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Are you tired of figuring out what to feed your kids for lunch every day? These 36 healthycold lunch box ideasmake it easy! Just pick one of these dietitian-formulated easy lunch ideas and go!
Table of Contents
Best School Lunches for Kids
As a dietitian and mom of two, I know how tricky it can be to keep your kids nourished and healthy every single day. It starts to feel like your only hobbies are cooking, cleaning, and laundry. Add in trying to feed them nutritious meals and snacks throughout the day, and it becomes even more challenging!
This list of cold lunch ideas is here to help! As you scroll through this post:
- Note any specific cold lunch recipes that really jump out at you.
- Choose some easy cold lunch ideas that fit what your little one likes to eat and the time you have to assemble their meals each day.
- Look for 1-2 recipes that you can make ahead of time to incorporate into those lunch boxes to keep it even easier.
Having at least two recipes or ideas that you alternate during the week can keep them interested and engaged! If you’re short on time, prep enough ingredients for a week’s worth of lunches, so your little one can grab and go all week.
Cold lunch ideas
Like it? Save these lunch box ideas for later!
Why We Love These Healthy Cold Lunches for Kids
- Healthy: As a registered dietitian, I’ve assembled these lunch boxes to ensure they’re full of healthy ingredients that come together for a complete meal. You’ll notice a balance of protein, carbohydrates, fats, and fibre in each box, with plenty of fresh fruits and veggies.
- Delicious: There’s no point in going out of your way to assemble these handmade meals if they aren’t tasty. Fortunately, all of these recipes and ideas have been tested by my kids and were designed with picky eaters in mind.
- Easy to prep:No one has time to get up every morning to make each component of their kid’s lunch. It’s a lot easier to eat healthy every day when you work ahead! Wash a week’s worth of berries, make one batch of chicken salad to serve up for the week, etc. It’s so much easier during the week when you’ve assembled your main dishes in advance!
- No microwave needed:It can be tricky to keep your kid’s lunch hot all day without a microwave, and fortunately, you don’t need to! All of these cold foods are delicious and refreshing straight from the fridge.
36 Best Cold Lunch Ideas for Kids
Take a good, long look at these healthy lunch box ideas to get inspiration for your own kid’s lunch routine. These are my very favorite cold lunch ideas to prep for my kids, and I’m sure you’ll find something your kids will like, too!
Of course, feel free to modify the ideas according to your little one’s preferences or what you have on hand.
1. Falafel Cold Lunch for Kids
These homemade falafel bites are full of flavor and herbs! They taste wonderful served with some tangy tzatziki sauce and are so easy to make ahead!
Featured in lunch box:
- Mini falafel pita with lettuce and tzatziki
- Carrots and dip
- Blueberries
I like to crumble the falafel up a bit to make it easier to fit into the pitas. If you can find mini whole grain pitas (I like the Ozery Bakery ones), those are a great option for kids since they fit perfectly into lunch boxes!
2. Fruity Roll-Up with Veggies and Berries
These roll-ups are a great twist on the classic peanut butter and jelly! The cream cheese offers a little protein, while being great for those nut-free environments, and the banana and jam are filling and delicious – perfect for picky eaters who prefer a sweeter twist!
Featured in lunch box:
- A banana, cream cheese, and strawberry chia jam roll up
- Greek yogurt plus a raspberry
- Carrot, celery sticks, and dip
I like to keep a batch of Strawberry Chia Jam on hand (we like to freeze it in a silicone ice cube tray and pop them out as needed). You can also use a store-bought jam if preferred. Just try to find a lower sugar option if possible!
3. Homemade Pasta Salad with Fresh Berries & Yogurt
This healthier pasta salad has protein, veggies, and tons of flavor, but you can easily modify the ingredients depending on what protein and veggies you have on hand! It’s easy to make one batch on the weekend and serve it all week long.
Featured in lunch box:
- Bowtie pasta salad with ham, sun-dried tomatoes, cucumbers, and parmesan
- Fresh blueberries and raspberries
- Greek yogurt
4. Homemade Pizza Rolls with Carrot Sticks
These homemade pizza rolls are always a huge hit! With a little spinach and bell pepper baked into each one, they’re a creative way to serve even more veggies without a fuss!
