32 Fun School Lunch Ideas for the Kiddos

Aug 21, 2014

We know… coming up with yummy and interesting school lunch ideas every single day is hard. That’s why we’re here to help! Here are 32 seriously delish treats your little ones will gobble right up. Not only are they easy to make, but most of them are also pretty darn healthy, too. Hey, we won’t tell if you don’t!

1. Monster Sandwiches: A ham and cheese sandwich is a classic option, but why not change things up and turn that ham + cheese sammie into a monster, complete with olive eyes? (via Land O’ Moms)

2. Veggie Hummus Wraps: This good-for-you hummus wrap is super tasty and packed with veggies. Pair it with some fresh fruit and whole wheat crackers for a healthful school lunch. (via Oh My Veggies)

3. Sandwich Kebabs: Forget the typical sandwich format. Instead, skewer squares of whole wheat bread, heart-shaped cheese chunks, lettuce, tomato and your kiddies’ favorite protein to create these fun deconstructed sammies. (via Eat. Drink. Love.)

4. Coconut Oat-Crusted Chicken Nuggets: All kids (and most adults) love chicken nuggets. Next time your little one has a craving for some nuggz, try this better-for-you oat-crusted nugget recipe, complete with pomegranate dipping sauce. (via Family Fresh Cooking)

5. Peanut Butter, Banana and Strawberry Quesadillas: These sweet quesadillas are an awesome alternative to the classic PB+J. For an extra special treat, spread on a layer of Nutella! (via Ambitious Kitchen)

6. Homemade Fruit Roll Ups: Bye, bye, artificial dyes! These homemade rollups are made with only two ingredients — fresh fruit and sugar. (via Mommy Musings)

7. Blueberry and Pomegranate Smoothie: If your little one doesn’t like snacking on whole pieces of fruit, think about whipping up a sweet fruit smoothie, like this antioxidant-packed blueberry and pomegranate blend, in their thermos. (via In Sock Monkey Slippers)

8. Raspberry Oatmeal Cookies: These cookies look so darn good that we just might make them for our own office lunches! (via Amy’s Healthy Baking)

9. Homemade Lunchables: The allure of Lunchables may be strong, but this unhealthy lunch option isn’t going to make it into our kiddies’ lunchboxes no matter how much they plead with us! Instead, we’ll be creating our own Lunchables-inspired pack, complete with whole wheat crackers and fresh fruit. (via Don’t Waste the Crumbs)

10. Veggie Spaghetti: Those spaghetti noodles are made from zucchini! We can’t believe it either. (via Momables)

11. Veggie Nuggets: These veggie nuggets aren’t made with any mystery ingredients. Plus, they’re an easy way to sneak some broccoli and cauliflower into your kid’s diet! (via Momables)

12. Name Fruit Kebabs: These are too cute. Time to invest in some letter cookie cutters! (via Creative Live Blog)

13. Cold Italian Pasta: Don’t forget to add some color and design to your little ones’ midday meal to encourage them to eat every last bite. This cold pasta meal brings some brightness thanks to the peas and fresh nectarines, and how great are those fruit leather flowers??? (via Meet the Dubiens)

14. Healthy Sour Watermelon Gummies: Not all sour gummy candies are bad for you. Make these sour watermelon men at home so you can control what you put in your kids’ sweet and sour treats. (via Meatified)

15. Green Mac and Cheese: Mac and cheese is a foolproof option, but next time, add in some spinach, broccoli florets and peas to create a green mac and cheese that is both delicious and packed with nutrients. (via Weelicious)

16. Homemade Goldfish Crackers: That’s right—you can make your own cheddar goldfish at home sans preservatives. (via Tikkido)

17. Rainbow Shell Pasta: Rainbow shell pasta is a fun alternative. Top it with your little one’s favorite marinara or cheese sauce. (via The Skinny Fork)

18. Vermicelli With Green Peas and Potatoes: If your kiddie has more adventurous taste buds, send them to school with this vermicelli, made with mustard seeds, turmeric and cilantro. (via Always Hungry)

