This information will help you make easy healthy lunch ideas for picky eaters. My kids are very picky eaters. They only like a few things. One day I decided to take the food that they love and make it into lunch form. You’re a busy parent and you struggle to give your kids the right nutrition they need. But the problem is that they are picky eaters who don’t want to eat what you give them. You try serving them some broccoli but they complain that it tastes weird. Today we’ll look at some easy healthy lunch ideas for picky eaters.
Easy Healthy Lunch Ideas For Picky Eaters
Make packing lunch WAY easier with these no-cook school lunch ideas. They work for little and big kids and can be adjusted and customized to suit the preferences of your child. Here’s to less stress about lunch!
School Lunch Ideas
After packing lunches for my oldest kiddo for a few years, I can safely say that it can actually be an easy task if you keep things in perspective and keep things super simple! Kids tend to like simpler meals anyway, so these no-cook school lunch ideas are here to help you if you ever get into a rut, if you run out of ideas, or if you want to let your kids scroll through and see what looks yummy to them.
Easy School Lunch Recipes
I have a lot of recipes for lunch that are perfect for sending in a thermos or a lunchbox, though I’m going to share 10 ideas that require no cooking at all. These are great ideas to throw together at the last minute in the morning (because life happens and I realize that is when many of us are actually packing!) and to make when it feels like you’re running low on groceries.
How to Make School Lunches Step-By-Step
Here are a few tips to keep in mind when packing lunches for kids/
- Aim to include a mix of food groups so that you have whole grains, protein, some dairy most days (if the kids eat it or otherwise a nondairy equivalent), a veggie, a fruit, and a food with some healthy fat in it. This will help them to get the nutrients they need and stay full until their afternoon snack.
- Remember that lunch periods are short and kids can talk a lot. Pack foods that are easy to chew and eat.
- Work with your child to pack foods they like most of the time so that you can feel reasonably confident that they’ll eat the lunch you send.
- Pack the lunch in a lunchbox in an insulated bag with an ice pack if you can to keep it cool until lunchtime.
- Add water or milk or plan to let the kiddo buy milk at school.
- Label anything reusable that they bring to lunch so it’s easy to find if they lose it at school.
TIP: If your child has a nut-allergy, make sure you talk to the school about how that’s handled in the lunchroom. If there’s a peanut table, you may need to request that they have a friend sit with them so that they aren’t alone, which can sometimes happen.
My big boys went back to school last week, and this year they are both attending school all day long. That means that this year I get the dubious honor of preparing school lunches for not just one, but two picky eaters each day. Lucky me?
School Lunch Idea #1: Cheese and Crackers
Combine whole grain crackers, pepperoni, and cheese with mango and snap peas (or a fruit and veggie of your choice) for an easy lunch. This is a nice alternative to a sandwich that you can pack in minutes.
No Cook Lunch #2: Bagel Sandwich
Spread cream cheese and jam, turkey and cheese, hummus and lettuce, or sunflower seed butter and jam onto a lightly toasted bagel for a fun take on a sandwich. Add simple sides of produce like cucumbers and fruit to finish.
Easy Lunch #4: Tortilla Triangles
Fill a tortilla with sunflower seed butter and jam, bean dip, hummus, or turkey and cheese, fold over and cut into triangles for an easy lunch. Pack with simple sides such as a yogurt tube, grapes, cherry tomatoes, and bell pepper. (Halve grapes and cherry tomatoes for kids under 4
School Lunch Idea #5: Yogurt and Granola
Pack breakfast for lunch with yogurt, granola, and easy sides of fruit. We like to do this in our Omiebox since the round compartment is a thermos and keeps the yogurt cool.
Easy Kids Lunch #6: Simple Sandwich
There’s nothing wrong with an easy lunch and this sandwich is a great option. Use sunflower seed butter and jam or try Granola Butter, which is also nut-free and is super delicious. Pair with a fruit, veggie, and a fun food like cheese cracker sandwiches.
School Lunch #7: Freeze-Ahead PB&J
I’ve often joked that I always found the idea of Uncrustables super silly…until I actually had kids and realized how convenient a concept they are! But you can do something similar yourself with rounds of bread cut with a cookie cutter, then wrap them in plastic before freezing. Add cheese, kiwi, and crackers on the side for a kid-approved lunch.
