The Best Homemade Kids' Lunches on the Planet: Make Lunches Your Kids Will Love with More Than 200 Deliciously Nutritious Meal Ideas

by Laura Fuentes

We all know that kids need to eat right and get the nutrition they need to be their best all day long. So why not make lunches that will power their growing brains and bodies? Making lunches at home is a great way to keep your child healthy. Not only does it allow you to nourish your child with the most pure and wholesome ingredients, but it also gives you the peace of mind of knowing what has gone into every bite your little one takes. Full of recipes to suit every age and stage, The Best Homemade Kids' Lunches on the Planet shows you how simple and easy it is to prepare food that'll be the envy of the lunch table. The 200+ adorable and inspiring recipes in this book are just as much a joy to make as they are to eat! There are even entire lunchbox meals that are gluten-, soy-, and/or nut-free. Make your own super-delicious, super-nutritious homemade lunches today--it's guaranteed to be at the top of the class!

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Parenting, Nonfiction, Food, Health

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Laura Fuentes is the founder and CEO of MOMables.com, where she helps thousands of parents every day make meals and snacks their kids will love. She is the author of The Best Homemade Kids’ Lunches on the Planet, The Best Homemade Kids’ Snacks on the Planet, The Best Grain-Free Family Meals on the Planet, and The Taco Tuesday Cookbook.

Laura is a speaker, recipe developer, and lover of all things mom. She partners with major real food brands to promote healthy school lunches, reduce childhood obesity, and teach healthy family eating. On her personal blog, Laura writes about motherhood, good family food, managing deadlines, and keeping her cool, even when her kids super-glued her hair. Visit her at LauraFuentes.com and momables.com.

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heavy on the sweets but good for ideas when you and your kid are both sick of packing/eating PB&J.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say this is quite possibly one of the best collections of lunch ideas I have seen. I pack lunches for 2 of my four kids. Of course, these are my two pickiest. One is 17 and the other is 10. I have very few ideas of my own that they will eat. The 17yo is getting easier but I still have been at a loss on variety. The 10yo wants more variety, but when I ask, he wants things that he only wants hot and won't pack well when hot (like fish sticks - bleck!) because they will get mushy.

In most cookbooks or collections of meal ideas, I'm lucky if I like 10% of the recipes. I don't branch off the norm too well myself, but much more open than these two kids. I would estimate that I find a good 75% or more recipes in this book that I would like, and I think these two kids would like many of them as well. There are several recipes for breakfast on the go, cold lunches, hot lunches, leftovers lunches, smoothies, and snacks on the go. There is a good variety of ingredients. Several also have notes for prep, serving suggestions, and ingredient substitutions. The recipes are excellent for those who want to use all organic ingredients, and for those like me who have very limited options in the area where I live. There are also recipes to make a healthier, homemade version of the processed stuff, such as chocolate syrup. A few weekly meal plans are included at the end to use as an example. And one of the things I absolutely love is the chart at the end. It lists all of the recipes, has blank stars to rate how well you like it, a box to indicate any notes regarding the recipe (such as ingredient substitutions, who likes the recipe, etc.) and a place to mark if you wish to make this recipe again. There is also a section at the beginning on ideas for packing lunches. The format is very easy to read. The recipes are well spread out, some photos of recipes are included, and the book overall is very visually appealing.

Laura herself was also very helpful. I know very little about how flours react in a recipe, other than your basic white flour. One recipe that I really want to try called for almond flour. I know nothing about it's texture or how it performs, but I have a child with a tree nut allergy and know that I can't use it. I emailed her through her blog and she was able to answer my question on a substitution.

I would definitely recommend this book for anyone needing some help with variety in school lunches. There are plenty of recipes here that can help in pretty much any situation. The recipes are fairly simple. And the recipes are not just for kids. I'm looking forward to making many of them for me to take to work.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I found some good ideas, others left me a bit puzzled. I’m not sure about a lemon sorbet sandwich, basically lemon bread and cream cheese, as a lunchbox option but it sounds like a tasty snack.

[oohlalabooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great tips and recipes!

[Kellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best friend to school age moms!

