Healthy and quick lunch ideas for school are a great way to get the most bang for your buck. Here you will find healthy recipes that are easy to prepare, quick and inexpensive at the same time.
Lunch is usually the one meal that we all have to eat at school. You can never get a good lunch when you are in school. I know that it is hard to pick out what to bring for your lunch, but if you make the wrong choice, it can really mess up your whole day. That is why I have decided to put together a list of healthy and quick lunch ideas for school.
Healthy And Quick Lunch Ideas For School
Apple Chips
Granola Bars
Playgroup Granola Bars
Extra Easy Hummus
Baked Sweet Potato Sticks
Ants on a Log
Better Peanut Butter Sandwich
Berry Fruit Salad
Oatmeal Crackers
Alphabet Soup
Whole Wheat Pumpkin-Applesauce Muffins
Fruit Leather
Inspiration and Ideas
Lunch Box Pita Pockets
Looking at the mound of carrot pulp from my juicer and then at my 2-1/2-year-old daughter (who loves bread) inspired me to experiment… This muffin is dense, healthy, and can be tweaked to suit your tastes. As is, it is not sweet, but you could certainly add mashed ripe banana or pineapple. Once out of the oven, sprinkle the tops with cinnamon sugar while they are still hot.
Related
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Pumpkin Spinach Toddler Muffins
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Peanut Butter and Apple Sandwich
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Light Fruit and Nut Granola
5 School Lunches Ready in 5 Minutes or Less
These midday meals get an A+ in nutrition.
Chicken club pretzel bun
Ready in: 5 minutes
Treat your family to a restaurant-style meal with this upgraded BLT with chicken and a kid-pleasing pretzel bun.
Tuna wrap
Ready in: 5 minutes
Don’t be intimidated by the relatively lengthy ingredient list of this recipe. This lightened-up tuna salad comes together quicker than a Pixar short film; a third of the ingredients are herbs and spices! Separate the salad from the tortilla with spinach leaves to keep the wrap intact and sturdy through the commute and morning classes.
Sweet potato breakfast bowl
Ready in: 5 minutes
Sweet potatoes aren’t just for candying and frying. Give them a whirl in the food processor with almond butter, milk, and vanilla for a smoothie bowl that’s reminiscent of dessert—and a blank palette for your fruit-based artistic talents.
Strawberry spinach salad
Ready in: 5 minutes
Kids will go nuts for this berry-and-leafy-green salad that is garnished with walnuts instead of croutons for a healthier crunch. This jar lunch is a meal prepper’s dream because you can make several at once and store them in the fridge. Please heartier appetites and crank up the protein by including sliced steak or grilled shrimp, too.
Tomato pesto soup
Ready in: 5 minutes
When you’re feeling slammed, turn to this semi-homemade meal. Stock up on an all-natural tomato soup the next time you’re at the grocery store, then upgrade it with pesto, basil, and Parmesan. While you could pack this summery soup warm in a Thermos, it’s just as good chilled as a makeshift gazpacho.
Curried chickpea salad sandwiches
Ready in: 5 minutes
When you’re feeding the whole fam, try this vegan swap for chicken salad that serves six. With sweet apples, crunchy sunflower seeds, and zesty curry powder, this dish is made with chickpeas instead of poultry. For a lower-carb alternative, serve this high-fiber salad tucked inside two-ply lettuce wraps.
Healthy And Easy School Lunch Ideas
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Getting the kids ready for school is challenging, especially at the beginning of a new school year. You need to make sure they have everything they need from new clothes to school supplies to backpacks.
Then there is the epic challenge of deciding what to pack for their lunches. Your kiddos can only handle so many PB&Js (if peanut butter is even allowed at their school), but finding foods that are nutritious and simple to put together—and ones that they will actually eat—seems next to impossible.
Not sure where to begin this year? We’re here to help.
Start by picking up a small assortment of containers and accessories that give you flexibility. For instance, a divided container allows you to pack various lunch components; a thermal container keeps food warm or cold; and small containers with lids are perfect for dips and loose treats, such as crackers or fruit snacks.
