Wondering What to Make For Summer Lunches With Kids

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Trying to decide what to make the kids for lunch every day of the summer can feel a little overwhelming.

I feel like it was easier to feed the kids when they were little and now they have a few more opinions about they like and what they want to eat. And they have different wake up times during the summer most days, which throws off meal times. We go for being sleep positive in this house and we have an early riser (hello 6:00 am every day or earlier) and a sleeper inner (hello growing guy!).

I don’t want to be heating the household up a ton while making summer lunches and we are also usually trying to get out to go to the pool. I also don’t want to be buying a ton of convience foods from the grocery store so here is a quick list of things that I like to feed the kids along with the sides we like to have with them. Everything is simple, easy to pack and go if we are heading out, or quick to throw back in the fridge for a snack when we are done with our adventure.

Summer Lunches – Ideas for Kids and Parents

Here are 5 ideas we use for summer lunch ideas:

1. Paninis – you can customize these to make it how each kid wants, or you can have a predetermined option. I love these on fridge clean out days. Pull out all the meat you and let them build their own, add a slice of cheese, and tomato slices if you have any. Then you can put them in a skillet, panini maker, of waffle iron. (I use the waffle iron because I dont have room to store more applicances).
2. Mini Pizzas – Mini pizzas turn into a lunch time favorite when you and your kids can make your own meal! Split open your English muffins and add whatever toppings you have on hand (also a great fridge clean out)!
3. Small Plates – use whatever you have in the fridge to make small plates, they are kinda like charcuterie boards. Pull out the fruit and vegetables you have in the fridge, look for deli meats or leftover chicken, cut up cheese sticks or cheese slices, cottge cheese, yogurt options, and then find some healthy grains, crackers, granola, or pretzels. Put them in their own containers and let the family build their own little plates. This is great to clean out the fridge, while making some summer lunches that are easy to eat and clean up! Pluse most of this will be finger foods, perfect for everyone!
4. Chicken and Hummus Wraps – wraps are an easy family friendly meal you can quickly put together. Marniate and cook your own chicken, grill it, saute it, or bake it. Or go the time saving route and grab a rotisserie chicken, shred it and put it with your favorite hummus recipe, here is our families favorite one, Hummus Recipe. I always blend it in this Ninja blender, its perfect for anything from smoothies, to whipped cottage cheese, to hummus!
5. Meatball Subs – it doesn’t take much to pull together these quick meatball subs for your summer lunches. Use homemade or freezer meatballs for a super quick meal!

Sides to Go With Your Summer Lunches

Some of these summer lunches may not need a lot for sides (like the small plates idea) but some of them you and your kids might want a little more with it. Here are some quick sides that will pair well with any lunch!

• Vegetables/fruits
  • Carrots
  • Broccoli
  • Bell pepper strips
  • Cumbers
  • Apples
  • Bananas
  • Grapes
  • Strawberries
  • Melon
• Cheese
  • Cheesesticks
  • Cheese slices
• Grains
  • Crackers
  • Toast
  • Triscuits
  • Wheat Thins
  • Pretzels
  • Cereal
• Fun foods
  • French fries
  • Pizza rolls
  • Tater tots

Don’t forget if you are going on a picnic to grab one of these snackleboxes so you can easily take these fun summer lunch ideas on the go with you!