Back to School: Healthy Lunch Ideas for Kids

Packing lunch for school day after day is no small task! Every family is working with a specific cocktail of food concerns and challenges. Whether you’re focusing on nutrient-dense foods, just aiming to fill your kid up in the middle of a long school day, trying to satisfy a picky eater, or navigating food allergies or sensitivities, we suggest making an ongoing list of lunch ideas that you can mix, match, and reference as the school year progresses. Here are a few of our healthy faves to get you started as well as some delicious recipes (a number of which are from the incredible JF Kitchen!) we’re linking you to in hopes that you can reference this post for inspiration throughout the year:

MAINS

• Chicken Avocado Roll-Up or standard turkey and cheese roll-ups

• Hummus and vegetables with pita bread slices

• Easy ‘Peasy’ Pasta with Peas and Cheese

• Low sodium pepperoni/salami, cubed cheese, and crackers (AKA a healthier homemade Lunchable!)

• Mini cauliflower crust pizza(s)

• Chicken Tacos with Avocado Salad

• You Won’t Miss the Breadcrumbs Keto Meatballs

• Turkey Tacoladas

• Green grilled cheese sandwich

• Strawberry and cream cheese sandwich or a peanut butter/almond butter/sunbutter and jelly sandwich

• Keep It Simple Chicken

• Ham and Cheddar Lunchbox Muffins

• Vegetarian quesadillas with beans and cheese

• Wagon Wheel Pasta Salad

SIDES

• Berries, grapes, a clementine, or a banana

• Easiest Tomato Soup Ever

• Carrot and celery sticks

• Apple and banana chips

• Chopped bell peppers or Guacamole-Stuffed Mini Peppers

• Edamame Nibbles

• Cherry tomatoes

• Oven Sweet Potato Fries

• Veggie straws/chips or pretzels

• Parmesan Broccoli Bites

• Chips and guacamole or salsa

Be sure to read 5 Ways to Introduce Your Kids to a Healthy Lifestyle for more scoop on creating healthy family habits!