A good lunch is an essential component to a successful school day, so we wanted to share 30 out-of-the-box ideas for healthy school lunches.
School has started, and that means for many of us it’s time to figure out not only what to make for dinner every day, but what to pack in the kids’ lunchboxes. While some kids are perfectly content and maybe even comforted by eating the same lunch day after day, other children prefer more variety. Below we are sharing ideas for healthy school lunches that are simple to prepare and will make lunch fun again.
Sandwiches/Wraps
1. Your child’s favorite cold cuts like turkey, ham or salami, cheese and lettuce on whole wheat bread
2. Turkey or ham or other cold cuts, red bell pepper strips, and cheese wrapped in a whole wheat tortilla, with mayonnaise, spicy mustard or salsa
3. Whole wheat tortilla with your child’s favorite cold cuts, shredded cheese (or leave out the meat and use cream cheese) and shredded carrots, rolled into a wrap
4. Tuna, chicken, or egg salad with whole grain crackers or pita chips or on a bagel with lettuce
5. Your child’s favorite cheese and sliced tomato sandwich (put the tomato between the slices of cheese so the bread doesn’t get soggy) with a little mayonnaise or mustard
6. Fresh mozzarella, basil or pesto and tomato (or tapenade) on a soft baguette.
7. Peanut or other nut butter on whole wheat with jelly, sliced bananas, honey, raisins, or apples
8. Bean and cheese burritos (warm black beans & cheese on tortilla in microwave & wrap in foil) or quesadillas
9. Rice cakes with natural peanut or other nut butter
10. Whole grain bagel with cream cheese and sliced cucumbers
Hot Foods
11. Leftovers like pasta, tortellini with tomato sauce, pizza, chicken, meatloaf or steak (kids don’t seem to mind eating them cold). Bonus tip: Save little condiment packages from takeout food to use as dips.
12. Black beans and rice or other rice pilaf or salad
13. Healthy soup or chili in a thermos (try The Scramble’s Tomato Soup with Basil and Goat Cheese, Roasted Sweet Potato and Apple Soup, or Veggie-Loaded Slow Cooker Chili)
14. Morningstar Farms Veggie Nuggets with ketchup (bake in the morning and wrap in foil)
15. Cooked oatmeal in a thermos with brown sugar and berries on the side
Additional Protein Options
16. Turkey or ham and sliced cheese roll ups (secure with toothpicks)
17. Cheese and whole grain crackers
18. Hard-boiled eggs, deviled eggs, or egg salad
19. Low fat yogurt or cottage cheese with fresh fruit and granola or other cereal (keep them separate and let your child combine them at lunch)
20. Diced tofu drizzled with teriyaki sauce
21. Drinkable, spoon-able, or squeezable yogurt or kefir
22. Proteins like cheese sticks or cubes, sunflower seeds, nuts, chickpeas, edamame, or other beans
Snacks and Grains
23. Overnight oats
24. Trail mix made with raisins, peanuts, and chocolate chips (or your kids’ favorite items) or granola bars
25. Healthy dried cereals (milk is optional)
26. Homemade whole grain muffins such as Blueberry Raspberry Oatmeal Muffins
27. Popcorn (a whole grain!), alone or mixed with raisins and nuts
28. Whole grain tortilla chips and salsa (look for a brand without added sugar) or black bean dip or guacamole
Fruits & Vegetables
28. Sliced apples and cheddar cheese
29. Caesar salad (pack dressing separately)
30. Baby carrots, celery, sliced cucumbers, snap peas, red bell pepper strips and/or pita chips with hummus, ranch dressing, or other dip
31. All varieties of fresh fruit (cut apples, mango, oranges, and other hard to eat fruit, if needed)
32. Smoothies
Further Inspiration
Want more ideas for feeding your kids? Check out these other resources from The Scramble:
The Formula for a Healthy Lunch
How to Make Lunch Packing Easier
Our Favorite Lunch Packing Tools
Navigating Treats & Snacks in School Lunches
Do you have ideas for healthy school lunches? We’d love to hear about them in the comments. And for more mealtime inspiration, check out The Scramble’s family-friendly meal plans
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