{More} Lunch Box Ideas for Kids Who Don’t Like Sandwiches

Given the popularity of the first Lunch Box Ideas for Kids Who Don’t Like Sandwiches post, I realise that it is not just me with a child who regularly requests an alternative to the humble sandwich in their lunch box. In our case, even when she does insist that she would like a sandwich, Immy often ends up coming home with it mostly uneaten! Fortunately, she is a good breakfast eater so I know she is heading off to school well fueled to face the day but tired of wasting food I have again been experimenting with sandwich alternatives. Fortunately, it’s school holidays here and as it is always best to try new foods at home first, the timing couldn’t be better for us. If it is not holidays where you are, just try your potential lunch box alternatives at home on a weekend first.

Here’s our list of suggestions;

Bite sized, crustless, mini quiche

Savoury pikelets (I have a pumpkin pikelet recipe to share next week)

Pear and thyme latkes (Gluten free potato pancakes)

Vegetable fritters

Zucchini slice

Savoury scones

Apple sandwich – I would love to try these with homemade sun butter

Thermos friendly ideas

Breakfast for lunch

Eggy bread or French toast

Soup – because soup can be messy for children to eat I stick to a thick soup like our homemade Pea and Ham and mix it into a serve of rice (shown in the image above)

Vegetable soup rice

Veggie lentil mac n cheese

Mango coconut chia pudding

Omelette – chopped into bite sized pieces

Childhood 101 | Lunch Box Ideas for Kids Who Don't Like Sandwiches

Carbohydrate alternatives to bread

Pancake sandwich

Crispbread style crackers

Plain, cooked pasta as a side

Homemade trail mix with lots of seeds, low sugar cereal and nuts (if allowed at your school)

Whatever you child chooses on the day, my best advice is to try to ensure they are offered a serve each of fruit, vegetables, protein, dairy and carbohydrates (as well as water) in their lunch box each day.

I would love to hear your suggestions. What are your favourite lunch box sandwich alternatives?

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12 Comments

  1. Brilliant ideas. I have a non sandwich eater and it drives me crazy! Can’t tell u how much I am loving now that her younger brother has started school that all he wants every single day is a ham sandwich. Every single day. So much easier!

    1. Watch out Emma – all my son wanted when he started school was a cheese and vegemite sandwich – every day. Now he won’t eat vegemite at all, nor cheese in a sandwich. And that’s been the case of 5 years now. Sigh.

  2. Just what I needed thanks Christie. I’ve been trying to make Little Eco’s lunch box more interesting this term. She was sneaking packet processed food from her friends lunch boxes and leaving my healthy food uneaten 🙁

  3. This is perfect for my husband. I like the idea of picnics, but he brings a sandwich every day for work, so sandwiches don’t sound like the idea of fun for him. I appreciate all your non-sandwich portable ideas. 🙂

  4. Awesome collection, Christie! Thanks so much for including our apple sandwiches. 🙂

  5. Hi, thank you for the ideas. My daughter is now in her 7th year of school. She doesn’t eat bread, pastry or potato. It’s always good to have new ideas. I feel bad sending the same thing in over and over again!! One thing I did get for her 4 years ago was a planet box lunch box. It was expensive, because of the shipping costs to Ireland. It was worth every cent. It took ages to bite the bullet and order one, but oh it was so worth it.
    PS – I am not in anyway affiliated with Planet box- just passing on info on a good product
    Thanks again for the new ideas
    Xxx

  6. I like these ideas I am a picky when it comes to sandwiches my job has a microwave so I take left overs for lunch at time but if u have a child and he or she will eat imitation crab meet try taking that and adding it to pasta or salad its good

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