Once you have a solid collection of containers, you can focus on the fixings. To save you some time and stress, we’ve pulled together a fun roundup of kid-friendly meals with ideas for even the pickiest palates.
1. Pizza Rollups
No need to wait for pizza day on the school lunch menu. Whip up these three-ingredient goodies over the weekend (they freeze beautifully) and expect them to become a fast favorite.
2. Nut Butter Wafflewiches
Who says waffles are only for breakfast? Add nut butter to homemade whole-grain waffles (use a mix to make it easier). Spread with peanut butter and jelly or your child’s favorite sandwich filling for a protein-packed lunch they will love.
3. Sandwich Kabobs
Food is always more fun on a stick and sandwiches are no different. Cut bread, meat, cheese and other favorites into fun shapes and serve them on skewers.
4. Pita Wedges with Hummus
Chickpeas are loaded with protein, fiber and vitamins, so you can feel great about serving kids this super-simple lunch staple. The dipping factor adds a measure of fun, to boot.
5. DIY Pizzables
Swap the processed packages and offer a healthier alternative. Kids can assemble their own pizzas using your favorite flatbread, rounds, tortillas or even bagels as the base.
6. Leftover Chicken Salad
A rotisserie chicken from the grocery store can be a weeknight lifesaver for busy parents. Don’t toss out the leftovers, because you can transform them into a succulent salad for your child’s lunchbox.
7. Homemade Spaghetti-Os
Upgrade those saucy, circular noodles from your own childhood by making them from scratch. You’ll get oodles more noodles for your money without all of the unwanted preservatives. They’re surprisingly simple to make, as well.
8. Granola, Apple and PB Wraps
This well-rounded wrap provides tantalizing taste and texture with sweet, chewy raisins; creamy nut butter; crunchy granola and crisp, tart apple shreds rolled up in a whole-grain flatbread.
9. Twice-Baked Potatoes
Make a few extra taters at dinner for a vitamin-filled lunch that will satisfy your hungry student. Send them cold or pack heated potatoes in thermal containers to ensure a warm, filling meal.
10. Salad in a Cup
Encourage kids to eat their veggies by stuffing salad into a plastic cup, with a lid, of course. Drizzle on the dressing or serve it on the side.
11. Taco Bowls
Any day can be Taco Tuesday. No shells necessary! Just fill a bowl with meat, cheese and other favorite fixings.
12. Hummus Veggie Wrap
A non-dip way to use healthful hummus is to spread it on your favorite wrap. Load up sliced fresh veggies and creamy avocado for a satiating and speedy lunch.
13. Caprese Salad Skewers
Salad on a stick is possible (and fun) when it consists of cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls and a drizzle of balsamic glaze.
14. Canned Tuna Sushi
Sushi from home can be super easy when you start with canned tuna. This recipe is highly affordable and so simple to make, the kids can even help.
15. Veggie Pasta Salad
Make a big batch of this vibrant and delicious pasta salad on the weekend and dole it out for lunches as needed. The beauty of it is you can use any veggies you have on hand.
16. Cheesy Veggie Quesadillas
Pile cheese, veggies and other yummy ingredients (pesto, anyone?) onto tortillas. Heat them in a skillet for just a few minutes and you have gooey goodness perfect for packing in lunch boxes.
17. Avocado and White Bean Wraps
With protein, healthy fats and tons of vitamins, this sandwich substitute has everything a young student needs to have a productive Meatless Monday (or any day, for that matter).
18. Turkey Pesto Pinwheels
Keeping a jar of pesto on hand will let you roll up these lunchbox goodies in a snap. Smear on some cream cheese and layer with lunchmeat and cheese slices and they’ll be good to go.
19. Guacamole Chicken Wraps
Yet another use for rotisserie chicken leftovers, this spicy take on traditional chicken salad gives last night’s dinner a boost. You might want to buy a second chicken just for their school lunches.
20. Build-Your-Own Chicken Tacos
Kids can make their tacos just the way they like them when you pack all of the toppings separately. Along with shredded chicken and soft tortillas, include cheese, lettuce, salsa, olives or anything else your child prefers.
