70+ Healthy School Lunch Ideas

Looking for fun and healthy school lunches? As a busy mom who’s done the homework for you, I’ve rounded up 70+ healthy school lunch ideas covering bento boxes, wraps, meatballs, muffins, and more. Each recipe is packed with flavour and easy to prepare, making lunchtime something kids will look forward to.

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Jump to: ℹ️ Overview | 🥬 Tips For Packing Healthy | 🍲 How To Keep Lunches Fresh | ⏱️ Time-Saving Tips | 🍱 Bento-Style Lunchbox Ideas | 🌯 Wraps & Sandwiches | 🥘 Mains | 🧆 Meatballs & Patties | 🥚 Things With Eggs | 🫕 Dips | 🍫 Muesli & Granola Bars | 🍪 Snacks (With A Few Treats) | 🟣 Bliss Balls | 🍓 Fruity Ideas

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As a mum of a toddler heading to pre-school, I’ve gathered this roundup of kids’ school lunch ideas to make meal prep easier and more exciting for both of us. I chose these items based on what I know my daughter loves and what I hope she’ll grow to love, with a mix of familiar favourites and new flavours.

Inside, you’ll find a variety of mains, snacks, dips, muesli bars, sandwiches, and more, ensuring there’s something delicious and nutritious for every taste. Each recipe is thoughtfully selected to ensure it’s easy to prepare, nutritious, and most importantly, kid-approved.

I hope you find it useful and inspiring. Before we begin, here are some general tips and suggestions.

Tips for Packing Healthy Lunchboxes For Kids

1. Food groups to include: Always aim for a balance of protein (eggs, dairy, meat/chicken, chickpeas, tofu, etc), carbs (grains or gluten-free alternatives, potatoes, sweet potatoes, bananas, sweet fruit), and veggies (these are a great source of fibre, too). Include fruits or naturally-sweetened and nutritious snacks for a little treat.
2. Serving sizes: Keep portions kid-sized. Use small containers to help control portions and make it easy for kids to manage. If you have a growing kid or teenagers, the portions will of course be much bigger.
3. Hot or cold: Pack hot foods in a thermos to keep them warm until lunchtime. Cold foods can stay fresh with little ice packs if you’re in a very warm climate (see my suggestions below).
4. Make it fun: Use cookie cutters for sandwiches and fruits to make fun shapes. Bento boxes are perfect for creating visually appealing meals. Kids often eat with their eyes.
5. More tips: Prepare ingredients in advance, involve kids in packing their lunch, and always have a variety of healthy snacks on hand.
6. I know I have a few readers who enjoy the paleo diet, make sure to check out this collection of paleo lunchbox ideas, which can be adapted to kids’ lunches.

How to Keep Lunches Fresh

1. Use insulated lunch bags: These help maintain the temperature of the food. I like this insulated lunch box and bag combo.
2. Ice packs: Essential for keeping perishable items cold, you can get mini ice packs like these.
3. Thermos: Great for soups, pasta, and other hot meals to keep them warm. Go for a mini lunchbox thermos like this or you can get a bento-style lunchbox with the thermos container included, like this one.
4. Seal containers well: Ensure lids are tight to prevent leaks and maintain freshness.

Time-Saving Tips

1. Prep in bulk: Make larger batches of muffins, wraps, and bento components that can be used throughout the week.
2. Use leftovers: Repurpose dinner leftovers into lunchbox-friendly meals.
3. Plan ahead: Create a weekly lunch menu to streamline shopping and preparation.
4. Collaborate with other parents: This is a fun idea that would suit those who have friendly neighbours with kids of similar age. Partner up and split the workload of making lunchbox meal prep. One set of parents could make enough muffins for everyone, the other set would do a batch of meatballs and so on. Then you share the food around on a Sunday.

School Lunch Ideas For The Little Ones

Below, you will find protein-packed options like chicken meatballs and egg muffins, veggie-loaded choices like zucchini slices and quiches, and even sweet treats like fruit snacks and muffins. I’ve divided the recipes into categories and you can use quick links above to jump to the right category, or feel free to scroll down and browse. Whether you’re looking to add variety to your kids’ lunchboxes or need quick and healthy ideas to keep them fuelled throughout the day, I hope these recipes will become family favourites.

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Bento-Style Lunchbox Ideas

Perfect for variety and visual appeal, bento boxes make lunchtime a fun and balanced adventure. Here are some ideas to get you started and then we’ll get into individual lunchbox items.

A couple more ideas to check out:

• Peanut Butter Jelly Protein Boxes – Only if nuts are allowed. These protein boxes take the classic PB&J up a notch with added fruit, nuts, and veggies for a balanced meal. Perfect for busy mornings! Recipe from Family Fresh Meals.
• Healthy Nut-Free Kid’s Bento Box – This healthy nut-free kids bento box is a lifesaver for busy parents, packed with a variety of wholesome, allergy-friendly snacks that kids will love. It’s easy to prepare and perfect for school lunches or picnics. Recipe from Lemons And Basil.

