Somehow this post has gone a little viral, so I thought it deserved an update. The lunch is still the same, just a bit more info for you. Updated Sept 2024.

Looking for easy lunch packing ideas?

Or maybe you’re tired of packing sandwiches and you need to change it up a little?

I’ve got lots of fun lunch ideas for you. This post is about just one of my fun non sandwich lunches, but you’ll definitely want to click over the my full non sandwich lunches pages for dozens (hundreds!) more lunch ideas.

I’ve also got so many tips and tricks to help make lunch packing easy and stress free for you. Be sure to check out all the other links on this page for even more, or if you like printables, check out my downloads page.

Now about this lunch you came to see:

Packing leftovers for lunch. Specifically, this one is leftover pasta and hot dogs!

Leftovers are a critical part of what keeps us alive around here. When I make dinner I always - and I mean always - make lots extra for leftovers and lunches. I’m a busy mom of four kids (two sets of twins!), so anytime I can cut my workload in the kitchen, I am going to find ways to do it. One of the ways I do that is by packing leftovers for lunch.

I don’t think I’m exaggerating when I tell you that you’ll have like twice as many lunch options to work with if you can get your kids to eat a wide variety foods cold. My kids have never had a problem eating “dinner foods” cold or at room temperature. I mean honestly, how many kids actually eat their food while it’s hot anyway? Don’t most kids squirm and mess around long enough before & during dinner that the food is cold by the time they get to it anyway?

Seriously though, if they don’t already, I strongly encourage you to get your kids used to eating cold foods, it gives you so many more options for easy lunch packing.

Packing leftover dinner foods for lunch are some of the easiest lunches to make because you can just throw it together while you’re in the kitchen putting the dinner away.

Here’s what you’re going to do:

1. Make extra for dinner.

2. While you’re cleaning up from dinner, put some of that leftover pasta, sauce, cheese, etc. in your lunch containers. You’re putting the food away anyway, so just put it “away” in a lunchbox.

3. Cut up a hot dog and stick a fun pick in it.

4. Add some fruit.

5. Sometimes I add a little extra snack on the side, or you could add in a few cookies.

That’s it. Lunch is done and you didn’t even spend extra time in the kitchen.

That’s how easy lunch packing can be. It really takes just a few minutes.

This is a lunch that will keep just fine for a few days in the fridge. So if your kiddo doesn’t want the same lunch as they had for dinner the night before, just pack it up anyway and save it for a couple of days.

I’ve got a whole post with loads of tips for how to pack lunch ahead of time, so be sure to check that out if you’re not sure how. I even have the easiest trick ever for keeping apples from turning brown.  

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