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  4. 25 Healthy School Lunch Ideas That Your Kids Will Love

25 Healthy School Lunch Ideas That Your Kids Will Love

Southern Living May 2021 Cover
By Southern Living Editors Updated April 04, 2022
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Copycat Starbucks Bistro Boxes
Credit: Sara Tane

What kid doesn't look forward to lunchtime at school? As far as school days go, lunch may be second only to recess. And who are we joking? We still get excited about lunchtime. As kids, we'd trade our peanut butter and fluff sandwiches for our best friend's homemade ranch chips. Now that we're older, we trade in our fluff sandwich for a healthy chicken wrap because we realize how important it is to have a nutritious lunch in order to sustain our energy throughout the day. It's just as essential for your kids to have tasty lunch options that still are nourishing and provide fuel for their body, so they have the energy to play all day long. These fun and vibrant recipes are made up of classic recipes with a healthy kick to them. We curated the best list of healthy, wholesome recipes that will make your kid's tummy very happy. We assure you that your kids will not be trading these delicious lunches in the cafeteria anytime soon.

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Chicken Caesar Salad Sandwiches

Chicken Caesar Salad Sandwiches
Credit: Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Chicken Caesar Salad Sandwiches

A simple take on chicken Caesar salad with a savory homemade garlic mayonnaise.

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Buttermilk Chicken Tenders with Roasted Potatoes and Green Beans

Buttermilk Chicken Tenders with Roasted Potatoes and Green Beans
Credit: Greg DuPree

Recipe: Buttermilk Chicken Tenders with Roasted Potatoes and Green Beans

Homemade buttermilk chicken tenders that are so delicious that they are certain to fly off the plate.

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Mini Tomato Sandwiches With Bacon Mayonnaise

Mini Tomato Sandwiches With Bacon Mayonnaise
Credit: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely

Recipe: Mini Tomato Sandwiches With Bacon Mayonnaise

The ideal easy to put together finger sandwich for your next lunchtime meal.

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Turkey, Apple, and Brie Sandwich

Turkey, Apple, and Brie Sandwich
Credit: Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Lindsey Lower; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Recipe: Turkey, Apple, and Brie Sandwich

We love the flavor combination of crisp apple and nutty brie that come together in this sandwich

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Fresh Fruit Salad

Fresh Fruit Salad
Credit: Jen Causey

Recipe: Fresh Fruit Salad

An assortment of fruit makes for a refreshing snack.

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Tarragon Chicken Salad

Tarragon Chicken Salad
Credit: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Tarragon Chicken Salad

You can serve this classic chicken salad on whole wheat bread or in lettuce cups for a healthier option.

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Turkey Grilled Cheese with Gruyere and Caramelized Onion

Turkey, Caramelized Onion, and Gruyère Grilled Cheese
Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Lindsey Lower; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Recipe: Turkey Grilled Cheese with Gruyere and Caramelized Onion

Take the all-American grilled cheese sandwich to a whole new level with the addition of caramelized sweet onion.

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Watermelon Salad

Watermelon Salad
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: Katelyn Hardwick

Recipe: Watermelon Salad

This rainbow salad is bursting with juicy flavor from the mix of watermelon and tomatoes.

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Caesar Salad Bites

Caesar Salad Bites
Credit: Photo: Jennifer Davick/Prop Styling: Lydia DeGaris Pursell/Food Styling: Marian Cooper Cairns

Recipe: Caesar Salad Bites

Romaine lettuce cups provide the perfect vehicle for this creamy Caesar dressing.

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Classic Tuna Melt

Homemade Toasted Tuna Melt Sandwich
Credit: Getty Images

Recipe: Classic Tuna Melt

The retro combination that we've always loved is ready for a new generation of lunches. 

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Tangy Tzatziki Pasta Salad

Tangy Tzatziki Pasta Salad
Credit: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Tangy Tzatziki Pasta Salad

This zesty and tangy pasta salad is a healthier alternative to a mayo-filled pasta salad.

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Greek Meatballs with Cucumber-Yogurt Sauce and Rice

Greek Meatballs with Cucumber-Yogurt Sauce and Rice
Credit: Greg DuPree

Recipe: Greek Meatballs with Cucumber-Yogurt Sauce and Rice

These Greek meatballs pair well with this cucumber-yogurt sauce that is so addicting you'll be eating it by the spoonfuls.

