Easy Lunch Ideas For Kids

Looking for easy lunch ideas for kids? This is the ultimate collection of kid-friendly school lunch recipes that not only incredibly simple to make, but are also both kid and parent-approved.

In a nut-free school? Don’t miss Peanut-Free Lunch Ideas! Gluten-free? I have you covered with gluten-free lunch ideas as well. You also don’t want to miss my collection of Healthy Kid-Friendly Snacks for afterschool (and all hours of the day!)

Tips for Packing School Lunches

Before sharing some of our favorite school lunches, let me share some tips I have gathered from over 20 years of packing my kids’ lunches. These tips have helped to save my sanity and ensure that my kids actually enjoy and eat what is inside their lunch box!

• Let your kids help! I know, I know! You are fearful that if you let your child pack their school lunch, they may end up with nothing more than potato chips and a brownie. However, when given easy and healthy options to choose from, your child will be much more likely to actually eat their lunch–even if it is on the healthier side.
• Use My FREE Lunchbox Planner. This list gives you (and your child) wholesome, easy ideas that are perfect for a school lunch–or even a lunch at home! I suggest having your child pick an item from each category; protein, grain, fruit, and vegetable. The ideas can be combined in endless ways to create over 100 different easy school lunches and guarantee their lunch is well balanced.  
• Pack lunch immediately after dinner. That way you can utilize leftovers if desired, you only have to clean up the kitchen once, and it will be one less thing to stress about in the morning rush. 
• Choose whole grains when you can. Select whole wheat bread over white bread, a whole wheat muffin over a muffin made with refined flour, or brown rice over white rice, etc. for a dose of fiber and whole grains. It will help keep your kids satisfied longer and reach their dietary fiber goals.
• Adjust portions accordingly. Keep in mind whether the lunch is for a kindergartner or high school student and/or whether your child is active in sports.
• Have the right tools. Having reusable bento containers and a water bottle cuts back on waste. I also recommend having a thermos to allow the option of taking a hot lunch or leftovers to school.
• Mix it up. Switch things up and pair different snacks, fruits, carbs and protein, so that your child never tires of eating the same thing over and over again (unless that is how your child likes to roll!)
• Be aware of any food restrictions in place at your school and/or your own child’s food allergies when packing school lunches. If you find yourself dealing with food allergies, be sure to check out Nut-Free Lunch Ideas and my collection of Gluten-Free Lunch Ideas.
• Use Cookie Cutters. Cutting slices of cheese or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich into fun shapes is a guaranteed way to make your child smile. Well, unless they are in high school! Ask me how I know 😉

100+ Quick Lunch Ideas for Kids

Including whole grains, a source of protein, fresh fruit, and veggies ensures a balanced lunch that will help fuel your child’s growing body and mind. Use the following printable to mix and match healthy lunch options to create a lunch your child will love! 

This list is limited in options, but it is a great starting point. Feel free to add your favorites to the list!

Our Favorite School Lunch Combinations

I have tons of kid-friendly recipes to share that are perfect for packing in a school lunch. These wholesome, easy lunch ideas for kids will ensure your kids gobble up their school lunch and you will feel good about what they are eating! 

Pizza Bento Box

Your kids will be the envy of the cafeteria with this DIY Pizza Lunchable. Pack an English muffin or small pita bread,  a container of pizza sauce, and shredded cheese in your child’s lunchbox. Add in some veggies and fresh fruit, like strawberries and carrots and watch your kids get excited about lunchtime!

Cheese & Crackers

This is one of the easiest lunches to pack for your child and it is so much more affordable to make this lunch yourself rather than purchase a pre-made product. Not to mention, you can use items with less processed ingredients. Pictured here are butter crackers, a cheese stick, grapes, snap pea crisps, and mini bell peppers. Feel free to change it up using your favorite crackers or swap out the cheese stick with sliced cheese or cubed cheese. Adding beef jerky or sliced uncured pepperoni is another great option.

Ham & Cheese Roll-Ups

Skip the bread and wrap deli meat with sliced cheese for tasty non-sandwich school lunch. Pair with pretzels, fresh cherries, and a homemade yogurt tube for a simple lunch.

Copycat Starbucks Protein Bistro Box

Pair 1 or 2 hard-boiled eggs with grapes, apple slices, cheese, nut butter, and some whole grain pretzels (or a whole wheat applesauce muffin). This simple lunch travels well and can be enjoyed cold or at room temperature. Pro-tip: Be sure to slice your hard-boiled eggs and season with salt and pepper or Everything Bagel Seasoning before packing them in a school lunch.

Bean Burritos

Bean burritos are SUPER easy to make and freeze well, making this a great recipe to make in bulk. Store them in the freezer, pull one or two out at a time, throw them into a lunch box with fruit and mini chocolate bar (and an ice pack) and by lunch, they have defrosted and are ready to eat. Bonus: There are „hidden” veggies in these simple bean burritos!

