30 of the Best Lunches For Back to School

This is it! The last breathe of summer before back to school. So I’ve put together the ultimate guide to school lunches that will help you get back in the swing of making school lunches. SPC is so dedicated to strategies that make a difference in your life, we’ve organized all our most delicious mid-day meals into easy categories that can help you manage your time. And don’t think for a minute that we forgot about the fact you have to eat as well. Below is a link to our Food Network digital series, Love Your Lunch, that will make everyone else’s lunch in the office feel lame. (No seriously, we have a steak, chimichurri and grilled cheese sandwich in there that we dream about eating every day.)

Ok, ready?! Let’s do this……

Make Ahead – We love make ahead dishes that can come together easily and quickly on the weekend. To be honest, putting a teeny bit of time aside on a Sunday to crank out one of theses recipes is the difference between a Wednesday morning meltdown and a second, leisurely-enjoyed coffee. Swear.

Sandwiches – Sometimes all they want is the humble sandwich. We always recommend prepping and/or packing all the other elements in the lunch the night before and, then, make the sandwich in the morning to avoid soggy bread. Although if you’re make a salad sandwich, like tuna, definitely whip that baby up the night before too. In the morning, swaddle the sandwich in plastic wrap to keep it together and protect it from the juices or debris from other lunch components–that lunch bag is a dangerous place!

Dinners that Become Lunches – These are our favorite lunches and one of the lifesaving strategies we use during the school year. Creating a dinner that yields enough leftovers so you have lunch ready for the next day is one of the best ways to maximize your time in the kitchen.

Thermos Stars – Don’t underestimate the heartiness of soups, stews or anything else you can send to school in a thermos. A few little sides and you’ve got an easy noon time meal at your figure tips, especially if you make  it on the weekend or use dinner leftovers.

Breakfast for Lunch – We are firm believers that breakfast dishes are great any time of day. All of these recipes require you to double up a recipe on the weekend (come on, we know you’re making waffles for everyone!) that can be used all week long.

For EVEN MORE lunch inspiration for kids AND parents, check out our digital series LOVE YOUR LUNCH on Food Network Canada HERE.  You can find these Mac and Cheese Muffins in our Muffin Tin Your Lunch episode.