Food, Lunch, Recipes

School Lunch Ideas

Packing a paleo lunch is often a hot topic on my Facebook page and I also receive several questions about what to pack right here on the blog.  I have posted several articles before about school lunches which you can read about here but it’s always great to have as many ideas as possible!

When we first started eating paleo, what I found most challenging was simply figuring out what would work as a lunch box for fresh foods!!  Years ago I discovered Planet Box and we love this container!!!

Jaden has had the same lunch box for almost 3 years and it’s still just as good as new.  The only thing we have had to replace is the actual carrying case and magnets (only because we lost one!) but otherwise the actual lunch box is in excellent shape and has more than paid for itself in both quality and money saved NOT buying school lunches!

I also love insulated thermoses to keep stews and soups warm for school lunches and we use one made by Citizen Pip which is pictured below but now  I can’t seem to find them anymore but I recently picked up an amazing insulated thermos from Klean Kantean that both Coby and Jaden love.  It keeps hot food or drinks hot for hours!

Now, what to pack INTO these cool containers?  I have documented Jaden’s last several school lunches that I will share with you now.

Applegate Farms ham slices wrapped around avocado, celery with Ammin Nut almond butter and raisins, dried apple rings, carrot sticks.

Cucumber “sandwiches” (ham in between 2 cucumber slices), cherry tomatoes, pickles, apple slices, almond butter.

Turkey, avocado, cucumbers and tomatoes wrapped in a Improv’eat Pure Warp (we just discovered these and they are pretty darn awesome!  Made with just coconut meat, coconut water, and Himalayan sea salt), pear slices, celery with almond butter and raisins, carrots, and garlic stuffed green olives from Trader Joes.

Turkey slices wrapped around cucumbers and cherry tomatoes, black olives, carrots and banana slices.

Leftover beef stew and sweet potatoes, mandarins.

Salmon salad “cucumber sandwiches” made with homemade mayo and dill pickles, banana chips, black olives, kiwi slices.

Ham and turkey slices, guacamole, carrots and cucumbers, apple slices.

Last but not least, we often will pack beef jerky from Steve’s Originals and that’s what Coby, my 16 year old will bring with him for his lunch!

What works for your family?  What are you packing in your school lunches?  The more ideas the better!!

Sarah Fragoso

Sarah Fragoso is an international best selling author of 6 books, co-owner of the Chico, CA based gym JS Strength and Conditioning, and founder of the Everyday Paleo franchise. Sarah is the co-host of the popular Sarah and Dr. Brooke Show podcast and she also conducts workshops and retreats on the subjects of nutrition, lifestyle and fitness.

Her message is from the heart and she carries a genuine desire to help other families looking for guidance. These attributes have contributed to her successes and provide the drive to keep the discoveries coming.

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96 Comments

  1. Anitra Sweet says:

    Great post! My family & I are transitioning into Paleo and lunches for my wee ones always stump me! Thank you for such great ideas!

  2. Sicca says:

    Great ideas, and nothing to weird or fancy for my picky eaters- or hard to prepare for this busy mommy. Thanks!

  3. Christena says:

    Does the guacamole or avocado turn brown by lunch time? Any tips to avoid this?

    Fortunately, my kids don’t mind cold leftovers, so I often pack dinner leftovers in their Planet Boxes. Sundried tomato chicken bake is a favorite.
    Also, steamed green beans (I know … not truly “Paleo”) are a big hit.

    1. Sarah says:

      I make sure to put some lemon or lime juice in the guacamole and it’s fine! Or at least Jaden has never complained. : ) The same trick works for the apple slices too, a little lemon juice keeps them from turning brown.

      1. Jami Fynboh says:

        I always have luck by putting a piece of plastic wrap right up against the guac.

      2. Carlos Estebanez says:

        I always put a little dash of white vinegar on guacamole to preserve it, try it! Its a family secret.

        1. Vanessa White says:

          You can also leave the pit from the avocado in there and it won’t turn brown….I do that when I make a big batch of guacamole for parties and it never browns!

