70+ Lunch Ideas for Kids: Cubby’s Epic List of Kids’ School Lunch Ideas

This school year, I’ve seriously needed new ideas for my kids’ lunches. The daily lunch routine has been feeling pretty stale, and my daughter transferred to a new school that is nut-free. We were looking for new ideas for easy lunches that don’t need refrigeration and fit our idea of healthy — fresh, nut-free, and high-protein. I went hunting for new kids lunch ideas, and I found over 70 ideas for lunches that I think my kids will actually eat and enjoy on repeat! Bonus: Nearly every single idea comes with a lunch box picture to get you inspired too.

You actually don’t have to overthink this! Danielle Zold, a pediatric registered dietitian and owner of Nourished Pediatrics, says you just have to follow an easy “recipe”:

• Protein
• Produce
• Starch 

Some kids might want more food than that, and that’s fine, too, “but as long as we’re making sure that there’s a protein, produce, and starch, that’s the recipe for an ideal meal, including school lunch,” Zold says. 

My kids prefer a home-packed lunch (even though I’ve nudged them toward school-provided lunches for many reasons). Also, my older daughter’s new school being fully nut-free has been a new challenge for our lunch routine — she’s a real fiend for peanut butter, so I’ve always had that to fall back on.

Here are my goals for my kids’ school lunches, just so you know what I am looking for in lunch ideas:

• Filling: I just want my kids to eat enough so that they don’t arrive home complete hangry monsters. 
• Appealing: I don’t believe in telling them to eat everything, but I do try not to repeat things they really just won’t eat. 
• Quick and easy to pack: I usually stick to whole foods (vs. cooked recipes) and look for things that can be quickly assembled at night or in the morning. 
• Healthy (whatever that means to you): Everyone has a different meaning for healthy (check out our food values exercise here). For me, it means a good variety of fruits and vegetables, along with at least a little bit of protein. 

We stick to a few routine staples that they reliably enjoy, and I think that this is just fine.

“Their lunch is what’s going to be powering them through the rest of the school day, so we want to make sure they’re getting enough food, [and] enough food that they enjoy eating,” says Zold.

I start with a main dish like a smoothie, yogurt, or a sandwich, and then fill in around that. I have a standard shopping list for the fruits and vegetables my kids eat the most (clementines, mini cucumbers). We always add something crunchy like chips or crackers, and a small treat. 

But when we do need new lunch ideas, the challenge (besides my kids’ native pickiness) is finding new main dishes that are appealing and relatively nutritious. I am getting a little desperate for some new things to try. Enter: our EPIC lunch ideas list!

I rolled up my sleeves and reviewed many, many past lunch box posts here at Cubby and on our sister site The Kitchn. I assembled all these past photos and ideas into this huge list that really helped me, and I hope helps you too. Many of these ideas are from nutritionists; others are from real parents who have shared what their kids actually like to eat for lunch! 

• Browse by section: I organized in sections — most are nut-free. 
• My easy buttons are at the top! I put my own kids’ most reliable go-tos at the top, under the assumption that I have, to be completely honest, fairly picky and vanilla kids. 
• Give some of the more surprising ideas a chance! Right now I think my kids would never eat a grain salad (lol!) but I am realizing that seasoned lentils, or pearl couscous with Parmesan and cheese might actually be good gateways into expanding their lunch palates.
• Scroll through with your kids and see if anything sparks their interest!

• DIY Lunchable: The simplest lunch and always a favorite: cut-up deli meat and cheese, with a few crackers. 

• Rolled Plain Ham: Very simple and easy. 

• Turkey Roll-Ups: I always forget about turkey, but smoked turkey goes over well, especially with a little bit of cheese or cucumber tucked inside.

• Pepperoni: One of my kids asked to be called a “peppertarian” because she loves mini pepperoni so much. So this often goes into the lunch box with cheese and crackers. 

• Yogurt: Yogurt as a parfait, or in a Thermos with a baggie of granola, has been a big favorite right now. 

• Smoothie: This can be as simple as a store-bought Chobani smoothie in a kid-friendly bottle.
• Smoothie Bowl: You can also try a fancy smoothie bowl like this one — either way, smoothies have been a big easy button lately. 

• Chicken and Rice (or Cauliflower Rice): One of my kids is mad for rice, so this is another easy button.

