Another school year is upon us! School schedules ready? Check. Uniforms ready? Check. Packed lunches? Check. Drink bottles? Double check. And yet, mamas, after trying your hardest to pack nutritious lunchboxes for your kids to a level of dietary perfection – you find yourself yet again opening their lunch box after school to find: half of their lunch untouched.

If back-to-school lunch-making is pushing you to open Pinterest and get your creative juices flowing, we hear you. Whether you have first-time preschoolers, school-aged children, or tweenies with a myriad of different appetites and food requirements, as parents, it’s perfectly normal to run out of interesting lunch ideas, let alone interesting looking lunches.

Chin up, parents! In this blog, we are taking you on a magic carpet ride beyond those feelings of frustration and discouragement – to a happy land full of smiles and instant surprises! Beyond the confines of the ordinary, to ‘out-of-the-box’ extraordinary. For we will discuss the rise of the themed lunchbox trend, why they're popular for both parents and kids, and above all, share our 10 fun themed lunch ideas to brighten your child’s day!

but first… why are themed lunch ideas now a trend?

Caregivers - let’s face it, kids are movers and groovers. Their little minds are growing exponentially, and they love discovering new things around them. Which is what makes surprise lunch ideas so exciting! Even better? Changing up your kid’s lunch will not only break up the repetitive task of lunch-making; but become a mindful, creative pursuit for you too!

Best of all? Your lunch ideas don’t have to be Instagram-perfect. Start by making some real-life, well-balanced lunches that are fun, manageable, and affordable!

Promote fruits and veggies. Play around with fruit. Use picks and wooden skewers to connect ingredients together. Giving our kids a healthy, balanced diet with creative flair means they will stay happy, inspired, and engaged, while eating foods that will maintain the energy needed to be physically and mentally active.

And to do this, they need to eat the right amount of nutrients from 5 food groups to nourish their bodies. The 5 food groups are:  fruit, dairy, protein, veggies + wholegrains.

Since every child’s stage of growth can vary according to their age, development and activity, there is obviously no ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to age-appropriate lunchbox appetites. But what we can suggest is some healthy choices, and how they can fit into your kids’ lunchboxes!

5 food groups

Keen to work out which foods to pack daily? Here’s a small guide to initial foods you can choose - for big, lunchtime smiles!

fruits: apples, watermelon, grapes, bananas, mandarins

vegetables: carrots, celery, cherry tomatoes

proteins: tuna, chicken, lean meat, salmon, beans

wholegrains: cereals, breads, rice, pasta + noodles

dairy: milk, yoghurts, cheeses

Since every child’s stage of growth can vary according to their age, development and activity, there is obviously no ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to age-appropriate lunchbox appetites. But what we can suggest is some healthy choices, and how they can be incorporated into one-of-a-kind lunchbox themes!

10 themed lunch ideas for your child's school day

1. healthy + happy times lunchbox

2. the christmas winter wonderland lunchbox

3. the spidey snack-tivity lunchbox

4. get bright lunchbox

5. jurassic park lunchbox

6. the red-nosed reindeer lunchbox

7. fairy kebab garden lunchbox

8. the autumn lunchbox

9. the halloween lunchbox

10. the all-in-one puzzlin’ fun lunchbox

1. healthy + happy times lunchbox

Want to design an artful lunchbox brimming with colour and that has all the right balanced nutrients for the start of the year? Check out our healthy and happy times lunchbox, perfect for a school starter!

Think strawberries perfectly poised in plain yoghurt. Pieces of cucumber sitting harmoniously next to freshly cut pieces of watermelon. A couple of wraps filled with chicken slices, sitting side-by-side in between stacked kiwi fruit and pieces of fresh popcorn! Healthy for happy tummies!

what you’ll need:

• - half a cucumber
• - a slice of watermelon
• - ½ cup yoghurt
• - 2-3 strawberries
• - ½ cup popcorn
• - 1 kiwi fruit
• - 1/2 chicken slice wrap cut in half

