How to Pack Lunch for Hungry Teens
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Check out these food tips on how to pack lunch for hungry teens and high schoolers.
My son is a senior in high school and I’ve found it challenging to come up with portable lunch options. It’s important to me that our family maintains a healthy lifestyle, so I want to make sure that his lunches are both nutritious and filling.
Over the past year, I have been introducing him to new foods and he has discovered many that he likes. I decided to use many of these new tastes in his lunches.
My son and I sat down and created a list of foods that he likes.
Then I went through the list and circled the ones that are portable.
The list is complete enough to keep a teen from complaining about a lack of good food.
Teen Lunch Ideas
Here are three recent lunches I have packed. Each lunch box holds 5 cups, which is quite a bit of food.
I’ve deconstructed the lunches so you can see how much is in each box.
Lunch for Hungry Teens
Bagel Cream Cheese Lunch
This hearty lunch contains half of a whole wheat bagel stuffed with bacon ranch cream cheese spread.
It also has half of a peeled orange, edamame, Horizon™ Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers, and a bottle of Horizon™ Organic Chocolate Protein Plus Milk. Find the cream cheese recipe here.
Hummus Dip Lunch
This fun lunch revolves around a cup of hummus dip. Pretzel twists, carrots, and celery go with hummus dips.
It has raspberries, chopped mango, Horizon™ Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers, and a bottle of Horizon™ Organic Chocolate Protein Plus Milk.
Leftover Pizza Lunch
This lunch utilizes leftover pizza. Four pieces of white spinach & mushroom pizza will fill any teen.
There is also sliced apple, carrots & cucumber with ranch dip, Horizon™ Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers, and a bottle of Horizon™ Organic Chocolate Protein Plus Milk.
When it comes to back to school snacks and drinks, I reach for Horizon products. Horizon™ Organic Chocolate Protein Plus Milk has 15 grams of protein per bottle.
That is something I can feel good about for my teen or any member of the family. These Horizon shelf-stable milk boxes are portable, so great on the go!
Horizon™ Sandwich Crackers contain real, organic ingredients. Not only do they help me pack lunch for hungry teens, but they are a great snack or for travel.
My son is powering through the afternoon thanks to these hearty back-to-school lunches. What are you packing in your child’s lunch?
Yes! We need to keep them fed. 🙂
It’s great that you got together with your son to figure out meal options. I get he is loving his new meals and chocolate milk. I know my kids would love it.
Can you put an insulated bag inside her backpack? I have some sacks that look like a paper sack but are color and have a little bit of insulation in them. They tuck easily into a backpack. Your other option is to make sure she’s taking food that doesn’t need any cold packs. At least she’s taking food now. I get it…not only would my son NOT take food, he wore shorts in the snow.
My struggle is how to keep it cold? My teen wouldn’t even take a lunch which greatly concerned me until 6his year. Now she will take food if it discreetly fits in her backpack. She will not take a lunch box no matter how much I beg or offer to buy her whichever one she wants.
Thank you, Kim!
Those lunches look awesome! Love all of your tips!
I know. We were stuck with yucky school lunches!
WOW! Those are so much better than the lunches I had as a teen 🙂 Yum!
It is a Lock & Lock. Part of this set which comes with a lunch bag they fit in.
LOVE these lunch ideas! My teen would love all of these! Which lunchbox did you use in your pictures? Thanks!
Thank you, Michaela!
Great tips for packing a kid friendly yummy lunch!
Yes! That is a great idea! These do work for Tweens too!
I’m goi g to look at the chocolate milk. Protein helps a lot with ADHD symptoms, at least for my kiddo. Great lunch ideas!
Keeping the kids and teens happy with their food goes a long way with making life easier! #CL
These are great. I always struggle with the kids’ lunches and they much prefer a bunch of finger foods to a huge sandwich. #client