Three Low Effort Festive Lunches Kids Love

Winter lunches call for a little extra fun. When the weather gets chilly and the days get busy, adding a simple theme can bring excitement to lunchtime without adding more work for parents.

These three holiday-inspired lunch boxes use everyday foods with a festive twist. Each one is easy to prep, kid-approved, and designed to fit perfectly into a PlanetBox for stress-free packing.

Snowy Day Snack Box

A cozy, wintery lunch full of fresh fruit and playful shapes.

What’s inside:

• Hard-boiled egg snowman snack with strip of green bell pepper as the scarf and carrots as the hat
• Tip for the eyes, mouth and buttons: Use an edible food marker or a toothpick dipped in food coloring..
• Green apple cubes with cinnamon
  
• Fresh raspberries
• Crackers topped with star-shaped cheese
• Blueberries with cookie-cutter pancake stars
  
  

Why parents love it:
This one is quick to throw together and relies on simple prep tricks like cookie cutters and skewers. It’s a great way to add winter charm without extra cooking.

Rudolph’s Jolly Lunch Box

A fun character-style lunch kids immediately recognize.

What’s inside:

• “Rudolph sticks”: celery with peanut butter, pretzel antlers, cherry tomato noses, and candy eyes
• Gift-wrapped sandwich, tied with twine or ribbon
  
  

Why parents love it:
This lunch comes together using snack foods you already have on hand. The sandwich wrap is a huge hit with kids and adds instant holiday flair.

A Very Merry Red & Green Lunch

All about classic holiday colors with hearty comfort food.

What’s inside:

• Festive mini rice cereal treats
  
• Candy cane–shaped bell peppers (red and green slices)
  
• Fruit Santa hat: grape, banana slice, strawberry
• Kiwi and pomegranate fruit mix
• Deconstructed chicken pot pie topped with star-shaped puff pastry packed in a Big Rover Dipper
  
  

Why parents love it:
This lunch makes leftovers feel special and keeps packing balanced with both warm comfort foods and fresh produce.

Simple Tips for Creating Holiday Lunch Boxes

These festive lunches aren’t about perfection. They’re about using tiny changes that make everyday food feel special.

Try these easy upgrades:

• Use cookie cutters for cheese, pancakes, bread, or puff pastry
  
• Arrange food by color themes (red & green, snowy whites, star shapes)
  
• Turn snacks into characters with eyes, pretzels, or fruit noses
• Wrap sandwiches with twine or ribbon for instant “gift” appeal
• Repurpose leftovers by adding themed toppings or shapes
  
  

PlanetBox compartments make it easy to keep foods separated while still creating a fun, balanced lunch kids love to open.