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Wraps & Sandwiches For Kids

Classic and convenient, these wraps and sandwiches are easy to make and even easier to love.

More ideas to check out:

• Turkey Wrap – A quick and nutritious lunch option to try is this turkey wrap. With turkey, cheese, and a bit of veggie crunch, it’s a hit for school lunchboxes. Recipe from Yummy Toddler Food.
• Sandwich Roll-Ups – These sandwich roll-ups are perfect for little hands and big appetites. Easy to customise with your kids’ favourite fillings! Recipe from Yummy Toddler Food.

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Mains For School Lunches

Hearty and satisfying, these main dishes ensure your little one gets the fuel they need to power through their day.

More Ideas For Main Meals:

• Cheese & Tomato Pasta – This is a quick and easy lunch option that kids will love. It’s cheesy, tomatoey, and perfect for a warm meal. Recipe from My Fussy Eater.
• Honey Sesame Chicken Lunch Bowls – You can’t go wrong with these lunch bowls packed with honey sesame chicken and veggies. This is a delicious and balanced meal that’s perfect for school lunches! Recipe from Sweet Peas And Saffron.
• Mac And Cheese (Stove Top) – Creamy, cheesy, and perfect for a warm lunch. Easy to make and loved by kids! Recipe from Super Healthy Kids.
• Chicken Noodle Soup For Kids -This soup is kid-friendly and perfect for a warm and comforting lunch. Easy to make and packed with flavour! Recipe from Mom’s Dinner.
• Spaghetti Cups – Add a fun twist to the classic dish with this recipe. It’s great for school lunches as well as easy to make and kid-approved. Recipe from Create Kid’s Club.
• Baked Spaghetti With Cheddar Cheese – This dish is a comforting and delicious lunch option. It’s easy to make and perfect for a hearty meal. Recipe from Lana’s Cooking.

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Meatballs & Patties

These bite-sized protein-packed options are perfect for little hands and big appetites. These double up as main items as well.

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Things With Eggs

Versatile and nutritious, egg-based dishes offer a protein boost that kids will enjoy.

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Dips To Add Lunchboxes

Pair these tasty dips with veggies, crackers, or bread for a tasty and interactive lunch option.

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Muesli & Granola Bars

Homemade and wholesome, these bars are great for a quick and nutritious energy boost.

Also check out these options:

• Peanut Butter Granola Bars – These are packed with peanut butter and perfect for a tasty snack. Easy to make and loved by kids! Contains nuts. Recipe from Naturally Sweet Kitchen.
• Nut-Free Granola Bars – For kids with allergies, these nut-free vegan-friendly granola bars are easy to make and delicious. They’re a great lunchbox treat! Recipe from In Fine Balance.
• If you’re looking for grain-free, dairy-free options, check out this collection of paleo muesli and granola bars or these homemade paleo snack bars.

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Snacks (With A Few Treats)

Healthy and satisfying, these snack ideas are perfect for curbing hunger between meals.

Other options to check out:

• Lemon Shortbread Cookies – These cookies are zesty and buttery, making them a delightful treat for lunchboxes. Easy to make and impossible to resist!
• Strawberry Bars – A sweet and fruity treat that’s perfect for lunchboxes are these bars. Easy to make and packed with strawberry flavour that kids love. Recipe from My Lovely Little Lunchbox.
• Chocolate Chip Lunchbox Bars – Another healthy and delicious lunchbox treat to make is this chocolate chip bar. They’re easy to make and perfect for satisfying a sweet tooth. Recipe from Chocolate Covered Katie.
• Paleo Banana Blueberry Muffins – These muffins are paleo-friendly and bursting with blueberries and banana flavour. Perfect for a healthy snack or a quick breakfast. Find more grain-free, dairy-free, paleo muffin recipes here.

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Bliss Balls

Packed with nutritious ingredients, these bliss balls are a sweet treat that’s good for you.

More balls to check out:

• Pumpkin Protein Balls – A healthy snack to try is this ball packed with oats, protein powder, pumpkin puree and pumpkin spice flavour. There is almond butter in the balls but you can replace it with seed butter. Recipe from Momma Fit Lyndsey.
• Peanut Butter Oatmeal Energy Balls – These are made with oatmeal, raisins, and peanut butter. Perfect for a quick and healthy snack! Contains nuts. Recipe from Yummy Toddler Food.
• Berry Bliss Balls – My toddler’s eyes always light up when she sees these bliss balls. The vibrant blue colour and coconut coating definitely catch attention and I love that they are so nutritious! Recipe from Feeding Tiny Bellies.
• No-Bake Peanut Butter Bliss Balls – A quick and easy snack option to make are these no-bake peanut butter balls. Contains nuts. Recipe from The Picky Eater.

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Fruity Ideas

Fresh and fun, these fruity recipes add a sweet and nutritious touch to any lunchbox.

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