Easy Kids Lunch #8: Snack Box
This is our go-to lunch when we otherwise seem like we’re out of food and the kids always love it. Simply choose a whole grain, a protein, two items of produce and combine it all in a lunch box. Quick and easy!
Kids Lunch #9: Hummus and Crackers
If your kids like to dip and dunk, try pairing crackers with hummus. Add extra protein with cheese and/or a yogurt tube and a side of fruit like watermelon.
School Lunch Idea #10: Pancake Lunch
Pair frozen pancakes (simply warm in the microwave if frozen or in the fridge, then cut up) with a drizzle of maple syrup, a smear of jam, nut butter or cream cheese, a filling like cream cheese or sunflower seed butter and jam for a fun breakfast for lunch idea. Use homemade leftover pancakes or store bought ones (Kodiak makes some good ones)—or even try this with freezer waffles! Add applesauce, a veggie or two and a side of milk as desired.
TIP: Shown in the Omiebox Bento Box
Best Tips for Packing School Lunch
- Try to make sure the foods are easy for the kids to eat in the time they have for lunch. I’ll never forget hearing that my then 6 year old couldn’t eat the baby carrots I sent with her because she didn’t have enough time to chew them!
- Talk to your child about whether there was too much, not enough, or just the right amount of food so you can avoid wasting food and satisfy their hunger.
- Let the kids help pack their lunches if they’re interested.
- Invest in a good lunch box that will last (and be easy to clean!).
- Place the lunchbox in an insulated bag with an ice pack to keep it cool.
- Pack water or let the kids buy milk.
- Aim to send a source of protein, a whole grain, and 2 items of produce (a fruit and a veggie) most days to help the kids hit their nutrition needs.
- Mix in purchased school lunches—if your kids like them!—with packed ones from home to keep the work for you light.
Ingredients
1. Cheese and Crackers Lunch
2. Bagel Sandwich Lunch
3. Tortilla Triangles
4. Yogurt and Granola Lunch
5. Simple Sandwich Lunch
6. Freeze-Ahead PB&J
7. Snack Box Lunch
8. Hummus and Crackers Lunch
9. Pancake Lunch
Instructions
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Cheese and Crackers Lunch: Place all foods into lunch box. Pack in an insulated bag with an ice pack.
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Bagel Sandwich Lunch: Lightly toast the bagel if desired (it’s optional). Place all foods into lunch box. Pack in an insulated bag with an ice pack.
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Tortilla Triangles: Lightly warm the tortilla if it’s super stiff. Place all foods into lunch box. Pack in an insulated bag with an ice pack.
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Yogurt and Granola Lunch: Place all foods into lunch box. Use a thermos or compartment or container that seals tightly for the yogurt to avoid any spills. Pack in an insulated bag with an ice pack.
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Simple Sandwich Lunch: Place all foods into lunch box. Pack in an insulated bag with an ice pack.
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Freeze-Ahead PB&J: Cut the bread with a 3-4 inch round cookie cutter. Spread the nut or seed butter and the jam onto the bread and wrap with plastic wrap. Make as many as you want and store in the freezer in a freezer storage bag for up to 3 months. Place one directly into a lunch box in the morning and it will thaw by lunch.
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Snack Box Lunch: Place all foods into lunch box. Pack in an insulated bag with an ice pack.
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Hummus and Crackers Lunch: Place all foods into lunch box. Pack in an insulated bag with an ice pack. You can freeze the yogurt tube to be an extra ice pack and it will thaw by lunchtime.
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Pancake Lunch: Warm the pancakes if desired for 30 seconds in the microwave and pack in a thermos to keep warm, or send them to eat at room temperature.
Notes
- Try to make sure the foods are easy for the kids to eat in the time they have for lunch. I’ll never forget hearing that my then 6 year old couldn’t eat the baby carrots I sent with her because she didn’t have enough time to chew them!
- Talk to your child about whether there was too much, not enough, or just the right amount of food so you can avoid wasting food and satisfy their hunger.
- Let the kids help pack their lunches if they’re interested.
- Invest in a good lunch box that will last (and be easy to clean!).
- Place the lunchbox in an insulated bag with an ice pack to keep it cool.
- Pack water or let the kids buy milk.
- Aim to send a source of protein, a whole grain, and 2 items of produce (a fruit and a veggie) most days to help the kids hit their nutrition needs.
- Mix in purchased school lunches—if your kids like them!—with packed ones from home to keep the work for you light.