Simple Healthy School Lunch Ideas for Kids
This post is going to walk you through so many new simple and healthy school lunch ideas for kids that you will feel all set to start the school year. (At least on that front!)
All my Kid Friendly Lunch Ideas Posts
Typically I create one post a year right around back to school time, and one more to perk up your ideas after the new year. That mid–school-year slump is real on ALL levels…
- the kid’s drive and performance
- the desire to wake up and get there
- even your drive to make yet ANOTHER fresh lunch box idea.
This year when I reached out to some fellow bloggers for great fresh and easy school lunch ideas for the year (Because this year that is my focus: things that can be made fresh, easily, fast, and hopefully in batches.) the response was so overwhelming!
What a pleasant surprise.
In this post I’m going to start off with some fresh really unique lunch ideas. I think they might be fun to try to break up monotony and if you have adventurous eaters.
Then I’ll jump into some simpler recipes even picky eaters will be asking for more of.
Lastly I’m going to be sharing some recipe ideas that make great lunch leftovers so that you can keep it even easier and still healthy.
First, as I mentioned, I write new ideas for back to school lunches every year… you can check out some of the other posts too for literally HUNDREDS of ideas!
- Healthy Bentobox Style School Lunch Ideas
- The Best School Lunch Ideas for Even Picky Eaters
- The Ultimate School Lunch Roundup
**This post probably contains affiliate links to items that I own and love and am confident will benefit you immensely. Please read the full disclosure here.**
Let’s get started with simple healthy school lunchbox ideas for kids
1. Ham and Cheese Pinwheel
Ham and Cheese Wrappers from Nine on a Dime
These ham and cheese rollups are easy peasy and delicious! Taking ingredients that are all set up to wrap together and fry for a tasty kid-approved lunch idea that you can make in minutes!
2. Caesar Chicken Wraps
Caesar Chicken Wraps from Nine on a Dime
Once again, a delicious feature from Nine on a Dime. This mama’s got seven kids so she really knows how to put together some fast and tasty lunches! This wrap is the perfect kid approved version of a Caesar salad that can be held in your hand.
3. Chicken Hummus Naan Wraps
Chicken Hummus Naan Wraps from The Rising Spoon
These are an exciting recipe that the whole family could get behind. If you have adventurous kids they will be a perfect healthy lunch, and of course, they are definitely adult approved. These easy wraps look too mouthwatering to not be included in this roundup!
4. Easy Peasy Chutney Sandwiches
Chutney Sandwiches from Indian Ambrosia
The gist of this post is to bring you out of the box new ideas that are easy to make to keep your kids’ lunchboxes fresh every day! This sandwich really mixes it up and is quite a kid friendly delight. Chutney is an irresistable Indian sauce made with cilantro and mint. Adding slices of potatoes on this sandwich makes it truly unique for American lunchboxes, but something kids will love!
5. Easy Crockpot Vegetable Soup
Healthy Crockpot Vegetable Soup from Vigor it Out
Healthy, easy, and perfect for fall. I adore slow cookers. They are perfect for batch cooking, busy days, and homecooked meals. This healthy recipe is a family favorite of ours and when kept in a nice insulated and leakproof lunch box or a simple kids thermos, it’s the perfect school lunch on a chilly fall day.
6. Traditional French Onion Soup
French onion soup from Vigor it Out
If you have a high quality thermos and a kid who loves soup, there couldn’t be a more perfect lunch idea to send them with in fall. Imagine opening up a warm thermos of traditional French Onion Soup on a cold day. Yum!
7. Slow Cooker Taco Soup
Slow Cooker Taco Soup from Vigor it Out
Keeping with the soup motif since shortly after school starts back up the weather begins to cool… this soup recipe is IRRESISTABLE! It’s very filling, has a ton of flavors, and is even great as a leftover from the night before. Crockpot taco soup is perfect out of a nice thermos.
8. 5 Minute Air Fryer Pizzas
Air Fryer Pita Pizzas from Recipes From a Pantry
You read that right, 5 minutes to pizza when you use your air fryer! While the cheese won’t be melty in the lunchbox, can we all agree pizza is equally delicious hot or cold? This ridiculously easy recipe is perfect for your lunchbox or even an after school snack! Pairing pizza-y goodness with a crispy pita crust, this will quickly become a new family favorite.
9. Mediterranian Chickpea Stuffed Pitas
Chickpea “Tuna” Pitas from Rhian’s Recipes
As a child, I remember making stuffed pitas being such a fun treat! Your kids will love this easy and tasty vegan chickpea “tuna mayo” for something new, healthy, and satisfying.
10. Gluten-free Allergy-free Uncrustables
Gluten free Uncrustables from Strength and Sunshine
This recipe is perfect, easy, healthy, and can be made in batches! It calls for sunflower butter, my absolute favorite! Plus here’s the big peanut butter and jelly secret and makes this the fastest and easiest recipe of all: you can make these in batches and freeze them in ziplock baggies for up to 6 weeks! Talk about a time-saver!
11. Paleo Corn Dog Muffins
Corn Dog Muffins from Mom Eats Paleo
Awesome, easy batch cooking recipe! That’s what this post is all about, fast, easy, fun, delicious, kid approved school lunch ideas! This recipes hits a home run with the kids. This Paleo recipe will have any child delighted when they open up their lunchbox!
12. Vegetarian Taco Wraps
Vegetarian Taco Wraps from Living Lou
Wraps are perfect for fast and easy school lunches. They mix up the sandwich monotony and virtually everyone likes wraps. It’s one lunch recipe that I know every member of the family will eat (husband and kids included!). These wraps take only minutes to put together and are perfect for a light, filling, and satisfying meal.
