Southern Living
food
Lunch
34 Healthy School Lunch Ideas That Your Kids Will Love

34 Healthy School Lunch Ideas That Your Kids Will Love

By Rachel Mulcahy

July 15, 2019

Credit: Sara Tane

Lunch was the one thing I looked forward to in my old-school days. Who am I kidding? I still get excited about lunchtime. I remember I used to trade my peanut butter and fluff sandwich for my best friend’s homemade ranch chips. Now that I’m older, I trade in my fluff sandwich for a healthy chicken wrap because I realize how important it is to have a nutritious lunch in order to sustain my 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.

Start Slideshow

1 of 34

Chicken Caesar Salad Sandwiches

Credit: Photo: 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.

2 of 34

Mini Tomato Sandwiches With Bacon Mayonnaise

Credit: Photo: 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.

3 of 34

Turkey, Pesto, and Fresh Mozzarella Sandwich

Credit: Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Lindsey Lower; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Recipe: Turkey, Pesto, and Fresh Mozzarella Sandwich

This sandwich is bursting with flavorful ingredients from the sweet cherry peppers to the pesto paste.

4 of 34

Turkey and Spinach Meatball Sandwiches

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Turkey and Spinach Meatball Sandwiches

A healthy take on a meatball sandwich that guarantees no meat-sweats.

5 of 34

Fresh Fruit Salad

Credit: Jen Causey

Recipe: Fresh Fruit Salad

An assortment of fruit makes for a refreshing snack.

6 of 34

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.

7 of 34

Watermelon Salad

Credit: Photo: 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.

8 of 34

Chicken-Quinoa Salad with Green Goddess Dressing

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Chicken-Quinoa Salad with Green Goddess Dressing

This protein-packed quinoa and shredded chicken dish is paired with a tangy green goddess dressing that will have you begging for more.

9 of 34

Caesar Salad Bites

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Caesar Salad Bites

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

10 of 34

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.

11 of 34

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.

12 of 34

Cream Cheese-and-Walnut Stuffed Celery

Credit: Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Cream Cheese-and-Walnut Stuffed Celery

This creamy celery tray is granny’s favorite old-school recipe and ours too!

13 of 34

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.

14 of 34

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.

15 of 34

Oven-Fried Zucchini Sticks

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.

16 of 34

Almond-Chicken Wrap

Credit: Photo: Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Mary-Claire Britton;

Recipe: Almond-Chicken Wrap

This chicken wrap is an easy throw together wrap for lunch on a busy day.

17 of 34

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.

18 of 34

Slow-Cooker Salsa Chicken

Credit: MyRecipes

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Salsa Chicken

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

19 of 34

Egg Salad Sandwiches

Credit: Jen Causey

Recipe: Egg Salad Sandwiches

This classic creamy sandwich is pure egg-cellent.

20 of 34

Blackberry-Oat Crumble Bars

Credit: Photo: 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.

21 of 34

Spicy Parmesan Crackers

Credit: RealSimple.com

Recipe: Spicy Parmesan Crackers

All you need is a sleeve of saltines and a few simple ingredients for these spicy crackers.

22 of 34

Crack Crackers

Credit: Photo: 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.

23 of 34

Ranch Snacker Crackers

Credit: Sheri Castle

Recipe: Ranch Snacker Crackers

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

24 of 34

Grilled Pizza with Summer Veggies and Smoked Chicken

Credit: Photo: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely

Recipe: Grilled Pizza with Summer Veggies and Smoked Chicken

Pile high with your favorite garden veggies on this whole-wheat pizza.

25 of 34

Burrito Bowls

Credit: Photo: 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.

26 of 34

Chicken Salad in Lettuce Cups

Credit: Cooking Light

Recipes: Chicken Salad in Lettuce Cups

For a healtheir twist on these lettuce cups, substitute mayo with greek yogurt.

27 of 34

Black-Eyed Pea Fritter Sandwiches with Slaw

Credit: Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Black-Eyed Pea Fritter Sandwiches with Slaw

Our favorite Southern take on a black-eyed pea falafel.

28 of 34

Pea Pesto Flatbread

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Pea Pesto Flatbread

Skip the creamy sauce and coat your flatbread with this nutritious pea pesto.

29 of 34

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.

30 of 34

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.

31 of 34

Party Puffs with Ham Salad

Credit: Alison Miksch

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.

Account

More

34 Healthy School Lunch Ideas That Your Kids Will Love

1 of 34

Chicken Caesar Salad Sandwiches

1 of 34

2 of 34

Mini Tomato Sandwiches With Bacon Mayonnaise

2 of 34

3 of 34

Turkey, Pesto, and Fresh Mozzarella Sandwich

3 of 34

4 of 34

Turkey and Spinach Meatball Sandwiches

4 of 34

5 of 34

Fresh Fruit Salad

5 of 34

6 of 34

Tarragon Chicken Salad

6 of 34

7 of 34

Watermelon Salad

7 of 34

8 of 34

Chicken-Quinoa Salad with Green Goddess Dressing

8 of 34

9 of 34

Caesar Salad Bites

9 of 34

10 of 34

Thai Noodle Salad

10 of 34

11 of 34

Tangy Tzatziki Pasta Salad

11 of 34

12 of 34

Cream Cheese-and-Walnut Stuffed Celery

12 of 34

13 of 34

Greek Meatballs with Cucumber-Yogurt Sauce and Rice

13 of 34

14 of 34

No-Bake Granola Bars

14 of 34

15 of 34

Oven-Fried Zucchini Sticks

15 of 34

16 of 34

Almond-Chicken Wrap

16 of 34

17 of 34

Buttermilk Chicken Tenders with Roasted Potatoes and Green Beans

17 of 34

18 of 34

Slow-Cooker Salsa Chicken

18 of 34

19 of 34

Egg Salad Sandwiches

19 of 34

20 of 34

Blackberry-Oat Crumble Bars

20 of 34

21 of 34

Spicy Parmesan Crackers

21 of 34

22 of 34

Crack Crackers

22 of 34

23 of 34

Ranch Snacker Crackers

23 of 34

24 of 34

Grilled Pizza with Summer Veggies and Smoked Chicken

24 of 34

25 of 34

Burrito Bowls

25 of 34

26 of 34

Chicken Salad in Lettuce Cups