Lunch Ideas for Kids at Home
Intro
In this article, we’re giving you some healthy lunch ideas to make for kids at home! A child’s lunch is one of those meals that seems so simple, and then you just run out of easy lunch ideas. Especially when it comes to making a delicious and healthy kids lunch. We’re here for you to provide inspiration to make an easy lunch to put in your kid’s lunch box, even if it’s at home!
What Makes a Good At-Home Lunch?
So what makes a good at-home lunch? One of the major benefits of making lunch at home (as opposed to packing it in a lunch box for school) is that you can cook! This opens a whole new range of possibilities. You can whip up fresh dishes from scratch.
Of course, you probably still want to keep it quick and convenient. In our list, we’ve covered the whole range of easy lunch ideas. Everything we have included is a great lunch idea that is also part of a balanced diet. Make sure to include foods like fresh fruit, apple slices, snap peas, veggies, yogurt, and anything that can make a healthy snack on the side.
Best At-Home Lunch Ideas
Soup and Sandwich
First up, the classic stay-at-home lunch, the soup and sandwich combo! An at-home lunch is a great opportunity to have a hot, fresh meal, and it doesn’t get much easier than heating up a can of soup. You can make your own soup of course, but lunch time doesn’t call for anything too extravagant. A turkey sandwich paired with some chicken noodle soup is an excellent lunch! Top the soup with crackers for added crunch, or shredded carrot for that extra veggie serving.
Chicken and Veggies
Chicken breast and veggies is an awesome, well-rounded child’s lunch idea. Chicken breasts are easy to season (we just use salt, pepper, lemon, and olive oil) and they’re a good substitute for the regular chicken nuggets. Cook for 15 minutes at 450F until the chicken is cooked through, and lunch is served! Serve with steamed or raw veggies, like cherry tomato, sliced cucumber, or snap peas. While traditionally thought of as more of a dinner, this has everything you need in a healthy lunch. And since you’re at home, might as well take advantage of the kitchen!
Tuna Salad Sandwich
Back to the classics, a tuna salad sandwich is a great lunch any way you slice it (that is diagonally or horizontally, of course). Tuna is full of protein and healthy fat, and you can load up your tuna salad with as many greens as you want (we recommend cucumber, chives, and celery). One can of tuna, a couple spoonfuls of mayo, and veggies, that’s all it takes! And for some extra flavour, try adding some curry powder! If your kid doesn’t eat fish, an egg salad sandwich would be a good substitute for a healthy lunch idea as well.
Tortilla Roll-Ups
Tortilla roll-ups are so simple, but put that fun twist on lunch that kids love. Simply take a tortilla, add your desired toppings (we recommend a basic turkey, cheese, lettuce, mayo), and roll up! Then, cut the tortilla width-wise, so you have bite sized pieces. These are so much fun, and they put a fun twist on an old lunch staple. Getting your kids excited about lunch is half the battle.
Tortilla Pizza
While we’re utilizing the tortilla, try a healthy tortilla pizza for lunch! Tortilla pizzas make for a healthy lunch because they aren’t packed with all the carbs and the dough from a regular pizza. Simply take a tortilla, add tomato sauce and mozzarella, and add as many healthy toppings as your kid will eat! Cook at 400F for about 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and starts to bubble. A super quick lunch that your kid will love (because it’s pizza!).
Burrito
A burrito is another excellent lunch. It makes for a great at-home lunch, because if you pack a burrito in a school lunch it tends to get soggy. Burritos are full of protein, veggies, and are super filling. Take a tortilla and add your protein (we recommend chicken breast), black beans, corn, salsa, avocado, and lettuce. If you feel like an extra filling lunch, add some rice and guacamole. It’s ready quick, and your kids will love it.
Chicken Fingers
Whether you make your own chicken fingers with breaded chicken breast, or cook from frozen, chicken fingers are a great at-home lunch! They get a bad rep because they’re included on so many fast food menus, but they aren’t so bad as long as you include sensible portions. They are full of protein and healthy fats, and are quite filling. Serve with some steamed veggies instead of fries, and you’ve got a lunch that any kid would be excited about.
Salmon and Veggies
Another option that is though of more as a “dinner” option, salmon and veggies actually makes for a great lunch! Salmon is so healthy, and it’s a great source of Vitamin D, which is hard to come by in most foods. Simply rub with salt, pepper, olive oil, and lemon, and cook at 400F for about 15-20 minutes, until the salmon flakes apart easily with a fork. This is another great at-home option.
Taco Bowl
Next up is a taco bowl! All the taco ingredients your kids love, without the extra carbs of the tortillas or taco shells. Whether you’re using taco leftovers, or you cook from scratch, the only prep that is really needed is cutting the veggies and cooking the protein. In a bowl, add rice, ground beef, tomato, lettuce, salsa, and guacamole. Mix up and serve. This is a very easy recipe, and has about as many veggies as you can expect to get your kids to eat at lunch time!
Hummus Wrap
For a vegetarian option, try a hummus wrap. Hummus is so tasty, and kids love it, too. Simply wrap up some hummus, sliced cucumbers, lettuce, tomato, and cheese (if your vegetarian diet allows). It’s a great meal, and also quite filling. Hummus has a good amount of protein for a non-meat option (about 8g per 100g serving).
Grilled Cheese!
We couldn’t make an at-home lunch list without including the classic grilled cheese. It’s basically the ultimate choice for any kid, and can really only be made at home. No one wants a reheated grilled cheese. Butter some bread, add some cheese of your choice, and fry until the cheese melts. It’s that easy, and you definitely won’t have any pushback from your kids about this choice!
Thanks for reading our guide to at-home lunches.
Alissa Zorn is an author, and founder of the website Overthought This. She's a coach and cartoonist passionate about helping people overcome perfectionism and shame to build authentic, joyful lives. Alissa is certified through the International Coach Federation and got her Trauma-Informed Coaching certification from Moving the Human Spirit. She wrote Bounceback Parenting: A Field Guide for Creating Connection, Not Perfection, and is always following curiosity to find her next creative endeavor.