Packing a healthy school lunch for your kids is quick and easy with these five kid- and mom-approved ideas (plus 40+ recipes to put them into action)!
Coincidence or not, I can’t think of a better time to focus on healthy practices for feeding children than the start of a new school year. After all, the summer months are often filled with extra special treats like ice pops and ice cream, more weekend gatherings like barbecues that are food-focused, and less structure to the day than during the school year. As a mom, I look at back to school season sort of like how adults look at the New Year as a time to refocus and get back on track after weeks of holiday celebrations and parties filled with too much wine and food!
To get parents ready for getting the kids back to healthy eating habits for the school year and in honor of Kids Eat Right Month, I’m sharing with you 5 Quick, Easy, and Healthy School Lunch Ideas and some ways to put them into action. As I mentioned the other day, this is the first year I have to send a brown bag lunch to school for my girls, but all of these lunch ideas are ones my girls have eaten for lunch at home, so I know they are kid-approved, and obviously since I am recommending them, they are mom-approved too!
5 Quick, Easy, and Healthy School Lunch Ideas
1. Lunch Kebabs
In my experience, kids love anything on a skewer, so shake up the classic sandwich and kebab-it! This is a great idea for kids who don’t like sandwiches or for those who get tired of the same old sandwich day after day. I also love these because you can put them together the night before without worrying about your kids opening their lunchbox to a soggy sandwich the next day. I like to pair the kebabs with a sauce or dressing for dipping – it adds extra flavor and kids love to dip! Some lunch kebab ideas to get you started:
- Caprese Sandwich Kebabs: Whole wheat bread cubes, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls, and basil leaves with a side of balsamic vinaigrette
- Peanut Butter and Fresh Fruit Sandwich Skewers or if your child’s school is nut-free, use soy butter or SunButter; I also like to use fresh fruit in place of jelly!
- Deli Sandwich Kebabs: Sliced deli meat, cubed cheese stick, grapes, and celery with a side of honey mustard
- Chicken Kebabs with Herb Sauce
- Watermelon Feta and Mint Skewers with balsamic vinaigrette
For more ideas, check out this great post, 50+ Ideas for Lunch On a Stick.
2. Lunch Muffins
Another thing kids love – muffins! Don’t worry – I’m not suggesting you give your kids mega-size sweet bakery muffins for lunch. Instead, send them to school with protein- and fiber-rich meals in the shape of muffins. I also often use this tactic for running-out-the-door breakfasts – have you seen my Ricotta Berry Oatmeal Cups? Here are some savory muffins that are perfect for the lunchbox:
- Easy Veggie Egg Muffins
- Veggie & Bean Quinoa Bites
- Caprese Egg Cups (I’ve made these with smoked salmon instead of prosciutto)
- Mediterranean Feta & Quinoa Egg Muffins
- Mini Spinach & Sweet Potato Frittata
- Southwestern Meatloaf Muffins
Get more muffin-tin meal ideas from my friend and fellow mom dietitian Katie at Mom’s Kitchen Handbook!
3. Grain & Bean Salads
Bowls are super popular with adults these days, so why not turn them into a lunchbox staple for kids too. If your children are anything like mine, they love their carbs, which is why grain and bean salads are a healthy and delicious option. It’s also an easy lunch to put together because you can cook a batch or two of your favorite grains on the weekend and store them in the fridge until you’re ready to assemble the salad (one of my top 10 meal planning tips!). Then all you have to do is add your veggies, protein, and any fun add-ins your kids may like. Here are some grain and bean salads and ideas for add-ins:
- Beet and Goat Cheese Quinoa Salad
- Spring Pea & Radish Farro Salad with Lemon Mint Vinaigrette topped with feta cheese
- Corn & Black Bean Quinoa Salad topped with grilled chicken
- Salmon Peach Quinoa Salad
- Lentil Chickpea Vegetable Salad with Feta
- Asian-Style Farro Buddha Bowl with Crispy Baked Tofu
- Vegetable and Chickpea Quinoa Salad
- Spiced Quinoa with Roasted Apples & Root Vegetables topped with goat cheese
4. No-Bread Sandwiches
My kids love sandwiches, but I’m not crazy about them having a sandwich for lunch everyday. I’m definitely not anti-carbs or bread (I could never live without bread!), but kids tend to get an abundance of carbs throughout the day and if I want to make pasta or another carb-heavy dinner I want to make sure they’re not overdoing it on that portion of their diet.
To satisfy the kids’ desire for sandwiches and my mommy desire to keep their diet balanced, I make a variety of no-bread sandwiches. What do I use in place? So far I’ve made sandwiches with cucumber and apple slices, corn tortillas, lettuce wraps, whole grain waffles, and avocados (ok these are bowls, but same idea!). I’m also excited to try out sweet potato toast (heard of this new trend?) and spring rolls. Granted some of these ideas are still carb-based, but it’s still a change of pace. Here are some ways to put this idea into action:
- Corn tortillas with cream cheese and smoked salmon (my girls love this!)
- Easy Egg Wraps – fill with cheese, avocado, veggies, or whatever else your kids will like!
- Apple Sandwiches – make these with any nut or nut-free butter or try tuna salad (a fun spin on my Apple Cranberry Tuna Salad)
- Cracker Stackers – lots of other ideas in this great post from Deanna and Serena at Teaspoon of Spice
- PB & Strawberry Sushi
- Quick & Easy Tuna Edamame Salad with crackers for scooping
- Greek Tuna Salad Bites
- Grilled Avocados Stuffed with Corn & Black Bean Salsa
- Sunflower Seed Butter and Strawberry Wafflewich
- Sweet Potato Toast
- Tuna Salad Cucumber Boat
- Thai Chicken Salad or Apricot Pineapple Chicken Salad with peppers and cucumbers for scooping
This is a no-brainer! I mean what’s easier than making a little extra for dinner and using it for lunch the next day? I do this all the time and the possibilities here are endless. You will need to take into consideration whether your kids have access to a microwave or whether they are okay eating cold pasta salad, but other than those minor issues leftovers are always a great lunchbox option. If kids don’t have a way to heat up food (most younger kids probably don’t), invest in a thermos for soups and stews (my friend Sally at Real Mom Nutrition recommends this one). Here are some of our favorite meals to use for lunch leftovers:
- Baked Oatmeal Frittata
- Baked Mushroom Leek Frittata (or any egg frittata for that matter!)
- Grilled Fresh Salmon Burgers
- Quick and Easy Creamy Roasted Red Pepper & Tomato Pasta
- Nicoise Pasta Salad
- Three Bean Vegetarian Chili
- Hearty Vegetable Lentil Chili
- Vegetarian Lentil Bolognese Over Polenta Cakes (or pasta)
- Peanut Soba Noodles with Crispy Tofu and Vegetables
Remember, when packing your children’s lunchbox, provide a variety of food for a balanced plate – even if the meal is not being served on a plate at all! Marina over at Nutrichicos has a great post that shows you just how to pack a balanced lunchbox and check out my Top 5 Tips For Packing a Healthy & Delicious School Lunch and 5 Nutrition Tips for Back to School.
And in the spirit of Kids Eat Right month, here’s a video of my girls making smoothies with me the other day. You may have seen it when I posted my first insta story on Instagram, but here it is in full! Don’t forget to get your kids in the kitchen to help you menu plan, cook, and pack their lunchboxes – their involvement goes a long way to helping them try new foods and eat a healthier diet!