125+ FREE Lunchbox Recipes for Kids (2024)

UPDATED: Since 2017, this post has been my #1 blog post of all time!
While I’ve left some of the original lunchbox pictures the same (hence the not-so-great photography), the ideas don’t change and continue to be our family favorite year over year.

You’ll also notice that I’ve sprinkled in links to MORE blog posts with lunchbox ideas that have continued to grow and adapt to feed my growing girls.

Updated: September 2022

Don’t forget to download your copy of the handy printable collection—and get another 25 recipes for free!

And, psst…, if you watch the video below, you’ll get 10 MORE ideas!

How to Pack a Healthy Lunchbox

When it comes to healthy lunchboxes for my kids, there are two sides to me: food-loving dietitian mommy, and woman who gets really bored—really quickly—with packing kids’ lunch boxes.

One one hand, making a balanced and tasty healthy lunch for my girls each day is my highest priority.

But listen—I’m always on the lookout for lunch box ideas to make that process easier.

If you’re like me, you’re probably already burned out on trying to come up with new, creative, healthy lunchbox ideas for your littles ones.

(And heck, none of us want to have one of those notes sent home from the teacher about “unhealthy Oreos.”)

But coming up with a healthy lunch day in and day out doesn’t have to be difficult.

Stick with me, mom and dad… I’ve got you covered—here are dozens of easy, healthy lunch ideas to love!

Now you can take the guesswork out of making healthy lunchboxes for kids—and the brainwork out of coming up with the ideas.

***Don’t forget to scroll to the bottom of this post for tips on how to use the list!***

Why use these kids’ lunchbox ideas?

This list is the one I always wished I had—and I strongly encourage you to use it yourself.

Why?

When you’ve got 125 lunch ideas for kids in your pocket, you’ll feel less mommy/daddy guilt about making lunchtime meals every day. (Especially if you’ve got what I call “Lunchbox Lethargy”—and the task just sucks the life out of you.)

Using these dietitian-prepared combinations will also empower you to try new foods with your children, and encourage your kids to enjoy foods that taste good.

And now, without further ado (and in no particular order)…

SHOP HERE!!

ALL of My Favorite Lunchbox Containers

125 Healthy School Lunchbox Ideas: Use This List and You’ll Never Be Bored Making School Lunches Again

1. Honeydew melon, hard-cooked eggs, cottage cheese, pretzels
2. White-out lunchbox: apples, grilled chicken, brown rice, 1/2 Greek vanilla and plain Greek yogurt, white chocolate chips
3. Buttered noodles, grapes, gingerbread cake, Greek yogurt, stickers
4. Low-sodium turkey, bell pepper strips, strawberry yogurt, strawberries, ranch dressing
5. Pretzel sticks, clementines, rotisserie chicken, rainbow carrots, hummus
6. White-out lunchbox: low-sodium deli turkey, apple slices, wedding cake, cheddar cheese, pistachios
7. Couscous with veggies and feta, strawberries, hard-cooked egg, stickers, raisins
8. Banana bread, honeydew melon, 1/2 & 1/2 vanilla and plain Greek yogurt, grapes
9. Macaroni and cheese, strawberries and clementines, chicken breast, chocolate coin, heart stickers
10. Sunflower seed butter quesadillas, English cucumber slices, plain Greek yogurt with pomegranate seeds, cheddar crackers, hummus

11. Fresh corn, carrot sticks, chicken nuggets, cheddar cheese, ranch dressing
12. Apple slices, raisins, pretzels, grilled chicken, ranch dressing
13. Strawberries, pizza, Greek yogurt, rainbow carrots, stickers
14. Cheese curls, strawberries, cottage cheese with cinnamon, green beans, graham crackers
15. Sweet potato chips, corn and black bean salsa, clementines, deli turkey, cheddar cheese

16. White out lunchbox: couscous with veggies, apples, smoked turkey breast, 1/2 and 1/2 Greek yogurt (strawberry and plain), white chocolate chips
17. Tri-colored tortellini with veggies, strawberry Greek yogurt, strawberries, meringue cookie, note from mommy
18. Snowman cheese stick, pretzel rods, carrot sticks, grapes, hummus
19. Sunflower seed butter gingerbread man sandwich, raisins, English cucumber slices, applesauce, fresh corn, ranch dressing
20. Whole wheat waffle, clementine, 1/2 and 1/2 Greek yogurt (strawberry and plain), pomegranate arils, sunflower seed butter