  4. Michaela Markert says:

    We use another great lunchbox here….the Easy Lunch Box from easylunchboxes.com or Amazon. It’s a canvas cooler bag with partitioned containers that are BPA free & dishwasher safe. The whole thing was about $22 with four containers so you always have one (or two!) clean.
    My daughter loves cold cubed chicken in her lunch as well, with snap peas, cucumbers, and bell peppers. We also send in precooked bacon slices with cherry tomatoes. My kids don’t mind eating them cold. Other than that, our lunches look a lot like yours! Nut butter can go with anything. Also, my kids like “making a rainbow” out of their fruits & veggies and that gets them involved in making their own healthy lunch. Thanks Sarah!

    1. Tamara says:

      I purchased these easy boxes too, but all four were cracked in less than a school year. My son did not seem too hard on them, but I’m not sure what happened. We switched to the Planetbox and have been quite happy for two and a half years now. I know they are expensive, but they sure do last. Our Planetbox looks as good as new.

  5. Dean says:

    what kind of meat slices do you use? I haven’t found any healthy enough or ‘paleo’ enough to eat.

    1. Sarah says:

      I use Applegate Farms.

      1. Jami says:

        I found Boar’s Head All Natural Roast Beef… no preservatives or sugar. I made our first Paleo lunch yesterday for my 13 and 14 year old. I used roast beef, bell pepper, and a green onion wrapped in butter lettuce. I served carrots, baby bell peppers, broccoli, and dried fruit and nuts on the side.

  6. This might be the most useful blog post you’ve made yet–and that’s saying something! I owe so much to this site but this post is huge! Thank you!

    1. Sarah says:

      You are very welcome Sean; Thank YOU!!

  7. Thank you so much for this very timely post! I’ve been trying to find more ideas for things to pack in my girls lunches, they aren’t strictly paleo (yet…) but I still enjoy clean and natural foods for them. Thanks again!

  8. Karen says:

    Looks tasteful! The leftover beef stew and sweet potatoes in what kind of container you’ve put them? Is it one from Lunchbot? And is it leakfree?

    1. Sarah says:

      It’s made by Citizen Pip but I can’t seem to find them anywhere anymore but like I mentioned in the post I recently purchased insulated thermoses from Klean Kanteen that I LOVE and nope, they do not leak. http://www.kleankanteen.com/products/insulated/klean-kanteen-insulated-16oz.php

  9. Jenn says:

    Really great ideas thanks! I just wish I could find nitrate free lunch meats in my city.

      1. Nadine says:

        I recently found Applegate Farms lunchmeats at Publix in Coral Gables, Fl. They also have grass fed ground beef! 😉

        1. Rebecca says:

          Which Publix in Coral Gables has grassfed beef?? We always go to Whole Foods but also found a local source.

    1. CJinMinneapolis says:

      Hormel makes a line called “Natural Choice”. It offers no nitrates/nitrites in lunch meat and bacon and you can find Hormel in most stores! If your store carries Hormel, ask them to get it in for you!

      1. Sarah says:

        Thank you for this! We buy this brand as well!

        1. Jenn says:

          I love the Hormel meats! The bacon is awesome! We use the ham when we make “chicken cordon bleu”.

  10. Lorraine T. says:

    Cinnamon on the apples works well…apples are brown, but because of the cinnamon plus: YUM!

    We do lettuce wraps ala Jimmy Johns…lay out a strip of plastic wrap or a cloth sandwich wrap, then lay out a sheet of waxed paper on top of that. Layer large lettuce leaves on top of the waxed paper (I usually do 2 side by side, slightly overlapped, then 2 more halfway down the first two) then layer mustard, mayo, veggies, meats, hot peppers etc. Start rolling the lettuce from one end, and then tuck the waxed paper around the lettuce and twist it tight at the bottom (think burrito). Wrap the whole thing in plastic wrap or your cloth wrap. When it’s time to eat, just peel a strip from the top and eat your way down, peeling as you go. Works great for my 5th grader, and his friends always want his wraps.

