25+ Packed Lunch Ideas for Kids That are Amazing!

I agree that It may be enjoyable and difficult to prepare a range of healthy and enticing packed lunches for children. A nutritious lunch not only gives your child the energy they need for the day, but it also promotes good eating practices.

Making fun and enticing packed lunches for kids is a wonderful way to make sure they get the nutrition they require while infusing their day with a little creativity.

Being a mother, I could relate to the daily struggle of preparing tempting lunches that are equally eye-pleasing and nutritious for our kids. 

Best Packed Lunch Ideas for Kids

To keep your children alert and satisfied throughout the day, pack hearty pasta salads and a few special treats, such as sweets and fruit. As a mother, I always seek out different ways to make my kid’s lunch boxes full of nutrients and look amazing.

Here are some of the school lunch recipes that would leave your kids’ mouths watering:

Falafel Lunchbox

With a bento-style lunchbox, this falafel salad 🥗 will be entertaining. My son enjoys his lunchbox as I prepare him distinctive compartments of food. 

Cajun Tortilla

Oven-baked tortilla with hummus or any sort of dip your kid likes can never go wrong 😌. My kid enjoys the tortilla with pea hummus. Does your kid enjoy it, too?

Egg Muffins

Make these little egg 🥚 muffins for the kids’ quick breakfast or lunch. This recipe is a go-to easy one.

Enriched with fiber, carbs, protein, and other necessary nutrients, this recipe calls for frying broccoli, bell pepper, and onions and then adding them to whisked egg whites. 

My son loves his muffins with tomato 🍅 ketchup.

Fruit Skewers with Yogurt Dip

I enjoy preparing these delicious fruit 🍒🍓 skewers. The recipe walks your kids through the fundamentals of wielding a knife to give them confidence in important culinary abilities. 

I always add a diverse amount of fruits for a more colorful lunchbox, and my son loves it.

Caprese Sandwich

My kid loves an easy vegetarian, hassle-free lunchbox. 

Over the focaccia or bread 🥖 with pesto on top, distribute the red onion 🧅 pieces, mozzarella, tomatoes 🍅 and basil. 

Over the remaining slices, add 1/4 tsp balsamic vinegar. Slices can be served immediately, wrapped for a picnic 🧺, or sandwiched 🥪 together. 

Pasta salad

I would say it’s simple to prepare pasta salad 🥗 in advance and enjoy it all week long if you have leftover ingredients. Because whole-wheat pasta has more fiber, it will help keep your kid satisfied for longer. 

Want to enrich hydration in your toddler? Add in melons 🍈 to increase the water content in the salad. 

Homemade Lunchables

Prefabricated mini-meals are popular with children, but processed foods that are high in salt and other preservatives are not very appealing.

Hence, place the sides and main ingredients adjoined for your child to ensemble and eat to their fill. 

I offer my kid to prepare their own homemade Lunchable.

Chicken and Guacamole

Buying a rotisserie chicken 🍗 and adapting it to work for whatever chicken dish is one of the mothers’ favorite time-saving lunch preparation tricks. It is delicious on its own and makes a terrific protein go-to for your child’s lunch.

Pro Tip:

I let this served cold as the taste gets enhanced tenfold.

Tacos

You can deconstruct leftover tacos 🌮 into fresh ones. All of the ingredients taste yummy when cold, too. 

Let your kids enjoy their lunch more as they assemble the ingredients on their own. 

Chicken Salad

Try breaking it down for your child if they like chicken 🍗 salad sandwiches. They may create sandwiches with crackers, or they can enjoy dipping the bell peppers 🌶 in the chicken salad.

I let my kids use apple slices in their sandwiches, which add a fun taste to his taste buds, and he enjoys it.

Ham and Cheese Rollups

Low-sodium ham with cheese 🥪 can never be a failure. Without using a sandwich, you may include meat in your child’s packed lunch. Does your kid find his lunchbox boring? This is the real meal deal. 

BBQ Chicken

This lunch suggestion is a wonderful reminder that basic is more than enough. Not every meal will be Instagram-worthy. 