21. Popcorn, strawberries, clementines, rainbow baby carrots, grilled chicken, ranch dressing
22. Watermelon, pretzels, baked chicken breast, tummies, stickers
23. Strawberries, cheese stick, hard-cooked egg, rainbow carrots, graham crackers, ranch dressing
24. Cheese curls, clementines, grapes, shredded chicken breast, green beans, ranch dressing
25. Orange crush lunchbox: macaroni and cheese, roasted sweet potatoes, clementines, cheddar bunnies, gummy vitamin

26. Graham cracker, chocolate square, butter lettuce, rainbow carrots, cheese curls, cheddar cheese, ranch dressing
27. Butter lettuce, rainbow carrots, grilled chicken, 1/2 and 1/2 Greek yogurt (plain and strawberry), strawberries, ranch dressing
28. Gluten-free banana bread muffins, fresh grapefruit, low-sodium turkey, English cucumber, ranch dressing
29. Turkey sandwich, raspberries, low-sodium canned green beans, stickers
30. Low-sodium deli turkey, pretzel sticks, grapes, cheddar cheese, mini marshmallows

31. Chicken nuggets, veggie straws, 1/2 and 1/2 Greek yogurt (strawberry and plain), raisins, ranch dressing
32. Macaroni and cheese, grapes, strawberries, chocolate chips, stickers
33. “Brunchbox:” pancakes, fresh grapefruit, vanilla Greek yogurt, hard-cooked egg, cereal
34. Applesauce, strawberries, mini chocolate chip banana bread muffin, cheddar crackers, pistachios
35. “ABC lunchbox:” asparagus (blanched), berries, cereal, dip, egg (hard-cooked)

36. Popcorn, grapes, double chocolate mini muffin, grilled chicken, ranch dressing
37. Pancakes, cottage cheese with cinnamon, cucumber ribbons, carrots, maple syrup
38. Spaghetti with meat sauce, yogurt tube, cheese, low-sodium canned green beans, stickers
39. Yogurt pouch, grapes caterpillar, low-sodium green beans, kiwi, stickers
40. Veggie skewers with hummus, chicken, pear, cereal, stickers

    

41. Fig cookies, hummus, carrot sticks, low-sodium turkey rolls, clementine, stickers
42. Penne pasta with tomato sauce, carrots, grapes, cheddar cheese, chocolate chips
43. Grapes, rainbow carrots, 1/2 and 1/2 Greek yogurt (plain and strawberry), chicken nuggets, ranch dressing
44. Brown rice, grapes, grilled chicken, English cucumber, hummus
45. Ham sandwich on Hawaiian roll, cereal, mango, cheese, stickers

41. Spaghetti with meat sauce, yogurt tube, kiwi, cheese, ranch dressing, carrot sticks
42. Pretzels, clementines, cottage cheese, low-sodium turkey, pomegranate arils, stickers
43. Grapes, grilled chicken, plain whole milk yogurt with pear preserves stirred in, no-salt-added green beans, cheese
44. Sunflower seed butter quesadilla, pear Greek yogurt, mango, cheddar cheese, mini marshmallows
45. Yogurt pouch, carrots, English cucumber, low-sodium turkey rolls, pineapple, hummus

51. Apples, pretzels, whole milk plain yogurt, carrots, sunflower seed butter
52. Buttered tortellini, clementine, no-salt-added canned green beans, grilled chicken, stickers
53. Chicken and cheese skewers, watermelon, mini muffin, Greek yogurt, stickers
54. Tortellini, hard-cooked eggs, apples, no-salt-added green beans, chocolate chips
55. Whole wheat waffles, yogurt tube, mango, maple syrup, raisins

56. Double chocolate mini muffin, low-sodium turkey rollups, applesauce, carrots, ranch dressing
57. Yogurt pouch, pretzels, clementine, noodles, cheese
58. Freekeh with chicken and veggies, carrots, Greek yogurt, cheese, dried cranberries
59. Applesauce, puffs, chicken, 1/2 and 1/2 Greek yogurt (strawberry and plain), clementines
60. Pineapple, hard-cooked eggs, pretzels, cheese, raisins

61. Sunflower seed butter and strawberry wafflewich, hard-cooked egg, grapes, mommy note
62. Grapes, whole-grain chips, hot dogs, cheddar cheese, edamame
63. Yogurt pouch, string cheese, kettle chips, apple, no-salt-added green beans, chocolate coins
64. Watermelon, pretzels, strawberry Greek yogurt, vegetable soup
65. Spaghetti with meat sauce, grapes, Greek yogurt pouch