    1. Sarah says:

      Awesome idea!! Thank you!!

      1. SuzySews says:

        This sounds delicious! Thanks for the great idea.

    2. Christena says:

      Yes, great idea! Can’t wait to try this!

  11. I wanna come live at your house! These lunches look awesome… just opening them must tell your kids how loved they are.

  12. Susie says:

    Thanks Sarah — very timely. My teenage son brought his first lunch today to high school and his lunch looked a bit like one of yours. I wrapped up ham and turkey with nothing in it. Plus peanut butter bread – grain free and super easy to make and fruit! When he got home at 5 he will still satisfied -which was never the case with school lunch. Love your lunch containers – he has to carry his backpack all day so has no room for that – brown bag is most practical. Glad to see your ideas! His friends all thought it was weird but he was proud to say that what he was eating was way better.

  13. Nikki Renee says:

    Thanks! My son, Sam -6, loves smoked salmon slices with two hard boiled eggs and some fruit. He says it’s his favorite lunch! 🙂 I rely heavily on the apple sandwich recipe from your Paleo Pals book too. Sometimes it has meat, sometimes not, same with the raisins, sometime we sprinkle pumpkin pie spice on it. They are always a hit.

    One time we made bugs on a log with raisins, cashews, and dates on the almond butter. We said the dates were cock roaches– only boys would think this was cool! LOL

  14. Great post Sarah! I have a feeling this may become one of your most popular EVER! I’m definitely passing this on to our readers and pinteresting the crap out of it. 🙂 No kids here yet, but this works just as good for big kids wondering what they can take to work.

  15. Okay, so here’s my question. Hubs and I are rock climbers. Over the winter bouldering months, lunch is easy. We can throw leftover tacos, skillet creations, or stews in a thermos and pack it easily. But now that the weather has turned down right hot, I’m not sure how to pack lunch.

    If we were camping it’d be one thing, but for the most part, we make day trips, so we need something really filling (we’re climbing/hiking for about eight hours) that can hold up to 80+ degree heat.

  16. Colleen says:

    Excellent, excellent post. Thank you! I just purchased the planet box & will be filling it with your great ideas.

  17. Erin says:

    Great post! I need to just order a planet box instead of trying to reinvent the wheel of packed lunch prep. each morning. I discovered that you can dehydrate lunch meats in a dehydrater, thus giving them a bit more uninsulated travel time (hot weather situations, etc.). Unlike traditional beef jerky, “lunch” meat needs to have already been cooked before dehyrating. Instructions from my dehydrator recommends an additional trip to the oven for ~ 20 minutes @ 170 degrees once dehydrated, as a safeguard against some forms of food poisoning. I’ve gobbled straight from the dehydrator, so far so good, but I don’t like risking it with my kids. So far I’ve only done this with turkey and my family loves it. Only tricky part is not getting it too hard. It becomes a turkey taco chip.

  18. Thermos’ are essential for paleo lunches IMO. We like sausages, hot or cold, leftovers especially from the crockpot, mini-quiches, spinach and beef meatballs. I usually send this with some fruit and maybe raw veggies. One thing that doesn’t work is cooked vegetables, they go all squooshy and the kids won’t eat them so I just make them extra for dinner.

  19. mary b says:

    Thanks for showing all the great photos of each lunch! My almost 8 yo and I were just looking at the PlanetBox this past week, so now I can show him what he can pack for lunch!
    I am thinking the Planetbox & Paleo Pals would make a good combo B-day gift for him.

  20. Jen Sanchez says:

    Hey Sarah…love he post! I tried ordering a planet box the other day and with shipping it a came to $75 so I love that yours has lasted 3 yrs! Have you ever observed your kids swinging it around on the way to recess and, if so, how does the food look after? And… where do you pack snacks, in a separate bag? Thanks, Jen

  21. Marci says:

    Wow – I am inspired! I so dearly want one of these, but I’m afraid the $60 price tag means no can do. Any suggestions for good affordable alternatives?

