How to Stay Out of a Lunchbox Rut

Be inspired to get out and stay out of a lunchbox rut this school year with these 25 non-sandwich school lunch ideas that your kids will love!

With the new school year approaching, I'm entering planning mode. Planning for school supplies and gear, new schedules, and even a new school for us this year. And as I'm planning, I'm remembering what a horrible lunchbox rut I fell into last year with all three of our kiddos. PB&J or a ham sandwich with an orange cup. Every day. Ugh. It makes me tired just thinking about it. Anyway, this year I have different plans. And I'm so excited to work with Glad to share my fresh new school year lunchbox plans.

This year I found these adorable and fun Glad Disney Multipacks at Walmart and on Walmart.com. They come in both Frozen and Star Wars patterns, which is just so perfect for us, since the boys love Star Wars (and even have a Star Wars bedroom!) and our princess loves her princesses, especially Elsa in Frozen. I just know the kids are going to have so much fun with these Glad Disney Multipacks this year.

Glad Disney Multipacks are the perfect way to stay out of a lunchbox rut this school year. They're an always dependable food container that comes in a 14-piece set, seals in freshness, and protects foods, making them ideal for a new creative lunchbox menu. They're also safe and easy to use and clean, being BPA-free and dishwasher and microwave friendly. PLUS (and this is the biggest perk for me packing three lunches every day!), since they're reusable, you'll be cutting costs and reducing waste. And then when you're all done using them for the day, they'll stack easily and neatly in the cabinet until you need them again. Perfection.

Fun, safe, easy, and frugal. What more could you want?! You can only find the 14 piecce multipacks exclusively at Walmart, so get your own Glad Disney Multipacks by heading to Walmart or Walmart.com. I picked mine up at Walmart during my normal bi-weekly grocery shopping trip while grabbing the rest of our lunch supplies for the week. Doesn't get more convenient than that! (Unless, of course, you have them ship it straight to you!)

Grab the Star Wars Glad Disney Multipacks HERE

Grab the Frozen Glad Disney Multipacks HERE

Getting Out of The Lunchbox Rut

If sandwiches are getting old and you avoid ready made lunch kits you may feel like you are in a school lunch rut. Your littles can only eat PB&J, Ham sandwiches, and cold chicken nuggets so many times before they can’t even trade it away anymore. Here's are some of my favorite ideas you can use Glad Disney Multipacks to inspire you in packing more creative, yummy, and mostly healthy lunches.

1. Leftovers - Shred Leftover fried chicken for less messy lunchtime snacking, a thin slice of meatloaf makes a great sandwich, and even mac n’ cheese make great leftover options for box lunches. These can be eaten room temp or kept in a warmed up in a thermal lunchbox.

2. Pinwheels - Spread cream cheese on a tortilla and add a thin layer of meats and veggies, roll up the tortilla and slice in ½ rolls. Or try a PB&J version (or even cream cheese and jelly, if your school has allergy guidelines). This is fun and different for littles.

3. Pita pockets - Pita pockets can be stuffed with everything from chicken salad or tuna salad to deli-sliced meat and cheese.

4. Kabobs - Put anything on a stick and it turns into a new delicious treat kids love. Meat and cheese, salad items, fruit, chicken nuggets, etc.

5. Hummus & Pretzels -Toss whole wheat pretzels in a bag with a side of hummus. Kids get a protein packed serving of beans in a snack-style meal. Add some veggies for dipping and they are getting a balanced lunch.

6. Quesadilla - Plain cheese, steak, or chicken, and they don’t even need to be heated up to be delicious. Include a side of sour cream, salsa, and guacamole for more flavor.

7. Pasta salad - Boil their favorite noodle shape, drain and toss with a bit of dressing, cubed meat and cheese and some favorite simple veggies like cucumber or cherry tomatoes. Fresh, light, and tasty!

