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Well, hello there! You are hopefully here because you are searching for easy, healthy lunchbox ideas for kids.
This topic is a huge passion of mine. I’m only just beginning my personal lunch packing era as my eldest started first grade this year. I’m determined to keep packing lunches simple and not like another overwhelming chore. It’s important to me that her food nourishes her mind and body too.
Around here you will find lunch ideas that are quick, minimally-processed, colorful & tasty!
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Contents
10 easy healthy lunchbox ideas for kids:
Here are 2 weeks of packable lunch ideas utilizing a bento box with 3-4 compartments. You can shop my favorite bento box by clicking here.
Classic sandwich
In our house this typically looks like ham & cheese on sourdough bread. I’ve never served my kids anything but sourdough bread for toast or grilled cheese, etc since they were babies so they eat it without any issue. I’d love to start making sourdough from scratch this year but for now I buy loaves. The farmers market is my favorite place to stock up!
Obviously if your school isn’t nut free you can do peanut butter & jelly, peanut butter & banana, peanut butter & honey etc. We save theses ones for picnics and non-school lunches.
Pita & hummus
There are soooooo many varieties of hummus out there. Pita bread is easy to pack but crackers work great if your child won’t eat a pita. Fresh fruit and veggies make great sides!
Roll ups
Basically a play on a sandwich but with a wrap to give some variety.
Gyros
We went to Greece for summer vacation this year and discovered our children love gyros! It makes as easy assemble your own lunchbox with leftover meat.
Charcuterie style
“Snacky” lunch is easily the most requested lunch box. I try to pack it 1-2 times a week. You can find nitrate/nitrite free salami’s. I buy blocks of cheese and cut slices. The gluten free seed crackers from Costco are great. It’s hard to find a truly “clean” cracker. It’s another item I’d love to learn to make myself as my youngest becomes a little more independent.
Pasta salad
Have a noodle lover? Will they eat cucumbers? Tomatoes? Mix it all together for a super basic pasta salad. Using Banza noodles adds some hidden protein too.
Brunch for lunch
I’m a personal huge fan of brunch food. I make a double batch on Sunday mornings so I can have easy breakfasts for the kids and also pack a brunch for lunch day. Greek yogurt protein pancakes and cinnamon sourdough french toast fingers are fan favorites in our house.
Quesadilla
I love this one because you can use tons of different leftover dinner proteins, bury it in cheese and make a quesadilla.
Protein box
Throw in a bunch of higher protein foods. Think hard boiled eggs, grass fed beef sticks, hummus, edamame, etc.
Tuna salad
Only one of my three kiddos will touch tuna – but she loves it. Might get a few raised eyebrows for this one, but I mix it up with a little mayo, lemon juice, salt and pepper and she eats it with her favorite crackers.
Summary of These 10 Nourishing Lunchbox Ideas for Kids
- Sandwich
- Pita & hummus
- Roll-ups
- Gyros
- Charcuterie-inspired
- Pasta “salad”
- Brunch
- Quesadilla
- Protein snack box
- Tuna salad