It’s that time of year when kids and parents prepare to head back to school. We know that many parents are concerned about ensuring their kids get healthy foods when they’re not at home but need healthy lunch snacks and lunch box ideas.
Between the classroom parties and less-than-stellar lunch options at many schools, there’s something to be said about prioritizing healthy, balanced lunches and snacks from home. Providing a balance of essential nutrients for kids — including protein, fiber, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals — is important for their ability to stay focused on tasks and have the energy for academic and physical activities throughout the school day.
However, we also know that packing lunches and snacks five days a week can get repetitive. That’s why we’ve rounded up plenty of school lunch ideas to help you feel good about the options your child is bringing from home and they can be pleased with the variety.
What to Pack in a School Lunch Box
Good nutrition is the cornerstone of a child's ability to thrive throughout the school day. Properly nourished children are better equipped to concentrate, engage in classroom activities, and maintain sustained energy levels. Healthy lunch box snacks support your child’s mind and promote optimal physical growth and development.
If you’re looking to “feed” your child’s learning potential, include plenty of fresh produce, which is rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber, and also easy to pack. You’ll also want to ensure that your child gets adequate protein to support their growth. Protein lunch ideas for school may include cheese cubes, Greek yogurt, or a conveniently packaged all-natural meat stick like Chomps.
You’ll also want to ensure that your child is fueled with complex carbohydrates like bread, crackers, and pasta made with whole grains. These are an important source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber to support your child’s physical and cognitive development.
By packing nutrient-dense snacks for school lunches, you can help set the stage for a healthy and successful school year.
6 Lunch Ideas for Kids
Figuring out kids lunch box ideas for school can feel overwhelming. All families are faced with unique challenges, whether it’s financial constraints, food allergies, or that your child is going through one of their “selective eating” phases, and is especially difficult to pack for right now.
Healthy School Lunch Ideas
What constitutes a healthy school lunch can look different between families, but it comes down to a balance of important nutrients that support a child’s growth, development, and overall well-being. Here are some healthier kids lunch ideas to help.
Bean Quesadillas
Quesadillas don’t have to be melty to still be delicious, so if your child doesn’t have a way to heat them, just serve them with cold salsa and guacamole. These are great to make the night before.
Just slather two small tortillas with mashed or refried beans, cheese shreds, and veggies your child will eat (like olives or tomatoes). Cut them into triangles and voila!
Lunch “Skewers”
To make these, start with whatever ingredients you have on hand. All you need are some small skewer sticks that will fit in your child’s lunch box. This is also a great opportunity to include a combination of foods you know your kid likes with a new one or two that you’re hoping they will try (a tasty dip or sauce on the side can help!).
Examples include tofu or chicken, slices of Chomplings, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls, bell peppers, olives, and broccoli florets.
Mediterranean Bowls
This can work well whether your child’s lunch box has compartments or you’re sending one container with everything layered together.
Try ingredients like brown rice, quinoa, or noodles, broccoli or cauliflower florets, avocado cubes, chickpeas, tortilla strips, pumpkin seeds or cashews, bell peppers, and either salmon, chicken, or tempeh.
Cold Lunch Ideas for Kids
Microwaves aren’t always available at school nor are they very convenient, especially if your kids are younger. Instead, it’s helpful to boost your cold lunch game and have some balanced ideas on hand that just need a freezer pack to last until mealtime. Try these!
Hummus Wraps
This provides a nice mix of carbs, healthy fats, and protein. Depending on how open your child is to certain flavors, you could either choose original hummus or a fancier variety like garlic, red pepper, or even chocolate hummus.
Just slather it onto a tortilla (or two, if they are small), roll them up, and serve. Alternatively, you could pack in some veggies, like sprouts, sliced olives, tomatoes, and mixed greens — just maybe not if you choose the chocolate hummus.
Nut (or Seed) Butter and Jam Sandwiches
Choose from peanut, almond, or cashew butter — or if your child’s school is nut-free, opt for sunflower butter. Layer on either storebought or homemade jam and you might have yourself a new favorite cold lunch.
Pasta Salad
Making a large batch of pasta at the beginning of the week may serve you well if your child likes it in a variety of ways. This is also a great opportunity to utilize dinner leftovers for kids lunch.
If you had spaghetti last night, say, you could take some un-sauced noodles and repurpose them for pasta salad using Italian dressing and things like chickpeas, kalamata olives, cucumbers, grape tomatoes, and peppers.
