Pack & Prep the Perfect Lunchbox with Dips for Kids

Finding kid-friendly, real-food meals is hard enough...fitting these magical foods into a lunchbox and keeping their tastebuds interested for nine months? Now there’s a challenge. Enter Primal Kitchen dips: dunk-worthy, delicious, and made with avocado oil, this dipping duo brings flavor and fun back into the lunchroom.

Consider this post your cheat sheet to carefree, child-approved meal prep made for little lunchboxes. Keep a variety on the menu and save precious prep time in the mornings with our guide to building the perfect lunchbox all year long with these lunch ideas for kids.

How to Get Kids to Eat More Veggies

Ah, the age-old question. If your kiddos are on a steady diet of chicken fingers and ketchup, building a colorful plate they’ll actually eat when you’re not there to encourage them (okay, maybe it’s more like bribe, barter, and negotiate by any means necessary) may seem laughable. The secret to their mid-day snack success? Delicious, kid-approved Primal Kitchen dips and fun finger food fruits and veggies to dunk.

Vegetable cutter shapes like stars, airplanes, or flowers can bring a smile and encourage picky eaters to try new food in a fun shape! You can use cookie cutters left over from the holidays, or use a steady hand, a butter knife, and a cutting board to make your own.

Think colorfully, instead of quantity. Variety and color keep kids interest. Instead of sending them off with a big bag of carrots, include a few carrots sticks, some celery, cucumber pinwheels, or a technicolor Tupperware of berries.

Building the Lunchbox

For our box, we made a classic sandwich with turkey, sliced tomato, red onion, avocado, and butter lettuce topped with Primal Kitchen Mayo. Sliced celery, cucumbers, and carrots came together for dipping and dunking in Primal Kitchen Ranch Dip. If your brood isn’t quite as adventurous, build your lunch box by picking their favorites from each section for a child-friendly charcuterie board that beats out the regular brown bag any day.

Pick a Protein:

• Hummus (perfect for extra dipping)
• Cheese Sticks
• Strips of Bacon
• Hard-Boiled Egg
• Turkey Breast
• Grilled Chicken Strips
• Almond or Peanut Butter
• Yogurt

Choose A Bevy of Veggies:

• Carrot sticks
• Bell pepper slices or mini bell peppers
• Cucumber rounds
• Snap peas
• Cherry tomatoes
• Celery
• Broccoli
• Zucchini 
• Cauliflower (make ‘em spicy with Buffalo!)

Find a Fave Fruit:

• Grapes (cut in half for small children)
• Apple slices
• Bananas
• Orange slices
• Berries
• Melon slices
• Peaches
• Watermelon

Grain and Carb Swaps to Try:

• Swap out White Bread for Sourdough
• Skip Potato Chips for Lentil Chips
• Give a few Grain-Free Crackers

Pair these picks with delicious Buffalo Ranch Dip or Ranch Dip, or add a guacamole or a not-so-spicy salsa.

Unexpected School Lunch Ideas

Whether you stick with sandwiches or pack a picnic of dippable delights, variety is the name of the game for keeping lunchtime boredom at bay. Try these tricks to update the routine.

Change Out the Condiments

• Big kids still love ketchup? Give Spicy Ketchup a whirl for a little extra kick.
• Mayo monotony? Try Chipotle Lime with grilled chicken and avocado, or pair Pesto Mayo with tomato, basil, and mozzarella cheese.
• Switch in Spicy Mustard for Dijon, or vice-versa.

Switch Up the Shape

Sandwich shape cutters can be a secret weapon for little ones who can’t stand crust.

Wrap it Up

Even if you make the same sandwich every single day, swapping in a spinach wrap for bread adds a bit of color and variety...plus a sneaky extra serving of veggies.