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10 Packed Lunch Ideas for Back to School

Back to school season is slowing approaching, and while most people are groaning about it, some people are more than excited to be back on campus. The one thing that we should all be doing besides learning is eating while we’re at school. Depending on how much time you have, you may either go out and get lunch or bring along any of these packed lunch ideas. 

food subreddits bread coffee
Denise Uy

1. Frittata Muffins with a Salad

Gov Ball bread vegetable
Parisa Soraya

frittata muffin is basically an omelet but in muffin format. Since frittatas have eggs in them, which is known for having protein, this will help give you enough energy to finish off your day at school. 

The salad comes into play since you can’t eat a million frittata muffins and expect to be full. A salad is quick to prepare at home, healthy, and relatively inexpensive. 

2. Peanut Butter and Nutella Sandwich

who invented pb and j peanut butter bread
Jocelyn Hsu

While this may seem odd, I can vouch that this is one of the best sandwiches on the face of this planet. It basically tastes like Reese’s but better. All you need to make this sandwich is bread, peanut butter, and Nutella. It doesn’t matter if the peanut butter goes on before the Nutella, but if possible, try warming your sandwich up. 

3. Tacos

fajita vs taco tacos fish
Tiffany Meh

Similar to the sandwich mentioned in the point above this, tacos are easy to make at home. They require tortillas and whatever else you feel comfortable eating. Try wrapping them in tin foil to help keep them warm throughout the day. 

4. Rice with your favorite meat and veggies

Kanye risotto pepper
Maddie Cole

Although rice isn’t known to be too healthy and people are always saying to choose brown rice over white rice, as long as you chop up some veggies and meat to put in the rice, you should have a quick, cheap, filling, and healthy lunch. Pack it in either a container or a mason jar and you’ll be just fine. 

5. A bagel

Studying coffee chocolate
Denise Uy

Bagels – they’re easy to prepare, versatile in what you’re able to put on them, and aren’t overly expensive. They make a great packed lunch idea for school because they’re filling and can be easily transported to class. 

6. Caprese Salad

movember lettuce cheese
Bernard Wen

This packed lunch idea is simple to make, as it has three main ingredients with nuts being optional. It takes 10 minutes to make and can be thrown into a mason jar.

7. Cereal in a mason jar

Breakfast On-The-Go Breakfast cereal
Caroline Ingalls

While cereal is more of a breakfast food, eating breakfast foods for all meals of the day is an important trend to follow. Most cereals are sugary, which helps your brain function (quote me on that), which will give you the energy to function in class. 

8. Avocado Toast

My 5 Current Favorite Quarantine Snacks! cheese bread
Denise Uy

Avocado toast is filling and trendy. Since avocados are healthy and it is on toast, you can say that you’re eating healthy while at school.

9. French Fries

packed lunch ideas
Sheba Antony

One of the life lessons that I’ve learned is that french fries never disappoint. While some places use strange ingredients in them or have long lines just to get them, you’re able to make them at home and then bring them to school with you without any problems.

10. Bacon Tomato Grilled Cheese

How to cook during quarantine bread toast
Christin Urso

Grilled cheese is a classic that most of us love to pieces for what it is. Another two things that most people love would be bacon and tomatoes. Combine all three things together and with the help of this bacon tomato grilled cheese recipe, you’ll have an amazing packed lunch.

Despite which packed lunch idea you decide to go with, do one thing: always make sure the ingredients are what they say they are.

Liz is a 25-year-old freelance writer that's based in Brooklyn, New York with her foster cat, Leif. Liz has received her start in the media world at Spoon University, and has acquired over 3.8 million views on her Spoon articles alone with millions more views on her syndicated content while finding her appreciation for consuming and producing branded content. Liz also has her articles syndicated on Business Insider, Insider, MSN, and Teen Vogue in addition to having her most popular article cited by Elite Daily. Liz has also contributed to YourTango and Entrepreneur.When Liz isn't writing, Liz is probably listening to music, walking around aimlessly like the hot mess that she is, cuddling with her cat, consuming new food dishes and drinks, at an event, at therapy with her one and only therapist that she absolutely adores, at an appointment with someone from her medical team, making up random dance moves in her bedroom, or figuring out what to do with herself. Liz's favorite cheese is feta and a pet peeve of hers is when people don't use the word "simultaneously" in the right manner.To get in touch with Liz, she can be reached at itslizab@gmail.com, @astrrisk on Instagram, and on LinkedIn. Liz is always down to be invited to an event or to talk about food, booze, and mental health. Liz's pronouns are she/her/hers.Please be patient when getting in touch with Liz - she probably is unaware as to what day it is, and might be dancing for her therapist.... to the Macarena, of course.