Healthy school lunch ideas that are quick, easy, and don’t break the budget are what is on the menu since Back to School time is right around the corner!
Gone are the days of the PB & J sandwich in a brown paper bag for lunch. Don’t get me wrong, I still do love a good peanut butter and jelly sandwich, but noshing on one of those every day gets a little boring.
If you are packing lunches for the older kids and they love pasta, then maybe a Tortellini Salad may be an option for them. Of course, you can still pack a fun dessert in their lunches too.
How can I make my child’s lunch healthier?
There are the obvious choices of changing out white bread for wheat bread or going one step further and using wheat wraps or flatbread instead. But, there are a multitude of ways that you can make your child’s lunchbox meal healthier than packing a pb&j, cookie, and fruit roll-up!
- Add some chopped fresh fruits and vegetables. Baby carrots are always fun and require no chopping.!
- Add hard-boiled eggs or leans meats
- Low-fat cheese stick
- Flavored water as opposed to fruit juices or kool-aid
- Dried fruit bars are a healthier alternative to sugar-laden gummies
- Crunchy nuts or wheat crackers are better than potato chips
- energy bites or granola bars are both great ideas for lunch
You don’t have to feed them tofu and yogurt, I mean unless that is what they want! But, just the tiny trades from sugary to nutritious food will make their lunch healthier!
The best idea is to involve them in the choices. If they pick, they are more likely to eat it.
Tips for Healthy Lunches
Through the school year, you and your child will grow tired of the same thing day after day. You don’t have to make a grilled cheese everyday! You can send so many different things, including ones that need to be warm OR cold.
Make it fun! A stainless steel lunchbox will do the job, but bento boxes are much more exciting. Even the most boring peppers and hummus seem extraordinary when framed in fun compartments.
Kids love mac & cheese, but the fact that it should be warm is sometimes an issue. Most schools have microwaves now that kids can use to heat their items, but a thermos or insulated lunchbox can keep meals warm for a few hours.
Pasta salad doesn’t have to be a safety concern when you are thinking up lunch ideas for school. Many schools also have a fridge for your child to keep cold foods in. Not all do, though. If your kid doesn’t have access to a fridge, simply pack their lunch box with an ice pack. The pack will keep things like chicken salad, egg salad, or any cream cheese dish at a safe temperature until lunchtime.
Veggies wraps come in pretty colors making them a neat alternative to sandwich bread.
We have put together a fun collection of gourmet school lunch ideas for your kids. You may even want to make a few for yourself.
You know, since technically we should try everything that we pack for the children, right?
You are your kids are going to love so many of these delicious back to school lunch ideas! PLease let us know which you are most excited to try.
Healthy School Lunch Ideas for Kids!
From yogurt dippers to adorable Hungry Hippos and everything in between. We have collected some of our favorite, healthy albeit slightly gourmet school lunch ideas for you.
Move over BLT - the vegan BLT is in town! With smoky delicious eggplant bacon and all the lettuce tomato - this will be your next favorite go-to sandwich!
Whip the kids up a unicorn sandwich, all the other kids will be jealous!
Sweet, crunchy, healthy and delicious! Apple chips are so simple to make at home and the best thing is you DON’T need a dehydrator!
Homemade Gluten-Free + Allergy-Free Uncrustables! A school-friendly, top food allergy-friendly, vegan, and gluten-free version of the packaged "PBJ crustless pocket" sandwich! Make these ahead of time for a quick and easy lunch recipe or snack for the entire school week!
My kids always request these chocolate peanut butter protein balls for their school lunches. They are loaded with protein and taste amazing!
These calzones are a healthy treat perfect as a make-ahead meal! Make a ground beef cheesy filling with mushrooms before baking calzones to a crispy, golden finish. Leave to cool before packing with fresh salad as a healthy lunch meal!
These Protein Snack Packs are filled with hard-boiled eggs, almonds, hummus, and crunchy veggies. An easy and delicious Lunch Meal Prep Solution perfect for any protein lover, these fantastic little protein snack packs are perfect for school lunches, post-workout snacks, or picnics in the park.
For a healthy school lunch, pack these easy blueberry turkey meatballs to eat cold! These meatballs pack everything in one-protein, potato, veggie, and fruit! Include a dipping sauce for some extra flavor and fun!
These pizza quesadillas are easy to make and pack! Get all the flavors of pizza in a quick and simple lunch.
Cranberry and Walnut Chicken Salad with apples is a delicious and healthy sandwich filling or served on its own!
Almond butter energy bites are the perfect, healthy snack! Each bite has just the right amount of sweetness, a bit of fiber, and some protein to keep you full!
These super easy Fruit Sticks are like fruit fries! Crunchy bites of melon with a creamy coconut dip takes your average fruit platter to the next level!
Cinnamon Yogurt Dippers are a fun school lunch snack option. Kids will love to dunk their fresh fruit or cinnamon veggie straws in this yogurt dip!
Easy Back to School Lunch Ideas: A Full Month of Sandwich Free Bento Box Lunches
Sick of sandwiches? This post has a full month of sandwich free bento box lunch ideas kids and adults will both love.
These grilled chicken wraps are perfect for a quick lunch! They’re packed with flavor, easy and quick to make and perfect for packed lunches and picnics.
One of the simplest ways I know how to turn a “boring” sandwich into a FUN sandwich is by using cookie cutters!
These buggy fruit kabobs are a fun way to work fruit into your child’s lunch box and keep them excited for lunchtime.
Choose basic peanut butter and jelly … or venture into our other creative filling ideas (even lots of nut-free options). Best part of all? These hippos are just so stinkin’ cute! – your kiddos will love ’em!
Homemade Gluten-Free Pizza Lunchables (Vegan, Allergy-Free, Grain-Free)
Lunchables without the scary ingredients! Homemade Gluten-Free Pizza Lunchables that are vegan, allergy-free, & grain-free too! This healthy, kid-loved, and mom-approved make-ahead lunch recipe will make the school year a bit more fun!
These avocado tuna wraps are loaded with protein, veggies, and good fats for a healthy, filling meal. They are easy to make and perfect for meal prepping!
Send your kids to school with these Chickpea "Tuna" Sandwiches. No tuna here. Just mashed chickpeas. There's lot of protein to get them through the day.
These Muffin Tin Sushi Cups are super easy to make, so adorable and full of healthy goodness! Naturally vegan and gluten-free.
This flavourful pasta salad with a non-creamy homestyle vinaigrette dressing is quick to make and is a perfect lunch to pack.
A vegan chickpea tuna salad that puts a healthy spin on an old classic. This meal has tons of fiber and protein, and is a sure fire hit with kids
Kids LOVE these roll up sandwiches! They're not just fun, but tasty and include protein and a veg for kid's lunches!
This lentil avocado recipe for veggie wrap is easy and simple. If you’re looking for healthy vegan school lunch ideas this tortilla wrap recipe is for you.
Pita Pockets with Roasted Veggies and Hummus Recipe: Healthy and delicious lunch meal you will look forward to. These vegan rainbow pita pockets are very easy and quick to make and can be eaten warm or cold.
More Easy Lunch Ideas:
20 of the best Bento Box lunch ideas that are toddler friendly!
Easy Lunch ideas for Preschoolers
These cookie balls pack into a lunch box pretty easily!
Avocados are a great addition to wraps. My 5 year old eats them plain 🙂