From meal prep tips to ideas for picky eaters, these easy, make-ahead lunches include healthy options and even options for clean eating kids… Add fresh arugula leaves (romaine and spinach are good options too) and apple slices. Deli Meat Roll-Ups. Grilled Cheese. If your child isn’t a carnivore, you may worry he’s missing out on some essential nutrients. Tortilla Pizza. Looking for some fresh lunch ideas for kids? The Bump food guru Karen Biton-Cohen whipped up 22 easy, fun—and healthy!—recipes that are perfect for little ones. Add 1/2 cup salsa and 1/4 cup cilantro leaves (chopped), and toss until well incorporated. To cut down on morning prep, make (or pick up) the egg salad the night before. Homemade fruit roll-ups. extra virgin olive oil, 1/2 Tbl. Fun lunch ideas for kids. See more ideas about fun lunch, lunch, kids lunch. This recipe raises the nutrition bar by swapping out your standard pizza dough with whole wheat pita, adding essential nutrients like vitamin B and fiber. When it comes to school lunch ideas for kids, there’s a reason the sandwich is king: It’s easy to make and guaranteed to last until the lunch hour. Spice things up with these healthy options. Do your kids like sushi? Deli-style turkey breast and honeyed ham slices are layered onto a whole-wheat tortilla wrap with Dijon mustard and some greens, then rolled up for an easy ham and turkey wrap. Place turkey slices over the top. Feel free to adjust the toppings for these mini pizza bites to suit your family's tastes. Griddle Corn Cakes Place them in a cold bag to keep chilled until it's time to eat. Little ones will gobble up these crescent roll pigs in a blanket. 40 Cold Lunch Ideas for Kids. Fun lunch ideas for kids While you can certainly serve plain beans with your rice of choice, we’ve added a few ingredients to this recipe to punch up the flavor. Spoon the salad over toasted whole grain bread. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Quinoa is a gluten-free choice that comes with loads of benefits, including B vitamins, magnesium and fiber, while chicken offers a healthy amount of protein—diced for extra-easy chewing—and broccoli adds vitamin K and C. Recipe: Build a bowl by layering hearty cooked quinoa, diced roasted chicken pieces and steamed broccoli (or another favorite veggie, like wilted spinach, sautéed zucchini or roasted sweet potato). garlic powder. Healthy lunch ideas for kids Peanut Butter & Jelly Sushi Rolls. Sauté 1/4 cup onion (finely diced) and 2 garlic cloves (minced), stirring occasionally until soft and fragrant. Serve the turkey taco meat over cooked brown rice, and your favorite taco fixings, like corn, beans, diced avocado and lime wedges. Lunch Ideas for Kids Let your kids play with their food by preparing these fun, healthy, and personalized lunches! It’s never too early to get your kid hooked on kale! 1. Crispy Baked Chicken Fingers Eggs, chopped fresh vegetables, and crumbled feta cheese combine with a few simple seasonings to make the tasty, handheld lunch bites. To avoid the temptation of peeling open another Lunchable, I’ve collected a variety of fun lunch ideas for kids. Magnesium and potassium and protein, oh my! It’s the breakfast du jour for a reason: Avocado is delicious, an excellent source of heart-healthy fats and is packed with nearly 20 vitamins and minerals, making it super-nutritious. Feeding kids can be so frustrating! Recipe: Slice a whole grain english muffin in half and lightly toast. So what makes an easy lunch for kids? The hardest part of this recipe? Recipe: Heat 1 tbsp. This three-ingredient cold lunch option is super-easy to put together, especially if you make the chicken salad the night before or pick up your favorite store-bought brand. Melt butter in a non-stick pan over a medium flame. First up, cinnamon toast lollipops. As a parent, you’re pretty busy. Top with a handful of arugula leaves. I found this handwritten recipe tucked inside an old community cookbook I bought more than... Chili-Topped Cornbread Waffles. Recipe: In a bowl combine 1/2 cup cornmeal, 3/4 cup all-purpose (or whole wheat) flour, 1 can of corn (drained), 1/2 cup basil leaves (chopped), 1/2 cup greek yogurt, 1 egg, 1 tsp. Add an extra dash of healthiness to your #TacoTuesday by swapping out beef for leaner turkey. Themed Lunch Box Ideas from Kitchen Fun With My 3 Sons …. Add some tortilla chips for dipping. Roll up with tortilla and cut into 1-inch-thick pieces. Your kids might love Pop Tarts for the frosting and fun flavors, but you probably don’t love the high sugar content and added chemicals. Recipe: Prepare a finger-food platter with an assortment of cheese, crackers and fruit. From homemade chicken nuggets to bento boxes, I’ve got you covered when it comes to creative kids lunches this summer. This hummus sandwich is so easy to make and a great way to sneak extra protein into vegan and vegetarian eaters at lunchtime. Recipe: Preheat oven to 375 F, spoon leftover mac and cheese (warm slightly in the microwave if coming directly out of the fridge) into well-greased muffin cups and sprinkle extra shredded cheese and panko crumbs over the top. Roll up with tortilla and cut into 1-inch-thick pieces. You can use the recipe to make sandwiches or add some chopped iceberg lettuce to make it a container salad. Cheese and Crackers Top with tomato slices. If you're looking for nutritious ideas that children will actually finish, try recipes that are sure to win approval from the short set. milk, 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella and a pinch of salt and pepper. Kids Lunch Ideas for Snack Plates. Give them a special treat by packing slices along with an orange or apple to keep their meal balanced. Celery and onion add a nice crunch to the filling, which gets some extra tang from a little yellow or Dijon mustard mixed into the mayonnaise. Easy lunch ideas for kids Spray the top of each muffin cup with olive oil spray. The avocado adds a dose of healthy fat, and the miniature size makes these perfect for popping into little mouths. All of these are easy and fun lunch ideas for kids. Recipe: Preheat oven to 400 F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Simple Fruit. Think outside the bun! They have the feel of a burger but are packed with chickpea goodness, including fiber, protein, iron and zinc. … If you’re sick of the same old lunches, these fun lunch ideas for kids are perfect for at school, at home, or as you homeschool! Three kinds of beans provide this Tex-Mex vegetarian crock pot taco soup with plenty of protein, and the seasoning mix gives it the familiar taste of their favorite Mexican food. Young people and especially toddlers can be very picky eaters, and as parents, we struggle to find healthy lunch recipes that kids will actually eat. Buonissima! Tender chocolate chip banana bread packed with plenty of healthy fruit is a lunchbox snack kids will love. From unique takes on cold lunch ideas to crowd-pleasing options for picky eaters, these fresh lunch ideas for kids will soon be mealtime favorites. Sandwiches/Main Dish: 1. Add half a yellow onion (diced) and 2 garlic cloves (minced) and sauté until soft and fragrant. Who has time to whip up a gourmet meal? If you’re looking for kids’ lunch ideas that don’t require too much prep but still deliver on taste and nutrition, we’ve got you covered. Top off the crackers with a cute piece of Christmas tree … If you’re reading this thinking, “You try making my kids eat healthy!”, these four kids’ lunch ideas are up for the challenge. Pack your kids this for lunch and you'll be the most popular mom in school. Add 1/4 cup red bell pepper (finely diced) and sauté for another 5 minutes. Griddle corn cakes are not only scrumptious and vegetarian-friendly, they’re healthy too, thanks to the antioxidants found in corn and the protein in Greek yogurt and eggs. Protein-rich avocado hummus gets extra creaminess and flavor from ripe avocado in this food processor recipe. Recipe: Cook the gnocchi according to package instructions.