Featured in lunch box:
- Air Fryer Pizza Rolls(they’re also great with thislow-sodium pizza sauce)
- Grapes
- Carrot sticks and tzatziki
5. Healthy Chicken Nugget Pitas with Fresh Veggies
These chicken nuggets have veggies baked into each one to make them extra nutritious. They’re a great way to sneak more veggies into your kid’s diet!
Featured in lunch box:
- Sliced homemade chicken nuggets in a pita with lettuce, tzatziki, and sliced pickles
- Baked sweet potato chips
- Cucumber flowers
- Apple slices
- Mini dark chocolate chips
6. Italian Pasta Salad with Fresh Fruit
This pasta salad is a great cold salad bursting with flavor thanks to fresh tomatoes, pesto, and parmesan cheese. My kids love this simple recipe so much and it’s a breeze to make!
Featured in lunch box:
- 4-ingredient pasta salad
- Mini star crackers (or try this sweet potato cracker recipe!)
- Mixed fruit
- Nut-free granola bites
- Greek yogurt
7. Homemade Fiestada Pizza and Fresh Melon
If you grew up on Fiestada pizzas in your own school lunches, try this healthier homemade version. It tastes great at room temperature or nicely chilled in a lunch bag!
Featured in lunch box:
- Slice ofFiestada Pizza
- Honey melon stars
- Red peppers
- Tzatziki
8. Greek Pasta Salad Loaded with Veggies
I’m a big fan of pasta salads because they’re the perfect cold lunch and my kids always devour it! They’re a great way to sneak in fresh ingredients, like these cucumbers and tomatoes. Plus, the dressing in this pasta salad recipe gets into every nook and cranny of the noodles for extra flavor.
The lentils in this recipe add fibre and protein to fill those tummies until they get home and make a great vegetarian option if your kids don’t love meat!
Featured in lunch box:
- Greek lentil pasta salad with cucumbers, tomatoes, feta cheese, lentils, and Mediterranean dressing
- Cheddar cheese sticks
- Fresh strawberries
- 3-ingredient cookies {no egg}
9. Hard-Boiled Eggs and Protein Muffins
Instead of sending a whole hard-boiled egg in your kid’s lunch boxes, go the extra mile to slice it into wedges. They’ll be much easier to hold and eat! Some fresh berries and a homemade protein muffin end this meal on a sweet note!
Featured in lunch box:
- Hard-boiled egg wedges
- Mixed blueberries and raspberries
- Blueberry Protein Muffin
- Carrot sticks and dip
- Greek yogurt
10. Healthy Lunchable with Meat and Cheese
This lunch box is a snacker’s paradise! The meat and cheese skewers are a lot easier (and more fun) to eat than a regular cheese stick or piece of salami. The crackers and cucumbers are just begging to be dipped into the filling hummus!
Featured in lunch box:
- Sliced cheese and mini pepperoni skewers
- Hummus
- Whole-grain crackers
- Cucumber Slices
- Mini granola bites
- Fresh blueberries
11. Chicken Salad Sandwich
Turn leftover rotisserie chicken into chicken salad for delicious sandwiches your little ones will devour! My kids love this cranberry walnut chicken salad (skip the nuts if nut-free) for a sweet pop of flavour and crunch. I like to use whole grain bread or mini buns for extra fibre to keep them full.
Featured in lunch box:
- Chicken salad sandwich on mini whole grain thin buns
- Grapes
- Carrot sticks
- Hummus (we love this high protein hummus recipe!)
12. High Protein Waffles
Your little one will feel like they’re having dessert for lunch with these healthy high-protein waffles! Although this meal may look decadent, it’s carefully balanced to have the right amount of protein, fibre, carbohydrates, and fats to nourish your child for a day of learning and play.
Featured in lunch box:
- 3-ingredient protein waffles(you won’t believe these are made with cottage cheese!) topped with cream cheese and strawberry chia jam. You can add strawberry or banana slices too!
- Fresh raspberries and blueberries
- Greek yogurt
13. Pita Bread Wedges with Chicken Breast
For a fun spin on sandwiches, try topping slices of pita bread with store-bought or homemade tzatziki sauce and an assortment of chicken and veggies. Because the veggies are cut so small, and the other ingredients are so flavorful, this is an easy way to get your kids to eat even more vegetables without a fuss!