19. Crescent Roll Hot Dogs: Okay, so these crescent roll hot dogs may not be totally nutritious, but they are delicious! (via Crazy Adventures in Parenting)

20. Pizza Buns: These made-from-scratch pizza buns will have everyone in your family smiling from ear to ear come lunchtime. (via Simple as That)

21. Sandwich Skewers: These mini bite-size sandwiches are super cute, and they’re easy to share! Add some pretzel and carrots sticks to your little one’s lunchbox to complete the meal. (via Bon Appetit)

22. Chicken Cordon Bleu Wraps: For a healthier option, opt for grilled chicken instead of chicken fingers. (via Sarah’s Cucina Bella)

23. Peanut Butter, Banana and Honey Sandwich: Peanut butter, banana and honey is a classic combo every kid is sure to love. Don’t forget the carrot sticks! (via Food Nasty)

24. Prawn and Veggie Skewers: These prawn skewers will taste even better with some ranch dip! (via Skinny Taste)

25. Avocado and Cream Cheese Sammie: This veggie sandwich is finger-licking good. Slip in a few slices of tomato for a little something extra! (via Sweet Potato Chronicles)

26. Light and Healthy Tuna Sandwich: Fun-shaped bread will liven up even the most basic tuna sandwich. (via iVillage)

27. Mini Pita Pizzas: Mini pita pizzas are super easy to make in a short amount of time, so keep this recipe in your back pocket for those days when you’re running late. (via Kitchen Simplicity)

28. Multigrain Waffle With Nutella: A homemade multigrain waffle covered in Nutella is a scrumptious and nutritious treat to surprise your little one with! (via Archana’s Kitchen)

29. Chewy Choco Chip Granola Bars: Forget the pre-packaged Chewy bars. Let’s make our own! (via My Friend’s Bakery)

30. Homemade Fortune Cookies: Homemade fortune cookies are a fun addition to any school lunch. Don’t forget those handwritten fortunes! (via A Baker’s House)

31. Mini Cheese Donuts: These cheesy mini donuts make a great snack. Don’t be stingy… pack a handful. (via La Receta de la Felicidad)

32. Sunbutter Oatmeal Cookies: These cookies are peanut-free and loaded with chocolate-covered sunflower seeds. It’s probably best to just make them in bulk ;) (via Bakerita)

What’s your little one’s favorite lunch treat? Tell us about it below!

This Is The BEST 'My Life With The Walter Boys' Season 2 Update

Drama lovers are living large thanks to The Summer I Turned Pretty, Sweet Magnolias, and now My Life With The Walter Boys season 2! The show (which is basically Friday Night Lights meets Dawson's Creek) spent some time at the number one spot on Netflix’s Global English Top 10 TV list (and joined the list in 88 other countries). Netflix renewed it for a sophomore season in December 2023, and the great news is that season 2 just finished filming!

Here's everything you need to know about My Life With the Walter Boys season 2 — and don't forget to watch our interview with the cast, too.

Is there going to be My Life With the Walter Boys season 2?

Netflix

Yes, there will be a My Life With the Walter Boys season 2! Netflix renewed the new TV show in December of 2023. The second season started filming in Calgary, Canada on August 14, 2024. Showrunner Melanie Halsall is returning for season 2, as is executive producer Ed Glauser. Becky Hartman Edwards will also serve as an EP.

While there's no book for My Life With the Walter Boys season 2, author Ali Novak revealed her upcoming sequel book won't influence the show, saying “none of the content that I am currently writing will be in the second season. They’ve just taken different directions. Still all the same characters that we love.”

The season recently wrapped in November 2024, and the cast spilled on their post-shoot plans. “We have our apartments for a little bit afterwards, so we’re definitely going to stick around,” star Asbhy Gentry tells TUDUM. The cast also talked about visiting Calgary Zoo, renting bikes, and heading to Banff (in Alberta, Canada), but was distraught when they learned their favorite dessert place had closed its doors. Thankfully, a new place called Cloud Naan came to the rescue. “It’s like Cloud Nine, but with naan,” Ashby says. Now I'm craving naan!