2. the christmas winter wonderland lunchbox

Love the white wanderlust feel of a Woodland Winter? Bring Christmas to life and hop on an exciting sleigh ride by crafting some pine tree chicken sandwiches topped with stars, strawberry hats topped with soft white mini-marshmallows, green and red m&m’s lying in a cool and spikey red star shape, a dollop of white frosty snowman yoghurt topped with two blueberries, a sliver of strawberry and 5 green m&m’s for its mouth , and lastly, wholesome grapes speckled in pieces of red, green, and white candy sprinkles! With these simple ideas, your little one can celebrate winter magic all year-round!

what you’ll need:

• - pine tree cookie cutters
• - 2 pieces bread
• - 3 ham slices
• - 1 tsp mustard
• - 3 yellow star candies
• - 3 strawberries
• - 2 blueberries
• - 1 tsp green, red and white sprinkles
• - 4 mini-marshmallows
• - ½ cup of green & red m&m’s
• - spiked silicone muffin lining
• - ½ cup of green grapes

3. the spidey snack-tivity lunchbox

Have a little superhero at home who loves engaging in a bit of scientific fun? Our friends @magicmakingmumma have just the lab ingredients for you! Mix interactive fun with after school yum by having your little Spidey decorate their own weblike waffles like a scientist! With the tongs, pick up blueberries and red m&m’s, and place in each waffle hole. Then fill dropper with maple syrup, and squeeze and pour over two waffles! So much fun to create, and so portable too for on-the-go!

what you’ll need:

• - 2 waffles
• - ½ cup blueberries
• - ½ cup red m&m’s
• - plastic tongs
• - mini-glass bottle
• - dropper
• - ¼ cup maple syrup

4. get bright lunchbox

Need a surprise boost for your tired + picky eater? Inject some bright shades of colour with touches of greenery plus 3 silicone muffin liners in hues of bright orange, purple and teal!

Pack them each with colourful fruits, including fresh green grapes, strawberries, yellow cherry tomatoes and mango balls, and add an unexpected dish of delicious spaghetti with meatballs. Then finish it off with a funny character - by adding some minion candy sunglasses and chocolate mustache to the mix!

what you’ll need:

• - spaghetti with meatballs
• - popcorn with mini rainbow m&ms
• - grapes
• - strawberries and yellow cherry tomatoes
• - mango
• - cucumber and blueberries
• - mini dessert decorations

5. jurassic park lunchbox

Have a dinosaur-loving child who clearly knows their Tyrannosaurus Rex from their Triceratops? Why not create a scene of Jurassic delights? Start by placing some lettuce down into the sandwich compartment and lay down 3 dinosaur shaped nuggets with triangular-shaped mango shapes as their bony plates, then add candy eyes.

Next, fill a rectangular space with 3 jumbo silicone cups in teak, yellow and white, and fill them each with mango and watermelon footprint shapes, and corn on the cob. Add some snack bites and chocolate chip mini cookies, and top them all off with decorative dinosaur, bird, and other pre-historic pins!

what you’ll need:

• chicken nuggets
• triangular yellow + red capsicum shapes
• lettuce
• ketchup
• mango
• watermelons
• corn on the cob
• snack bites
• mini cookies

6. the red-nosed reindeer lunchbox

Care to surprise your kiddos with some decorative ‘Christmas in July’ cheer? Make lunchtime fast and refreshing all year round with a cute, red-nosed reindeer aesthetic.

Start with using a circle-shaped cookie-cutter to cut 2 pieces of whole meal bread into 2 circles, add a dollop of strawberry jam, and stick bread together. Top with eye candies, and 2 chocolate antlers, and place on doily.

Next, for those beautifully carved cucumbers and grapes that resemble flowers, place them sideways on a cutting board and using a knife, poke through down into the cutting board an inch apart and all around in a 45-degree angle.

When finished, flip it over and do the same thing on the other side. They should start looking like triangles all around. Then pull apart and voila, you’ve created some floral magic! Add some bright red berries, cherry tomatoes, and an unsweetened rose drink to add to the red-nosed theme, and your lunchbox design will look smashing!

what you’ll need:

• - 1 circle cookie-cutter
• - 2 pieces whole meal bread
• - 1 set edible eye candies
• - veggie cutters
• - 1 set chocolate antlers
• - homemade strawberry jam
• - ½ cup corn
• - ½ cucumber
• - cherry tomatoes
• - raspberries
• - grapes
• - fruit stick
• - unsweetened rose drink
• - 1 doily
• - christmas décor picks

7. fairy kebab garden lunchbox

Want to dish up some fairy magic, but with a bit more goodness? Let the fun begin by laying down two pieces of bread (of your choice), slather with low fat peanut butter and manuka honey, top with fairy sprinkles, close together, and cut off the crusts.