Featured in lunch box:
- Greek pita wedges spread with tzatziki and topped with diced grilled chicken, cucumber, peppers, and crumbled feta
- Cucumber slices
- Hummus
- Fresh blueberries and raspberries
Be sure to spread enough tzatziki on the pita to help the toppings adhere to it like glue. I like to use thicker pita bread so that it’s strong enough for kids to pick up each pita wedge without losing all of the toppings.
14. Chicken and Cheese Charcuterie Board
This is a really easy meal to assemble, especially if you meal plan! Turn your leftover chicken into the protein for this meal, then add the other ingredients you prepped for a quick lunch that comes together with just moments of effort!
Featured in lunch box:
- Leftover marinated grilled chicken (try one of these healthy chicken marinades!)
- Cheese stars
- Sweet potato crackers
- Mini cucumber slices
- Mixed fresh strawberries and blueberries
15. Bagel with Cream Cheese
This is such a great cold lunch idea because it’s incredibly easy! You’ve probably noticed the little eyes and cute accessories I’ve added to some of these easy lunch box ideas. My kids know they’re not to be eaten (or put in their mouths). They’re simply a way to make it fun, add some interest, and point out what you’d like them to focus on eating.
Featured in lunch box:
- Whole grain mini bagel topped with cream cheese
- Honey melon stars
- Carrot sticks
- Hummus
16. Chicken & Cheese Snack Tray
Have you noticed how much kids love shredded cheese? The best part is that you can serve a small amount of cheese, but it looks like so much more because it’s all spread out!
Featured in lunch box:
- Leftover grilled chicken
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Triscuits
- Mini cucumber slices and dip
- Strawberries
17. Pepperoni Skewers
I often go back to this skewer idea because it’s so easy to prep and has a cute presentation! You could substitute a piece of deli meat instead. These raspberries stuffed with chocolate chips are a huge hit, too (for kids and grown-ups) and can help encourage little ones to eat their produce!
Featured in lunch box:
- Triscuits
- Cheese and mini pepperoni skewers
- Cucumber hearts
- Dark chocolate chip stuffed raspberries
18. Pesto Pasta Salad
I like adding a balance of flavors to these healthy lunch ideas. The rich flavor of pesto tastes fantastic with pepperoni and parmesan, both of which are flavor powerhouses on their own.
Featured in lunch box:
- Pesto pasta salad with mini pepperoni slices and parmesan
- Yellow pepper strips and dip
- Fresh blueberries
19. Naturally Sweetened French Toast Sandwiches
This is one of my favorite healthy lunches because it’s always a crowd-pleaser! Who wouldn’t want a French toast sandwich? This French toast is sweetened with banana for no added sugar, and the cream cheese, chia jam, and fresh strawberry slices add tons of flavor.
Featured in lunch box:
- Banana French toast sandwich topped with cream cheese, strawberry chia jam, and strawberry slices
- Fresh strawberries and blueberries
- Carrot sticks
20. Pesto Chicken Roll-Ups
Although not all sandwiches can be made in advance, these pesto roll-ups are one of my favorite meal prep ideas!
Make the individual wraps on the weekend and cut them into slices right away or do that morning of. As the chicken and cream cheese sit, the flavors meld. Plus, the individual bites are perfect for young kids.
Featured in lunch box:
- Pesto chicken and cream cheese roll-ups on whole grain tortilla
- Red grapes
- Carrot sticks
- Tzatziki
I like to make up a batch of this Chicken Pesto recipe at the beginning of the week. It’s handy for lunches and dinners and incorporates some greens in there as well! If you don’t have time to make homemade pesto, you can always use store-bought (use nut-free if necessary) and mix it together with shredded chicken.
21. Ham and Cheese Skewers
If your little one dislikes sandwiches, give skewers a shot! They’re colorful and fun, and the small bites of meat and cheese are perfect for little mouths.
Featured in lunch box:
- Ham and cheese skewers
- Whole grain crackers
- Cucumber slices
- Hummus
- Fresh blueberries
22. Egg Wedges & Avocado Hummus
This tasty cold lunch idea is like a deconstructed avocado toast. You’ve got all the flavors from the avocado hummus, whole grain crackers, and egg wedges, but in a finger food version. So fun!
Featured in lunch box:
- Hard-boiled egg wedges
- Whole grain crackers
- Cheese stars
- Fresh raspberries
- Carrot sticks
- Avocado Hummus
23. Homemade Black Bean Burgers
Made with high fibre black beans, these homemade black bean burgers are delicious with a little melted cheese, sliced pickles and your little one’s sauce of choice.