• Plain Pasta: When in doubt, plain pasta, right? I love the quick, microwavable pasta like these from Barilla. We use a lunch box with a small thermos inside to hold warm buttered pasta.

• Pizza: Small pieces of pizza in a Thermos have also been a hit.

• Chopped Salad: This is one of those “huh — would they actually eat it?” ideas, but a very basic mix of tiny baby tomatoes and cucumber has actually been a hit with my older kid, especially in the hot summer months.

• Hummus or Bean Dip: My kids aren’t fans of hummus, to my great sadness, but I keep trying. If yours love it, try sending a little bit of dip with chips and fruit.

• Tuna Salad: This classic lunch is another one that we’re building up to but it was a huge favorite of mine at their age.

• Pita with Dips: Like the hummus idea, a straightforward “snack” lunch can be made with the mini pitas from the grocery store, or pita cut into triangles. Add a dip or a pureed soup on the side.

• Cheese Plate: I realize this is very similar to the DIY Lunchable but hey, it’s really fun to say “you’re getting a fancy cheese plate for lunch!”.

• Marinated Beans and Olives: The beans are still a long shot, but I have a child who is crazy for olives, and I’ve been tucking them in her lunch with a little cheese and crackers.

• Lentil Salad: This is top of my “try next” list — French lentils cooked in chicken broth and lightly seasoned. They’re good cold or warm.

• Grain Salad: Grain salads can be anything from plain cooked rice with a bit of corn mixed in, or more elaborate concoctions of whatever they are enjoying currently. (A great way to use up leftovers too!)

How much protein do kids need? Early elementary school-age children (4-8) need about 19 grams a day, and older elementary school (9-13) have a dietary recommendation of about 34 grams, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) guidelines — but keep in mind these are “recommended dietary allowances and adequate intakes” based on references weights for kids. Each of these lunchboxes is aiming to get at least 10 grams in.

• Hard-Boiled Eggs: At 6 grams of protein each, an egg is just the perfect package.

• Pulled Chicken: A small handful of shredded cooked chicken will have between 10 and 15 grams of protein, and if your kid is into this, it’s a really fabulous lunch.

• Shredded Chicken and Pesto: More shredded chicken, but this one is seasoned with pesto.

• Ranch Chicken Bites: These ranch chicken bites are irresistible to pretty much everyone (recipe here).

• Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese Roll-Ups: A luxurious lunch for a child who wants a tiny bit of bagel with his lox. 

• Plain Meatballs: Meatballs are always in our rotation, and we use a small thermos to keep them warm.

• Saucy Meatballs: Sometimes I do saucy meatballs like these, although my kids prefer them with regular pasta not zoodles.

• Chicken Nuggets: Chicken nuggets are a fun lunch, especially if you have a way to keep them warm in the lunch box.
• Vegetarian Nuggets: No chicken? No problem. Veggie nuggets are easy to find and just as beloved.

• Mini Sausages (or Pigs in a Blanket): Mini sausages wrapped in croissant dough are a fun lunch I’m planning to try this year. For a simpler take, you can also make basic sausage slices like these.

• Smoked Sausage Skewers: One of my kids is really into kielbasa and I’m planning to make lunch sometimes with quickly seared smoked sausage like this.

• Sliced Chicken Sausage: One more sausage idea, with chicken sausage (which I don’t mind eating cold).

• Seasoned Tofu Cubes: These seasoned and roasted tofu cubes can be quickly warmed up in a toaster oven before popping into a lunch box.

• Chicken Salad Wraps: A plain chicken salad is a great high-protein lunch. Get The Kitchn’s super popular chicken salad recipe right here.
• Chickpea Wraps: For a veggie option, you can also try a wrap with filling garbanzo beans.

• Turkey and Cheese: Yet another deli meat and cheese idea for lunch — very plain, very simple, and hey that’s the way lots of kids like it.

• Ham, Cheese, and Peas: For really small kids and toddlers, this lunchbox with tiny cubes of ham and cheese is ap-pea-ling.

• Fried Chicken: Leftover fried chicken makes a great lunch box main dish, provided your kids are OK with eating it cold.

• Pasta Salad: This is another “will they try it?!” idea but again, if you can strip back a “pasta salad” to its bare minimum, coaching your kids into trying orzo with just one or two other mix-ins, it might turn into a new favorite.

