Healthy School Lunch Ideas

by Alli

Making sure your children have a healthy school lunch can be hard. Back when my kids were in school, I’d find myself fixing the same lunches over and over.

I finally sat down and wrote out a plan for weekly healthy school lunches and it was such a relief to look at my roundup while I made my grocery list.

I remember when I was in high school. Eating a healthy lunch was not a priority. Most days, I would just skip lunch. By the time basketball or cheerleading practice came around, I’d be famished. That’s not good.

It’s important that kids eat a good lunch. If you send food they don’t like, they won’t eat it. Let your children help pick out their healthy lunch. At least you’ll know it’s something they will eat.

If you have a picky eater, lunches can be even more challenging. You may have a child who wants to eat the same thing every day. Maybe your kid hates sandwiches. If that’s the case, make skewers or pretzel rods with different dips.

Healthy School Lunch Roundup

The Main Event

Sides

  • Green Salad with Dressing
  • Baby Carrots & Ranch Dressing
  • Whole-Grain Goldfish Crackers
  • Bell Pepper Strips
  • Mini Corn Muffins
  • Popcorn
  • Yogurt

Dessert

  • Assorted Fruit
  • Mini Oatmeal Cookies
  • Animal Crackers
  • Fat-Free Chocolate Pudding
  • Grapes
  • Chocolate Dipped Strawberries or Oranges

Easy Ways to Prep Lunches

  • Freeze peanut butter & jelly sandwiches.
  • Freeze drink boxes the night before and they can double as ice packs.
  • Use cookie cutters to quickly cut sandwiches into fun shapes.
  • Use lunch boxes with divided compartments.
  • Don’t forget about using leftovers from last night’s dinner.
  • Make lunches the night before and let the kids help.
  • Pack lunches you know your child will eat (not what you wish they would eat.)

Healthy School Lunch Ideas


You can also find some many more healthy school lunches by clicking the link below.

School Lunches (Free Printable)

 

 

 

 

12 comments

Colleen Stevens September 11, 2014 - 10:00 am

They all look delicious. Will you please start packing my lunches too? 🙂

Reply
Amber @ Tales of Domestica September 11, 2014 - 11:57 am

All of the meals look so delicious! They look cute too, I bet your daughter is excited to take her lunch box to school!

Reply
Shirley Wood September 11, 2014 - 12:15 pm

Those lunches look appetizing to ME! I always thought taking your lunch to school was just the coolest thing to do!

Reply
Alli September 11, 2014 - 4:14 pm

I thought it was a great roundup of school lunch recipes, too.

Reply
Paris September 11, 2014 - 12:45 pm

These lunches all sound so yummy and easy to make. Thanks so much for sharing!

Reply
Alli September 11, 2014 - 4:12 pm

I thought it was a great post to reshare (with permission, of course).

Reply
Madaline September 11, 2014 - 3:23 pm

These look amazing. I don’t think I’ll be half as creative when my daughter goes to school. Your little one looks like a really good eater!

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Reginia Cordell September 11, 2014 - 4:42 pm

I loved seeing the kids enjoying healthy lunch meals. As a person with serious food allergies, being aware of ingredients is important. I truly support packed lunches because the cafeteria food is so daunting. 🙁

Reply
Nicky September 11, 2014 - 7:01 pm

These are all great Alli. I love all the variety. I’m sure your daughter is loving her lunches.

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Jeanae September 11, 2014 - 10:21 pm

Thanks to food allergies, we send packed lunches daily, too. Your selections look so wonderful, and fun! Those 3-compartment lunchboxes make life so much easier, don’t they?

Reply
MJ @ Daisy & June September 12, 2014 - 10:39 am

These look so yummy! Can you come make my lunches too??

Reply
Kristen from The Road to Domestication September 13, 2014 - 3:34 pm

Wow, these are some really great ideas! And healthy! I love variety when it comes to lunch!

Reply

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