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Home / Collections / Healthy School Lunch Ideas for Kids

Healthy School Lunch Ideas for Kids

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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.

Photo Credit: thedaringkitchen.com

My Favorite Vegan BLT Sandwich

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!

Photo Credit: www.vanahlynn.com

Unicorn Bread: Easy Toddler Snacks

Whip the kids up a unicorn sandwich, all the other kids will be jealous!

Photo Credit: www.pastrywishes.com

Simple Easy Apple Chips recipe! check it out!

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!

Photo Credit: strengthandsunshine.com

Homemade Gluten-Free + Allergy-Free Uncrustables (Vegan)

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!

Photo Credit: saltandbaker.com

Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Ball Salt & Baker

My kids always request these chocolate peanut butter protein balls for their school lunches. They are loaded with protein and taste amazing!

Photo Credit: healthyrecipes101.com

Beef-Mushroom Calzone & Marinara Sauce

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!

Photo Credit: theforkedspoon.com

Protein Snack Pack - Lunch Meal Prep

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.

Photo Credit: wholesomefamilyliving.com

Easy Blueberry Turkey Meatballs {Whole 30, AIP}

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!

Photo Credit: thehelpfulgf.com

Gluten-Free Pizza Quesadilla Recipe

These pizza quesadillas are easy to make and pack! Get all the flavors of pizza in a quick and simple lunch.

Photo Credit: whatagirleats.com

Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad With Fresh Rosemary

Cranberry and Walnut Chicken Salad with apples is a delicious and healthy sandwich filling or served on its own!

Photo Credit: homebodyeats.com

Almond Butter Energy Bites

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!

Photo Credit: alekasgettogether.com

Fruit Sticks w/ Coconut Yogurt Dip

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!

Photo Credit: www.findingzest.com

Cinnamon Yogurt Dippers for School Lunch

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!

Photo Credit: www.creativegreenliving.com

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.

Photo Credit: littlesunnykitchen.com

Grilled Chicken Wraps

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.

Photo Credit: www.gracegigglesandnaptime.com

Bento Lunchbox Ideas for Kids

One of the simplest ways I know how to turn a “boring” sandwich into a FUN sandwich is by using cookie cutters!

Photo Credit: freshcoasteats.com

FUN & EASY Buggy Fruit Kabobs For Kids

These buggy fruit kabobs are a fun way to work fruit into your child’s lunch box and keep them excited for lunchtime.

Photo Credit: twohealthykitchens.com

Hungry Hippos (Fun Sandwich Recipe for Kids)

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!

Photo Credit: strengthandsunshine.com

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!

Photo Credit: thefitchen.com

Avocado Tuna Wraps from The Fitchen

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!

Photo Credit: www.drugstoredivas.net

Vegan Chickpea “Tuna” Salad

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.

Photo Credit: www.rhiansrecipes.com

Muffin Tin Sushi Cups (Vegan + GF)

These Muffin Tin Sushi Cups are super easy to make, so adorable and full of healthy goodness! Naturally vegan and gluten-free.

Photo Credit: sustainmycookinghabit.com

Ultimate Non-Creamy Pasta Salad Recipe

This flavourful pasta salad with a non-creamy homestyle vinaigrette dressing is quick to make and is a perfect lunch to pack.

Photo Credit: www.chickpeaandherb.com

Chickpea ‘Tuna’ Salad — Chickpea & Herb

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

Photo Credit: www.christinascucina.com

Cucumber and Cream Cheese Sandwich Rolls (with Lavash Bread)

Kids LOVE these roll up sandwiches! They're not just fun, but tasty and include protein and a veg for kid's lunches!

Photo Credit: anyreasonvegans.com

Lentil avocado veggie wrap recipe - Any reason vegans

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.

Photo Credit: happykitchen.rocks

Pita Pockets with Roasted Veggies and Hummus • Happy Kitchen

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!

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June 13, 2021 · 1 Comment

About Kelli Miller

My husband (Ricky) of 22 years, our three wild and wonderfully different biological boys, 2 fabulous bonus boys, five totally spoiled dogs, a plethora of wild cats, and I live at Miller Manor! It is a 100-year-old Colonial Style Farmhouse that is surrounded by hundreds of acres of farmland, in a small town on the coast of Southern Alabama.

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  1. BusyWorkingMama says

    February 18, 2013 at 5:53 pm

    Avocados are a great addition to wraps. My 5 year old eats them plain 🙂

    Reply

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