When is the My Life With the Walter Boys season 2 release date?

Netflix

We don't have an official release date for My Life With the Walter Boys season 2 yet, but we know it's coming in 2025. Considering season 1, which started streaming in December of 2023, premiered a little over a year after filming ended, it's safe to assume we'll get another December release.

“Season 2 is bigger and better,” creator Melanie Halsall tells TUDUM. “We’ve got massive set pieces in each episode, and the stories are more intricate. We found our feet with our characters, [and] the actors really understand their characters now. When I was coming back, I was excited to start shooting again because I knew we had great stories to tell.”

Who's in the My Life With the Walter Boys season 2 cast?

Netflix

Nikki Rodriguez, Noah LaLonde, and Ashby Gentry return as Jackie, Cole, and Alex respectively. We'll see other cast members like Marc Blucas, Johnny Link, Corey Fogelmanis, Connor Stanhope, Dean Petriw, Alix West Lefler, Lennix James, and Sarah Rafferty! Natalie Sharp, Carson MacCormac, Janet Kidder, Riele Downs, and Jake Manley are joining the cast.

What has the cast said about their time on the show?

Netflix

The My Life With the Walter Boys cast has loved their time on the show! When the first season dropped, Nikki Rodriguez posted a selfie with Noah LaLonde and Ashby Gentry with the caption "Cheers to the best time of my life."

"NUMBER ONE IN THE WORLD," Ashby said in his own Instagram post when the show hit the streaming platform's top spot. "GRATEFUL IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT."

During our own interview with the main trio, they talked about how quickly the bonded on set. "We got deep," Noah told me over Zoom.

"Nothing says bonding like goofing off," Ashby said. "I think it's easy to become a family when you include a little bit of that."

"There's so many topics that the show covers," Nikki added. "Love, loss, grief, family, and chosen family, and I feel like those are all topics we've all experienced and can connect to."

Who does Jackie end up with in My Life with the Walter Brothers in the books?

Netflix

In the My Life With the Walter Boys books, Alex and Jackie agree to just be friends after she confesses her feelings to Cole, who then confesses his own feelings in the pouring rain (dreamy!!). In the final episode of the TV show, Jackie confronts Cole after he glued her sister's broken teapot back together, and the two end up kissing. But then Cole finds Jackie has run back to New York City, leaving nothing but an "I'm sorry" note behind.

What do YOU want to see in My Life With the Walter Boys season 2? Follow us on Facebook for more pop culture news!

This post has been updated.

entertainment pop culture tv

Chad Michael Murray's Mysterious 'One Tree Hill' Sequel Update Is The Most Lucas Scott Thing Ever.

Break out your basketball jerseys because the Tree Hill Ravens are coming back! Multiple sources have toldVariety that Netflix will develop a sequel series to the beloved CW drama, which ran from 2003-2012. While the series hasn't officially been greenlit yet, multiple series stars have admitted they'd love to have a One Tree Hill reunion and make another installment of the show.

"I just can't see a world where something won't happen," Chad Michael Murray told E! News. "Something will happen. Whether we get everybody together and do a live reading of the show, or we create a new fictional future episode, I don't know what it will be."

"We’re all on board, we’re all friends, it would be the most fun show anybody has ever been on," Barbara Alyn Woods says in an Entertainment Tonight interview.

Here's everything to know about the One Tree Hillsequel series — including the stars rumored to return!

Who's returning to the One Tree Hill sequel?

Noam Galai/Getty Images for Netflix

One Tree Hill Sequel Cast

According to Variety, Sophia Bush and Hilarie Burton would return as Brooke Davis and Peyton Sawyer, respectively. Daneel Ackles would also return — and all three would serve as executive producers on the TV show alongside Warner Bros. Television, who was behind the original show.

When asked if he would return as Lucas Scott, Chad Michael Murray simply responded with “No clue." Considering previous reports suggested he had "no plans to return," this is promising news to me! He then added he hopes the sequel series “comes together for the fans.”