66. Cantaloupe, chicken, hard-cooked egg, cheese stick
67. Low-sodium turkey, string cheese, carrots, apples, hummus, chocolate coin
68. Plums, zucchini sticks, 1/2 and 1/2 Greek yogurt (plain and strawberry), low-sodium turkey, ranch dressing
69. Spaghetti with meat sauce, roasted veggies, cantaloupe, chocolate coin
70. Peaches, shaved carrots, hummus, low-sodium turkey

71. Peaches and strawberries, low-sodium green beans, ham, plain Greek yogurt
72. Low-sodium green beans, low-sodium turkey, strawberries and peaches, pistachios
73. 1/2 and 1/2 Greek yogurt (plain and strawberry), low-sodium green beans, cheddar crackers, strawberries
74. 1/2 and 1/2 Greek yogurt (plain and strawberry), hummus, cheddar crackers, English cucumber, strawberries
75. Soy butter and jelly tortilla bites, carrots, grapes, yogurt

76. Soy butter quesadilla, English cucumber, hummus, yogurt
77. Rotisserie chicken breast, English cucumber, ranch dressing, lady peas, grapes
78. Mini meatloaf muffin, lady peas, English cucumber, grapes
79. Low-sodium turkey, green beans, cheddar cheese, cantaloupe
80. Low-sodium turkey, yogurt, green beans, cantaloupe, watermelon

81. Spaghetti with meat sauce, grapes, green beans, corn
82. Strawberries, cheddar crackers, carrots, hummus, low-sodium turkey
83. Cheddar crackers, yogurt, banana, low-sodium turkey
84. Pizza, hummus, zucchini sticks
85. Low-sodium turkey, yogurt, grapes, cheddar crackers, cheddar cheese, hummus

86. Slice of cheese pizza, green beans, watermelon cubes
87. Yogurt, watermelon, canned, no-salt-added green beans, whole-grain graham cracker
88. Whole-milk yogurt, green beans, cantaloupe
89. Cantaloupe, green beans, 1 cup spaghetti & meat sauce
90. Yogurt tube, about 1-oz no-salt-added turkey, cheddar, green beans, ranch dressing

91. Whole-milk yogurt, green beans, orange segments
92. Yogurt, green beans, steamed carrots, 1/2 graham cracker
93. Whole-grain chicken breast nuggets, ranch dressing, no-salt-added green beans, yogurt, strawberries
94. Strawberries, carrots, hummus, mac and cheese
95. Soy milk yogurt, 1 cup fruit salad, 4 frosted wheat cereal, mac and cheese

96. Cantaloupe, chicken, hard-cooked egg, corn
97. Fruit & veggie pouch, low-sodium turkey breast, fresh pineapple, graham cracker
98. Whole-milk yogurt, low-sodium turkey breast, fresh blueberries, graham cracker
99. Fresh pineapple, fresh strawberries, 2oz chicken breast, green beans, ranch dressing
100. Greek yogurt, brown rice, 3/4 cup strawberries, 3 whole wheat chicken breast nuggets

101. Whole-milk yogurt, brown rice, steamed squash, strawberries
102. Fruit and veggie pouch, cheese, yogurt, berries
103. Yogurt, berries, steamed carrots
104. Applesauce, noodles, chicken, tomato, cheddar cheese, and corn
105. Whole wheat chicken breast nuggets, ranch dressing, cucumber, mandarin orange segments and blueberries

106. Boiled egg, fruit and veggie pouch, whole-grain O’s cereal, mandarin orange segments and strawberries
107. Egg white, hummus, cucumber slices, popcorn, grapes
108. Banana, 1/4 whole-grain tortilla with sunflower seed butter cut into squares, blueberries, mixed brown rice and corn
109. Grapes, string cheese, 1/2 whole-grain tortilla with sunflower seed butter, pistachios, mini chocolate chips, mini marshmallows
110. Yogurt, berries, sunflower seed butter sushi: 1 6-inch flour tortilla spread with sunflower seed butter and half banana rolled up, blueberries, 1 slice low-sodium turkey breast, green beans, hummus

