Kid’s Lunch Box Ideas (Ready-to-Print Version)
Easy, nutritious ideas and tips for packing school lunches kids love and actually eat.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Main Dishes
01 -
Sunflower seed butter sandwich (crust removed or as uncrustable)
02 -
Ham and cheddar cheese sliders on mini Hawaiian rolls
03 -
Hummus, store-bought or homemade
04 -
Mini everything bagel with cream cheese and smoked salmon
05 -
Plain Greek yogurt
06 -
Pinwheel sandwich with assorted fillings (tortilla roll-ups)
07 -
DIY Lunchable with crackers, cheddar cheese, salami slices
08 -
Egg muffins or baked egg white frittatas
09 -
Cooked oatmeal or overnight oats
10 -
Banana sushi roll-ups with seed butter in a tortilla
11 -
Cheese quesadilla with guacamole
12 -
Macaroni and cheese
→ Fruits and Vegetables
13 -
Grapes, halved or quartered
14 -
Strawberries, hulled and chopped
15 -
Blueberries
16 -
Raspberries
17 -
Blackberries
18 -
Watermelon cubes
19 -
Cantaloupe cubes
20 -
Kiwi slices
21 -
Apple and pear slices
22 -
Peach slices
23 -
Banana halves (in peel)
24 -
Cucumber slices, peeled if needed
25 -
Cherry tomato halves
26 -
Chopped or diced carrots
27 -
Bell pepper slices
28 -
Snap peas or snow peas
29 -
Roasted sweet potatoes
30 -
Roasted broccoli
31 -
Roasted cauliflower
32 -
Roasted zucchini and squash
→ Dairy
33 -
Laughing Cow cheese wedges
34 -
Babybel cheese rounds (wax removed if needed)
35 -
Mini mozzarella balls
36 -
Cheddar cheese blocks
37 -
String cheese sticks
38 -
Shelf-stable milk
39 -
Yogurt pouches (plain Greek preferred)
40 -
Kefir pouches
→ Snacks
41 -
Cheesy puffs (e.g., Hippeas Cheese Puffs)
42 -
Granola bars (nut-free or chewy varieties)
43 -
Natural gummy snacks (e.g., Soley Gummies, Annie's Gummies)
44 -
Roasted chickpea snacks
45 -
Harvest Snaps Green Pea Crisps
46 -
Applesauce pouches
47 -
Fig bars
48 -
Mini pretzels
49 -
Crackers (Back to Nature or similar)
50 -
Dried fruit: medjool dates, raisins, prunes, dried blueberries
51 -
Freeze-dried fruit: mango, raspberries, blueberries, strawberries
52 -
Bear Fruit natural fruit rolls
# Step-by-Step Guide:
01 -
Assemble the main dish according to the selected option: make sandwiches, bake egg muffins, prepare pinwheels, or cook and pack oatmeal.
02 -
Wash fresh fruits and vegetables thoroughly. Hull and chop strawberries, halve grapes, slice cucumbers, and prepare other produce as needed according to your child's preference.
03 -
For roasted vegetables such as sweet potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, and zucchini, preheat oven to 400°F. Toss vegetables lightly with olive oil and roast for 15–20 minutes until tender and lightly caramelized.
04 -
Divide snacks such as cheese, crackers, pretzels, and dried or freeze-dried fruits into small containers or silicone muffin liners to keep them separate and fresh.
05 -
Arrange main dishes, fruits, vegetables, dairy items, and snacks into bento-style lunch boxes or compartments ensuring balanced portions for each category.
06 -
If possible, prepare and pack lunches the night before to reduce morning stress. Use insulated lunch bags or boxes with removable ice packs to keep perishable items chilled until lunchtime.
# Handy Tips:
01 -
Using pre-cut fruits stored with paper-towels in airtight containers helps maintain freshness throughout the day.
02 -
Including at least one familiar or ‘safe’ food item in the lunch increases the likelihood your child will eat the meal.
03 -
Silicone muffin liners are useful for separating dips and snacks, preventing mixing and mess.