Kids Lunch Box Ideas (Printer-Friendly)
Ideas and tips for packing healthy, appealing lunches kids will enjoy every school day.
# List of Ingredients:
→ Sandwiches
01 -
2 slices white sandwich bread, crust removed
02 -
2 tablespoons sunbutter
03 -
2 tablespoons fruit jelly or chia jam
04 -
3 mini sweet Hawaiian rolls
05 -
2 ounces sliced deli ham
06 -
2 slices cheddar cheese
07 -
3 mini everything bagels
08 -
3 tablespoons cream cheese
09 -
2 ounces smoked salmon
10 -
2 medium flour tortillas
11 -
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
→ Dairy
12 -
4 Laughing Cow cheese wedges
13 -
6 Babybel cheese rounds
14 -
10 mini mozzarella pearls
15 -
2 string cheese sticks
16 -
1 cup plain Greek yogurt
→ Fruits and Vegetables
17 -
1 cup halved red grapes
18 -
½ cup sliced cucumbers, peeled if preferred
19 -
½ cup carrot chips
20 -
½ cup blueberries
21 -
½ cup raspberries
22 -
½ cup blackberries
23 -
½ cup strawberries, hulled and chopped
24 -
½ cup chopped roasted sweet potatoes
25 -
½ cup roasted broccoli florets
26 -
½ cup sliced bell peppers
27 -
½ cup yellow kiwi, peeled and sliced
28 -
½ medium banana, in peel
29 -
½ cup chopped medjool dates
30 -
½ cup melon pieces
→ Protein and Eggs
31 -
2 hard boiled eggs
32 -
4 egg muffins (egg white frittatas)
33 -
3 ounces sliced salami
→ Snacks and Treats
34 -
20 g Hippeas cheese puffs
35 -
10 Back to Nature crackers
36 -
15 g Harvest Snaps green pea crisps
37 -
15 g Kibo chickpea chips
38 -
30 g Annie’s cheddar bunnies
39 -
30 g Annie’s gummies
40 -
25 g Soley gummies
41 -
1 Once Upon a Farm oat bar
42 -
1 mini blueberry muffin
43 -
1 fig bar
44 -
20 g dried apple chips
45 -
5 tablespoons granola minis
46 -
10 g toasted coconut flakes
47 -
1 natural fruit roll
→ Grains and Cereals
48 -
½ cup cooked macaroni and cheese
49 -
½ cup cooked oatmeal (overnight or baked)
→ Dips and Spreads
50 -
3 tablespoons store-bought lemon garlic hummus
51 -
2 tablespoons guacamole
52 -
1 tablespoon mayonnaise
→ Beverages
53 -
1 pouch applesauce
# Preparation Steps:
01 -
Spread sunbutter and jelly evenly between two slices of bread, then seal edges using a sandwich cutter to remove crusts and form a sealed pocket.
02 -
Slice mini Hawaiian rolls in half, layer with ham, cheddar cheese, and mayonnaise, then close to form sliders.
03 -
Spread cream cheese on mini bagels and top with smoked salmon slices.
04 -
Place shredded cheese on a tortilla, top with another tortilla, and heat in a skillet until golden and cheese is melted. Cut into child-friendly pieces.
05 -
Wash, peel, and cut fruits and vegetables into bite-sized pieces appropriate for the child's age and pack in separate compartments.
06 -
Bake egg white frittatas into muffin tins ahead of time or boil eggs, peel and chill before packing.
07 -
Combine a variety of nutritious snacks such as cheese cubes, crackers, and natural gummies into small containers or silicone muffin liners.
08 -
Place plain Greek yogurt in an insulated container, add granola and fresh berries on the side or top, keeping components separate until serving.
09 -
Spread seed butter evenly over a tortilla, place banana on top, roll tightly, and slice into sushi-like pieces.
10 -
Pack proteins such as tuna, chicken salad, or pasta salad separately in a thermos or container suitable for lunch boxes.
# Additional Suggestions:
01 -
Prepare and pack parts of the lunch the night before to streamline morning routines.
02 -
Use silicone muffin liners to separate moist ingredients and prevent mixing within lunch compartments.
03 -
Include at least one familiar 'safe' food item for each child to ensure they have something they will eat.