The picks make them easier to hold with little hands, too, and help prevent them from coming apart when transporting and eating.
Featured in lunch box:
- Black bean burger (my kids love these homemade black bean burgers with oats)
- Cucumber slices
- Tzatziki
- Cantaloupe
24. DIY Pepperoni Lunchable
These bento box-style lunch boxes are perfect for holding various elements in their separate containers. This helps a lot with kids who don’t like their foods to mix, and it’s fun to combine a balance of food items from the different compartments!
Featured in lunch box:
- Turkey pepperoni slices
- Hummus
- Whole grain crackers
- Cheddar cheese
- Raisins
- Fresh blueberries
- Carrot sticks
25. Homemade Crispy Chicken Bites
These homemade air fryer chicken bites are a great addition to your meal plan! They’re perfect for dinners, especially with a little cup of honey mustard, and you can send the leftovers with them to school!
Featured in lunch box:
- Leftover air fryer chicken bites
- Homemade honey mustard dip
- Baked sweet potato chips (sweet potatoes have a great crunch and are lower in starch than regular potatoes)
- Cucumber slices
- Blueberries
26. Turkey & Veggie Skewers with Cheese
Why not add veggies to your homemade skewers! Change it up with your little one’s favorite veggies. If they don’t like bell peppers or prefer tomatoes, just serve whatever you know they’ll eat.
Featured in lunch box:
- Skewers with reduced-sodium deli turkey, cucumber, and yellow pepper slices
- Baby bel cheese
- Whole-grain tortilla squares
- Raspberries and cantaloupe
27. Chicken Wings & Baked Chips
Since these wings are bone-in, they are much more tender and flavorful than regular chicken breast. It’s good to practice how to eat chicken wings at home so kids know how to avoid the bones while getting all the meat. They taste delicious both warm and cold!
Featured in lunch box:
- Leftover air fryer chicken wings
- Baked sweet potato chips
- Celery and carrot sticks
- Hummus
- Blueberries
28. Greek Snack Tray with Turkey
This great lunch idea is all about the power of a good sauce! The homemade tzatziki sauce is full of flavor. Every component (except the grapes) tastes great dunked in it, which makes it a really fun eating experience!
Featured in lunch box:
- Turkey slices
- Whole grain pita wedges
- Tzatziki
- Carrot sticks
- Red peppers
- Grapes
29. Turkey & Cheese Sandwich
This is one of the most classic school lunches on this list of easy recipes! Using a whole grain bun and homemade honey mustard, you can ensure they’re not consuming as much sugar and are getting essential fibre to fill them up.
Featured in lunch box:
- Turkey, cheese, and honey mustard sandwich on whole grain thin bun
- Fresh raspberries
- Carrot sticks and dip
30. Pepperoni and Cheese Snack Tray
Just like the Lunchables many of us grew up with, this is a much healthier version free from highly processed foods and added sugars.
Featured in lunch box:
- Mini turkey pepperoni slices
- Shredded cheese
- Whole grain crackers
- Blueberries
- Cucumber slices
- Hummus
31. Pesto Salad with Ham and Cheese Skewers
Instead of a regular ham and cheese sandwich, these noodles offer a fun and flavorful source of carbohydrates for energy, and the skewers add protein for lots of playing and learning.
Featured in lunch box:
- Pesto pasta salad
- Mini ham and cheese skewers
- Celery sticks
- Tzatziki
- Fresh strawberries
32. Bite-Sized Chicken & Cheese Tray
These small bites are perfect for young kids, including toddlers heading to daycare or bigger kids going to school. If your kids are reluctant to eat peppers, try swapping in their favorite veggies like raw broccoli or snap peas.
Featured in lunch box:
- Whole-grain crackers
- Cheese
- Grilled chicken
- Strawberries
- Yellow pepper strips
- Tzatziki
33. Granola Bites & Applesauce
Although the hummus is the “meat” of this lunch box, the granola bites are a nice sweet crunch, and my kids absolutely love this colourful berry applesauce.
Featured in lunch box:
- Hummus
- Shredded cheese
- Whole grain crackers
- Nut-free granola bites
- Berry applesauce
- Carrot sticks
34. Turkey Sausage Bites & Cheese
Turkey sausage is much leaner than regular sausage yet is still loaded with protein and flavor. Your kids can either make their own little snack crackers or mix and match the different ingredients however they desire.