    1. Amy says:

      Check out lunchbots.com. They don’t look like they hold as much as the planetbox containers, and they don’t have all those nifty sections. But they are half the price and that makes up for a lot! Also, someone above mentioned easylunchboxes.com.

      We use some BPA-free containers purchased from the container store and stainless thermoses when there is leftover chili or soup. Also SIGG water bottles.

      Sarah, thanks for the great ideas! I think my kids are starting to get tired of the same ham & lettuce rolls every day 🙂

    2. Jenny says:

      I’m also on a tight budget and justified the Planet Box lunch boxes by buying them as Christmas presents for the kids. Luckily, they went for it. My favorite thing about these lunch boxes is that I can put them in the dishwasher. That sink full of greasy plastic containers and lids is no more. Seriously, it saves me 10 minutes a day, which adds up to some quite valuable time. The kids also seem to eat more of their lunches – I think because they see all the food at one time, instead of just opening one container and eating everything in it first. So, this isn’t an alternative, but more of a testimonial that these particular lunch boxes are worth putting aside some money to save for them.

  22. Robyn says:

    We use Laptop Lunchboxes. Bento style BPA-free plastic containers that you can mix and match. My daughters has lasted 2 yrs. I just recently replaced it because the zipper finally broke, but the insides are still in great shape, I only had to replace the carrying case.

    1. I also have the Laptop Lunchbox bento style boxes. I bought a bunch of different inner compartments so I wasn’t constantly washing them all week. I usually put iceberg lettuce for lettucewraps inside with homemade mayo chicken salad with red onion and tomatoes and some sides of fruit or raw veggies like baby carrots and cherry tomatoes. You can also core a large beefsteak tomato and stuff it with fresh guac to make the guac more portable. Cobb Salad is also a favorite. And hardboiled eggs travel well, too.

  23. Marnie says:

    My son is only in Kindergarten so I don’t need to send a full lunch, just a snack – but things he enjoys having are: unsweetened applesauce, boiled eggs, leftover sausage sliced into coins (we have a fantastic local shop that makes healthy/paleo friendly sausages – his favourite are maple pork). His school is a nut-free/peanut-free zone so it’s limited a lot of ideas. To keep him happy about snack time, I make a point of adding in his very favourite fruits, fresh strawberries/melon/pineapple.

    1. My daughter’s school is a nut-aware/seed-aware school, so no nuts or seeds are allowed. I’m reading up on paleo, and would love to try to incorporate the philosophy into our diets, but school snacks and lunches seem to be tough. I love your ideas, and I will definitely try some. Other suggestions would be appreciated!

      1. Amanda says:

        I have the same problem with my son’s school. So no, no almond butter, mixed nuts, no -nut anything. Do you know how much peanut butter we consume in our family?! It goes with almost everything we eat, and it’s one of the only things that does decompose or lose its texture when not refrigerated. Do you know of any alternatives?

  24. Elizabeth says:

    I love your site, and was just searching it this weekend for lunch ideas! I have been doing lots of Boar’s Head lunch meats, we don’t have Applegate Farms lunchmeat here. I would love some ideas for cheaper protein options that don’t include hard boiled eggs. I have some chicken sausage that the kids love, and thought about bacon wrapped chicken, too. Any suggestions?

    1. Sarah says:

      How about hamburger patties or meatballs? Ground beef is generally not very expensive and you can make your own burgers or meatballs to send.

  25. Nate says:

    Great post Sarah. Lots of good ideas, but I’m wondering about amount of food. My son is 14 and is eating me out of house and home. You mentioned Colby taking jerky does he also take a full planet box as well? Any ideas for filling up teenage boys?
    Thanks 🙂

    1. Sarah says:

      Coby does not take a Planet Box to school. He’s a sophomore in high school so I probably couldn’t pay him to take a planet box with him to school for fear of it not being all that “cool”! LOL! he does take the large packs of jerky from Steve’s Original, sometimes some salami, trail mix, and fruit. He’s also allowed to leave campus for lunch so a couple days a week he goes across the street to a local burger place that has really good burgers and will get a lettuce wrapped burger and sweet potato fries. And trust me, as soon as he gets home, he goes straight to the kitchen for more food!!!

