Easy Back to School Lunchbox Ideas

Back to school season means one thing: lunchboxes are back! If you're looking for an easy lunchbox idea that’s quick to prepare, fun to eat and a little more exciting to open, we’ve got you covered.

What makes a balanced lunchbox?

A balanced lunchbox doesn’t have to be complicated. A simple formula can make busy mornings much easier: think of a main, some vegetables or fruit, and a little snack on the side. The idea is to include a variety of foods while keeping everything practical, filling and enjoyable to eat.

Here are a few simple tips & tricks:

1. Make vegetables easy to eat
Cut vegetables into small, bite-sized pieces such as carrot sticks, cucumber slices or strips of bell pepper. The easier they are to grab and eat, the better.

2. Choose wholegrain when possible
Opt for wholegrain bread for sandwiches whenever you can. It provides more fibre and can help make lunch more filling.

3. Let your child choose the filling
Ask your child what they would like in their sandwich, whether it’s cheese, ham, hummus or another favourite. Giving them a choice can make them more excited to eat their lunch.

4. Switch up the sweet snack
Instead of always reaching for cookies or traditional sweet snacks, cereals can be an easy alternative. Look for options that provide fibre and aren’t overly sweet.

5. Keep a small rotation
You don’t need a completely new lunchbox every day. Rotate between a few favourite sandwiches, fruits, vegetables and snacks to keep things varied without making mornings complicated.

6. Keep it simple
A good lunchbox doesn’t have to be elaborate. A few foods your child enjoys, combined in different ways, can be more than enough.

For this back-to-school lunchbox, we kept things simple with a hummus and pepper spread sandwich, fresh raspberries and a crunchy handful of Turtle cereals. It’s a simple combination of vegetables, fruit, a filling sandwich and something crunchy for busy school days.

Ingredients (Serves 1)

For the sandwich:

• - 2 slices of bread
• - 2 tbsp hummus
• - 1–2 tbsp pepper spread
• - A few slices of bell pepper
• - A handful of fresh lettuce

For the lunchbox:

• - A handful of fresh raspberries (or fruit of your choice)
• - 3–4 tbsp Turtle Color Loops or Turtle Marshmallow Crunchies

How to make it

1. Prepare the sandwich: Spread a generous layer of hummus onto one slice of bread and spread the pepper spread onto the other.
2. Add the vegetables: Layer the fresh lettuce and sliced bell pepper over the hummus.
3. Close it up: Place the second slice of bread on top and gently press the sandwich together. 
4. Add the fruit: Fill one section of the lunchbox with fresh raspberries, or swap them for another fruit such as strawberries, blueberries, grapes, or apple slices.
5. Bring the crunch: Add a generous handful of Turtle Color Loops or Turtle Marshmallow Crunchies to another section of the lunchbox. Enjoy them on their own as a crunchy snack or alongside the rest of your lunch.

Pack everything into a lunchbox, and you’re ready for the school day!

Why add Turtle Color Loops and Turtle Marshmallow Crunchies to your lunchbox?

• - Organic & gluten free: Both Turtle Color Loops and Turtle Marshmallow Crunchies are certified organic and gluten free.
• - A source of fibre: Both provide fibre, with Color Loops being rich in fibre.
• - 100% natural colours: All those fun colours come from natural sources, with no artificial colours.
• - Less sugar: Color Loops contain 25% less sugar than comparable cereal loops.
• - An alternative to traditional sweet snacks: A handful of cereal can replace more traditional desserts and snacks such as cookies, offering an option that is lower in sugar and fat, with no additives.
• - Colorful & fun: Fruity loops and crunchy marshmallows make the lunchbox a little more exciting.
• - Easy to pack: No preparation needed. Just add a handful and you’re ready to go.