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No-Bake Granola Bars

No-Bake Granola Bars
Credit: Photo: Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: No-Bake Granola Bars

You'll be snagging these no-bake granola bars for your morning and afternoon pick-me up.

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Oven-Fried Zucchini Sticks

Baked Zucchini Fries
Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Oven-Fried Zucchini Sticks

Greasy french fries are no match for these healthy baked zucchini fries.

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Slow-Cooker Salsa Chicken

Slow-Cooker Salsa Chicken
Credit: Ryan Benyi; Styling: Gerri Williams for James Reps

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Salsa Chicken

Dish up this filling chicken lunch on a pita wrap or lettuce cups for some yummy goodness.

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Egg Salad Sandwiches

Egg Salad Sandwiches
Credit: Jen Causey

Recipe: Egg Salad Sandwiches

This classic creamy sandwich is pure egg-cellent.

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Blackberry-Oat Crumble Bars

Blackberry-Oat Crumble Bars
Credit: Helen Norman; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: Marian Cooper Cairns

Recipe: Blackberry-Oat Crumble Bars

We are drooling over these blackberry-oat bars, they make for the perfect after lunch treat.

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Crack Crackers

Crack Crackers Recipe
Credit: Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Anna Hampton

Recipe: Crack Crackers

They don't call them crack crackers for nothing, trust us you'll be hooked.

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Ranch Snacker Crackers

Ranch Snacker Crackers
Credit: Sheri Castle

Recipe: Ranch Snacker Crackers

Homemade crackers with a zest is a healthier option for store-bought potato chips.

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Thai Noodle Salad

Thai Noodle Salad
Credit: Jennifer Davick / Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine / Food Styling: Marian Cooper Cairns

Recipe: Thai Noodle Salad

Our unique twist on Pad Thai allows room for your favorite zesty toppings.

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Burrito Bowls

Burrito Bowls Recipe
Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Burrito Bowls

Skip the tortillas and load these burrito fillings on a bed of warm-rice.

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Cuban Black Bean-and-Yellow Rice Bowls

Cuban Black Bean-and-Yellow Rice Bowls
Credit: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Cuban Black Bean-and-Yellow Rice Bowls

A rice bowl that's topped with avocado and lime makes for a very zesty treat.

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Copycat Starbucks Bistro Boxes

Copycat Starbucks Bistro Boxes
Credit: Sara Tane

Recipe: Copycat Starbucks Bistro Boxes

We love a variety of food to fill our unique cravings, this healthy box of food does the trick.

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Party Puffs with Ham Salad

Cheese Puffs with Ham Salad
Credit: Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Party Puffs with Ham Salad

Even though there are a ton of contenders in the salad sandwiches category, this retro dish takes the cake.

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Tropical Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Tropical Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Tropical Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Your kids will be begging for more of these juicy mango and chicken lettuce wraps.

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    Everything in This Slideshow

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    View All

    1 of 25 Chicken Caesar Salad Sandwiches
    2 of 25 Buttermilk Chicken Tenders with Roasted Potatoes and Green Beans
    3 of 25 Mini Tomato Sandwiches With Bacon Mayonnaise
    4 of 25 Turkey, Apple, and Brie Sandwich
    5 of 25 Fresh Fruit Salad
    6 of 25 Tarragon Chicken Salad
    7 of 25 Turkey Grilled Cheese with Gruyere and Caramelized Onion
    8 of 25 Watermelon Salad
    9 of 25 Caesar Salad Bites
    10 of 25 Classic Tuna Melt
    11 of 25 Tangy Tzatziki Pasta Salad
    12 of 25 Greek Meatballs with Cucumber-Yogurt Sauce and Rice
    13 of 25 No-Bake Granola Bars
    14 of 25 Oven-Fried Zucchini Sticks
    15 of 25 Slow-Cooker Salsa Chicken
    16 of 25 Egg Salad Sandwiches
    17 of 25 Blackberry-Oat Crumble Bars
    18 of 25 Crack Crackers
    19 of 25 Ranch Snacker Crackers
    20 of 25 Thai Noodle Salad
    21 of 25 Burrito Bowls
    22 of 25 Cuban Black Bean-and-Yellow Rice Bowls
    23 of 25 Copycat Starbucks Bistro Boxes
    24 of 25 Party Puffs with Ham Salad
    25 of 25 Tropical Chicken Lettuce Wraps

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    25 Healthy School Lunch Ideas That Your Kids Will Love
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