Healthy Lunchbox Ideas For Back-To-School

Well, the seemingly endless days of waking up and wondering how you're going to occupy the kids are over. You've finished all the zoo trips, the arts & crafts afternoons, and the endless playdates. You can finally breathe a sigh of relief (even though you'll miss them in approximately 2 seconds) when they head back to school. 

We all know it can be hard getting your children to eat everything you've packed and trying to hide some vegetables in between the 'yummy' snacks should be an Olympic sport. Put it this way, if your child comes home with an empty lunchbox you've won parenting. 

We're here to give you some basic and easy-to-make yet interesting lunch ideas that your kids are sure to love. Just maybe also include a fruit rollup or some tiny teddies to sweeten the deal. After all, it's all about balance. 

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You can't have lunch without the lunchbox

Yumbox 

Make sure your children's lunchboxes look just as inviting as what's inside them with Yumbox! Based on the traditional Japanese style bento box, these lunchboxes are perfect for packing nutritionally balanced meals as they feature multiple compartments that are separately sealed. With four sizes to choose from, the Original 6 compartment, the Tapas 5 compartment, the Panino 4 compartment or the Snack box, you're sure to find a lunchbox to suit your child's needs. 

Lunch Recipes 

Chicken and Corn Stacked Sandwich 

This super easy and healthy sandwich is ready in only 10 minutes and will have your child loving their veggies! 

Ingredients
Serves: 4 

• 1/2 cup (120g) spreadable cream cheese 
• 1/4 cup creamed corn 
• 1 cup (160g) shredded roast chicken breast 
• 2 x 125g cans of corn kernels, rinsed & drained 
• 1/2 cup (150g) mayonnaise 
• 2 celery sticks, trimmed, finely chopped 
• 12 slices of white, wholemeal or wholegrain bread (your choice)
• 2 Lebanese cucumbers, peeled into ribbons 
• 8 cos lettuce leaves 

Preparation

1. Combine the cream cheese and creamed corn in a small mixing bowl. 

2. Then combine the chicken, corn kernels, mayonnaise, and celery in a separate mixing bowl. 

3. Place 4 slices of bread on a clean work surface and spread with the creamed corn mixture. Top it with the cucumber and another slice of bread and top that with the lettuce, chicken mixture and remaining bread. 

4. Cut each sandwich stack in half and place it in your child's lunchbox! 

 
Ham and Avocado Sandwich 

We all know ham sandwiches, while they taste good, are at the lower end of the lunch creativity totem pole. But some added avo changes the game and takes ham sandwiches from average to amazing. 

Ingredients
Serves: 4 

• 2 avocadoes, stoned and peeled 
• 4 tsp lemon juice 
• 2 spring onions, chopped 
• 8 slices of white, wholemeal or wholegrain bread 
• 200g of sliced ham off the bone 

Preparation

1. Mash the avocado in a bowl with the lemon juice and spring onion. 

2. Top 1 slice of bread with the avocado mixture and ham, and place another slice on top of it. Cut the sandwich accordingly and place it into your child's lunchbox. That's it, that's the whole recipe. 

Vegetarian Meatball Wrap 

Smash out your child's daily intake of veggies and legumes in one go! 

Ingredients
Serves: 4 

• 200g Swiss brown mushrooms 
• 4 green shallots, trimmed & chopped 
• 2 x 400g can of lentils, drained & rinsed 
• 1 cup cannellini beans, drained 
• 12 tbsp Obela Classic Hummus Spread 
• Plain flour, to dust 
• 4 medium wholemeal pita or Lebanese bread 
• 40g cos lettuce leaves 
• 2 carrots, peeled & coarsely grated 
• 150g grated cheddar or Swiss cheese

Preparation

1. Preheat your oven to 210°C and line a baking tray with baking paper. Process the mushrooms and shallots in a food processor until they're nice and chopped. 

2. Add the lentils, beans and 4 tbsp of the hommus to the processor. Season to taste and process until combined. 

3. Once everything is combined, roll 24 balls from the mixture. Dust the balls lightly in flour and place them on the prepared tray. Spray it well with oil and bake them for 20-25 minutes or until golden. 

4. Spread the remaining hommus down the center of each piece of bread. Top with lettuce, carrot, cheese and the veggie meatballs. Again, season to taste and roll them up to cut in half. Place in your kid's lunchbox and give yourself a gold star.