Then, slice bread into 3 rectangular pieces, and then cut across again into 2 lines, so you are left with 9 squares. Then place 3 squares through a long toothpick, one on top of the other. Place 2-3 fairy kebabs over a doily.

Next, for those beautifully carved cucumbers and strawberries that resemble flowers, place them sideways on a cutting board and using a knife, poke through down into the cutting board an inch apart and all around in a 45-degree angle.

When finished, flip it over and do the same thing on the other side. They should start looking like triangles all around. Then pull apart and voila, you’ve created some fairy floral magic! Add a yummy cheese stick and fruit stick, and your little fairy princess will open up their wings and start be jumping for joy!

what you’ll need:

• - 2 slices bread
• - 3 long toothpicks
• - peanut butter
• - manuka honey
• - strawberries
• - blueberries
• - cucumber
• - cheese stick
• - fruit stick

8. the autumn lunchbox

As the leaves start to swirl and fall from the trees, perhaps it’s time to immerse the kids in the full breezy season of Autumn and indulge in a hearty lunch resembling this everchanging season with colourful hues of rust, gold and red!

It all starts with a bowl of mushroom and leaf shaped pasta sprinkled with parmesan cheese, some leaf tortilla chips, bread slices cut into leaves, maple kettle popcorn, flowered-cut rock melon, orange slices and pomegranates, and finally, some delicious maple leaf cookies!

what you’ll need:

• - mushroom and leaf shaped pasta with parmesan cheese
• - leaf tortilla chips
• - bread slices
• - maple kettle popcorn
• - rock melon, orange slices and pomegranate
• - maple leaf cookies

9. the halloween lunchbox

Ready to channel those Halloween ghosts, ghoulies and goblins? Surprise your kids with a ghastly surprise, starting with a great big pumpkin shaped ham and mayo sandwich.

Then, get your scary creative juices flowing by adding a green furry capped kiwi fruit ghost, spiked strawberry people and golden berries all placed in black and purple coloured silicone baking cups! Create some ghoulish ghost cucumbers and one-eyed raspberries, topped with flowered-cut grapes and rainbow carrots and marshmallow, and you’ll soon get all the kiddos in the Halloween spirit!

what you’ll need:

• - ham and mayo sandwich
• - carrots, golden berries, and blueberries
• - grapes
• - strawberries
• - kiwi
• - cucumber
• - raspberries
• - rainbow carrots
• - marshmallow
• - decorative halloween accessory picks
• - edible candies

10. the all-in-one puzzlin’ fun lunchbox

For the mum who loves uniformity with a dash of fun, here’s the lunchbox for you to make for your all-or-nothing tween. Turn a smile on their dial by filling a sandwich with sliced chicken and cheese, remove the crust, and with a puzzle-shaped cookie cutter turn into 4 puzzle pieces.

To balance out their meal, add watermelon, a mix of strawberries and berries, cut up carrots and cucumber, banana bread (which kid doesn’t love that?) and some delicious cheese puffs. Who knew that an all-in-one lunch could pack such a punch?

what you’ll need:

• - puzzle cookie cutter
• - 2 slices whole meal bread
• - chicken slices
• - sliced cheese
• - watermelon
• - strawberries
• - blueberries
• - cheese puffs
• - carrot
• - ucumber
• - banana bread

So, there you have it mamas + caregivers, a myriad of lunchtime delights for even the most discerning of lunchtime eaters! And remember … if you aren’t sure about your kid’s appetite according to their age, take note: this guide is full of yummy suggestions only, as not every age equals the same appetite! And lastly, before embarking on any new dietary regimen for your beloved children - always ask a recommended health professional first!

Nicole Salinger is a copywriter + mental health first aider at b.box. She’s also a fellow mama-raiser of 4 grown humans. She is here to share the truth - and nothing but the truth – about the precious journey of Motherhood – and how to recover your sanity with children in tow!