But what about those school lunches?! Back-to-school can be an exciting time of year but thinking about once again making those school lunches can make even the most enthusiastic groan just a little.  

This year at Discover Weyburn, we thought we would do a little digging to come up with some fun and creative lunch ideas, and Tammy Mceachen came to the rescue. With her oldest son Parker who has already graduated high school, and her two daughters Hunter age, 8, and Wren age, 6, Tammy is no stranger to the frustration that packing those school lunches can bring. However, her strategies and creative ideas are sure to help the busiest of parents and satisfy even the pickiest of eaters. 

The first step Tammy recommends is having a plan.  

“Me and the girls will sit down Saturday night or Sunday morning, and we’ll pick out what they want for lunch for the week, and then when we get groceries, we make sure we have the supplies and then we make the lunches the night before,” explained Tammy. “That way they aren’t rushing to get on the bus, they can just grab their stuff and go, it’s so much easier to be in a routine.” 

Hunter and Wren Mceachen, photo submitted by Tammy MceachenHunter and Wren Mceachen, photo submitted by Tammy Mceachen

Tammy also shared that she has found that when her girls participate in the lunch choices for the week, they are less likely to be picky about what they eat.  

“I find the more I bring them into the decisions they will actually eat it,” laughed Tammy. “Because some days I would make them a sandwich and they would come back and say it was gross and they wouldn’t eat it.” 

So here they are! Tammy’s top FIVE school lunches!  

5. Pizza English Muffins – As easy and yummy as it sounds! Slap on some of your favourite pizza sauce, meat, and cheese, on an English muffin, and bake in the toaster oven for a few minutes the night before, if you don’t have a toaster oven, set your regular oven at 400F and PRESTO your kiddos have pizza for school the next day! 

4. Taco Salad Wraps - Sure to be a HUGE hit with all the kids! Next time you make tacos with all the fixings, just make a little extra for leftovers and have some wraps on hand.  

  • Place some seasoned taco beef in the wrap 

  • Add some tomatoes, lettuce, cheese 

  • Add salsa, in the wrap or on the side 

  • In a separate container, you can add some sour cream or ranch dressing for dipping 

3. Quesadillas - Another great way to use up those leftovers and make lunchtime fun again.  

  • With the leftover taco beef place a wrap in a frying pan 

  • Add taco beef 

  • Add cheese 

  • Place the second wrap on top 

  • Heat on both sides until the cheese melts, cut into quarters and VOILA another great lunch the kids are sure to love! 

2. Dogs in a Sweater – a great new way to make hotdogs exciting again. 

  • Grab your favourite brand of hotdogs, popsicle sticks, and a can of Pilsbury Wiener Wrap, you will find it in the cooler section. 

  • Grease a cookie sheet 

  • Insert a popsicle stick into each hotdog lengthwise 

  • Wrap dough in a spiral around each hotdog, pinch at each end to seal 

  • Bake in the oven at 350F for 18 to20 minutes 

  • Add your choice of condiments. 

1. Fruit Kabobs – Most kids love fruit so here’s a great way to send another fun and healthy snack to school. 

  • You’ll need some fruit, your favourite cheese and some sandwich meat and some BBQ skewers. 

  • Cut fruit and cheese into chunks 

  • Cut sandwich meat into strips and fold into squares 

  • Alternate fruit, cheese, and meat and place on a skewer. 

And a BONUS back-to-school lunch idea is Chicken Caesar Salad Wraps!  

  • Fry chicken with a little bit of olive oil and season with salt, pepper and garlic. 

  • Add chicken to wrap 

  • Add cut lettuce 

  • Parmesan cheese 

  • Add bacon if desired 

  • Place Caesar salad dressing on top of the chicken and avoid placing the dressing on the lettuce to prevent the lettuce from getting soggy. 

  • Or send the Caesar salad dressing in a separate container for dipping.