      1. Okay. I am SO glad you shared Coby’s feelings about a Planet Box because I have a freshman in high school and was sitting here wondering if I should try to talk him into carrying one. It’s hard, as they get older, because the bugs in a boat aren’t as fun. In high school, it’s not “cool” to open a lunch box and have cute snacks! 🙂

        Whew! I’m glad I didn’t invest in the lunch box before first reading Coby’s view of it! Thank you!!!

  26. Ashley says:

    Awesome post! Those meals all look so pretty!! I pack my husbands lunch everyday for work and his favorite is when he takes leftovers. I usually roast a big hunk of meat for dinner and then chop off hunks of it to put into his lunch during the week. I’ll it pair it with some white rice (I cook a bunch ahead of time) or a sweet potato because my honey likes his carbs (and if I didn’t pack him some ‘safe starches’ then he’d just dig up something less healthy at work to get his fix). Sometimes he’ll take an avocado and cut it up at work. He also likes carrot and celery sticks and his favorite is ants on a log with almond butter just like you have shown.

  27. Jenny says:

    Thank you for your lunch inspirations. I have started packing the kids lunches with no grains and once I changed my mindset, it has been pretty fun and easy. Boiled eggs or fritatta wedges make another nice lunch protein. I tried the Pure Wrap for the first time today, wrapping some almond butter and blackberries in it. A serious treat,, reminiscent of PB&J. Now I will try that on the kids.

    1. Stacey says:

      What are the fritata wedges?

  28. Those ideas are great! I might have to use them for myself since I don’t have any kids yet. They look like they could be good snacks for the afternoon when I start to drag a little.

  29. Su Jin says:

    Great post, as usual! I pack lunches for myself and I always need new ideas, so this was awesome. 🙂 Quick question about lunch meats – even though they’re nitrate free, do you get concerned about eating so much of it (i.e. being preserved meat and some saying to not eat so much of it)? Just curious, since it’s so convenient and yummy and wanted your thoughts on it. Thanks!

  30. Heather says:

    Love this post! And having the pictures is so helpful! I’m going to show this to my daughters and see if they are interested. Of course, they will want the lunch box, too, but it’s probably about time to invest in them anyway 😉

    Thanks Sarah!!!

  31. Chrissie says:

    That lunch box is neat!

    The coconut wraps inspired me to find a wrap I can make at home, and egg crepes are it!! I put two eggs in a cup, buzz with my stick blender, and season – just salt and pepper is fine, pesto is an awesome addition and makes the crepes a pretty green. I cook them in a small pan and get three from the two eggs. They’re great cold or at room temp by themselves, or wrapped around any number of things. I made them for dinner the other night filled with coconut milk creamed swiss chard and leftover shredded chicken.

  32. Thanks for the helpful suggestions for kids lunches! I am always scrambling for different ideas to help them eat properly. I will be sharing your ideas with our clients so they can get their kids on the right track.

  33. alexis says:

    Thank you Sarah! Because of you, my 4 year old has also used a Planetbox lunch box at her preschool (they bring their own lunch, which I love) for the past year and we also love it. I agree that it has more than paid for itself. My kiddo enjoys seaweed treats and apple circle/nut butter sandwiches as snacks in her lunch. Left over steamed broccoli also goes over well. Thanks again for the info and motivation!!

  34. Peggy says:

    Where can I find the recipe for grain-free peanut butter bread (& will the recipe work with a different nut-butter?)