13. Italian Pinwheel Wrap
Italian Pinwheel from Vigor it Out
So now we’ve established that wraps are a perfect fast and easy lunchbox staple. This post features our family favorite, Italian Pinwheels! Not to mention 6 other creative wrap recipes for those busy mornings so that you are sure to be able to please every palate.
14. Zucchini Tots
Zucchini Tots from Brooklyn Farm Girl
These are are beautiful nad sneaky way to get your kids to love their vegetables! These tots are made with zucchini and are meat-free but SO delicious! Dip in red sauce, ranch, or just eat them plain! Even picky toddlers and turn their nose up at this easy lunch idea.
15. Pepperoni Rolls
Pepperoni Rolls by Dancing in the Rain
This recipe is far to easy and creative to not have in your school lunchbox arsenal! They’re like tiny little pizza sandwiches that are easy to make and irresistable. This is a really fun one to get the kids involoved in putting together before you give them a quick fry.
16. Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
Air Fryer Chicken Tenders from Recipes from a Pantry
This recipe makes me want an air fryer so bad! I see something going on my Christmas list now, I have a bit of a kitchen appliance addiction, but I digress.
These tasty chicken tenders are totally healthy, take about 15 minutes, and are definately kid approved! Any type of chicken nugget is really, but when you make them healthy in an air fryer with a kick of parnesean?! To die for!
17. Low-carb Egg Muffins
Paleo Breakfast Muffins from Wholesome Yum
Eggs are not nearly only for breakfast, at least in my book! Eggs are a staple food item rich in choline and one of the few non-fish foods naturally with omega-3’s! This recipe is easy to make in large batches, delicious beyond compare, and super nutritious!
18. Turkey Club Wraps
Turkey Club Wraps from Kylee Cooks
An easy delicious classic with a twist. Wraps are easier to handle than sandwiches for little hands so the perfect pick for your school lunch ideas! This easy wrap is like a blt a turkey sandwich had a baby. Yum!
Leftovers Can Be a Simple Healthy School Lunch Too
If you are focused on simple healthy meals for lunch, there’s a good chance you are making the same types of things for dinner.
Consider making a bit extra the night before and using the leftovers as lunches the next day! This is just some really great creative ideas to make your life so much easier.
Once you get in the groove of turning leftovers into future meals (without being super redundant) you are winning at this healthy home-cooked thing!
I don’t know what you have in your fridge, but my hopes with these simple healthy lunch box ideas is that you can think, “Ah ha! I can totally make that really easily because I’m always cooking a whole chicken!”
Or “Ya, I’ve usually got rice in the fridge I can add to it real fast to make this lunch!” Or even get really creative like, “Hey this sounds good… I could swap the turkey for chicken and throw my kids’ favorite sauce in there and they’d love it!”
I’ll add some links in too if you might want to try a new recipe or a few!
- Grilled Chicken and Roasted Veggies – Leftover chicken breast with roasted broccoli, carrots, and sweet potatoes.
- Turkey or Chicken Meatballs with Marinara – Serve with whole-grain pasta or zucchini noodles.
- Grilled Salmon with Quinoa and Steamed Green Beans – Lightly seasoned for a kid-friendly version.
- Stuffed Bell Peppers – Filled with ground turkey, rice, black beans, and veggies.
- Chicken Stir Fry with Brown Rice – Made with colorful veggies and a light soy or teriyaki sauce.
- Whole Wheat Chicken or Turkey Wrap – Filled with lettuce, tomato, hummus, and shredded cheese.
- Burrito Bowl – Leftover taco night: brown rice, black beans, corn, salsa, chicken/beef.
- Quinoa Salad Bowl – Quinoa with chickpeas, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, feta, olive oil.
- Asian Noodle Salad with Edamame – Soba noodles, edamame, shredded carrots, and sesame dressing.
- Greek Chicken Pita – Chicken, tzatziki, cucumbers, tomatoes in whole wheat pita.
- Pasta Primavera – Whole grain pasta with mixed vegetables and light olive oil dressing.
- Lentil or Chickpea Pasta with Veggie Sauce – Add zucchini, mushrooms, or spinach for a nutrient boost.
- Brown Rice Pilaf with Roasted Veggies – Mixed with herbs and olive oil or tahini sauce.
- Fried Rice (Healthy Version) – Brown rice, scrambled egg, peas, carrots, and light soy sauce. You can make this in 15 mins with leftover rice.
- Couscous with Chickpeas and Veggies – Quick to make, tasty cold or warm.
- Turkey and Avocado Sandwich – Whole grain bread, lettuce, tomato, and mustard or hummus.
- Leftover Grilled Veggie Sandwich – Eggplant, bell pepper, zucchini, on whole grain bread with goat cheese.
- Sloppy Joe Lettuce Wraps – Made with lean ground beef or turkey.
- Pulled Chicken or Pork Sandwich – On whole wheat buns with coleslaw or sliced pickles.
- Egg Salad or Tuna Salad with Whole Grain Crackers – Use Greek yogurt instead of mayo for a healthier version.
- Chicken or Turkey Chili – Beans, corn, tomatoes, spices. Great for cold days.
- Minestrone with Whole Grain Pasta – Loaded with veggies, can be enjoyed hot or warm.
- Butternut Squash Soup – Smooth and creamy, made with coconut milk or Greek yogurt.
- Homemade Noodle Soup – Broth, noodles, bok choy, hard-boiled egg, and tofu or chicken.
Wrapping Up Simple Healthy School Lunch Ideas for Kids
I hope you loved this creative list of lunchbox ideas and try them out for the kids and yourself! I am eager to know what your favorite recipe was!
