It’s healthy, it’s four of your five-a-day and it’s topped with crunchy crushed taco shells. Our chicken taco salad is perfect if you want to get some variety into your child’s lunchbox. A smattering of creamy avocado chunks and barbecued chicken upgrades this salad to a next level feast.
2. Pitta pockets
Looking for something to replace sandwiches? Our easy pitta pockets are the answer. Try pairing them with finger food like our crushed pea & mint dip with carrot sticks, or some snackable spiced almonds. These fuss-free pittas can be thrown together in minutes and are an easy low-fat option.
3. Peanut Hummus With Fruit & Veg Sticks
Get dipping with our peanut hummus with fruit & veg sticks. This healthy, nutty dip has silky smooth tahini and a pinch of smoked paprika to make your chickpeas pop with flavour. Stir in some whole chickpeas once your hummus is blended for texture. With no cooking involved, this is an ideal midweek lunch for when you’re short on time. Fancy trying a different flavour? Discover more easy healthy hummus recipes, ideal for popping into lunchboxes.
4. Mini Spinach & Sottage Cheese Frittatas
Our cheesy mini spinach frittatas are easy for little hands to hold, healthy and packed full of all-important greens. It takes just seven ingredients and a muffin tin to bake these marvellous marbled treats. Not a fan of spinach? Try making a batch of mini butternut squash frittatas at the weekend, ready for midweek snacking.
5. Stuffed Moroccan Pitta
Hearty chickpea falafels, creamy hummus and crunchy red pepper stuffed into pitta pockets makes a simple veggie lunch the kids will want more of. Use shop-bought hummus and falafels if you need a quick fix. If you want to make your own, try our easy falafel recipe with a quick hummus.
6. Chicken, Carrot & Avocado Rolls
Lunch is all wrapped up with our simple, quick chicken tortilla rolls. Raid the fridge and put together the perfect mix of cheese, chicken and avocado for a midday hunger killer. For a packed lunch, wrap them in cling film and twist them shut to avoid spillage in school bags.
7. Tuna Rice Salad
Ensure the kids are eating well with rainbow rice salads, designed with easy meal prep in mind – make the rice base in a batch and divide up for the whole family. Our healthy tuna-topped version provides a protein boost and for more grown-up tastebuds, there’s a feta and beetroot variation.
8. Turkey & Pepper Pittas
These snacky turkey pittas served with a dollop of soured cream and soft pieces of avocado make a dreamy lunch. Older kids may be up for a sprinkle of chilli flakes, too, along with peppers for satisfying crunch. If putting in a lunchbox, pack the soured cream in an extra pot so the pittas don’t get soggy.
9. Green Bean & Penne Salad
This speedy pasta salad with a healthy tomato and basil dressing counts as three of your five-a-day and is sure to perk up any lunchbox. It’s a colourful recipe that blows beige sandwiches out of the water. Top up with rocket and basil for extra greens.
10. Chicken & Tzatziki Wraps
Give the kids a taste of summer hot off the griddle pan with our chicken & tzatziki wraps. Wrap up your chicken and pepper chunks with a healthy spread of tzatziki and a handful of baby spinach for a filling, picnic-style lunch.
11. Vegan Hummus Avocado Wrap
Use ripe avocado or even leftover guacamole, and protein-rich hummus to make these vegan hummus avocado wraps. Add some sprouts or salad greens for crunch, but if sending to school, leave out the tomato to avoid sogginess. Plain hummus is delicious here, but a flavored variety, like roasted red pepper, will also work nicely.
12. Vegan Asian Rice Salad
A healthy vegan Asian rice salad with plenty of vegetables is a fabulous way to give vegan kids a boost of energy at lunchtime. Brown rice is full of protein and fiber,1 and kids love the crunchy texture and sweet and sour flavors of the dressing. Carrots, snow peas, celery, bell pepper, and green onion make this rice salad bright and colorful, but feel free to swap any out for your kids’ favorites.
13. Kid-Friendly Energy Bites
Skip the store-bought, highly-processed, sugar-loaded confections and make your own kid-friendly energy bites at home instead! With just a handful of wholesome ingredients (and a bit of chocolate), these energy bites can be mixed up in a matter of minutes. The peanut butter provides a boost of protein while the oatmeal offers some fiber, meaning these energy bites will leave your little one feeling full and satisfied through the rest of the day.
