School Lunches - What To Pack.

What do I pack for lunch? (This Article contains affiliate links)

This is a common question among first-time Hosts. The answer is quite easy - anything you want. Keep in mind that you can not send anything with nuts, you can fill their lunch box with pretty much anything that you think they might like. Your guests are here to try as much of the Australian lifestyle and culture (which includes food) as they can.

A good rule of thumb is to give them slightly more than you think they would be able to consume, just incase there is anything they don't like. Some Homestays have been told that they must eat everything, so a little note in the lunchbox such as "Eat what you want and leave what you can't eat." is always a nice idea. In fact, if you have time, putting a note in their lunch box each day makes them feel special and a part of the family.

Don't forget that they may be hungry at not only lunchtime but also at morning and afternoon recess, assuming their school has those breaks. You might even like to give them some money to order their lunch or buy it for them online the night before.

Now, getting back to some examples of what to pack. You're only limited by your imagination, oh and the fact that they can't reheat anything at school.

Besides a good old sandwich, (probably best to leave out the vegemite as very few foreigners enjoy it) we have put a list of things together below. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but we hope it provides you with some inspiration. If you are still stuck for ideas, we suggest doing a Google search for "Lunch box ideas" to confuse you even more.😁

※ Don't forget about the Australian trend of wrapping sandwiches and other products with Australian-made Beeswax wraps. These make a great gift as well.

Below are some examples of Australian-made Beeswax wraps available on Amazon.com.au.

Fruit Options (We have only included a few common options below)	Dairy Options
Grapes	Cheese (sticks, baby bell....)
Oranges / Mandarines	Yakult probiotic drinks
Strawberries / Blueberries / Raspberries...	Yoghurt drink pouches or tubs
Watermelon	Cream cheese triangles
Cherry tomatoes	Hard boiled eggs
Bananas	Cottage Cheese
Pears	Quiche
Plums
Sultanas (plain or yoghurt coated)	Meat Options
	Frankfurts
Vegetables	Fried Chicken
Celery (& dip)	Chicken nuggets
Cucumber (& dip)	Twiggy Sticks
Carrot (& dip)	Ham & Cheese pin wheels
Capsicum (& dip)	Mini Meatballs
Lettuce	Mini/regular sausage rolls & sauce
	Mini/regular party pies & sauce
	Hamburger sliders
Grain Options	Cabanosi sausage
Sandwiches	Salami
Crackers
Muesli Bars	Other Options
Pretzels	Sushi
Rice crackers	Curry
Rice	Stir fry
Tacos	Salad
Croissants	Spaghetti Bolognaise