“I mean, this fandom that has grown, I mean, literally, I was just in Halifax a week ago and, sure enough, I’m running into 11, 12, 13-year-old kids who are in love with Tree Hill,” he continues. “They’re seeing it on Hulu and they’re going, ‘Oh, my gosh.’ It’s stood the test of time and I think to have some new stories, whatever iteration of the show that’s created, I want it for the fans.”

Will One Tree Hill have a season 10?

Warner Bros. Television

One Tree Hill Sequel Plot

One Tree Hill doesn't have a season 10, and it's unclear what kind of sequel this new One Tree Hill series would be. But it looks like star Hilarie Burton is confident the new series would be told through the female experience. "What has been really cool for [the entire cast and crew], they're all really proud of the work that we did back then too," she told Brit + Co in September. And so to see the public support this little show we made 20 years later, that's so special and it's so rare."

“Being able to work with a team of women and look at these stories [and] these characters through a female lens is something that — whether I was doing a reboot or a brand-new show or a different movie at this phase in my life, female teamwork is something that is so vital to me,” she adds in an interview with People. “It is the core of anything I've done that's successful...So I'm excited to be able to team up with people that I look up to, people that I love dearly.”

After the One Tree Hill finale featured all of our favorite characters' kids, I've always wanted to see a One Tree Hill next generation series that brings the kids into high school, which is something other fans have been wanting too!

One viral TikTok imagines an intro for a fictional Next Gen series starring Dylan O'Brien, Candice King, and Vanessa Marano. "Could you imagine this as a reboot with the kids though," one comment reads. "We can only dream."

Warner Bros. Television

And good news for OTH fans! Jana Kramer, who played Alex during the later seasons of the show, teased she thinks Peyton and Brooke "are coming back as moms."

"I had spoken to Hilarie about it, about Alex making an appearance when I knew about it," she tells People. "We had discussed it before the news broke...I think their intention is to bring back people that make sense. And Hilarie was like, 'I never got to meet Alex, so it'd be fun to have us meet,' and I'm like, 'I would love that. Sign me up.' So, we'll see. TBD."

Brooke having to deal with her kids' TikToks? Peyton thinking about the future of art and AI? Mouth leading the Tree Hill podcast empire? There is so much to dive into here. But all in all, One Tree Hill is one TV show that gives me so much hope, no matter how many times I watch it. And I know that bringing back our favorite found family is the perfect way to bring some of that hope right back into today's TV.

Scott Gries/Getty Images

One Tree Hill also starred Chad Michael Murray, James Lafferty, Austin Nichols, Bethany Joy Lenz, Paul Johansson, Barbara Alyn Woods, Lee Norris, and Antwon Tanner. Check back here for the latest updates on the One Tree Hill reboot cast!

Warner Bros. Television

What do you think about the One Tree Hill sequel?! Stay tuned for the latest news and read up on how This One Moment Proves Brooke Davis Is The Best Character On One Tree Hill.

This post has been updated.

one tree hill pop culture entertainment tv

25 Delicious Recipes To Use Up Those Thanksgiving Leftovers

Thanksgiving dinner is a meal we look forward to all year long. The savory stuffing, the roasted turkey, the cranberry sauce — does it get any better than that? Well if you ask us, the best part are the leftovers! And we're talking about more scrumptious meals than the usual turkey sandwich. We've scoured the internet for different ways to put that surplus of food — trimmings included — to use. These 15 recipes will have you licking your chops.

Amazing Thanksgiving leftovers the entire family will won't mind eating until the first week of December

Butternut Bakery

Pumpkin Cupcakes

Don't throw away that pumpkin purée just yet! You can use it to make delicious pumpkin cupcakes the entire family will keep coming back for. Once you add in a little pumpkin pie spice, flour, baking soda, dark brown sugar, and more goodies, you'll have 12 sweet treats to munch after Thanksgiving.

P.S. You may want to have someone else bake this recipe a second time so you can have 24 cupcakes!