  35. Anna says:

    I have a three year old little boy that I pack lunches for. I make him “Apple Meatballs”, which are super simple- 1 lb organic ground pork, one apple diced, one egg, a sprinkle of coconut flour, lots of cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice and a sprinkle of salt, mix up and make about 16 balls that I cook in my “green” non-stick wok in coconut oil. He loves them and one batch usually lasts about 3-4 days (I keep them in the refrigerator on a shelf he can reach for snacks also). With the apple meat balls I either do mashed sweet potatoes or peas. Then for snacks I do apple gate farms lunch meat, hard boiled or scrambled eggs (which keep surprisingly well), guacamole in the 100 calorie packs, organic raisins, pears or bananas. On a side note he loves the Paleo Pals book and rather than complain about having to eat “different” food he now talks about how he eats healthy food and tells other people what healthy food is. It has been about 7 months since I changed his diet and he has gone from being perpetually sick (ear infections, colds, allergies, rashes, constant constipation, blood in stool, distended belly-all of which the Doctors shrugged their shoulders at and prescribed more medication) to being regular, healthy and happy (and no medication! :)). Thank you Sarah for your site and all of your great books!

  36. starsha says:

    Great idea! I looked all over online on lunchmeat with no bread ideas! Thank you:)

  37. Renee says:

    After watching me, my husband, and a few friend successfully complete a whole30 and continue on with eating Paleo for the past 3 months, my 16 year old and a friend announced that they’re going to start a whole30 on Monday. She loves the dinners I cook but eats toast for breakfast, sandwiches for lunch, and a fair amount of other non-paleo foods so this will be a challenge. She and her friend are swimmers and in good shape but want to eat healthier. I will share this post and Cody’s with her for ideas and inspiration. It won’t hurt that he’s cute 🙂

  38. Kristine says:

    I just ordered my planet boxes this morning. You’re website is so inspiring and helpful. Thanks so much for the articles – I love it! Now, if only I could send nuts of any kind with my kids to school I’d be set.

  39. Great post Sarah! So much great information and practical application! Keep up the excellent work ;)! ~j

  40. Jenn says:

    My son’s preschool class is having a family picnic tomorrow and we were instructed to bring our own lunches. I had no idea what I was going to pack that wouldn’t require reheating or bread… thanks for all the great ideas! I’ll be whipping something up tonight!

  41. Joanne says:

    Thank you for these great ideas. I am back in school myself and when I am done my younger daughter will be ready to take lunches to school in first grade, and I will be embarking on my new career as an Early Intervention SLPA, so I will mostly be driving from one appointment to the next. These are some great ideas for eating on the road.

  42. Angie says:

    Thank you so so much for this timely post I struggle with lunches and am starting my family on paleo and this was exactly the inspiration I needed.

  43. Aaron says:

    Looks awesome. Want to make my lunch to bring to work!?

  44. Tara says:

    I was wondering about the planet box…..will they fit in a regular size kids lunchbox? Or should I just buy the whole kit? My son is going to be so upset if he doesn’t get to use that new spiderman lunchbox that we just bought the other day 🙂

    1. Sarah says:

      It depends on the size of your lunch box but I’m scared to suggest that you risk it…. : (

  45. Charlotte says:

    Hey, thanks for this! I have problems with disordered eating and I tend to panic and just * not * eat meals when I don’t have good ideas for them. Paleo works for me as long as I actually EAT something, and I’m looking forward to trying these ideas out as I return to work as a college lecturer this fall!

  46. Jillian says:

    All of these ideas are really great but many contain nut butter and such which kids can’t take to school. Some nut-free paleo lunch ideas would be super helpful!

  47. Katie says:

    You could replace the almond butter with Sunbutter (sunflower seeds) if your school doesn’t allow nuts. My kids love the taste too!

  48. Lisa says:

    Any suggestions as to how to give my kids the skills to deal with getting made fun of at school (by the kids eating chips no less) when they come to lunches without sandwiches? We just moved to this area (which is a lot less diverse that where we used to be) and it seems like kids are a whole lot more judgemental about something different. My son said to skip the sea weed in his lunch that he loves this morning because he is made fun of endlessly 🙁 I LOVE your site and thought you might have some suggestions? Have your boys encountered similar criticism?

