30 Non Sandwich Lunchbox Ideas

At the start of the new year, a lot of people make the resolution to take a healthy lunch to work every day. It’s a great idea, because a homemade lunch isn’t just better for you than a restaurant meal – it’s better for your wallet, too.

Plus, when you pack your own, you can cater to your own personal tastes better than a fast-food drive-through can. If you hate olives, you can leave them out. Or, if you need extra protein to keep you going through the afternoon, you can put it in.

Unfortunately, when some people hear, “packed lunch,” they automatically think “sandwich.” So they end up with tuna on Monday, bologna on Tuesday, peanut butter on Wednesday…sandwich after sandwich, day after day, until they just can’t take it anymore. And so that wonderful resolution ends up falling by the wayside.

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Don’t fall into the sandwich trap! There are tons of other great things you can put in a lunchbox, from salads to wraps to muffins to pancakes. I’ve put together a list of more than 30 ideas to get you started – enough to get you through a month of lunches and then some. With so much to choose from, you’ll never be tempted to hit the drive-through again.

PLUS I have included some FREE PRINTABLE LUNCH NOTES to include in your kiddo’s lunches. Heck, anyone you are making a lunch for tomorrow morning will smile when they get one of these! Printable is at the bottom of the page. Enjoy!

30 Non Sandwich Lunchbox Ideas

Mini Croissant Crabs Bento Lunch || Eats Amazing

Tamago (Japanese Egg Omelette) || What Lisa Cooks

Practical School Lunch Ideas, Cold and Hot School Lunch || Natasha’s Kitchen

Black and Green Chickpea Salad || Family Fresh Meals

Chopped Asian Chicken Salad || Baked Bree

Spinach Mac And Cheese Muffins from Rachel Cooks

Pasta with Roasted Vegetables from Archana’s Kitchen

More Sandwich Free Lunches with Le Petite Fromage from Baked Bree

Turkey Wraps from Darling be Daring

Copy-Cat “Starbucks” Protein Box from Following in My Shoes

Pesto Pasta Salad with Salami and Mozzarella from Garnish with Lemon

Creamy Turkey Pinwheels || Yummy Healthy Easy

5 Inspiring Lunch Ideas to Make Your Kids Smile || Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom

Top 5 Lunch Ideas for Picky Eaters || The Mother List

Sargento Natural String Cheese Snacks || Baked Bree

Homemade Pizza Lunchables || Family Fresh Meals

Leftovers Make Great Lunches || Chaos and Confections

Noodles + Pizza || What Lisa Cooks

Back to School Lunch Box Ideas || Vicky Barone

Easy Ham and Cheese Mini Quiches || Momables

Grain Free School Lunch Idea: Pizza Mini Quiches || Laura Fuentes

Chobani Kids and Tots Yogurt || Easy Lunch Boxes

Lunch Box Ideas: Things to put in a thermos || My Mommy Style

Bistro Box Lunch! || Green Lunches, Green Kids

Full of Smiles School Lunch || Small Friendly

Peanut Butter Bagel || Operation Lunch Box

Mini Pancakes || Family Fresh Meals

Cool Ranch Chicken Nuggets || Following In My Shoes

A Girl Scout Treat || One Crafty Thing

Pancake Muffins for Lunch || Eats Amazing

Leftover Pizza + Banana Muffin || What Lisa Cooks

Lunch box recipes || Eat Good 4 Life

Bistro Box || Family Fresh Meals

And as promised, here are you’re free printable lunchbox notes! A FamilyFreshMeals.com exclusive!

Just click on the image for the printable version.

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XO
Corey, Darryl, Big D & Little D