Cozy Cravings

Butternut Squash and Bacon Crostini

Your family will become a huge fan of crostinis once they taste this recipe. Between the butternut squash, ricotta cheese, and bacon, everyone will be eating sweet as well as savory mini sandwiches.

Munching with Mariyah

Curried Pumpkin Red Lentil Soup

Blend your leftover pumpkin and squash with coconut milk, red curry paste, ginger, and more veggies for the heartiest lentil soup you've ever tasted. Everyone will be looking to recreate this dish for a taste of lentils once they eat it, er, sip it.

Brit + Co

Gluten-Free Frittata Recipe

Bring your Thanksgiving turkey leftovers together with some cheese, peppers, and onions for a delicious frittata. You can eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!

The Butter Half

Thanksgiving Leftover Pop Tarts

These savory pop tarts are filled with cranberry sauce, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and bits of tender turkey, then drizzled with gravy for a snack or meal that will knock your socks off. (via The Butter Half)

Foodess

Leftover Turkey Pot Pie

Put the sandwiches on hold, because this turkey pot pie is the *only* way to use those turkey leftovers to their greatest potential.

A Sweet Pea Chef

Leftover Turkey Salad With Cranberry Vinaigrette

Take your comfort food and turn it into something nutritious by topping salad with leftover turkey and a vinaigrette made with leftover cranberries.

Spices in My DNA

Thanksgiving Leftovers Everything Bagel Sandwich

This recipe stuffs your everything bagel with a poached egg, cranberry sauce, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and turkey.

The Seasoned Mom

Aunt Bee's Leftover Turkey Casserole

It's cozy casserole season, so this recipe is the perfect way to use up that leftover turkey by adding it to a pasta bake that is rich, creamy, and jam-packed with flavor.

Lively Table

Turkey and Wild Rice Soup

Nothing soothes the soul better than a steamy bowl of soup like this, filled to the brim with tender shredded turkey, nourishing veggies, and a generous dollop of Greek yogurt for extra smoothness.

The Cookie Recipe

Deep-Fried Loaded Mashed Potato Bites

If you don't know what to do with that heap of extra mashed potatoes, we've got you covered with these crispy potato, bacon, and cheese-filled bites of glory.

What Should I Make For...

Thanksgiving on a Roll

If you want ALL the carbs, this recipe sandwiches turkey and all the fixin's between a fresh roll and it. Is. Magical.

Whitney Bond

Turkey Fajita Rice Bowls

Kick things up a notch and put a healthy spin on your leftover turkey with these veggie-filled fajita rice bowls.

Yes to Yolks

Thanksgiving Leftovers Pierogi

This recipe smashes the traditional pierogi together with leftover Thanksgiving goodies for a fun and seasonal spin on a classic.

Jessica in the Kitcen

Vegetarian Meatloaf and Cranberry Thanksgiving Leftover Sandwich

Vegetarians can enjoy Thanksgiving to the max too, and if anything proves it, it's this stacked meatless 'wich that swaps the usual turkey for plant-based meatloaf.

Pickled Plum

Leftover Turkey Dinner Hash

These turkey-filled hash patties will make brunch fanatics swoon with their festive flavor and golden crisp exterior.

Bless Her Heart Y'all

Turkey Teriyaki Stir-Fry

This feast doesn't just give you a healthful meal after gorging on holiday eats, but it also serves as a weeknight wonder, clocking in at just 15 minutes from start to finish!

Chef de Home

Turkey Tetrazzini With Mushrooms

Putting that leftover turkey to use never looked so good with this creamy mushroom and pasta-filled tetrazzini.

Half Baked Harvest

Thanksgiving Leftovers Croque Madame

This Thanksgiving leftovers croque Madame sandwich is an excellent way to serve breakfast on Black Friday. After all, you'll need an extra boost from the fried eggs to get you through your mad dash at the mall!

Vikalinka

Butternut Squash Casserole

Not sure what to do with all the leftover butternut squash? Make a cheesy au gratin casserole!

Crowded Kitchen

This post has been updated.

holiday recipes recipe roundup thanksgiving thanksgiving dinner food