15 first-day-of-school lunches that'll keep your kid smiling!

The first day of school can be scary! New faces, new places, trying to make sense of a new routine, in a new classroom, surrounded by new everything. No wonder I remember that first day with an equal mix of anxiety and excitement. As a mama sending four tots back to a totally new school for the second year in a row, I’ve been hunting down fun ways to let the kids know I love them and am with them, even as they navigate a new day far away from the protective warmth of my little wing.

What better way to send your kids off to school that with a boxed lunch that turns the first day of school into a celebration?! These 15 school-themed lunch ideas offer up dozens of adorable ideas for giving your kids an extra boost on the first day. Click through, find your fave, then send your babes off to school with a lunch that tells them they’re cool!

Celebrate the first day of school with these fun themed bento boxes!

BENTO BASICS

Never made your kiddo a bento before? Check out these easy peasy tips for building your first bento box, then click through the slideshow to discover a dozen plus ways to build them adorably for the first day of school!

PENCIL THEMED BOXED LUNCH

Steer you child in the "write" direction on the first day of school with this pencil themed lunch!

Get the recipe from BENTOLOGY

ABC BENTO BOX

This boxed lunch would be perfect for your little kindergartener's first day of school!

Get the recipe from SPOONFUL

BACK TO SCHOOL BENTO

Get your kiddos psyched for their first day by making a super fun lunch!

Get the recipe from CRAZYMOMMY

BENTO BUS LUNCH

All the kids at school will be in awe of this cute school bus lunch! 

Get the recipe from BENTOLICIOUS

PENCIL SHAPED SANDWICH

Tuck this perfect lunch into a cute little box and bring a smile to your child's face!

Get the recipe from WHISK PAPER SCISSORS

FIRST DAY BACK SANDWICH

Stamp a note on your child's sandwich for a stellar back to school lunch!

Get the recipe from WHISK PAPER SCISSORS

CHALKBOARD LUNCH BOX

This adorable tin is perfect for writing a new lunch note every day!

Get the recipe from WHISK PAPER SCISSORS

FIRST GRADER PENCIL LUNCH

Pencil sandwiches make great finger food, and a stack of these will keep your little scholar sharp! 

Get the recipe from LIAN MAMA OBENTO

BACK TO SCHOOL ABC BENTO

Pumpernickel bread makes a great food blackboard for letter cut-outs!

Get the recipe from ART IN THE BOX

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL PLANETBOX

Your child will feel like a star with this first day lunch!

Get the recipe from BENTO LUNCH DOT NET

BACK TO SCHOOL ALPHABET APPLE BENTO

This lunch is both fun and healthy- a perfect combo!

Get the recipe from MEET THE DUBIENS

SCHOOLBUS BENTO

First day of school lunch will seem so special with this schoolbus bento!

Get the recipe from MEET THE DUBIENS

A PLUS BENTO

Remind your child how smart they are with this overachiever lunch!

Get the recipe from MOMMA SAYS DOT NET

ABC 123 BENTO

Give your child some practice letters and numbers at lunch with this crafty bento!

Get the recipe from KOOKY CULINARY

PB&J FERB SAMMIES

This bento sets the stage for a fun lunch to help relieve first day jitters!

Get the recipe from HAWAII'S BENTO BOX COOKBOOK

Source: Babble.com