Kids often have their own ideas of what makes a great lunch. Most of the time, it is never as healthy as we, the parents, want it to be.
I am always looking for nutritious lunch ideas that my kids will love. I want them to be healthy and still enjoy their lunches.
Sandwiches for lunches are very common, but let us face it, having a sandwich for lunch day after day and week after week will have your kids bored and never looking forward to their lunches.
Sandwiches are common because they are relatively easy to make and there is a guarantee that they will last till lunch hour.
However, you should know that there are plenty of other cold lunches that are also easy to make and can break the cycle of ham and cheese sandwiches.
I am not saying that you shouldn’t pack sandwiches for your kids’ lunches, I do it too, occasionally. However, I believe it would be more fun for you and your kids if you mixed things up a little bit. It wouldn’t hurt, would it?
Lunchtime is always the highlight of the day for all kids. It’s a chance to socialize, hang out with friends, and also dig into some delicious food.
There is always room to spice up your kid’s lunch whether he is at school or is just at home. There are a few easy and healthy recipes that are perfect for kids.
No matter how picky your kid is with meals, you can manage to whip up a few lunches that they will definitely enjoy.
I am one of those moms that has a goal of packing healthy lunches all year long. I usually start off strong, but somewhere along the way, I become a little bit relaxed. Kids are fickle.
One day they absolutely love a certain meal and the next day they just don’t.
They also tend to get tired of certain foods. I always switch up the options once in a while to keep their lunches interesting. Sometimes I even let them make their own lunches.
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To make my work easier I came up with a list of lunch ideas that I can make for the kids.
These days, I just look at the list and quickly decide what to make for their lunch. I don’t have to overthink it because the kids love all the meals on the list.
I try as much as possible not to make the same meal too many times because they may end up not liking it anymore. Besides, it is always good to keep them guessing.
Here is a list of 21 easy lunch ideas for kids that I use. These lunch ideas will most likely have your kids looking forward to lunchtime every day. They are also quick to prepare. Try them out and let me know whether your kids love them as much as mine do.
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- Quesadillas
Quesadillas are a kid’s favorite for various reasons.
Most adults believe that they need to be piping hot for them to be delicious but the truth is that they don’t. Pack the quesadillas with guacamole, pineapple chunks, or even tortilla chips.
- Spring rolls
Large lettuce leaves or rice paper wrappers can make amazing rolled-up meals that your kids will enjoy eating.
Fill the lettuce or wrappers with shrimp, pork, or tofu. Pack them with sliced red bell peppers or cheese.
- Hummus and pita
My kids love hummus, I have never met a kid who doesn’t enjoy a good smear of hummus.
Let them enjoy hummus for lunch served with Salami, olives, carrots, baby tomatoes, and grapes. Always pack the hummus in a separate container so that it does not get too messy.
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- Quinoa salad
With this salad, your kids can eat a little bit of everything that they like. Simply mix the veggies, meats, and cheeses that your kids like and mix them with plain quinoa.
Once everything is combined, dress the salad lightly with a basic vinaigrette. Serve it with tomato and pear slices.
- Breakfast for lunch
When you have time to make some nice breakfast over the weekend, make some extra food that can be served as lunch.
Pancakes, sausages, and hard-boiled eggs can make for a tasty and filling lunch. Serve them with yogurt and sliced strawberries.
- Deli meat roll-ups
Kids love deli meat. Who said deli meats need to be inside a bun? Mix things up by rolling sliced deli meats like roast beef, ham, or turkey around cheese, cheese sticks, or even greens.
I am pretty sure your kids will enjoy it. You can serve the roll-ups with pretzels, apple slices, or celery.
- Vegetable sushi
You can use leftover cooked fish and rice to make a delicious lunch for the kids. It is pretty easy to make.
Serve the rice and fish with sushi condiments, edamame, and raspberries for a filling and tasty lunch that your kids will definitely enjoy.
- Food on sticks
For some reason, kids always enjoy food on sticks. I guess it is because it’s fun for them.
Place chicken satays, beef skewers, or sausage kebabs and serve with rice, sliced cucumbers, or pretzels covered in yogurt. Always use flat, blunt-edged bamboo sticks to avoid any kind of accident.
- Avocado toast
Creamy avocado has always been a winner when it comes to kids and avocado toast is a lunch that kids will always enjoy. You can serve the toast as it is or adds a layer of crispy bacon to make it taste even better.
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- Vegan rice salad
This rice salad contains plenty of vegetables and makes for a delicious and healthy lunch. It will give your kids a boost of energy. I use brown rice to make the salad because it has a lot of fiber and my kids enjoy the crunchy texture.
- Avocado wrap
Kids love wraps. They also love avocado and hummus. You can use ripe avocados and hummus to make delicious avocado wraps for their lunch.
They are rich in protein and taste amazing. You can add some sprouts or greens for that extra crunch but leave out tomatoes as they tend to make the wraps soggy.
- Easy pizza pockets
You can easily make pizza pockets for your kids’ lunch. Whip up some tomato sauce, take your favorite pizza toppings and crack open a tube of refrigerated biscuit mix to make the pizza pockets. It is my kid’s favorite.
- Meatloaf muffins
You can make meatloaf muffins by making a classic meatloaf mixture and baking it in muffin tins.
These meatloaf muffins will give your kids a comforting home-style lunch. They are pretty easy to whip up and don’t take up too much of your time.
- Pasta salad
Pasta salad always makes for a great lunch for kids. It is super creamy and tastes great. Use avocados, basil, cherry tomatoes, green onions, and whole wheat curly pasta.
The pasta salad always tastes fresh. It is also a healthy lunch option if you are trying to make your kids eat healthier meals.
- Lasagna
You can make tasty lasagna over the weekend and freeze individual portions. The lasagna portions will make for easy, tasty weekday lunches. Prep it by reheating it in a microwave and wrap it in aluminum foil before packing it in your kid’s lunch bag.
- Fruit salad
Fruit salad is a perfect lunch light for the kids. Make a fruit salad and add some lemon, honey, and just a little bit of sugar for the perfect lunch. Place the fruit salad in a glass or plastic container. You can always give them some light snacks like crackers in case they get hungry.
- Pizza wraps
You can make pizza wraps with just three ingredients. All you need is cheese quesadillas, spaghetti sauce, and your favorite pizza toppings. I like using green bell peppers, mushrooms, and pepperoni slices. Wrap the pizza wraps in tin foil to keep them warm. Your kids will enjoy them.
Also, click here to check out: The Best Way to Reheat Pizza.
- Strawberry spinach salad
Most kids love sweet strawberries. If they are in season, whip up a healthy strawberry spinach salad. Don’t dress the salad at home if they are carrying the lunch to school as it may cause the greens to wilt. Simply pack the vinaigrette in a separate container and let the kids dress the salad right before eating it.
- Chicken sandwiches
Kids will always enjoy chicken sandwiches. I make mine with slices of cinnamon raisin bread. The ingredients I use are chicken, mayonnaise, honey mustard, chopped green apples, walnuts, and dried cranberries.
- Beefy macaroni and cheese
Use your crockpot to make beefy macaroni and cheese over the weekend so that you have easy weekday lunches. The macaroni and cheese are quite easy to make and since you will be using a crockpot, you won’t put in too much effort either.
- Chicken salad
Who doesn’t love chicken salad? Whip up a simple chicken salad using juicy seedless grapes, lettuce, celery, scallion, and chicken.
Always cut the grapes in half for safety reasons. The chicken salad makes for a healthy and filling lunch for the kids.
