ahead always is a good time saver.

    Reply
  19. jill conyers

    September 9, 2017 at 11:32 am

    I’m a no fail weekly meal prepper. My daughter and son would love the sushi roll idea.

    Reply
  20. Melanie

    September 8, 2017 at 11:37 pm

    What a fab post. Love a variety of lunches and like to be organised so this one is perfect for me :)x

    Reply
  21. Jacqueline Meldrum

    September 8, 2017 at 5:11 pm

    It’s good to get organised and prep ahead. I will have to try the ants on a log with Cooper. He likes falafel, veggie sausages or little savoury pastries along with crunchy veg and olives for his lunch. He never, ever finishes it though. He is always too keen to run outside and play. *sigh*

    Shared 🙂

    Reply

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Adventurer. Expat Canadian. Foodie. Loves bikes. Calls Shetland home. Read More…

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