As a mom of two, I adore the long, lazy days of summer, and my kids can’t wait to see their friends at the pool and day camp. Not having to wake up super early or worry about homework makes our time together that much less stressful, but there are some things about the school year routine that I miss—chief among them is having a plan for lunch everyday. 

During the school year, my kids (13 and 7) either pack their lunches in the evenings after dinner, or they plan on having school lunch—I will make lunch for them if they need a little help, but otherwise, it’s their responsibility. We’ve been doing it this way for several years, and it works well for us. But having a summer ‘schedule’ that changes from week to week means things tend to get hectic, and that means lunch sometimes becomes an afterthought. 

My family’s solution? We came up with a list of ten lunches that they will actually eat that they can make themselves, and I keep the list posted on the fridge, so they have a little ‘menu’ for inspiration. They can deviate from the menu if they want, but having some ideas mapped out in advance makes it easier for them to choose something they like and make it themselves.

Kids can start making their own meals around 7 (with some help) all the way up until they are 18 (and beyond). Here’s how to make lunch time seamless in your house this summer, plus lunch ideas that will keep everyone happy.

One of the most important parts of setting up the family for summer lunch success is stocking a kid-friendly pantry with items that can serve as healthy snacks or lunch ingredients—but that are also accessible enough that they won’t always need your help figuring how to use them.

Some items, like hard-boiled eggs and pre-cooked pasta, require a little prep, but if you can knock it out over the weekend together as a family, you’ll be sitting pretty for the week ahead.

You might be thinking, ‘My kids could never do this,’ but I’d like to gently push back on that idea and suggest that many kids enjoy the independence and being treated as though they are capable and self-suffiecient—they may even come to enjoy doing it once they get the hang of it. 

Making their own meals inspires confidence and teaches them real-world skills that they will use for the rest of their lives. But there are some things to consider before you jump in. 

First of all, you should create an agreement with your kids that outlines what kitchen appliances they can use, and make sure they know how to use them. Show of hands, how many of our kids have tried to microwave aluminum foil? Exactly. 

After that, make sure your children know where to find kitchen utensils, including knives, that they can use safely. We have a set of kid-friendly knives for my seven-year-old that she has become adept at using—but other kids learning their first knife skills will of course still need supervision. 

The first few times kids make their own lunches, they might need some extra guidance, so stay present for those early attempts, and make sure to explain to them that cleaning up when they’re done is also part of their responsibilities. And in order to maintain a nutritious balance to each of these meals, consider adding cut up vegetables (like celery or carrots) or fruit (strawberries or blueberries are easy options) to the plate.