    1. Dana says:

      Oh Lisa, I do understand, believe me. (This is Dana, Sarah’s Director of Operations) Her kids didn’t encounter teasing but mine did. I went on a field trip with my son and saw him keeping the lid on, discreetly sliding stuff out and eating it… It made me sad because I felt he was embarrassed! He said it was just his way of keeping the attention off it and that he did it so they’d give up talking about it. Honestly, it HAS gotten better over time. Some things that helped? They’d share some bacon or some beef jerky or salami (Bacon was the big hit with their guy friends!!) or berries or a pickle. I just kept it as positive as I could with my kids, stressing that they should be proud of their food and how great they will feel each afternoon by NOT eating a sandwich and chips! Get them to continually focus on how their food makes them FEEL so that they are self-aware and grateful as time goes on. And like anything other teasing with school kids… I advise them to ignore it, change the subject, create a distraction… pretty soon if you ignore it and do NOT react, the other kids will leave you alone. I hope this is helpful!

      1. Thanks so much for the message and advice, Dana. It is good to know we are not alone in this, though pretty sad too. The bacon and jerky is a good idea, we will give that a try!

  49. I am still pretty new to Paleo (4 months in and still cheat a bit), but I have been slowly getting my children into it and one of their faves is mini turkey and spinach meatballs with tomato sauce (I use Glen Muir).

  50. Applegate Farms ham isn’t paleo – it has sugar.

  51. Olivia says:

    So, I am looking at the planet box for my two kids. I was wondering how well it keeps cold food cold?

    1. Great actually! It has a spot in the case to slip in a little ice pack!

  52. We lived in Japan for a few years, and some of their foods would use the big diakon radish, thin sliced as a wrap for food. It was yummy. I don’t know if it fits into paleo eating, though, as we are just getting started.

  53. Dana says:

    hank you for all your great lunch ideas! My 5-year old (CD diagnosis at 16 months, also peanut & tree nut allergies) is about to start kindergarten and needs to bring lunch. Even though he’s brought lunch to daycare & pre-school, it’s time to go beyond soybean butter & GF bread. And with kids, it’s all about presentation!
    I’m trying hard to do “waste-free” lunches this year, but it’s tough to break the string cheese habit. My spouse has a bento box, but I still have to get one for the kid.
    click here

  54. OMG! I never post on peoples sites, I just whiz through my searching, maybe read some reviews and move on, whether its bad or good stuff that I find, but I had to comment. I am working hard to create a really easy good meal plan for myself and my spouse, we both suffer from severe health problems, even though we have been gluten free for over a year, I feel I need to eliminate more and more and strip it down to basics. I am so sick of difficult or multiple ingredient meals, or things that have like 4 ingredients but 2 are something I would have to go buy and never use again. Anyways I am rambling, point is, your website is so amazing. The pictures with the details and the simplicities, as well as variety is just exactly what I have been looking for. See it’s so easy, why can’t more people post like this? Beautiful! Thank you for posting this so people like me have some help/inspiration. =)

    1. Sarah says:

      Thank you so much Sarah!!! Love your name by the way. ; )

  55. Sandy Jane says:

    As a nutritionist, I’m concerned your kids aren’t getting enough calories and energy in the form of carbs. Kids need a tremendous number of calories and are constantly active. Packing a few slices of ham, carrots and some apple slices makes me very worried. Think about the number of eating disorders in this country…do we want kids growing up with that much attention to their food? What about when they go to college? a birthday party? Kids will fly off the handle and take in anything they’ve been restricted from having. You’re setting them up for binge eating, purging, anorexia, body image problems….

