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First Grade Lunch Ideas

By Laura Fuentes Updated Aug 8, 2024

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If you’re ready to end the non-stop struggle of packing lunches for your first grader, you’re at the right place.

The lunch ideas below take very little time to put together, and they all include the best tips for keeping them fresh inside the lunch box until lunch.

collage of lunch ideas for first grade

School Lunch Ideas for 1st Grade

In 1st grade, my kids were more worried about chatting with their friends at lunch than eating, so I quickly learned that packing simple, bite-sized foods they enjoy eating were always winning lunch ideas.

Below, you’ll find lots of school lunch ideas and easy make-ahead recipes. Plus all the tips for how to pack them in a lunch box so they stay fresh until lunch.

Ham Roll-Ups

5 from 34 votes

Turn deli ham, fruits, and veggies into a snackable lunchbox that your kids are super excited to eat.

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Peanut Butter Nutella Sandwich Sushi

5 from 28 votes

One of my kid's favorite lunch ideas is this Peanut Butter and Nutella Sandwich Sushis. Let me show you how to assemble and pack this epic lunch.

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broccoli tater tots

Broccoli Tater Tots

4.95 from 35 votes

It's a well-known fact that kids don't like broccoli, so turn them into a winning tater tot lunch for your first grader!

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Protein & Fruit Bento

5 from 22 votes

This snack lover's paradise is an easy lunch that kids will want to eat. It offers a variety of delicious snacks to pack for your first grader's lunch.

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lunch container with blueberries, snap peas and apple & cheese slices wrapped with ham.

Ham & Cheese Apple Wraps

4.93 from 26 votes

These simple apple wraps are the perfect snackable lunch for first grades because they are easy to eat without the mess.

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Banana Sushi Rolls

5 from 26 votes

This fun lunch idea is made with leftover tortillas, bananas, and their favorite nut butter. This is a lunch that will get eaten.

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a chicken nugget being dipped into a sauce cup of Ranch dressing with a lunch container filled with chicken nuggets, veggies, and strawberries, in the background.

Chicken Nuggets Lunchable

4.96 from 24 votes

Your kids will love these homemade Chicken Nuggets, and you will love that they are made with REAL chicken and ingredients.

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Peanut Butter & Jelly Roll-Ups

5 from 20 votes

The classic sandwich we all love gets a lunch makeover! It's super easy to assemble and full of kid-favorites!

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Peanut Butter Apple Sandwich

5 from 21 votes

Best part? This epic lunch can be packed in about 5 minutes and combines creamy peanut butter and crispy apples.

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Rainbow Snack Box

5 from 19 votes

Exactly as the name states, this Rainbow Snack Box is one that kids love because they are so colorful and can be filled with all of their favorite fruits, veggies, and other snacks.

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Dinosaur Sandwiches

5 from 21 votes

Lunchtime gets an upgrade! Make these super kid-friendly sandwiches in a flash for a lunch that they will rave about.

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Tzatziki Dipping Bento

5 from 19 votes

This finger-food lunch is fun to dip in the delicious Tzatziki sauce and full of yummy protein and veggies for your 1st grader's lunchbox!

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Grilled PB & J

5 from 9 votes

This sandwich is grilled to perfection, and I show you how to keep the bread toasty and delicious until your kids are ready to eat for lunch.

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peanut butter bacon sandwich

Peanut Butter, Bacon, Banana Sandwich

5 from 8 votes

Once your child tastes this sandwich, he or she will see why this was Elvis Presley's favorite sandwich. Satisfy all their cravings with this Peanut Butter, Bacon, and Banana Sandwich.

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Fluffernutter sandwich

Fluffernutter Sandwich

5 from 8 votes

Delicious marshmallow fluff and peanut butter come together between two slices of soft bread for a sandwich that is nostalgic and perfect for elementary lunch rotations.

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Pack these delicious lunches for your first grader and cut the guesswork out of packing their favorite lunches each week!

by Laura Fuentes

onFebruary 5, 2024

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