Healthy Lunch Ideas for Lunchboxes

Easy and healthy lunchbox ideas for kids that are quick and simple to make and require no heating. Delicious school lunches they'll love!

Prep Time5

Total Time5

Servings: + servings

Calories: 274kcal

½ cup Fresh fruits and berries: melon cubes or shapes, grapes, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, apple slices, bananas slices, orange segments
½ cup Applesauce

Matchstick veggies: Carrots with dressing and dips like carrots, celery, and bell pepper strips
Whole snack veggies: like cherry tomatoes
Greens: lettuce, spinach

Crackers: Whole grain crackers and crisps Graham crackers, veggie chips, crisps, or whole grain crackers
Salty snacks: like pretzels, popcorn, granola, and granola bars
Trail mix
Hummus and Dips
Sweet Treats: like whole grain muffins or cookies

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Mix and match these ideas from each of the food groups: fruit, vegetables, proteins, and snacks or treats. Let the kids help decide the choices and pack their lunches. They'll be much more apt to love it that way!

Choose any 1 fresh fruit. For example: grapes, apple slices or rings, any melon chunks (cantaloupe, honeydew, watermelon), any berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries), or banana slices.
Choose any 2 vegetables. For example: carrot coins or sticks, cucumber, broccoli, bell pepper strips, asparagus spears, summer squash ribbons, or grape tomatoes.
Choose any 1 healthy protein. For example: Beans, edamame, nuts, seeds, peanut butter, hummus, veggie burger, roasted turkey or chicken slices, or a hardboiled egg.
Choose any 1 whole grain. For example: whole grain pasta, bread and crackers, brown rice, quinoa, steel-cut oats, and other minimally-processed whole grains.
Incorporating dairy (if desired). For example: unflavored milk, plain Greek yogurt, small amounts of cheese like cottage cheese, and string cheese. For dairy-free options, try soy milk and soy yogurt, which contain similar amounts of calcium, protein, and vitamin D as dairy milk.