Food and Recipes Lunch 23 Healthy School Lunch Ideas That Your Kids Will Love By Southern Living Editors Southern Living Editors Since 1966, the editors of Southern Living have been carrying out the mission of the brand: to bring enjoyment, fulfillment, and inspiration to our readers by celebrating life in the South. We inspire creativity in their homes, their kitchens, their gardens, and their personal style. We are a friend they can trust, a guide to the seasons, a helping hand during the holidays, and a relentless champion of the Southern way of life. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on July 17, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox 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. 01 of 23 Chicken Caesar Salad Sandwiches 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. 02 of 23 Buttermilk Chicken Tenders with Roasted Potatoes and Green Beans 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. 03 of 23 Mini Tomato Sandwiches With Bacon Mayonnaise 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. 04 of 23 Turkey, Apple, and Brie Sandwich 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 05 of 23 Fresh Fruit Salad Jen Causey Recipe: Fresh Fruit Salad An assortment of fruit makes for a refreshing snack. 06 of 23 Tarragon Chicken Salad 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. 07 of 23 Turkey Grilled Cheese with Gruyere and Caramelized Onion 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. 08 of 23 Watermelon Salad 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. 09 of 23 Caesar Salad Bites 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. 10 of 23 Classic Tuna Melt Getty Images Recipe: Classic Tuna Melt The retro combination that we've always loved is ready for a new generation of lunches. 11 of 23 Tangy Tzatziki Pasta Salad Jennifer Davick Recipe: Tangy Tzatziki Pasta Salad This zesty and tangy pasta salad is a healthier alternative to a mayo-filled pasta salad. 12 of 23 Greek Meatballs with Cucumber-Yogurt Sauce and Rice 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. 13 of 23 No-Bake Granola Bars 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. 14 of 23 Oven-Fried Zucchini Sticks 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. 15 of 23 Egg Salad Sandwiches Jen Causey Recipe: Egg Salad Sandwiches This classic creamy sandwich is pure egg-cellent. 16 of 23 Blackberry-Oat Crumble Bars 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. 17 of 23 Crack Crackers 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. 18 of 23 Ranch Snacker Crackers Sheri Castle Recipe: Ranch Snacker Crackers Homemade crackers with a zest is a healthier option for store-bought potato chips. 19 of 23 Thai Noodle Salad 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. 20 of 23 Burrito Bowls 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. 21 of 23 Cuban Black Bean-and-Yellow Rice Bowls 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. 22 of 23 Party Puffs with Ham Salad 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. 23 of 23 Tropical Chicken Lettuce Wraps 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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