You’re already a gold star just for taking the time and effort to pack your child a healthy lunch.

Pro Tip:

You can cut the chicken into pieces and serve them with a side of BBQ sauce. 

Pumpkin and Feta Pies

These terrifying pumpkin 🎃 and feta pies are perfect for a Halloween celebration. Kids will like helping create these in the kitchen because they are perfect for tiny hands.

My son always completes his lunchbox when I prepare this. I’m sure yours would love it too. 

Tuna Pasta Salad

This simple pasta salad dish with tuna mayo is great for picnics or lunch boxes since it comes together quickly. 

In a skillet, sauté minced garlic and chopped onion in olive oil. Chopped tomatoes, canned tuna, and Italian spice should be added. Simmer this for 5 minutes. 

Chicken Taco Salad

Tacos 🌮 are a well-known lunch box dish. A flavorful Tex-Mex lunch that is fast, bright, and filling. You can include chicken to make it protein-packed.

I let my kid customize his toppings to make the salad. Maybe try doing it with yours?

Versatile Meatballs

You can serve these meatballs with potatoes 🥔 and lingonberry jam, Swedish style. 

For children to take to school, you can also place them in a wide-mouth thermos with pasta 🍝.

BLT Pasta Salad

A quick and delectable addition to any lunchbox is spaghetti 🍝🥗 salad. It also counts as two of their five-a-day for children between the ages of 9 and 12. 

Bowtie pasta should be cooked and then cooled. Toss in mayo, chopped tomatoes 🍅, crispy bacon 🥓 pieces, and lettuce. Add salt and pepper to taste. 

This is a wonderful variation on the traditional BLT sandwich 🥪, excellent with a cooling summer salad.

Fruity Sundae

Suitable for children aged 4 to 8, this sweet and delicious delight has yogurt 🍨 mixed with mashed strawberries and topped with berries 🍓.

Pro Tip:

You can make these fruity sundaes in different flavors with fruits of choice.

Chicken Pesto Wrap

In this delicious dish for a packed lunch that your children will like, swap soggy sandwiches with tortilla wraps stuffed with chicken🍗 , cheese 🧀, and vegetables. 

Slice thinly grilled chicken breast on a tortilla with pesto sauce already applied, layer chicken, sliced tomatoes, and fresh spinach. 

Enjoy a savory and filling chicken pesto wrap by securely rolling it up, cutting it in half, and enjoying.

Choco Energy Balls

This high-energy snack is easy to make in about 15 minutes and is great for packing in a lunchbox. 

Dates, almonds 🥜, seeds, and oats are blended. Rollin oats, honey 🍯, cocoa powder, chia seeds, almond butter 🧈, and a dash of salt should all be combined in a dish. Mix thoroughly. Using the ingredients, form little balls. For 30 minutes, chill in the refrigerator. 

Try one of these tasty and nutritious chocolate energy balls for a fast energy boost.

Veggie Noodle Box

Kids’ lunchboxes will love this noodle 🍜 salad 🥗 with sweet snap peas and baby corn 🌽. 

In a small nonstick pan, heat olive oil to make the omelet. Beaten eggs and a splash of milk should be combined, poured into the pan, and gently cooked until almost set. 

If necessary, flip over, cook the other side until done, and then cut into strips. Noodles, baby corn, spring onions, red pepper, and greens should all be combined for the salad. Add the dressing after mixing, then top with omelet strips. 

Chicken and Ham Sandwich Pies

Sandwich pies put a quirky spin on classic sandwiches and liven up lunchtime. 

For intrepid young diners, they are like a savory pie surprise packed with delectable ingredients. 

On a pie crust, arrange pieces of ham and cooked chicken. Add mayonnaise, cheese 🧀, and your preferred vegetables 🥕🥔. A second crust should be placed on top, sealed, and baked until golden. Slice the baked pie into wedges and serve this delicious sandwich pie!

