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| Alternative packed lunch ideas |
If you’re struggling to come up with ideas for cheap packed lunch ideas for kids, you’ve come to the right place! Here are 6 ideas for cheap packed lunches:
Most pasta dishes can be eaten cold the next day, so if you have a small amount of pasta left over, it may be perfect for a child’s packed lunch.
If you’ve added lots of vegetables to your pasta, you may be thinking that this isn’t the cheapest of packed lunch options, but when you think of those small portions of pasta which are too small for another whole meal, they may just be perfect as a filler for a packed lunch. And let’s not forget nutritious for children with their veg included…
I would advise just being cautious with dishes that use fresh cream, as these may not be suitable for eating cold the next day.
Pasta isn’t the only thing that can be eaten the next day. Those small portions of salad, soups, stews, meatloaf, roast meats (especially in sandwiches) and frittatas can make for a great packed lunch items for kids, and you’re spending no more than you already have on the original meal.
If you’re child likes grazing, a budget bento style box might be a good idea. Once you’ve bought a lunch box with integrated dividers, you can then fill it with whatever you choose.
This is great for those times when you’ve got odds and ends in the fridge or store cupboard that need using up: crackers, cheese cubes, tomatoes and crudities, fruit, left over pizza, wraps…the sky’s the limit, and it’s a great way of using items that may otherwise go to waste.
Quesadillas are a great option for lunch boxes and are quick and easy to make. They can be made in the air fryer, or even in the toaster! If you’ve not already come across them, look up toaster-dillas on social media to see what I mean.
Quesadillas are traditionally filled with cheese, but you could also add tomato puree to make them more pizza-tasting in flavour.
Pittas are a great alternative to bread, and are another option that can be filled with lots of different things. From traditional sandwich items such as cheese or cold meats, through to tuna, falafel and roasted vegetables, this is another way of using up what you have in the fridge.
Why not get your children involved with filling them, to give them some ownership over their packed lunches?
When it comes to snacks, making homemade graze boxes can be a fun addition to a lunch box. By this we mean making up a ‘munch mix’. This could include items such as:
You could also add nuts if you know that your child isn’t allergic to them, and they are allowed by your school or childcare setting (many places that care for children, quite rightly, do not allow nuts to protect those with nut allergies).
I hope this has given you some inspiration for cheap packed lunch ideas for kids. If you have any tried and tested items for packed lunches yourself, I’d love to hear them in the comments below!
Leftover pasta…
Most pasta dishes can be eaten cold the next day, so if you have a small amount of pasta left over, it may be perfect for a child’s packed lunch.
If you’ve added lots of vegetables to your pasta, you may be thinking that this isn’t the cheapest of packed lunch options, but when you think of those small portions of pasta which are too small for another whole meal, they may just be perfect as a filler for a packed lunch. And let’s not forget nutritious for children with their veg included…
I would advise just being cautious with dishes that use fresh cream, as these may not be suitable for eating cold the next day.
…And other leftover lunch ideas
Pasta isn’t the only thing that can be eaten the next day. Those small portions of salad, soups, stews, meatloaf, roast meats (especially in sandwiches) and frittatas can make for a great packed lunch items for kids, and you’re spending no more than you already have on the original meal.
Budget bento boxes
If you’re child likes grazing, a budget bento style box might be a good idea. Once you’ve bought a lunch box with integrated dividers, you can then fill it with whatever you choose.
This is great for those times when you’ve got odds and ends in the fridge or store cupboard that need using up: crackers, cheese cubes, tomatoes and crudities, fruit, left over pizza, wraps…the sky’s the limit, and it’s a great way of using items that may otherwise go to waste.
Quesadillas
Quesadillas are a great option for lunch boxes and are quick and easy to make. They can be made in the air fryer, or even in the toaster! If you’ve not already come across them, look up toaster-dillas on social media to see what I mean.
Quesadillas are traditionally filled with cheese, but you could also add tomato puree to make them more pizza-tasting in flavour.
Pitta pockets
Pittas are a great alternative to bread, and are another option that can be filled with lots of different things. From traditional sandwich items such as cheese or cold meats, through to tuna, falafel and roasted vegetables, this is another way of using up what you have in the fridge.
Why not get your children involved with filling them, to give them some ownership over their packed lunches?
Homemade graze boxes
When it comes to snacks, making homemade graze boxes can be a fun addition to a lunch box. By this we mean making up a ‘munch mix’. This could include items such as:
- Popcorn.
- Raisins.
- Chocolate buttons (if allowed by your school / childcare setting).
- Pretzels.
- Small crackers.
- Berries (these may need to be cut for smaller children, depending on the size and type of berry).
You could also add nuts if you know that your child isn’t allergic to them, and they are allowed by your school or childcare setting (many places that care for children, quite rightly, do not allow nuts to protect those with nut allergies).
I hope this has given you some inspiration for cheap packed lunch ideas for kids. If you have any tried and tested items for packed lunches yourself, I’d love to hear them in the comments below!