• Saucy Soba or Udon Noodles: Udon and soba are a huge favorite for many families and they show up over and over again in our tried-and-true lunch box ideas. These noodles have a peanut sauce on them, but obviously that only works for schools that are OK with nuts.

•  Soba Salad: One of my kids likes soba a lot, and I’m hoping to try a very basic soba salad with soy sauce and some veggies this year. These are so great made ahead and refrigerated overnight (bonus: I like to eat them for lunch too!).

•  Orzo Salad: Another pasta salad idea with tomatoes and cauliflower.

•  Soba Noodles with Tofu: One more soba noodle inspiration idea for really small children. This is very plain soba with plain tofu diced.

• Sandwich Skewers: I’m kind of obsessed with this cute way of making sandwiches! I don’t usually get fancy with how my kids’ lunch boxes look inside (I’m no bento artist) but I think every time I put something on a toothpick it gets eaten.

• Banana and Granola Wrap: This tortilla wrap with bananas and granola looks really delicious.

•  Banana Pinwheels: Another banana and tortilla idea. These have peanut butter inside, but you could substitute SunButter, cream cheese, or a little honey.

• Cream Cheese and Strawberry Sammie: This is a huge new favorite for my older kid, who loves cream cheese with all her heart.

•  Cream Cheese Tartine: Cream cheese, in fact, may be our new peanut butter, with a little fat and protein to hold her lunch together. “Assemble your own” cream cheese tartine could be reinvented in a million ways.

•  Hummus Sandwich: I never thought to put hummus on a sandwich like this; it’s a smart idea for all of you with hummus-obsessed kids.

• Grilled Cheese (in a Thermos): The classic! This is the first reason we bought small thermoses.

•  Rice Cakes and SunButter: Another good use for SunButter — crunchy rice cakes.

•  Scrambled Chickpea Pitas: These are a little more elaborate and perhaps a stretch for some, but check the recipe out here and see what you think.

• Tortilla Sandwiches: These scrambled egg and spinach quesadillas-in-all-but-name are a yummy way to pack some veggies into the main dish.

• Ham and Cheese Sandwich: Left the classic for last. No explanation needed, but I do somehow forget about this classic lunch.

•  Mini Tacos: Hugely popular and easy, especially with grocery store staples like corn salsa and pre-packaged guacamole.

•  Egg and Tortilla Roll-Ups: These are best made morning-of, but they’re really kid friendly. Just make this basic rolled egg wrap and roll up with a tortilla.

•  Deconstructed Burrito: Like the tacos, try sending some avocado and dips with tortilla chips (or a big tortilla) and them make a burrito their way.

•  Quesadillas: It’s fairly quick to whip up a plain quesadilla in the morning and tuck inside a thermos (you can even make them in the oven)

• Lettuce Cups: It’s just fun to WRAP things up at lunch, and I’ve been meaning to try lettuce cups with some shredded chicken and rice for one of my kids.

• Nori Wraps: Simple veggie nori rolls are an absolutely classic lunch staple and since my kids have been snacking on roasted seaweed, it’s time to try these too. (I love shelled edamame as a kid-friendly veggie too!)

•  Potstickers: Buy frozen potstickers and quickly cook in the morning before school.

•  Vegetable Sushi or Onigiri: Another really classic lunch. You can make onigiri rice balls with plain or lightly seasoned rice if your kid isn’t a fan of fish.

• Rice and Broccoli: This picture shows cauliflower rice I believe, which doesn’t quite work for my kids, but it’s still a good inspiration. Plain rice with veggies is a real staple for us.

• Summer Rolls: These are a little bit more of a project, but if you have the time and wherewithal, they feel really special. (Here’s how to make summer rolls with rice wrappers.)

• Avocado Toast: Another assemble-it-themselves idea that I love.

• Waffles and Waffle Sticks: I make a big batch of waffles and freeze them occasionally. A waffle toasted and cut up like this would be a hit in the lunch box.

•  Mix-and-Match Breakfast Favorites: A more general set of ideas for the younger eaters made up of the breakfast food your kid loves.

•  Open-Faced Waffle Sandwich: This is something I definitely want to try — a cream cheese schmear on a waffle.

•  Mini Pancakes: Very smart, especially if you’re in a rush and just have some in the freezer.