Chicken Avocado Rolls

Not only are these rolls delightful, but they are also nutrient-rich. For a growing, active child’s lunchbox, avocado gives healthy fats, chicken provides protein, and cheese 🧀 adds calcium. 

On a spotless surface, spread out a slice of deli chicken. Spread mashed avocado 🥑, season with salt, then top with a piece of cheese. Slice it into bite-size rolls after firmly rolling it. Combining chicken with avocado is a good and enjoyable way for kids to eat them.

Vegan Salad Bowl

This colorful salad dish has a veritable treasure trove of flavors and vitamins. It has a rainbow of colorful ingredients that make eating lunch an experience as it is vegan and doesn’t include any animal products, which makes it an environmentally responsible option. 

Mix the quinoa, chickpeas, cucumber 🥒, cherry tomatoes 🍅, and chopped avocado 🥑 in a bowl. Add toasted seeds and fresh herbs, then drizzle with a lemon-tahini 🍋 dressing. 

This makes for a delightful and nutritious vegan salad 🥗 bowl that is full of color and protein.

Veggie Hummus Pasta salad

Aside from making your child’s lunchbox more visually attractive, including colorful vegetables in it also adds important nutrients that boost immunity, development, and general health. 

Veggies 🥕🍅 and hummus are combined in this pasta salad to create a pleasant and healthy treat. 

Cook and chill the rotini pasta. Add steamed broccoli florets, cucumber, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, and salt to taste. Olive oil and hummus dollops should be added. 

My kids love this colorful pasta salad 🥗. Do let me know if yours does, too!

Rainbow Rice

Children may play with rainbow 🌈 rice, developing their inventiveness and fine motor abilities using their senses. It not only looks fascinating in a lunchbox but also inspires a lively attitude towards eating. 

White rice 🍚 should be cooked and divided into bowls. To make a rainbow of colors, add a few drops of food coloring to each bowl and mix. 

The vibrant rice may be packed in a lunchbox and used as a colorful and eye-catching addition to your child’s meal.

Tuna and Sweetcorn Slices

This inexpensive, simple dinner uses pre-rolled dough to create an open pie 🥧; feel free to play around with different toppings. 

Spread the crème in the middle, add the tuna 🧆 mixture on top, and then top with cheese 🧀. 

I always prepare these since they are so easy to make, and my son loves to eat them. 

Couscous Salad

You can make a vegetarian filling couscous salad bowl 🥗 that is as good to go as it is. 

My son always prefers a slight drizzling of olive oil and lemon 🍋 juice for that savory kick. 

Do let me know which dip you’re choosing (ps. Hummus dip is always a win)

Chocolate Brownie

Chocolates 🍫? You say you’ve packed the most delicious chocolate brownies, and your kids can’t stop opening their lunchboxes and eating out of them. 

Blend butter with bittersweet chocolate. Combine with vanilla, eggs 🥚, and sugar. Add a dash of salt 🧂 and the flour and cocoa. For 25 to 30 minutes, bake the brownie batter in a buttered pan at 350°F.

Beef Stew

You can slow-cook braising steak for very tender meat. If you add button mushrooms 🍄 or smoked paprika for flavoring, the dish will become a kid’s favorite right away.

Vegan Banana Bread

You can mash ripe bananas 🍌 and combine almond milk 🥛, sugar, flour, and an egg 🥚to make the batter. Add walnuts and cinnamon for more flavor. 

Bake the prepared batter at 350°F. This banana bread makes for a tasty, healthful treat for children!

Fish Pie

My son enjoys eating fish pies, and if your kids love fish, they will enjoy this simple yet tasty fish pie.

My kid delights in every taste as I create a dish with flaky fish 🐟, peas 🫛, and creamy mashed potatoes 🥔.

Conclusion 

These healthy, kid-friendly, and nutritious lunch box ideas are some of my best-handpicked ones. I enjoy preparing my kid’s lunch boxes, and he enjoys licking them out every day!

If you have any further information to add or any questions you want me to address, kindly leave a comment below; I would love to hear from you ♥.