34 Healthy School Lunch Ideas That Your Kids Will Love

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.

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Chicken Caesar Salad Sandwiches

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.

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Mini Tomato Sandwiches With Bacon Mayonnaise

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.

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Turkey, Pesto, and Fresh Mozzarella Sandwich

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.

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Turkey and Spinach Meatball Sandwiches

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Turkey and Spinach Meatball Sandwiches

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

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Fresh Fruit Salad

Jen Causey

Recipe: Fresh Fruit Salad

An assortment of fruit makes for a refreshing snack.

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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.

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Watermelon Salad

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.

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Chicken-Quinoa Salad with Green Goddess Dressing

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.

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Caesar Salad Bites

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Caesar Salad Bites

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

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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.

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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.

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Cream Cheese-and-Walnut Stuffed Celery

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!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Almond-Chicken Wrap

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.

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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.

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Slow-Cooker Salsa Chicken

MyRecipes

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

Jen Causey

Recipe: Egg Salad Sandwiches

This classic creamy sandwich is pure egg-cellent.

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Blackberry-Oat Crumble Bars

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.

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Spicy Parmesan Crackers

RealSimple.com

Recipe: Spicy Parmesan Crackers

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

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Crack Crackers

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.

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Ranch Snacker Crackers

Sheri Castle

Recipe: Ranch Snacker Crackers

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

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Grilled Pizza with Summer Veggies and Smoked Chicken

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.

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Burrito Bowls

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.

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Chicken Salad in Lettuce Cups

Cooking Light

Recipes: Chicken Salad in Lettuce Cups

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

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Black-Eyed Pea Fritter Sandwiches with Slaw

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.

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Pea Pesto Flatbread

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Pea Pesto Flatbread

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

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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.

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Copycat Starbucks Bistro Boxes

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

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.

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Turkey Quesadillas

Greg Dupree

Recipe: Turkey Quesadillas

Beef can be heavy on the stomach, that’s why we love subbing it out for turkey in these tasty quesadillas.

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Tropical Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Jennifer Causey

Recipe: Tropical Chicken Lettuce Wraps

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

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Grapefruit Bars

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Grapefruit Bars

Think your Mama’s classic lemon bars, but crank it up a notch for these very addicting citrus bars.

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34 Healthy School Lunch Ideas That Your Kids Will Love

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Chicken Caesar Salad Sandwiches

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Mini Tomato Sandwiches With Bacon Mayonnaise

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Turkey, Pesto, and Fresh Mozzarella Sandwich

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Turkey and Spinach Meatball Sandwiches

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Fresh Fruit Salad

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Tarragon Chicken Salad

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Watermelon Salad

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Chicken-Quinoa Salad with Green Goddess Dressing

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Caesar Salad Bites

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Thai Noodle Salad

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Tangy Tzatziki Pasta Salad

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Cream Cheese-and-Walnut Stuffed Celery

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Greek Meatballs with Cucumber-Yogurt Sauce and Rice

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No-Bake Granola Bars

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Oven-Fried Zucchini Sticks

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Almond-Chicken Wrap

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Buttermilk Chicken Tenders with Roasted Potatoes and Green Beans

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Slow-Cooker Salsa Chicken

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Egg Salad Sandwiches

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Blackberry-Oat Crumble Bars

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Spicy Parmesan Crackers

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Crack Crackers

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Ranch Snacker Crackers

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Grilled Pizza with Summer Veggies and Smoked Chicken

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Burrito Bowls

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Chicken Salad in Lettuce Cups