Featured in lunch box:
- Leftover diced turkey sausage
- Cheese slices
- Whole-grain crackers
- Red pepper strips
- Hummus
- Blueberries
35. Green Monster Muffins & Fresh Fruit
These spinach muffins are one of my favorite healthy swaps for kids! They’re naturally sweetened with bananas and applesauce and have lots of fresh spinach, giving them that dark green color and plenty of nutrients!
Featured in lunch box:
- Turkey slices
- Green monster muffins
- Watermelon and pineapple
- Carrot sticks
- Blueberries
- Greek yogurt
36. Fun-Shaped Sandwich
Cutting your sandwich into a fun shape like a dinosaur can transform a boring old sandwich into something fun and exciting! Use whatever cookie cutters you have on hand to cut your kid’s favorite shapes!
Featured in lunch box:
- Dinosaur tuna salad sandwich on sourdough bread
- Whole-grain cereal (we like Barbara’s Puffins)
- Watermelon
- Carrots and snap peas
- Hummus
LUNCH BOX TIPS
- Think charcuterie board (or Lunchables!). For younger kids especially, they love eating finger foods. Things like fresh berries or individual muffins are easy to grab and eat.
- Use an ice pack and an insulated lunch box to keep your kid’s lunch cold until lunchtime.
- Choose a bento-style lunch box with individual compartments for easy serving (we like using the yum box or planet box).
- Strike a balance between homemade and storebought. You don’t have to make everything from scratch, especially if you can find high-quality options with low salt and sugar. This makes it easy to meal prep in less time, too.
- Serve dips & sauces. Kids will easily eat more fresh vegetables with a good, flavorful dip. Make one batch of dip and prep your veggies on the weekend to make packing lunches even easier.
- Use squeeze bottles to store dips or sauces for easy serving.
- Store your meal ingredients in individual containers in the fridge, and then add them to the lunchbox each morning.
LUNCHBOX FAQs
How do I keep my kid’s food cold?
After putting in all that work to make the food and pack the lunch box, the last thing you want is your little one eating warm tuna salad! There are some really easy ways to keep your kid’s lunch box cold, like adding a frozen water bottle or one of the best ice packs for lunch boxes.
Especially if you use a bento-style box like I do, it’s best to use a slim ice pack like theseBentgo Buddies unicorn ice packsorMonkey Business polar bear packs.They can slip above or below the box in your little one’s lunch bag to keep them nice and cool. Read more about the best ice pack for lunch boxes here!
What’s the best lunch box for toddlers?
There are so many different types of lunch boxes for kids out there; it’s overwhelming! Although the lunches in this post were photographed in the Yum Box, I prefer to use eco-friendly lunch boxes for kids wherever possible to make sure the boxes are made using safe materials for both my kids and the planet.
My favorite type of eco-friendly lunch boxes is usually stainless steel lunch boxes because they are so easy to clean (pop them in the dishwasher) and last forever!
ThePlanetbox lunch boxesare some of the very best out there, and they offer different sizes depending on your child’s age and how much food they need.
The best stainless steel bento-style box is made byBentgo. With upgraded, easy-to-use latches and a leak-resistant container, it’s truly made by people who understand kids and their specific needs. Although they’re pricey, they last forever!
Storage Guidelines
- * To keep your little one’s lunch cold all day, add a frozen water bottle or freezable ice pack. Although they will thaw over time, they tend to keep things cool enough.
- * Since not all recipes stay fresh for a full five days, try splitting your meal prep into two days: Sundays and Wednesdays. You’ll be able to make enough for 2-3 days at a time, so the food is always fresh.
- * If you did any batch cooking and have snacks in the freezer, be sure to thaw however many you need in the fridge overnight.
healthy little bites
Ready to start making your kid’s snacks? This ebook has 40 of my favorite make-ahead healthy kid’s snacks and meals! They are all kid-tested and formulated by a dietitian and are much healthier than the processed snacks at the store!
the busy mom’s freezer meal survival guide
Now that lunch is sorted, let’s tackle those dinners! It can be so hard to get a healthy meal on the table, so let your freezer be your friend! By loading up your freezer with healthy crockpot meals, you’ll be able to make a nourishing dinner in the slow cooker any day of the week!
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