111. Carrot sticks, hummus, mini marshmallows, low-sodium turkey breast, blueberries
112. Low-sodium turkey breast, cheese stick, mandarin orange, whole-grain O’s cereal, Greek yogurt
113. Low-sodium sliced deli turkey breast, string cheese, apple slices, carrots sticks, vegetable dip/hummus, chocolate coins
114. Pulled chicken breast, yogurt (half strawberry-half plain yogurt), plum, cucumber slices, ranch dressing
115. Turkey, cheese, and whole wheat tortilla roll-up, grapes, no-salt-added canned green beans, stickers

116. Hard-cooked egg, cheese, applesauce, whole-grain/graham cracker with sunflower seed butter, chocolate coin
117. All-natural beef hot dog, yogurt, peach slices, popcorn, ketchup
118. Sunflower seed butter and graham cracker sandwich, hard-cooked egg whites, strawberry swirl yogurt (1/2 regular strawberry and 1/2 plain Greek yogurt), blackberries, stickers
119. Chopped turkey breast, cheese, watermelon sticks, no-salt-added canned green beans, ranch dressing
120. Cheese tortellini with olive oil, salt, and parmesan, hard-cooked egg whites, apple slices, no-salt-added canned green beans, dark chocolate chips

121. Chopped turkey and cheese skewers, yogurt, watermelon, blueberry lemon mini oatmeal muffins, sticker
122. Ham and cheese roll-up (1 slice ham and 1/2 slice muenster cheese), unsweetened apple sauce, raw carrot sticks (for toddlers, steam in the microwave for 1 min before packing), double chocolate mini muffins, ranch dressing
123. Sunflower seed butter and strawberry wafflewich, hard-cooked egg whites, grapes, Greek yogurt
124. Turkey rolls, champagne grapes, cucumbers, corn on the cob, ranch dressing
125. Yogurt, cheddar, whole-grain chips, apple, cucumbers, stickers

Free Download: 30 Full Weeks of Healthy Lunches for Kids

125 Healthy Lunchboxes for Kids—How I made the list

You’ll find that these recipes try to include most, if not all, of these categories:

• protein (e.g. baked chicken, low-sodium sliced deli turkey)
• dairy (e.g. cheese, yogurt or milk)
• fruit
• vegetables
• dip (e.g. hummus), and
• what I call a “happy”—things like chocolate coins, love notes from Mom or stickers that bring a smile.

Stick to this formula, and you can’t help but make a healthy lunch.

One thing I want to say, though: I’m not perfect, and I’m not afraid to send items that may have some sugar, salt, or fat.

I’ll give my kids cake, chocolate chips or potato chips now and then, and ranch dressing has a starring role in many a lunchbox. When this is the case, I find ways to balance their intake of lower sugar, salt, or fat in the lunchbox and throughout the day.

For example, some brands of yogurt are pretty high in added sugar—but I’ve had a hard time getting my girls to eat plain yogurt sweetened only with fruit.

So I do things like make “half and half” yogurt by mixing the sugar sweetened yogurt with plain yogurt (and they are none the wiser)—or I may just go all out sweetened here and there. Because to me, some sweetened yogurt is better than no yogurt at all.

Similarly, it’s worth 1 tbsp of ranch dressing to get them to eat five carrot sticks.

How My Lunchbox Ideas Work

The other thing you need to realize is that not every healthy lunchbox has the complete formula every time. On those days they miss veggies at lunch, for example, or have no dairy in the box, I make sure to make up for it another meal. We may have double veggies at dinner, say, or cucumbers and hummus for an afterschool snack.

And as you go through the list, you’ll see that many foods repeat. My kids love low-sodium deli turkey; hummus or ranch for dipping vegetables; pasta (spaghetti, tortellini, mac and cheese); hard-boiled eggs; carrots; and all kinds of fruit.

That’s why I’m not afraid or ashamed to offer those foods over and over again—plus I know they’ll get eaten and I’ll end up wasting less.

However, I also try to include unfamiliar foods here and there, since they are often more apt to try new things in their familiar and comfortable school environment.

Yes, You CAN Make Healthy Lunch Boxes for Kids

As you can see, none of these healthy lunchbox ideas are earth-shattering or unrealistic.

In fact, I use the phrase DOWN-TO-EARTH, DOABLE, AND DELICIOUS over and over when I describe how we approach food in my family, because I believe in making sensible food choices that focus on flavor and variety.

That’s the thinking behind these healthy lunchboxes—the kind of thinking I hope to encourage you to explore. Go ahead and download my handy printable and get started.

Good luck with your school lunches!