Coming up with healthy lunch box ideas that are delicious, nutritious AND will actually get eaten is a constant challenge for parents.
Many of these lunch box recipes are designed to be prepared in advance and stored in the refrigerator or in airtight containers in the pantry. Additionally, some can be conveniently frozen in airtight containers, ready to be retrieved from the freezer whenever needed. Simplify your mornings by preparing sandwiches the night before and refrigerating them in the lunch box. For salads, either toss them with dressing in the morning or pack the dressing separately for your child to add at lunchtime.
Lunch ideas for kids
Encourage your child to choose a vibrant and playful lunch box, one they will treasure. Bento boxes, with their compartments, offer a practical and fun solution for including a variety of foods in a single container. Bento lunch box ideas span a range of options, including vegetable sticks, bliss balls, muffins, sandwiches, fritters, popcorn, and sliced fruits or berries. Allow your child to choose which fruit and vegetables go in the lunch box each day.
To streamline your morning routine, prepare one or two items in advance, such as the zesty lemon chicken rissoles, delectable spinach and feta pinwheels, or savoury corn, spinach, and bacon muffins. These can be made ahead of time and stored for easy access.
Complement these main items with a colourful array of vegetable sticks, cherry tomatoes, and sliced apples or berries to ensure a well-rounded and nutritious lunch. For a sweet treat, consider including a sugar-free sultana muffin or a brekkie bliss ball for recess. You can conveniently make these over the weekend and freeze them, ensuring a hassle-free grab-and-go option for busy weekday mornings.
By incorporating these ideas into your lunch routine, you’ll not only ensure your child receives a well-balanced and tasty meal but also foster a sense of excitement about what awaits them in next week’s lunch boxes.
Brekkie bliss balls
Corn and bacon fritters with avocado dressing
Wheaty banana muffins
Apricot muesli cookies
Homemade muesli bars
Zucchini and corn fritters
Lemon chicken rissoles
Ham, zucchini and green onion fritters
Vegetable and chickpea fritters
Tuna sushi sandwiches
Ham, cheese and zucchini pizza scrolls
Oat and fruit slice
Traffic light pasta salad
Pinwheel sandwiches
Sugar-free sultana muffins
Chicken teriyaki brown rice sushi
Wholemeal date loaf
Teriyaki chicken rice salad
Mini lamb kofta with hummus dip
You’ll need these …
01
Penny Scallan Chirpy Bird Bento, Myer (also comes in other designs)
$49.95
This bento box is a great size – perfect for housing both recess and lunch in the one lunchbox. The bento compartment is removable and can be cleaned in the dishwasher. The lid is lined with a silicone seal making it leak-proof. So that compartment of yoghurt or orange segments will stay secure and not ‘flavour’ the sandwich or crackers!
02
Milkshake Lunch Box and Bottle Set, Myer (also comes in other designs)
$49.99
Pop in an ice brick and keep the contents of their lunchbox cool with this insulated lunch bag. It has a handy water bottle holder too, plus the bottle!
03
Thermos Funtainer, Myer (also comes in other designs)
$31.95
Kids sick of sandwiches? Mix things up with some of the recipes in this collection, and this thermos! It’ll keep food hot for up to five hours or cold for up to 7 hours.
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