Your basic sandwich can be a very affordable school lunch idea, but they get boring quickly. It’s important to switch things around so your kids don’t get too tired of eating the same thing over and over again.

This doesn’t have to be difficult. Something as simple as switching from your usual bread to pita bread, a bagel, or wrapping the ingredients in a tortilla changes things a lot.

You can also change the cheese. Don’t just stick to cheddar or American cheese. Mozzarella or provolone can work well, some kids love Swiss cheese, even a sprinkling of feta if the other ingredients will hold it in well enough will work.

You can go outside the usual ingredients too. It doesn’t have to all be lunch meat, cheese, lettuce and tomato, or peanut butter and jelly. Think about all the options you get at sandwich shops such as Subway and have a little more fun making sandwiches while keeping the price reasonable.

If your kids are old enough and the ingredients aren’t too hard to manage, you can even keep the bread and other ingredients separate to ensure that the bread doesn’t get soggy before lunch. This can make a big difference in how the sandwich tastes.

The most important thing is to not get stuck completely in a rut with your child’s lunches. Little switches make a big difference.

Recipe Books You May Enjoy

Healthy Eating for Kids
Lunch Boxes and Snacks
The Just Bento Cookbook: Everyday Lunches to Go