I work at my kids' school, for lunchtime supervision etc.
EVERYDAY, kids who either buy school lunch or have home lunch... do not eat. Why? They don't like what is served or what is in their lunch box.
If a kid does not eat... then, ALL day, (since their last meal at breakfast), they will not have had anything in their body and this affects their performance/concentration/moods and attention spans. And it makes them tired. A kid, cannot just survive in school all day, just from the breakfast they had earlier in the morning.
So, the point is: just give your kids, something that they WILL eat. EVEN if that means, them having the same thing, everyday. Because, IF they will eat it, then that is good. My son, wanted the same ol' sandwich everyday. Fine. That is what he got. He did not get bored of it. He ATE it.
That is just 1 meal.... and at home you can make other things for them.
But at school, it is important to eat, lunch. Their day is long.
Your kids are not unusual. I see this all the time at school in the cafeteria.
Even if a kid is HUNGRY... if they do not like what is served or what is in their home lunch bag... they.will.not.eat.
I know... because I ASK the kids all the time how come they are not eating? And they tell me.
SO, simply ask your kids what they want or what you KNOW.... they will eat. And pack that for them.
I have seen all forms of home lunches... from cutesy to fancy to gourmet to creative to simple. Still, if a kid does not like what they are given, they will not eat it. And at school lunch time, it is not the time to battle about making them eat or making it a point. A kid will not eat, if they don't like what is there. Even if hungry.
Home lunches are not the time to experiment with presentation or variety. Just make, what you know your kids will eat. Even if that is the same thing everyday.
A kid, needs to eat lunch, otherwise it affects their school day. Having an empty stomach.... can even cause hypoglycemia and dizziness and headaches. Kids are in school from anywhere from 7:30am everyday, until school lets out. That being anywhere from 2:00pm onward. And some kids do not get home until after their parents can pick them up at after school care, after work. That is a LONG time... to go without a meal.
My kids, if/when they bring home lunch... I pack what I know they will eat.
And they do.
Being creative about home lunches, will not guarantee that they will eat it.
Use insulated lunch bags with a blue-ice pack in it.
For warm items, use a thermos.