I work in an elementary school, I am in the cafeteria daily (enough said). I have found this blog and now book to be my most useful reference to pack my kids lunches. Most days I can't think of what to pack that I haven't already sent them with and this has truly been my saving grace. I typically do not buy cook books, this I did and love! Truly recommend!

[April Brolyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this recipe book! Great ideas for lunches and tons delicious recipes!!! A must have in the kitchen for all moms. The recipes for the most part are quick and easy and good for the whole family.

[Kendall · Rating 4 out of 5]

5 stars for inspiration and 3 stars for nutritious meals. I got this book from the library and I found myself dreading returning it. I'll probably have to buy it.

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked up this book at the library after getting some good recipes off of Fuentes's website (sunflower Nutella and cheeseburger cupcakes were both fun). While I would rate her blog/website highly, here are the reasons why I scored the book so low:

1. I think that the blog/webpage is the best venue for ideas like this. I would never refer to this book regularly, but I may go to her page if I was looking for ideas once in a while, which is what I have done in the past. There are other family-cooking-focused authors who just have crafted a better book.

2. I have a pet peeve when kid-focused cooks constantly talk about "sneaking" vegetables to their kids. I feel like there is a lot of that in the book.

3. A lot of the recipes are basically obvious combinations in sandwich form. I think that is why a whole cookbook may not be necessary.

4. Many of the recipes run sweet or carb-y for our family.

All in all, I don't think there is enough variety for an entire in-depth cookbook.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This cookbook is full of creative lunch ideas that, for the most part, are healthy and easy. A few recipes weren’t as healthy as I’d like, but I still found this to be extremely valuable in helping us get out of our pb&j lunch rut! The recipes are great for kids and adults alike and many put a fun twist on a familiar food and can be easily prepared. The book starts with tips for planning, preparing, and transporting lunches, as well as suggestions for pantry staples to always have on hand, tips for expanding your children’s culinary tastes, and more. There are tons of recipes I look forward to trying and we’ve enjoyed the ones we’ve tried so far!

[Wareesha Tariq · Rating 5 out of 5]

In an effort to find inspiration for my own lunches, I recently started reading kids’ lunch cookbooks and it has been such a great hack for making my own adult lunches.

All I do is take these ideas and make some changes with more “adult” or spicier ingredients or sometimes I simply make bigger portions of the listed recipes and voila! I have a great lunch ready to eat. This book works so well for lunches of all kinds! Kudos to the author for listing everything so clearly.

[Jenny Takenaka · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t use this cookbook for ideas for the girl’s lunches but bought it for the recipes. There are a lot of kids cookbooks that don’t offer healthy or tasty options. I have a 6 & 9 year old. They have been picking recipes from the book and with little supervision, they are able to make a lot of the recipes. Kid approved in taste and mom approved in nutrition.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite a range of recipes and ideas many which would satisfy picky eaters or health conscious parents. Although a large number of recipes with nuts which in our nut free school are a no go. But a book to come back to for ideas.

[Gillian Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book as inspiration for trying different things as lunchbox foods. But, my success rate with making the recipes (other than the sandwiches) has been pretty miserable.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I think this book serves better as an idea book than a cookbook, but given that it is for lunches, I think that's appropriate - most of the time, busy parents probably aren't cooking elaborate meals for school lunches. It's a fun book to thumb through and get new flavor combination ideas from (i.e. hummus and avocado, hot dog w/pb and banana - which isn't appealing to me, but probably would be to my daughter). There is also a breakfast to-go section which could be good for busy families who have long morning car rides.

The recipes are not allergy-friendly if that is a concern (lots of recipes use wheat, dairy and/or peanuts, for example) and there seemed to be a lot of peanut/nut butter sandwich variations considering how many schools are peanut/nut free. Also, some of the "healthy" desserts and snacks feel a little lacking in nutrition but would be fun lunch treats. One complaint on the lunch recipes is that a large number need to stay hot/cold to be enjoyed optimally - I am unlikely to make the smoothies/soups for packed lunches.

