Feeding Everyone All Summer Long

School’s out for SUMMER… and somehow everyone still expects lunch every single day. 🤣

If you’re feeding kids home for summer break, packing lunches for the field, working from home, or trying not to heat up the kitchen when it’s already 90 degrees outside, this list is packed with easy summer lunch ideas for real life.

These are the kinds of lunches we lean on during busy summers on the farm:

• simple
• low stress
• easy to mix and match
• made with ingredients we usually already have around

Because seriously, life goes on while we're at home. Things still need to be done. And it’s hard to just slam on the brakes because someone’s hungry at 10:59 AM.

So, I put together a FREE Summer Lunch Survival Guide you can print and stick on the fridge for those “what are we eating?” moments.

We are keeping ourselves sane and growing our little people into good humans. It’s more than just food, friends!

Grab the Free Summer Lunch Survival Guide ☀️

Simple mix-and-match lunch ideas, no-cook inspiration and realistic summer lunch help for busy families.

The Secret to Easier Summer Lunches

Repeat after me. No really, go ahead. I’ll wait…

“I am not running a diner. I do not need to play chef extraordinaire. I am not the school cafeteria. Something is better than nothing when it comes to feeding lunches at home over the summer.”

Seriously. You have work to do, whether it’s working a corporate job, working on the farm, working to keep the house and family running… you get the idea. We are not lacking in the “things to do” department.

And that is exactly why mix-and-match meals along with keeping staples stocked in the fridge, pantry, and freezer are some of the best things you can do.

You can even serve up — wait for it — leftovers. Gasp.

If they’re hungry, they will eat. 🙃

We are not Pinterest-perfect people. At least, I'm not. It only makes sense that the goal is feeding people in a way that works for YOUR family and YOUR season of life.

Sometimes lunch is homemade pasta salad and fresh fruit. Sometimes it’s snack plates and popsicles on the porch. Sometimes it’s leftover tacos eaten standing at the counter while everyone runs in and out of the house.

Welcome to summer.

Easy Summer Lunch Ideas

Here are some of our favorite easy summer lunches for busy days, hot afternoons and those “everyone fend for themselves” moments.

No-Cook Summer Lunches For Kids & Adults

These easy no-cook lunches are perfect for hot summer days when nobody wants to turn on the stove.

• snack plates
• turkey wraps
• cottage cheese bowls
• yogurt parfaits
• fruit and cheese plates
• rotisserie chicken plates
• deli sandwiches
• veggie trays with dip
• crackers, meat and cheese
• hummus plates
• peanut butter toast with fruit

Snack plates are one of my favorite summer lunch tricks because everyone can customize their own. Throw some fruit, cheese cubes, crackers, deli meat and veggies on a plate and call it lunch.

Done and done.

Easy Summer Lunches That Don’t Heat Up the Kitchen

These lunches keep the oven off and the kitchen cooler during those hot summer afternoons.

• Pasta Salad - I don’t know how many weeks of summer break you have, but I have pasta salad recipes for at least 8 weeks. BOOM. You have 8 Tuesdays covered. We're talking macaroni salad, Italian pasta salad, Amish pasta salad... You’re welcome. Pasta salad is one of the easiest make-ahead summer lunches because you can prep it ahead and eat on it for a few days.
• Chicken Salad - Use leftover chicken or rotisserie chicken to make this classic sandwich filling. Put it on whole wheat crackers, bread, croissants or — let’s be honest — a hot dog bun if that’s what you have around.
• Pinwheel Sandwiches - These rolled-up tortillas usually include meat, cheese and another ingredient or two. They’re simple, easy and easy to customize.
• Overnight Oats - If we can eat breakfast for dinner, we can absolutely eat breakfast for lunch. Strawberry overnight oats are probably my fav!
• Cold Pizza - I mean… why not???

Quick Summer Lunches for Busy Families

Have you ever noticed how kids are moving all the time during the summer?

They can’t sit still, which probably means they’re burning crazy calories (wish I had THAT problem), and it’s also why they’re always hungry.

And in our household, sometimes one lunch isn’t enough. People tend to graze in during summertime.

So for this, think simple:

• mini muffins or regular muffins
• quesadillas
• walking tacos
• lunchables-style snack plates
• peanut butter sandwiches
• cheese quesadillas
• cereal and fruit
• leftovers
• smoothies
• popcorn and fruit

Again, we’re keeping things simple.

If you want to pull out all the stops at dinner time, have at it. But for lunch? We’re low key around here.

Quesadillas - Use leftover taco meat, pulled pork, leftover chicken or plain old cheese. This is one of my favorite “everyone fend for yourself” lunches because people can make them as needed.

Walking Tacos - Load them up and send the kids outside to walk and eat while you sit inside and eat your lunch in peace and quiet.

Parenting win. 😂

DIY Lunchables - Make your own for serious cost savings because have you SEEN the price of groceries lately?

Lunches for Busy Farm Days or On-the-Go

Summer doesn’t slow down just because people need lunch.

These ideas work great for field meals, sports practices, errands or busy afternoons.

• wraps - roast beef wraps, chicken bacon ranch wraps, pulled pork wraps and Mediterranean chicken wraps are hits around here.
• pasta salad cups
• snack boxes
• protein packs
• breakfast-for-lunch
• sandwiches
• cold fried chicken
• fruit cups
• trail mix
• muffins and yogurt

Pasta Salad Cups

Take the aforementioned pasta salad ideas and portion them into grab-and-go containers. Easy.

Wraps

Wraps are one of my favorite ways to use leftovers.

Use:

• chicken
• taco meat
• deli meat
• pulled pork
• veggies and ranch

Roll them up and lunch is handled.

Snack Boxes

These are especially great for kids who tend to graze all afternoon.

Add:

• crackers
• fruit
• veggies
• cheese
• nuts
• pretzels
• deli meat

Done.

My Favorite Summer Lunch Staples

Keeping a few basics around makes summer lunches SO much easier. Here are some staples I rely on regularly:

• rotisserie chicken
• tortillas
• berries
• cheese sticks
• mini cucumbers
• hard boiled eggs
• yogurt
• muffins
• pasta salad
• deli meat
• crackers
• pretzels
• watermelon
• peanut butter
• frozen fruit
• popsicles
• bread
• ranch dip

Having easy staples on hand makes it easier to throw together lunches without needing a full meal plan every single day.

Download the Summer Lunch Survival Guide

If you need a little help figuring out lunch this summer, I created a FREE printable Summer Lunch Survival Guide to make life easier.

Print it out, stick it on the fridge and use it for quick mix-and-match lunch ideas all summer long.

More Easy Lunch Ideas