Kids’ Lunchbox Cookbook Showdown - a 3 Part Series

If you feel like you’re making the same few lunches on repeat or don’t know what to pack, you’re definitely not alone. Between packing lunches for multiple kids, figuring out what everyone will actually eat, and trying to keep things somewhat nutritious, lunch can get boring pretty quickly—for parents and kids!

That’s where a good lunchbox cookbook can come in handy. And honestly, you don’t have to be packing a lunchbox every day to find these books useful. They’re great for inspiration if you’re making lunch for your kids at home, packing lunches for school, or have a nanny who helps with meals and could use some fresh ideas.

I rounded up 9 lunch cookbooks to see what they actually have to offer—from easy, everyday recipes to creative lunchbox combinations, snack ideas, tips for picky eaters, and plenty of inspiration for getting out of the lunch rut.

One thing I especially love about using books like this is getting the kids involved. Instead of deciding what they’re going to eat and hoping for the best, you can sit down together and have them point out recipes that look good. For picky eaters, that can be a great way to introduce new foods without the pressure of simply giving them something unfamiliar.

I’m breaking this into a three-part series. Each week, I’ll review three books, looking at everything from the recipes and lunchbox ideas to helpful tips, ease of use, and—of course—whether I think they’re actually worth buying. By the end of the three weeks, we’ll have looked at all nine books and hopefully have a clear winner (or two!) for the best lunchbox inspiration.

PS - Check your local library - I was able to find half of these at our library.

PART ONE:

1. The Little Lunchbox Cookbook

Easy Real-Food Bento Lunches for Kids on the Go

Author: Renee Kohley

💰 Price: $20.18

⭐ Value: 3/5

📚 Extra Info & Tips: 0/5

🍎 Recipes: 3/5

🥪 Lunchbox Ideas / Usability: 3/5

⭐ Overall Score: 9/20

This one is more like a true cookbook. No extra tips and reading but lots of recipes to try. The section on thermos lunches is great - I feel like this is often overlooked for school lunches. 

Find it here

Best for: 👶 Toddlers / 🧒 Elementary Kids / 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Families / ⏰ Busy Parents

Difficulty: ⭐ Easy / Moderate 

Prep: ⭐ Minimal / Some Prep

Kid Appeal: ⭐⭐⭐/5

Parent Appeal: ⭐⭐⭐/5

Would I actually use it every week?Maybe

Favorite recipe: sweet cinnamon top-secret veggie mini muffins

Biggest drawback: no extra tips/reading

Best thing about this book: easy to follow, simple

2. Lunch Box Bible

Your go-to guide for building a balanced lunchbox

Authors: Julia Tellidis & Lauren Skora

💰 Price: $25.10

⭐ Value: 4/5

📚 Extra Info & Tips: 5/5

🍎 Recipes: 4/5

🥪 Lunchbox Ideas / Usability: 3/5

⭐ Overall Score: 16/20

What to look for: This one is geared towards building a balanced lunchbox, rather than simply providing recipes. It has a lot of extra tips and emphasizes nutrition and allergen-free/nut-free options.

Find it here

Best for: 👶 Toddlers / 🧒 Elementary Kids / 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Families / 😫 Picky Eaters / ⏰ Busy Parents

Difficulty: ⭐ Easy / Moderate

Prep: ⭐ Minimal / Some Prep

Kid Appeal: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Parent Appeal: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Would I actually use it every week? Yes

Favorite recipe: trail cookies

Biggest drawback: it’s a large and heavy book to store - harder for little hands to read. 

Best thing about this book: I like that it takes a wholefoods first approach. It focuses on nourishing and minimally processed foods. I also like the info on macros and nutrients. 

3. The Best Homemade Kids’ Lunches on the Planet

Make Lunches Your Kids Will Love with More Than 200 Deliciously Nutritious Meal Ideas

Author: Laura Fuentes

💰 Price: $16.99

⭐ Value: 3/5

📚 Extra Info & Tips: 1/5

🍎 Recipes: 3/5

🥪 Lunchbox Ideas / Usability: 3/5

⭐ Overall Score: 10/20

What to look for: This one has a lot of recipes (200+ ideas). There are plenty of recipes for picky eaters and there are ideas for breakfast and lunch. 

Find it here

Best for: 👶 Toddlers / 🧒 Elementary Kids / 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Families / 😫 Picky Eaters / ⏰ Busy Parents

Difficulty: ⭐ Easy / Moderate

Prep: ⭐ Minimal 

Kid Appeal: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Parent Appeal: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Would I actually use it every week? Yes

Favorite recipe: blueberry lemon loaf (my kids LOVED this - it's is now a rotation favorite)

Biggest drawback: I wish there were more photos of the recipes. It’s much harder for the kids to choose things they’d like to try without the photos. 

Best thing about this book: The recipes are very simple, the prep is pretty easy and most ingredients are pantry/fridge staples. 

Be sure to come back next week for part 2!

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