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A flat lay of no-cook school lunch ingredients including mini bagels, whole grain crackers, pepperoni slices, yogurt, mango cubes, grapes, blueberries, snap peas, carrots, cherry tomatoes, peanut butter, jelly, applesauce pouch, and tortillas arranged on a wooden surface.

School Lunch Ideas

A collection of creative and healthy school lunch ideas to keep kids energized and happy throughout the day, featuring various easy-to-prepare options.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 6 lunches
Calories: 420
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Cheese and Crackers Lunch
  • 1/2 cup whole grain crackers
  • 1 ounce cheese
  • 1 ounce pepperoni
  • 1/2 cup diced mango
  • 1/2 cup snap peas
Bagel Sandwich Lunch
  • 1 mini whole grain bagel
  • 2 tablespoons cream cheese, nut or seed butter, and/or jam
  • 1/2 cup fruit salad
  • 1/2 cup sliced cucumbers
Tortilla Triangles
  • 1 medium tortilla
  • 1 tablespoon bean dip, nut or seed butter and jam, or turkey and cheese or 1 ounce each turkey and cheese
  • 1/2 cup grapes halved for kids under 4
  • 1/4 cup cherry tomatoes and bell peppers strips
Yogurt and Granola Lunch
  • 1/2 cup plain or vanilla yogurt
  • 1/4 cup granola remove whole nuts for kids under 4
  • 1/4 cup cherry tomatoes halved if needed
  • 1/2 cup strawberries or kiwi
Simple Sandwich Lunch
  • 1-2 slices whole grain bread
  • 1-2 tablespoons nut or seed butter
  • 1-2 tablespoons jam
  • 1 clementine
  • 1/4 cup cucumber sticks
Freeze-Ahead PB&J
  • 2 slices whole grain bread
  • 2 tablespoons nut or seed butter
  • 2 tablespoons jam
  • 1/2 cup kiwi
Snack Box Lunch
  • 1 ounce salami
  • 1 ounce cheese
  • 1/2 cup snap pea crisps
  • 1/2 cup berries
  • 1/2 cup cucumber slices
Hummus and Crackers Lunch
  • 1/4-1/2 cup crackers
  • 2 tablespoons hummus
  • 1 ounce cheese
  • 1/2 cup watermelon chunks
  • 1 yogurt tube
Pancake Lunch
  • 1-2 pancakes
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup, jam, nut or seed butter, or cream cheese
  • 1 applesauce pouch
  • 1/4 cup carrot rounds
  • 1/4 cup edamame

Equipment

  • Lunch box
  • Insulated bag
  • Ice pack
  • Thermos
  • Tightly sealing container
  • Microwave
  • Cookie cutter
  • plastic wrap
  • Zip-top freezer storage bag

Method
 

Cheese and Crackers Lunch
  1. Place all foods into the lunch box and pack in an insulated bag with an ice pack.
Bagel Sandwich Lunch
  1. Lightly toast the bagel if desired. Place all foods into the lunch box and pack in an insulated bag with an ice pack.
Tortilla Triangles
  1. Lightly warm the tortilla if it's super stiff. Place all foods into the lunch box and pack in an insulated bag with an ice pack.
Yogurt and Granola Lunch
  1. Place all foods into the lunch box, using a thermos or tightly sealing container for the yogurt. Pack in an insulated bag with an ice pack.
Simple Sandwich Lunch
  1. Place all foods into the lunch box and pack in an insulated bag with an ice pack.
Freeze-Ahead PB&J
  1. Cut the bread with a 3-4-inch round cookie cutter. Spread the nut or seed butter and jam onto the bread, then wrap with plastic wrap.
  2. Make as many as desired and store in a zip-top freezer storage bag for up to 3 months. Place one directly into a lunch box in the morning; it will thaw by lunch.
Snack Box Lunch
  1. Place all foods into the lunch box and pack in an insulated bag with an ice pack.
Hummus and Crackers Lunch
  1. Place all foods into the lunch box and pack in an insulated bag with an ice pack. You can freeze the yogurt tube to act as an extra ice pack, and it will thaw by lunchtime.
Pancake Lunch
  1. Warm the pancakes for 30 seconds in the microwave and pack in a thermos to keep warm, or send them to eat at room temperature.

Notes

For younger children (under 4), remember to halve grapes and cherry tomatoes. If using granola, remove whole nuts. A frozen yogurt tube can double as an ice pack and will thaw by lunchtime. Pancakes can be warmed and kept in a thermos or eaten at room temperature.