    1. Sarah says:

      My kids eat TONS of carbs in the form of sweet potatoes, white potatoes, winter squash, fruit, plantains, etc. We are not neurotic, nor do we force our kids to make specific food choices outside of our home. You have no clue how we parent our children, who we are, how we talk to our children about food, etc. You are making a wild assumption based on one post where I’m suggesting healthier lunch options. What sets kids up for binging and purging is NOT healthy food, it’s body image issues, unhealthy relationship with food, no education on what real food is, a constant exposure to garbage food and confusion and anger when they can’t fix their food addictions, etc. Gluten and highly processed foods are killing people. I will not feed my children processed crap in my home, but they CAN choose for themselves outside of our home, and it’s amazing to see their choices, how healthy they are, confident, outgoing, thriving, excited, and supportive they are of making healthy and positive choices for their own bodies. There is nothing worse than insulting a parent and insinuating that they are setting their kids up for horrible afflictions that you mentioned, especially when you really have no clue who we are, or most likely even what paleo nutrition is all about. I appreciate your concern but you do not need to worry about my children; instead, please worry about the millions of children who do not have enough to eat, who live only on highly processed foods with zero nutrients, kids who’s parents only feed them fast food, kids who never get outside to play in the sunshine, kids who have parents who rely on fortified cereals and breads for the majority of their caloric intake, and kids who do not understand or have the empowerment to know how great if feels to eat real food. Before we started eating paleo, my children suffered from eczema, behavioral issues, and ear infections. Today they are strong, active, healthy and happier than they were when we were eating whole grains and low fat milk. Thank you for your concern.

  56. Hey,

    Just wondering how feeding your kids sandwich meat is healthy?! Its very processed and has no health benefits. Some things just don’ t add up with this paleo diet.

    http://www.takepart.com/article/2013/07/16/science-debunks-paleo-diet-again?cmpid=foodinc-fb

  57. David says:

    These look good but they also seem to be for young kids. What’s a 17 year old male athlete to eat for lunch if he’s trying to stick mainly with a paleo diet? Even at home it’s difficult for him to get enough calories to. It be hungry again soon afterward. It just seems that without some amount whole grain breads or other starch a young an like that is always hungry. He can’t eat every 2 or 3 hours, especially while at school.

  58. Amy Conn says:

    I was needing some help with this Paleo Diet because my son has a NUT allergy. Could you help me figure out how to substitute items which call for nuts. Such as walnut oil, almond butter and so many other items.
    My children eat way to many unhealthy carbs so need to slowly transition them to the healthy carbs…..
    Thank you! Just ordered two of your books today. the new Italian one and the one for families since I have four children in our family. Our oldest is 11 so I know this will take time to get my children to adjust, but need to teach them now to make right choices before they live out on their own.
    Thank you in advance!!

  59. Krista says:

    Love these ideas! What are yu using for the meat since I’m assuming it is not deli meat. Just getting started so any advise is more an helpful! Thanks!

    1. I buy either Organic Prairie or Applegate Farms lunch meat. Miniamlly processed and REAL MEAT!

  60. Your ideas are highly nutritional and definitely i would say that the presentation of your lunch box ideas in the photograph seems very creative and urges to eat. Easy and affordable ideas. Thanks for sharing it!!!

  61. how do you keep the banana slices and apple slices and guacamole from browning? I have tried to put lemon juice and them and pack them in my kids lunches with no luck. My youngest seems to love more of the foods your Jaden eats: kiwis, cucumbers, olives. I would like to pack these lunches for him. He has autoimmune disease and lots of trouble gaining weight. Feeding him more paleo and healthy high calorie foods may help. We are trying to keep my kids gluten free, but both have PANDAS and Hashimotos. One has lyme disease. Obviously more Paleo meals are a better choice for them. Can you recommend any Paleo websites for kids who hate veggies? My lyme kiddo hates most veggies. Could have something to do with his sensory issues it has caused…man, I am so tired of making fruit and veggie smoothies all the time for him.

  62. Thank you so much for sharing such great easy lunch ideas. We just started Paleo and I find it hard to break the old habits when it comes to kids meals. Sharing the ideas on our website/facebook.

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