Egg muffins and mini frittatas are a whole category of homemade recipes that I think are really all-purpose for lunch time. Each of these links to a recipe at The Kitchn.

• Ham and Cheddar Muffins: Ham and Cheddar Lunch Box Muffins are a top-rated pick at The Kitchn and such a good make-ahead recipe.

•  Frittata Muffins: These 3-Cheese Frittata Cups are a perfect package of lunch nutrition.

• Sausage and Egg Muffins: One last suggestion in this category are these sausage and egg muffins that are so filling.
• Veggie and Egg Muffins: Use the recipe for the sausage muffins and swap in your kid’s favorite veggies.

These are ideas I didn’t see actually pictured inside one of our many lunch roundups, but each of these are really good ideas I want to try on my kids this fall if I have baking energy. 

• Pockets: For a hot lunch, these 4-ingredient pizza pockets are a great choice. Also see these recipes: Ham and Cheese Pastry Pockets and Freeze-Ahead Cheddar Hot Pockets. 
• Buns: If you have the time to invest, then using homemade or storebought dough to make buns with cheese, ham, or another protein stuffed inside, like in this recipe, is another creative idea to try. 

Once you’ve got the hero foods of your kids’ lunches figured out, all you need are a couple tasty sides to make sure they feel full for the rest of the school day. Inspired by the lunches above, here’s a list of the featured sides, so you have them all in one place. Of course, you can tailor this to your kids’ needs and preferences — and school lunch rules (like no nuts) — but with so many options, you’re sure to find the final pieces to a kid-approved lunch below. 

• Apple wedges (sprinkled with cinnamon if you want to make it a little more fun)
• Clementines
• Strawberries (sliced or quartered without tops)
• Raspberries
• Blueberries
• Blackberries
• Grapes
• Dried or freeze-dried fruit (apricots, raisins, prunes, strawberries) 

• Celery sticks (stuffed with peanut butter or cream cheese for a more filling bite)
• Baby carrots or carrot sticks
• Cherry or grape tomatoes
• Avocado chunks
• Red, orange, yellow, or green pepper strips
• Cucumbers (cut into the shape your kid is most likely to eat)
• Edamame (peeled)
• Chickpeas

• Crackers (butter rounds, cheese crackers, or whatever your kid likes)
• Graham crackers or mini grahams 
• Dry cereal 
• Pretzels
• Tortilla chips
• Veggie straws
• Trail mix
• Popcorn
• Granola 
• Mini muffin
• Protein or granola bar

• Hard-boiled egg (peeled)
• Squeezable yogurt 
• Applesauce pouch 
• Yogurt melts
• Cheese (cut up into cubes or a mini wheel of your kid’s fave)

If you need a new lunch box check out these two. Each one has been tried, tested, and vetted by at least one Cubby team member for an entire school year.

• This Is the Secret to Packing a Better Lunch Your Kids Will Actually Eat
• My 3 Rules of School Lunch Were Born Out of Desperation — But Now They’re So Much More
• How to Teach Any Kid to Make Their Own School Lunch — Yes, Even Preschoolers!
• What I Wish Someone Had Told Me About Trying to Pack the Perfect School Lunch
• I’m a Dietitian, and I Changed My Mind About Sugar in My Kids’ Lunch
• The Essential School Lunch Grocery List

• 10 Easy Lunch Ideas That Aren’t Sandwiches
• 30+ Make-Ahead Lunches You Can Prep and Pack Tonight
• 15 Cold Lunches Your Kids Will Love Eating
• 10 Super Easy (and Healthy!) Bento Box Lunch Ideas for Toddlers & Preschoolers
• 10 Easy Lunch Recipes That Take 20 Minutes or Less
• 10 Easy Whole30 Lunch Ideas
• 10 Easy Lunches That Don’t Need to Be Refrigerated
• This Is How I Take the Stress Out of Packing My Lunch
• 10 Pasta Ideas for Lunch Boxes
• 25 Big-Batch Recipes to Make for Lunch
• 100+ of Our Best Lunch Box Recipes
• 15 Things to Pack in Your Thermos for a Hot Lunch (Besides Soup)

I hope this has been helpful for you! We’d always love to hear your ideas and your kid lunch victories; visit and tag us on Instagram @cubbyathome.