Summer Camp Lunch Guide (Ideas and Gear)

Packing lunch every day for summer camp can feel like a lot—but it doesn’t have to be stressful. Whether your kids are heading out for sports, art, or outdoor adventures, a little planning can make a big difference. In this Summer Camp Lunch Guide, you’ll find simple tips to make packing easier, favorite lunch gear and bento boxes to keep food fresh, and tons of kid-approved lunch ideas to mix and match all summer long.

Tips for Packing Summer Camp Lunch:

• Check the rules: all camps are different, so make sure you note if the lunches need to be nut-free. Also, check how much time your child has for lunch and if the camp provides any other guidelines about lunch time.
• Easy to Open: Make sure your child practices using any new lunch gear. Also, take things out of packaging or open things partially to make them easier for kids to open.
• Pack Hydrating Foods: It’s hot, so pack lots of water-rich foods like watermelon, cucumbers, other fruits, and celery with a dip. Hydrating drinks like coconut water or a small sports drink are great if your child is playing sports or spending a lot of time in the sun.
• Prep ahead: It can be really helpful to make one or two things on the weekend to have on hand for lunches. This can be a simple as making a batch of your child’s favorite pasta. You can also make sandwiches ahead and freeze them or bake a batch of muffins to send as snacks all week.
• Drop the guilt: I used to feel really guilty about my kids eating a lot of packaged snacks in the summer. But really, let’s focus on the overall picture and variety that kids are eating throughout the day. Let’s give ourselves a break and enjoy summer as much as we can.

Bento Boxes and Lunch Packing Gear:

I have a whole blog post on The Best Bento Lunch Boxes for Kids. Check it out! There’s tons of information on how to choose the best lunch box for your child. My kids are 10 and 12 and out favorite lunch boxes right now are the PlanetBox Rover and Launch. These are great for older kids with bigger appetites. They are also super durable and we’ve had ours for over 10 years. The only downside to these stainless steel bentos is they are pretty heavy. If your child has to carry around a backpack with the lunch in it for a long time, these might not be a good choice.

Other Bento Box Options:

EasyLunchBoxes: The most lightweight and affordable option. Plastic but still durable and reusable. 

Bentgo Modern: Leak-Resistant Bento Lunch Box For Adults, Teens, & Larger Appetites. I like this box for older kids. Plus, it is lighter weight than the stainless steel boxes while still being high quality

Keeping Lunch Cold:

How do you keep lunches cold and fresh?

To keep the food cold and fresh, I place Bento lunch containers into an insulated lunch bag with an ice pack. You can even use 2 icepacks, one on top of the lunch and one on the bottom, if the lunch will be outdoors or in the sun. See my favorite ice packs HERE. I like these ice packs by Kinsho because they are flat, sturdy, and the right size to keep a lunch cool for hours and hours.

I do not find the freezable lunch bags to stay cold enough for packing lunches in the summer.

Other ways to keep cool: Freeze drinks for an easy way to keep them cool enough for lunch time. Freeze yogurt tubes or sandwiches for them to stay extra cold.

Insulated Lunch Bags:

Bentgo Kids Lunch Bag: Durable, double-insulated lunch bag for kids 3+; Holds lunch box, water bottle, and snacks. It has easy-clean water-resistant fabric and multiple zippered pockets.

Planet Box Lunch Sack: This is the bag we use for our PlanetBox lunch bentos. 

 

       

Water Bottles: The Owala ones are our favorite. They are insulated and keep drinks really cold. They come in many different sizes, from 12 oz for little kids to 30 oz for teens and adults.

For a more affordable option, I like these Odeley water bottles. They are not insulated but have a covered mouth piece like the Owala ones. They also lock so the bottle doesn’t leak in backpacks.

For more lunch packing gear, “uncrustable” sandwich makers, food picks, small containers, and more, head to my Amazon Store HERE!

What to Pack? Summer Camp Lunch Ideas:

Keep things as simple as possible! Do not worry about making complicated lunches. Pack the foods your child enjoys. 

What to Pack: Lunch Building Blocks

Use a mix-and-match format for variety:

• Main Options (sandwiches, pasta salads, wraps, DIY lunchables)

• Protein Picks (turkey, hummus, beans, cheese, yogurt, hard-boiled eggs)

• Fruits & Veggies (pre-cut, skewers, fruit cups, frozen grapes)

• Snack Ideas (crackers, trail mix, popcorn, energy bites)

• Fun Treats (homemade muffins, mini cookies, dark chocolate squares)

If you want more ideas, check out my post Healthy Lunch Box Ideas for Toddlers and Kids, where I list more than 50 simple lunch ideas. Keep this post open on your phone so you can reference it whenever you need lunch inspiration.

 

Let me know what I missed! What other product recommendations or subjects would you like to see covered here?