Overall, this is a fun book for when you're in a breakfast/lunch rut and need some inspiration, and there are also some very simple recipes for things like pastas and muffins/quick breads. The book is organized well and has nice photographs that my daughter and I both enjoyed looking at.

[Laura Piercy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great cookbook! I was initially drawn to its creativity - the author has some great ideas for making lunchtime less boring and a lot more fun! It's easy to get stuck in a rut of just eating leftovers from dinner the night before. Even though I don't pack lunches because my child isn't in school yet (he's still a toddler), it's nice to serve something different for a change. And every single one of the recipes is SO appealing. I also love the author's focus on using simple ingredients to create something nutritious and kid-friendly. She even tells you how to make cheese crackers from scratch! The blueberry bread is a must-try; it is absolutely delicious.

The book is geared toward packing lunchboxes, and gives tips on how to keep items hot or cold. Though in addition to all of the sandwich, soup and snack ideas, there are also some dinner items, including recipes for pizza dough and homemade alfredo sauce. This is such a valuable resource for those wanting to broaden their lunch repertoire, or those who simply want to serve their kids healthier meals.

[Laurla2]

-not enough photos. there are up to four recipes per page and not very many pictures. (this is my usual/biggest cookbook complaint)

-even though its geared for kids lunches, i still found some neat ideas i'd like to try.

recipes i found interesting:
-grilled taco sandwich (leftover taco meat and such in a sandwich instead of a shell)
-ricotta and jam pancake sandwich
-grilled leprechaun (provolone and chopped cooked broccoli)
-peaches and cream wafflewich (cream cheese)
-kids philly steak sandwich (cream cheese and roast beef, can be grilled)
-hawaiian sliders (hawaiian rolls, ham, pineapple rings, mayo and mustard)
-hawaiian puff wheels (puff pastry, ham, crushed pineapple, cheddar cheese)
-baked raviolis
-veggie meatloaf (meatloaf with carrots, zucchini and spinach added)
-baked mozzarella sticks
-white bean dip
-greek yogurt dip

[Beth · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too many grilled sandwiches, not enough variety. And why would you heat something up to put it in a lunchbox, planning for it to be room temperature by lunchtime (for example a quiche)? Food safety much?

A lot of the combinations we just wouldn't like. Just different tastes.

And my daughter noticed the breakfast recipes to cook that morning and send along. She said, "This is a mom who stays home and doesn't have trouble getting up in the morning." In other words, not hers.

[Kym · Rating 3 out of 5]

Laura Fuentes has a blog and is the founder of Momables, a subscription menu-planning service. Although the recipes in this book are made with whole foods, they do not necessarily meet my "nutritious" criteria. The ideas, however, are a good jumping off place for adding variety to a child's lunch. The recipes are easy to modify for various dietary needs. The photos are appreciated.

[Betty · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not impressed at all. I also bought the Sneaky Chef, which has healthier versions of foods, easier to make, and honestly just overall a better book. I found better recipes on other sites as well.

[bookscoffeeandcats77 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not your average recipe book

I have tried a few recipes books for kids and usually get a few recipes but most have ingredients that kids would not eat. I borrowed this book from the library but once I noticed I had most of the recipes marked to try I bought it.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're down with making easy meals for your kiddos with short ingredient lists and eating healthy without being obnoxiously so, this is a good book. Super simple recipes and nice photos to get your creative wheels turning. Or just do what she says and you don't have to be creative at all!

[Jennifer Barr · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an awesome resource for anyone who eats lunch, not just those with kids. So many creative and simple recipes, most of them very quick to prepare too. I love how there is a rating chart at the back to keep track of favourites and fails.

[Aime · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great little recipes. Tried the kitchen sink muffins and they were a hit.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book!! It gave me so many ideas for the kids lunch!!

[Marie Cope · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many of her main ingredients are already in my pantry, the baked recipes are straightforward. I'm very glad she's gone the extra mile to include substitutions and add-ins in many of the recipes so the 'same-old-same-old' favorites have new twists for those of us who don't get excited about the food routines our children demand.

Good for packed lunches, kid-friendly hors d'oeuvres, suppers on the go, travel snacks, etc.