You can bring a smile to your kid’s face this school year when they pop open that lunchbox, even without fancy Bento boxes or food in the shape of faces, boats, and any other shape that comes to mind. Instead, simply coordinate lunches by color!
You can serve the following in rainbow order (serving red the first day, orange the second, and so forth), but we jumped around a little bit to fit weather or certain themes. Here’s the full spectrum that the kids ended up enjoying over a few weeks! And although certainly not necessary, it was fun to dress up in the hue that corresponded to lunch each day. Thanks to Parents magazine for all these suggestions!
Red:
This meal was served in the first week of school when the weather still felt like summer, so napkins with red lobsters felt right on point. The kids munched on:
- Red bean chili
- Red strawberry fruit leather
- Red strawberries
- Red bell pepper strips
Orange:
We saved this one early fall and closer to Halloween! Slip in a Halloween-themed napkin and serve up:
- Orange grilled cheese sandwiches (with plant-based cheddar slices)
- Orange dried mango slices
- Orange non-dairy cheddar crackers
- Orange cherry tomatoes
Yellow:
For a sunshine-y week in mid-September, we had sunflower-themed napkins and dined on:
- Yellow vegan mac ‘n’ cheese
- Yellow pineapple cubes
- Yellow baby carrots
- Yellow vegan cheddar popcorn
Green:
Friends just might be green with envy when your kid pops open a lunch of green goodies including:
- Green leaf lettuce wraps with hummus and chick’n strips
- Green grapes
- Green kale chips
- Green cucumber slices
Blue/Purple:
We did a combo of the rainbow’s final hues, and the kids enjoyed:
- Purple pumpernickel sunflower butter & jelly sandwiches (with blueberry jelly)
- Blue corn tortilla chips
- Purple carrots
- Purple plums
joyful parenting 