Make packing lunch WAY easier with these no-cook school lunch ideas. They work for little and big kids and can be adjusted and customized to suit the preferences of your child. Here’s to less stress about lunch!
After packing lunches for my oldest kiddo for a few years, I can safely say that it can actually be an easy task if you keep things in perspective and keep things super simple! Kids tend to like simpler meals anyway, so these no-cook school lunch ideas are here to help you if you ever get into a rut, if you run out of ideas, or if you want to let your kids scroll through and see what looks yummy to them.
I have a lot of recipes for lunch that are perfect for sending in a thermos or a lunchbox, though I’m going to share 10 ideas that require no cooking at all. These are great ideas to throw together at the last minute in the morning (because life happens and I realize that is when many of us are actually packing!) and to make when it feels like you’re running low on groceries.
School Lunch Ideas
TIP: If your child has a nut-allergy, make sure you talk to the school about how that’s handled in the lunchroom. If there’s a peanut table, you may need to request that they have a friend sit with them so that they aren’t alone, which can sometimes happen.
Combine whole grain crackers, pepperoni, and cheese with mango and snap peas (or a fruit and veggie of your choice) for an easy lunch. This is a nice alternative to a sandwich that you can pack in minutes.
Spread cream cheese and jam, turkey and cheese, hummus and lettuce, or sunflower seed butter and jam onto a lightly toasted bagel for a fun take on a sandwich. Add simple sides of produce like cucumbers and fruit to finish.
How To Pack School Lunches When You Have Picky Eaters
Fill a tortilla with sunflower seed butter and jam, bean dip, hummus, or turkey and cheese, fold over and cut into triangles for an easy lunch. Pack with simple sides such as a yogurt tube, grapes, cherry tomatoes, and bell pepper. (Halve grapes and cherry tomatoes for kids under 4.)
Pack breakfast for lunch with yogurt, granola, and easy sides of fruit. We like to do this in our Omiebox since the round compartment is a thermos and keeps the yogurt cool.
There’s nothing wrong with an easy lunch and this sandwich is a great option. Use sunflower seed butter and jam or try Granola Butter, which is also nut-free and is super delicious. Pair with a fruit, veggie, and a fun food like cheese cracker sandwiches.
Healthy School Lunches
I’ve often joked that I always found the idea of Uncrustables super silly…until I actually had kids and realized how convenient a concept they are! But you can do something similar yourself with rounds of bread cut with a cookie cutter, then wrap them in plastic before freezing. Add cheese, kiwi, and crackers on the side for a kid-approved lunch.
This is our go-to lunch when we otherwise seem like we’re out of food and the kids always love it. Simply choose a whole grain, a protein, two items of produce and combine it all in a lunch box. Quick and easy!
If your kids like to dip and dunk, try pairing crackers with hummus. Add extra protein with cheese and/or a yogurt tube and a side of fruit like watermelon.
Healthy Recipes For Your Picky Eater
Pair frozen pancakes (simply warm in the microwave if frozen or in the fridge, then cut up) with a drizzle of maple syrup, a smear of jam, nut butter or cream cheese, a filling like cream cheese or sunflower seed butter and jam for a fun breakfast for lunch idea. Use homemade leftover pancakes or store bought ones (Kodiak makes some good ones)—or even try this with freezer waffles! Add applesauce, a veggie or two and a side of milk as desired.
I’d love to hear about your kids favorite school lunches and any feedback if you try these ideas. Please comment below to share!
Use these no-cook school lunch ideas for easy packed kids lunches, or consider them inspiration for packing ones unique to your child. Nutrition info will vary based on the specific ingredients you use.
High Protein Foods For Picky Eaters
Calories: 475 kcal , Carbohydrates: 37 g , Protein: 18 g , Fat: 29 g , Saturated Fat: 12 g , Polyunsaturated Fat: 5 g , Monounsaturated Fat: 9 g , Trans Fat: 1 g , Cholesterol: 60 mg , Sodium: 943 mg , Potassium: 385 mg , Fiber: 3 g , Sugar: 16 g , Vitamin A: 867 IU , Vitamin C: 32 mg , Calcium: 285 mg , Iron: 3 mgThis post may contain affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission if you purchase something I recommend- at no additional cost to you! As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for supporting this blog! Full disclosure here .
Need some new and creative school lunch ideas for picky eaters this time of year? These school lunches are a great option for picky kids! Get out of the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches rut, and jump on in to these healthy lunch ideas that even the pickiest eater will love!
If you’re constantly struggling to get your younger children to try new foods, I can totally relate! Having a picky eater in the house (or multiple picky eaters for that matter) can definitely make it difficult to come up with different foods for your child’s lunchbox each day.
Picky Eater Approved School Lunches
These easy school lunch ideas will have you confidently packing healthy foods for your fussy eaters, even if you can’t get your kids to touch lunch meat! There are a variety of foods that can be packed in bento boxes or cut into fun shapes, that will encourage your kids to try new things this school year.
Look no further than this huge list of school lunch ideas for picky eaters for inspiration and encouragement as the new school year approaches. You and your kids will love these healthy options for easy lunch ideas (that aren’t just sandwiches).
If you’re like me, you’re probably no stranger to whipping up peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, throwing them in a ziploc baggy and calling it good. I’ve found that using bento style lunch boxes has helped increase my creativity when prepping lunches for my kids.
Healthy School Lunch Ideas For Picky Eaters
Bento boxes are great because they have several small compartments. My picky eaters are more likely to try new things in small portions, so I try to add a few food items that I know they’re going to love, with a couple new ones.
I’ve also found that packing my kids lunch with cute little animal shaped food picks or a cookie cutter, encourages them to have fun with their food and eat more.
Need some great ideas for keeping your child’s food warm until lunch time? Head here for the best ways to pack hot lunch.
Creative Ideas For Packed Lunches Kids Will Actually Eat
These street taco tortillas from Mission are so tiny and adorable! Perfect sized for lunch boxes. If your kids are a fan of taco night, send this with them for lunch.
If you have tortillas that need to be used up in your fridge, try switching up your traditional pizza lunchables for these pepperoni pizza dippers instead!
Creating a deconstructed kabob is a fun and creative alternative to the traditional sandwich and a delicious lunch idea that even your older kids will love. Add your child's favorite fruit and a yogurt tube and you have a fun lunch that picky eating can't even conquer!
Meal Prepping For Picky Eaters
These fun spinach pizzadilla dippers are perfect for sneaking in a little bit of veggies without letting their taste buds in on the secret. Add some pepperoni for extra protein and a side of marinara sauce for dipping and you have the perfect lunch that even a high school student could get on board with for school.
If peanut butter and jelly is your child's vibe, but you want them to try something different for a change, give these no bake PB&J energy bites a chance! You can always substitute with sunflower seed butter if your child has food restrictions, or if your school doesn't allow traditional peanut butter.
If you're looking for a great source of protein, a fun protein snack pack with portion sizes of deli meat or hard-boiled eggs is a great way to offer healthy school lunch ideas when you don't have a lot of time. You can easily make these in different ways with whatever you have in the fridge or pantry, and you can make them ahead of time for the whole week.
Healthy Lunch Ideas For Kids At School
Send your kid's to school with their very own taco bar! This is a fun idea for Taco Tuesday and allows your picky eater to add their favorite things to their lunch like sour cream, cheese, black beans, guacamole, and even leftover taco meat from last night's dinner. Serve with tortilla chips instead of traditional taco shells for the perfect bite sized lunch box friendly meal.
Spinach and ricotta cheese roll-ups are fun for big kids, but will also
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