14. Cheesy Meatball Bombs
These cheesy meatball bombs that start with packaged biscuit dough explode with flavor. Filled with the Italian favorites of meatballs, tomato sauce, and Parmesan cheese, your kids will think they’ve won the lottery. When using leftover meatballs or pre-made frozen, this recipe comes together quickly. Serve these meatball bombs with some marinara on the side for dipping.
15. The Ultimate Avocado Toast
Kids love creamy avocado, and this easy toast recipe is a hit. The ultimate avocado toast can be served simply as is or layered with slices of crispy bacon to make a great open-faced lunch sandwich. If packing up for school, you may want to add another piece of toasted bread on top to avoid messy travel and eating.
16.Easy Meatloaf Muffins
Give kids a comforting, home-style lunch with this recipe for cute easy meatloaf muffins that are made from a classic meatloaf mixture baked in muffin tins. The ketchup topping is sure to be a draw for the little ones, and the fact that they can eat their lunch with their hands makes it fun.
17. Crock Pot Chicken Noodle Soup
A thermos full of chicken noodle soup is the next best thing to a hug from mom. Make this tasty soup on the weekend and freeze it in individual portions for heating and packing into a thermos for school lunches any day of the week. This recipe is the real deal, starting with chicken pieces, but also includes some chicken broth (along with water) for an extra boost of rich flavor.
18. Pasta Salad With Chicken And Spinach
Send yours to school with this packed pasta salad full of chicken, spinach, tomatoes, and other crunchy veggies. Use cooked leftover chicken, canned chicken, or rotisserie chicken for this tasty salad recipe. The recipe is very forgiving, so feel free to change some of the ingredients to suit your child’s taste.
18. Pepperoni Pizza Sliders
Your kids will cheer when they sit down to these pepperoni pizza sliders, which layer ingredients from a pepperoni pie onto slider buns to create mini-pizza sandwiches. They can easily be made ahead and then baked and pulled apart for lunchtime. The combination of cheese, sauce, and pepperoni, with a garlic butter brushed on the roll, also makes for the perfect after-school snack.
19. Salmon And Cream Cheese Tea Sandwiches
Cream cheese and smoked salmon have traditionally been a favorite topping for bagels, but this combination can also make a wonderful filling for finger sandwiches. This recipe is a quick and easy addition to a light lunch for your more adventurous eater. Place the tea sandwiches in a cold bag with an ice pack to keep them chilled until it’s time to eat.
20. Vegetable Beef Soup
Cook up a big pot of this warming vegetable beef soup on the weekend for thermos lunches. Th recipe is packed with potatoes, green beans, carrots, celery, and onion, but you can add whatever vegetables you have on hand, such as corn or zucchini. The recipe freezes well so divide the soup into portions, freeze, thaw, and heat for quick lunch prep.
21. Vegetable Lasagna
Make a nutritious vegetable lasagna on the weekend and freeze it in individual portions for easy weekday meals. Prep by heating a piece in the microwave and wrapping it in aluminum foil before placing it in insulated lunch bags and lunchboxes. This recipe is ideal for hiding veggies—those finicky kids of yours won’t even know they’ve had a healthy lunch.
22. Honeyed Fruit Salad
For those hot days when kids often crave a lighter lunch, this sweetened honeyed fruit salad with honey, lemon, and just a little sugar does the trick (eliminate the white wine). Use whatever fruit is in season being sure to include your kids’ favorites. Pack it into a plastic or glass container and add some cheese cubes and crackers to their lunch bags as a delicious snack.
23. BBQ Chicken Salad
This BBQ chicken salad is so satisfying even the adults will be fighting over it. This recipe calls for poaching chicken breasts in a flavorful broth and then shredding and tossing the meat with bottled barbecue sauce; you can use a store-bought rotisserie chicken, as well as bottled dressing (instead of the homemade ranch) if you’re short on time. Chock full of vegetables, beans, and crunchy corn chips, this salad offers a variety of textures and colors. Pack the dressing separately, and let the kids shake it all together when ready to eat.