Turkey Club Wrap

Made with turkey, bacon, lettuce, and tomato, these turkey wraps are always a hit and feature whole grains, vegetables, and protein. Add in some berries and some snap pea crisps and lunch is good to go!

Cheese Quesadilla

This is not your average quesadilla recipe. This is a Healthy Quesadilla made with hidden veggies. Trust me, it works and the KIDS love it! Serve with sour cream or a cup of guacamole for dipping and some fresh fruit to round out the meal.

Hummus Snack Box

Pair store-bought or homemade hummus with veggies and pita chips or pretzels for dipping. Add in fresh strawberries and almonds for one tasty lunch.

Chicken Nuggets

Whether you have leftover chicken tenders or chicken nuggets on hand, they make a perfect non-sandwich lunch for kids. Add a side of ketchup, honey mustard, or BBQ sauce for dipping, and finish with fresh fruit and vegetables. This is another easy, kid-favorite lunch.

Chicken Sausage

I think it is a proven fact that kids enjoy food more when it is served on a stick. Even better with a dipping sauce on the side. Serve precooked, sliced Italian chicken sausage with a side of pizza sauce or spaghetti sauce for dipping, a side of snap pea crisps, and plain Greek yogurt topped with fresh berries or homemade granola.

Nacho Lunchable

This is another Copycat Lunchable that kids love! Pair tortilla chips with lettuce, beans and/or, leftover taco meat, tomatoes, and cheese for a quick and healthy version of nachos perfect for school lunch. And some fruit and a cup of salsa, sour cream, or guacamole on the side if desired and this is sure to be a favorite! Time Saving Tip: This is a great lunch to prep after you enjoy tacos for dinner.

Breakfast for Lunch AKA Brinner

If your kids are like mine, they LOVE breakfast! So why not serve it for lunch? Kids love pancakes cold or warm, so they work perfectly for school lunch and can even work in place of bread on a cream cheese or peanut butter sandwich. When you make pancakes, whether Whole Wheat Pancakes or Banana Oat Pancakes, set a few aside for school lunches. Add a couple of pancakes to the lunch box along with a side of maple syrup or chia jam. Round out the lunch with berries, a hard-boiled egg, and yogurt topped with homemade granola.

Veggie Wrap

What kid does not like to dip their veggies into ranch dressing? This easy recipe for a Veggie Wrap puts the veggies and ranch right into a handheld wrap and provides them with vegetables, whole grains, and calcium. Pair this tasty wrap with a bag of whole-grain popcorn and a fruit cup.

Butterfly Lunch Bags

These Butterfly Snack Bags are not only fun, but they are also customizable, and depending on what you use to make them, they can stand alone as a completely balanced meal. Shown below are snack bags prepared with grapes, peanut butter crackers, and a cheese stick.

Leftovers

Never underestimate the power of leftovers when it comes to packing a school lunch. Pack a thermos with leftover soup, pasta salad, chili, or casserole. Some of my kid’s favorites are Instant Pot Mac and Cheese, Tortellini Soup, Cheesy Chicken and Rice, and Thai Noodles. Pair it with a side of fruit and a square of chocolate, for a lunch you know your child will love.

More Easy Recipes Perfect for School Lunches

Just in case I haven’t shared enough ideas for lunches, I still have more creative ideas and easy recipes to share that will round out lunch and add variety to the school year. Afterall, there are 180 days in the school year!

• Mini Pizzas: Make a large batch of English Muffins Pizzas or Air Fryer Bagel Pizzas and use them to make quick work of packing school lunches.
• Southwestern Veggie Tostadas: This baked tostada is like a mini Mexican Pizza and is so fun for kids to make and eat! It checks off a whole grain from the tortilla, vegetables from the toppings, and protein from the refried beans. Serve with a side of fruit for a lunch that is perfectly balanced!
• Homemade Snack and Granola Bars: You will save so much money by making your own granola bars AND you will ensure they are good for you! Try out my easy, no-bake recipes for PB Oat Bars, Homemade Granola Bars, No-Bake Oatmeal Balls, and Homemade Larabars.
• Healthy Dips: Including fruits and vegetables in each lunch is so important, and we all know that when served with a dip, kids are much more likely to make that produce disappear. Serve Cream Cheese Apple Dip with fruit and/or Homemade Ranch Dip or Hummus and watch your kids devour their fruits and veggies.
• Homemade Cheese Crackers: So much better than what you get in a box! These crackers are perfect to add to your child’s lunch for a serving of whole grains or just a yummy snack.
• Homemade Fruit Roll-Ups: Super easy to make and super fun to eat, these homemade fruit roll-ups are a great way to enjoy fruit!
• Baked Oatmeal Cups: Made with whole grains, fruit, and protein, these Oatmeal Cups are not just for breakfast! They are perfect to use in place of a classic PB&J sandwich.

I hope that these ideas and tips for kid-friendly lunches help make the task of packing school lunches less daunting for you!