8. Smoothie - If your child sends home a lunchbox where the food is barely eaten everyday they may just not be very hungry at lunchtime. Pop in a smoothie filled with healthy fruits, yogurt, and maybe some spinach to ensure they are getting their nutrition.

9. Hot dogs - On a bun, sliced up into coins, cut into an octopus...kids love hot dogs and will love to open up their lunchbox to find them.

10. Waffles - Not just for breakfast waffles are a tasty and easy finger food for kids. Mini waffles with a side of syrup for dunking are even more fun.

11. Chicken or Tuna Salad in a lettuce bowl - Make kid friendly cold salads like chicken or tuna (without onions and celery) pop a scoop into a lettuce bowl for lunchtime.

12. Meat and cheese roll ups - To break up the monotony of sandwiches leave off the bread and simply roll sliced lunch meat and cheese together, secure with a cute toothpick, if desired.

13. Pancakes - Pancakes can be made with fruit, flax seed, and other healthy ingredients that will fill little bellies and work as brain food too. They can be made ahead of time and frozen in individual portions for grab and go lunches.

14. Salad - My kids love a good salad when we go out to eat or if I make one up at home so why wouldn’t it make a good option or lunch too? Pile a Disney Gladware square full of chopped lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumbers. Add croutons and dressing on the side for a healthy and different lunch option.

15. Soups - Fill up the thermos with their favorite soup-tomato, chicken noodle, or beef vegetable. During the cold months this is a staple lunch!

16. Fruit & Veggie Platter - Little snackers really love this kind of lunch. Strawberries, watermelon,carrots, celery, squash, berries, grapes, etc.

17. Breakfast cookies - Just like pancakes and waffles, breakfast cookies can go from a.m to p.m. with ease and deliver an energy punch kids need. Who doesn’t love cookies? Simple 3 ingredient breakfast cookie recipes with bananas,oatmeal, and chocolate chips are a favorite of mine. Add some fresh fruit to top it off!

18. Muffin tin meals -Many things can be cooked in muffin tins or even mini muffin tins that make great handheld lunchbox meals. Meatloaf, mac n’ cheese, and taco cups to name a few.

19. Subs - Skip the PBJ’s and load up meat, cheese, veggies, and condiments on a fresh roll or bakery bread instead.

20. English muffin pizza - Even cold pizza is yummy! Pre-make these the night before or even create your own lunchable by lightly toasting the english muffin and putting the toppings in individual Disney Gladware containers so your child can create their own.

21. BBQ Chicken - Stir their favorite barbecue sauce into a can of drained chicken. Serve as is, on a roll, or with crackers.

22. Pizza Sticks - Wrap a cheese stick, a couple slices of pepperoni, and a dab of sauce up in a biscuit or crescent roll then cook according to package directions. Be sure to include a side of sauce for dipping!

23. Stuffed baked potato - Cut a baked potato in half and put it in a prepared thermos while still warm, load it up with cheese, bacon pieces,and butter. Yum!

24. Walking tacos - Include a bag of corn chips with taco ingredients in a separate mini Disney Gladware containers. Include your favorite toppings and ingredients such as taco meat, cheese, shredded lettuce, tomatoes, olives, sour cream, pico de gallo, or guacamole.

25. Homemade Hot Pockets - I love to make my own by buying ready to bake pizza dough at the store and filling with pizza ingredients, ground beef and cheese, taco leftovers, or ham and cheese. Much healthier than store bought and you can use what you have on hand to fill it up.

If all else fails and you find yourself in a time-crunch whipping up a sandwich, just switch up the sides. Send something a little different than you normally send like berries, cherry tomatoes, grapes, nuts, or anything else your kids will love. Glad Disney Multipacks are the perfect size for a sandwich and a fun way to carry small sides.

And hey! Don't stress if you end up needing to send a sammie to school! They're a classic for a reason! And if you send your kiddo a sandwich in a Glad Disney Multipack with their favorite characters on it, they'll love it no matter what!

What's your child's favorite school lunch? Share it in the comments!