Lunch Snacks to Bring to School
Healthy Lunch Snacks
There’s no shortage of snacks for kids that come in crinkly packages. While there’s nothing wrong with including these occasionally, you may be looking for snacks to rotate in that have more nutritional value. Here are some snacks for lunch that have less added sugar and sodium and more nutrients to offer overall.
Energy Bites
These bite-sized treats are packed with nutrient-dense ingredients like oats, nut butter, seeds, and dried fruits, providing a balanced mix of carbs, healthy fats, fiber, and protein. They offer a quick and sustained source of energy, ideal for keeping kids alert and focused.
Additionally, energy bites are customizable to suit individual taste preferences and dietary needs. Making healthy energy bites for kids is simple: combine rolled oats, a nut or seed butter (like peanut or almond butter), a natural sweetener (such as honey or maple syrup), and add-ins like chia seeds, chocolate chips, or dried fruits. Roll into bite-sized balls and refrigerate until firm.
Trail Mix
Trail mix is a versatile and nutritious back-to-school snack that will promote both physical and cognitive development. Just combine nuts, seeds, whole-grain cereal, and dried fruit or a bit of dark chocolate, and you have a balanced, tasty, and satisfying snack to ward off hunger pains and keep your child sustained.
Chomps Meat Sticks
Made from high-quality, clean ingredients, Chomps meat sticks provide a wholesome source of protein to support optimal growth and development without the additives and preservatives often found in processed snacks.
Chomps uses only 100% grass-fed and finished beef, free-range, antibiotic-free turkey, or venison with no artificial additives or preservatives. This ensures that your child enjoys a wholesome snack with the protein they need to support their energy while avoiding unnecessary fillers
Additionally, Chomps meat sticks are portable, making them an ideal on-the-go option for a quick and nutritious bite during the school day.
School-Friendly Snacks for Lunch
There are a few things that make a snack school-friendly. Depending on where your child goes to school and if they have classmates with severe allergies, there may be restrictions around whether they can bring peanut butter and tree nuts or if everything has to be nut-free.
Furthermore, some snacks are just better suited for backpack and lunchbox travel than others. For example, while bananas can be great sliced in a lunch box, you probably don’t want it turning mushy and brown in the bottom of their backpack. Here are some ideas that can fit all of these needs.
Popcorn
Popcorn is a whole grain that provides fiber for healthy digestion and long-lasting energy to support your child’s activities throughout the day.
Popcorn can be customized with a variety of flavors, from savory to sweet, to suit different preferences. Its light and crunchy texture makes it a satisfying and fun snack.
Roasted Chickpeas
Roasted chickpeas are an excellent choice for a back-to-school snack as they are packed with plant-based protein and fiber, providing a satisfying and long-lasting source of energy to keep your child fueled and focused throughout the day.
Additionally, chickpeas are rich in essential nutrients like iron, magnesium, and B vitamins, which support cognitive function and overall well-being. Furthermore, their natural crunchiness makes them an appealing alternative to highly processed, less nutritious snacks.
Cheese and Crackers
A classic snack like cheese and crackers remains a timeless and dependable choice for back-to-school grazing. Cheese delivers calcium for strong and healthy bones, while whole grain crackers provide fiber to support digestive health.
Additionally, the balanced blend of protein and carbohydrates provides an energy-boosting familiar, and satisfying snack that can keep your child fueled and focused during their busy school day.
Pack a Tasty Kids’ Lunch
As the school year kicks off, having a wide variety of healthy snacks on hand is a huge advantage for parents and students alike. These nutritious options not only keep energy levels up but also promote focus, ensuring a successful and productive school day. Enjoy these healthy and delicious ideas to fuel your child’s physical and cognitive growth throughout the school year.
Frequently Asked Questions
What food to pack for school lunch?
School lunches should take into account convenience and what your kid will actually eat while prioritizing nutrition. When planning lunch ideas for kids, opt for items that travel well and offer a combination of macronutrients, vitamins, and minerals.
What are some good lunch snacks?
Snacks for school lunches should provide some protein, fiber, and healthy fats to provide energy to get through the afternoon while helping stabilize blood sugar. For example, apple slices with cashew butter, homemade trail mix, baby carrots with hummus, or popcorn with pistachios.
What is a healthy lunch and snack for school?
A healthy lunch and snack for school include a balance of foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and lean protein options. For example, a sandwich with a side and a veggie with dip.
What is an easy summer lunch for kids?
An easy summer lunch for kids may look like a combination of simple but flavorful and nutrient-dense foods. For example, a wrap, some fresh fruit, and a yogurt cup.
