Back to school: Packed lunch ideas that don’t involve a cheese sandwich

Creating packed lunches for the kids to take to school can be a tricky task. You've got to consider easiness, speediness, what they like and dislike, and of course, making sure they are eating something nutritious to help fuel their school day. 

There's no denying that sandwiches are always going to be a packed lunch staple, but they can get a bit monotonous and aren't suitable for kids who are Coeliac.

There are lots of things you can try to mix up your little ones' lunches, and Asda's shelves are bursting with different picnic-perfect ingredients. We've even got some lovely school lunch boxes to help package up their food, because nobody likes a bruised banana, do they? 

To help you create a great lunchbox for your little one, we've rounded up some of our favourite recipes ideas which they'll love munching on. 

Ham, Broccoli and sweetcorn frittata

If you know your little one would never chomp down on a few stalks of steamed veg, then try sneaking them into this ham, broccoli & sweetcorn frittata recipe. It takes 15 minutes to make and you can add as much veg as you want. Cut them a slice a day. Easy!

Club sandwich pasta

Combine all the flavours of a classic club sandwich in this quick and easy club sandwich pasta recipe. Pasta dishes are a great way of using up whatever you have in the fridge so don't feel you have to stick to the recipe! Just remember to pack them a fork...

Leek, cheese and bacon muffins

Your little one will love eating these savoury muffins. They're so easy to make on a Sunday, and can be chucked into a packed lunch as a great sandwich alternative. With cheese, leek and bacon all packed inside, they're sure to be a winner. Any extras will freeze well, meaning you can defrost and give a quick blast in the oven on another day to freshen them up.

Giant cous cous, quinoa and mixed pepper salad

This colourful salad is packed with veggies, grains and plenty of flavour! The cous cous and quinoa come in a steam bag that takes just 4½ minutes to cook, perfect for quickly putting together before bed - or as part of the early morning madness before rushing everyone out the door to school.

Potato crust pizza

This potato base pizza is perfect if your little ones are gluten-free as this pizza base is completely flourless. It also makes a great midweek dinner, or load it up with toppings like pepperoni or chicken tikka for a weekend 'fakeaway'.

Falafel wraps

This easy recipe makes a great midweek meal for meat eaters and vegetarians alike, plus leftovers make for a great lunchbox meal. Remember to cover the wrap in foil so it stays in one piece in a lunchbox or picnic basket. If you don't have time to make your own falafel, have no fear - you can buy them too.

Greek style chicken pittas

This is a great lunch to make if you’ve got any leftover chicken hanging about. Drizzle with some zingy tzatziki and dot with cherry tomatoes and you've got yourself a colourful and flavoursome lunch. Try toasting and slicing any leftover pittas and pairing with houmous for an after school snack. 

Pasta with broccoli

This broccoli pasta is a great family midweek meal that can easily be scaled up to serve in packed lunches. Pop a portion in a box, bulk it up with fresh tomato, spinach or sweetcorn, and hey presto, lunch is served. Pasta's a great cupboard staple - try mixing up the pasta shapes for a bit of change and to add some excitement. If you always go for penne, try bows!

Pizza-style whirl buns

This budget recipe for pizza buns makes 12 savoury snacks ideal for picnics, parties and lunchboxes. Plus the dough is super easy to make — just add water to our bread mix flour. Tear into portion-sized bits ready for the lunchbox and you're good to go. 

Make sure you stock up on everything you need at Asda to create your perfect lunch, including our huge range of lunchboxes, or pop into your local store.