Deciding what to eat for lunch every day can feel like a hassle, especially when you're trying to come up with school lunch ideas that will keep the kids happy, too. You don’t want to pack the same PB&J with chips and a juice box over and over. Not only would it get boring, but you’d miss the opportunity to get some nutrient-dense whole foods into your kids’ and teens’ lunch boxes—and they need those nutrients to power their growing brains through the school day and beyond.
Lunch doesn’t have to be a chore! Here are some handy tips and three easy-to-assemble kids’ lunch ideas to inspire you.
5 Quick Tips for Easy Kid-friendly Lunches
1. Pick the right food container. Bento boxes are, in our humble opinion, the easiest way to keep lunches fresh and interesting. (We filled up up a Bentgo box for the ideas below.) No bento? No problem! Simply keep a stash of reusable snack bags and containers with leakproof lids on hand, and pack them in whatever lunch box you like.
2. Use this kiddo-approved lunch blueprint: veggie + fruit + main + snack. This is your template for building balanced meals based on each kiddo's specific food preferences.
3. Dip, drizzle, and dunk for maximum enjoyment. Want kids to happily wolf down protein and vegetables at lunch? You need the right condiments. Whether your kids are ketchup fiends or ranch lovers to their core, don’t forget the flavor.
4. Reimagine leftovers. You don't have to adhere to one idea of what “lunch food” looks like. Many dinner leftovers can be repurposed into cold lunch ideas for kids. Leftover meatballs, grilled chicken, even pasta can be enjoyed chilled, as can steamed or roasted veggies.
5. Be flexible. One of the great things about bento-style lunches is that you can utilize whatever bits and bobs are already in your fridge or pantry. Get creative, and let kids get involved in packing their own lunches (with your help, if needed). Remember, real food is meant to be enjoyed!
3 Kids' Lunch Ideas
Let the bentos below serve as inspiration! They take only minutes to assemble, and they're sure to be a hit with your wee ones.
Lunch #1: On-the-Go Picnic Box
- Main dish: Turkey pinwheels
- Veggie: Celery sticks
- Fruit: Grapes
- Snacks: Veggie chips; mini parfait with yogurt, almond slices, strawberries, and granola
- Flavor: Primal Kitchen Ranch
To make the turkey pinwheels:
- Stack 1 (gluten-free) tortilla, 1 green lettuce leaf, and two pieces of sliced turkey.
- Add veggies your kids enjoy, like thinly sliced tomato, shredded carrots, or cucumber cut into matchsticks.
- Drizzle with ranch dressing.
- Roll the tortilla tightly and slice the roll into 4 pieces
Lunch #2: Antipasto Box
- Main dishes: Tomato, mozzarella, and salami skewers; (gluten-free) crackers with cheese and nitrate-free pepperoni
- Veggies: Tomatoes, lettuce
- Fruits: Strawberries, blueberries, organic dried cranberries
- Snack: Granola bar, cut into bite-sized pieces
- Flavor: Primal Kitchen Dreamy Italian
Lunch #3: Leftovers Box
- Main dish: Leftover mini meatballs with steamed broccoli (substitute any protein)
- Veggie: Carrot sticks
- Fruit: Blueberries and raspberries
- Snack: Macadamia nuts
- Flavor: Primal Kitchen Ranch
Top Primal Kitchen Products that Kids Love
Kid-approved flavor, parent-approved ingredients!
- Organic Unsweetened Ketchup or A Tad Sweet Ketchup sweetened with honey
- Ranch Dressing
- Mayo with Avocado Oil
- Chicken Dippin' and Yum Yum Dippin Sauces
