When it comes to practical kids’ lunch box ideas, George Georgievski knows a thing or two. A building inspector by trade, George started making school lunches for his two daughters Anela and Kiki when he first witnessed the school morning chaos. Eight years on, George has written four cookbooks, runs @schoollunchbox, an Instagram account dedicated to inspiring lunch-packers everywhere, and still packs inventive lunches for Anela, age 14, and Kiki, age 12. George shares his top 10 tips to help parents and caregivers with everything from planning healthy school lunches the kids will love to staying organised through the week.

George Georgievski sitting in front of an open window, slightly smiling with his hands clasped and forearms resting on his knees.
Lunchbox Boss author George Georgievski says getting kids involved in the shopping and prepping process is a great way to teach them and get them excited about what goes in their lunch box. 

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1. Understand the Nutrition Essentials

Little minds are like sponges, absorbing new information every day. During childhood, the brain uses up to 60 per cent of their daily energy intake, which means your little Einstein needs plenty of fuel to support their learning. Along with providing them the energy they need to get through the school day, a healthy, balanced lunch box that promotes adequate nutrient intake is vital in boosting kids’ cognitive development and health.

2. Aim for the Five Food Groups 

A great place to start for kids’ lunch box ideas is with the five main food groups: vegetables, fruits, grains, dairy and protein foods. The Australian Government guide to healthy eating outlines what you'll find in each food group and the recommended daily serves for children aged one to 18 years old. Try recipes like rice balls (see below), zucchini fritters, deconstructed salads or pizza scrolls to tick off multiple food groups in one meal. 

Lunch Box Rice Balls

Ingredients

1 cup steamed rice

½ cup rice flour 

¼ cup carrots

¼ cup peas

1 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon water

Combine all ingredients and shape mixture into golf-ball-sized balls. Heat 1–2cm of oil in a shallow frypan and fry rice balls until golden.

3. Keep Food Fresh with a Good Lunch Box 

An animated GIF of a kids’ lunch box idea, showing a bento box being filled with strawberries, carrot sticks, rice balls, popcorn and an apple.

You’ve put a lot of love into packing fresh lunches for your little ones, so it’s important to keep it as fresh as possible for them to enjoy on the playground. The secret to avoiding mushy berries and soggy sandwiches? A great quality lunch box. 

“[I personally think] you cannot beat a good bento lunch box. Kids can be picky and [some] won’t eat foods if they’re touching, and a bento lunch box keeps food separated so there's no cross-contamination. Also try a cooler bag with an ice pack to pop the bento into so it stays fresh and cool all day,” says George.

Keep them hydrated on the playground with a refillable water bottle or an insulated bottle to keep their water cool in the warmer months. 

What to Try

4. Start Preparing Kids for Lunchtime Early

There’s a lot to get used to when kids start school. Help them get familiar with lunchtime by serving meals in their new lunch box before their first day. “It gets them used to eating from the lunch box and opening it and closing it, so they understand how to use it and know that it’s lunchtime,” says George.

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5. Teach Kids About Cooking and Gardening

An animated GIF of kids' lunch box ideas, showing various lunch boxes being filled with wraps, kiwi fruit and crackers, arranged on a white wooden surface.

Make lunchtime an educational moment by getting your kids involved in preparing their lunches. “Participation is key. Even a five-year-old can drop a handful of blueberries into a lunch box. It gives them a sense of accomplishment,” says George. Plus, they’re more likely to eat their lunch if they helped pack it. 

George also recommends deepening kids’ understanding of where their food comes from by getting them into a veggie patch or inviting them into the kitchen to teach them how to make their favourite foods. Both cooking and gardening help boost kids’ creativity, communication, motor skills, healthy eating habits and are fundamental life skills they will rely on as they continue to grow. 

Hot Tip: Including some fruits and vegetables in their lunch is a great way to give growing bodies the vitamins and minerals they need. Kiwifruit, for example, is high in potassium, calcium and magnesium.

6. Focus on Food They Enjoy

An animated GIF of kids’ lunch box ideas, showing various sandwich and snack containers filled with a sandwich, berries and crackers, alongside ice packs and a lunch bag.

If you’re stumped on healthy lunch ideas, George says to look to your kids for the inspiration you need. “If they love Hawaiian pizzas, think about how you can make them healthier and put them in a lunch box. Try mini wraps, sprinkle a bit of cheese, pineapple, shredded chicken ‒ they’re getting protein, they’re getting dairy, they’re getting carbs,” says George. “We can learn so much from our kids by just asking them [what they want] or watching their behavioural patterns with food.”

7. Make Shopping a Family Activity

You can’t pack a lunch without groceries. Help make the weekly shop easier by keeping a notepad or whiteboard on the fridge with a shopping list that you can easily add to throughout the week. “Try shopping online with the kids and ask them questions about what they want. You’re creating good times together while [ticking off the weekly shop] and it adds to their participation and contribution. Plus, having [groceries] delivered to your door is a crazy time saver for parents,” says George.

8. Start Meal Prepping for Easier Mornings

George says making time to prepare snacks and batch cook their meals ahead of time is a huge part of what helps him make school mornings run more smoothly. “You want to get to a point where you’re not making lunches, you’re just assembling,” says George. “I'll get up, grab two lunch boxes, take out the containers from the fridge, and I’m just dropping the [food] in.”

9. Make Lunches with Leftovers

An animated GIF of products to help with school lunches. Items include containers of various sizes filled with fruit and vegetables, and leftover pasta.

Leftovers are another great way to prepare lunches ahead of time, whether you’re packing them up as they are or reinventing them. “Sometimes I’ll cook extra for dinner and put it in their lunch the next day. Batch cooking and freezing is awesome,” says George.

Hot Tip: A small serve of pasta provides carbs for energy.

10. Add Surprises to Their Lunch Box 

Pack a special surprise or a sweet treat in their lunch box to make lunchtime feel like something to look forward to. “Sometimes I’ll give them lollies. I usually do it when they’ve got sport [that day],” says George. “It’s important to avoid stereotyping food [as good or bad]. Instead, educate them on it.” Thoughtful handwritten sticky notes, fun stickers and cutting their food with cute cutters are other ways to make them excited for lunchtime.

What to Try

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