Food & Cooking Recipes Kid-Friendly Recipes Lunch Ideas for Kids Healthy (But Fun!) Lunches for Kids By Zee Krstic Zee Krstic Zee is a former associate digital editor for MarthaStewart.com. Editorial Guidelines Updated on September 2, 2019 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Bryan Gardner You might be surprised to learn that parents often miss the mark when it comes to creating wholesome, redeeming meals at lunchtime. According to NBC, scholarly researchers have published multiple studies that confirm that federal lunch programs are often healthier than what Mom and Dad choose to pack for school. While loading up on fresh vegetables and fruit is crucial for any kid's lunchbox, the best meals are creative enough to bring out tasty flavors and ensure that your little one actually has fun eating. Crafting balanced lunches at home allows you to encourage your little one to make better choices: After all, further research shows that establishing healthy eating habits in our youth impacts our dietary habits later on in life. The best healthy meals think outside the box—our spin on a lightened quesadilla using fresh squash, seen here, is the perfect example. If you've overdone the nut butter and jelly wheat sandwiches, try repurposing some of last night's leftovers into a hearty lunch that's still fun to eat. This quesadilla is creamy and satisfying, marrying fresh mozzarella and goat cheese with hearty butternut squash, and is topped with fresh pico de gallo. The little ones will love eating with their hands and dipping their meal into fresh salsa. And it's a guaranteed winner, even for the pickiest of kids—who wouldn't enjoy the creamy profile of the squash alongside a good sprinkle of cheese? These lunch ideas allow you to test drive fresh ingredients in your child's lunchbox in exciting ways; from revamped sandwiches to better-for-you pastas and supercharged salads, these thrilling lunches will keep everyone healthy and happy. 01 of 21 Chicken Soup with Rice Bryan Gardner While this rich, nourishing soup can be prepped in big batches for the entire family, little ones will especially enjoy slurping on broth chock full of hearty white rice, julienned veggies, and chicken. Make a pot the night before and add a sprinkle of sharp cheese for an extra kick of flavor. View Recipe 02 of 21 Tropical Fruit Salad with Coconut Crunch Petrina Tinslay Who says all sweet treats have to be baked goods or made entirely of chocolate? A fruit salad is a great alternative. Chop ripe, fresh berries and flavorful tropical fruits to give your little one a taste of summer all year long. Be sure to make a big batch of the crunchy coconut-poppy seed dressing; it adds a fun, healthy punch to this dish. View Recipe 03 of 21 Nori Guacamole Kate Mathis Spice up a quick sandwich or a salad lunch with a side of this super-green guacamole, which incorporates crunchy roasted seaweed flakes for umami notes. View Recipe 04 of 21 Tahini Fruit Dip Mike Krautter A side of fruit becomes the main attraction at lunch when dressed with this sweet, creamy dip. Make a big batch and use it liberally at snack time, too. View Recipe 05 of 21 Granola Cookies Con Poulos Here's why these cookies are the supercharged treat you should add to your kids lunchbox: The recipe swaps butter for coconut oil, which reduces saturated fats and adds nutty flavor. We also like that it uses gluten-free flours and oats, but you can make it a whole-grain cookie by choosing spelt flour. View Recipe 06 of 21 Broccoli-Ham Calzone Lean ham and loads of broccoli bulk up this healthier twist on pizza pockets, and we love how easily they can be packed into a lunch box. Don't forget to include a little container of tomato sauce for dipping. View Recipe 07 of 21 Baked Sweet Potato Chips Bryan Gardner Transform vitamin-packed sweet potatoes into a low-fat "can't eat just one" snack simply by tossing thin slices with a drizzle of olive oil and baking until crisp-edged. These crunchy sweet potato chips are just one of our favorite options for creating better-for-you veggie and fruit chips at home. View Recipe 08 of 21 Turkey Caesar Sandwich Make a quick version of Caesar dressing by mixing lemon juice and Parmesan into light mayonnaise. Spread on multigrain bread then pile on smoked turkey and romaine lettuce for a sandwich that's sure to be a lunchroom success. View Recipe 09 of 21 Whole-Grain Breakfast Cookies Jonathan Lovekin While these may be called breakfast cookies, we promise they taste just as good at lunch. Buckwheat flour, millet, and oats form the wholesome base, and the addition of cashew butter, coconut oil, and fresh raspberries will make sure your kids are well fueled for the rest of the school day. View Recipe 10 of 21 Bean-and-Veggie Sliders These mini bean-and-veggie burgers take inspiration from Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches. Blended beans and rice are the basis of these sliders, which are supercharged with grated carrots, broccoli, and ginger. Top them with cilantro and sliced mango for the brightest sandwiches ever. View Recipe 11 of 21 Real-Fruit Rolls As a parent, you object to food that comes in "Tropical Tie-Dye" flavor, but the grocery-aisle pleas are inevitable. Head them off by making real-fruit rolls that are like candy, only better. View Recipe 12 of 21 Oven-Fried Chicken Make it a brown-bag picnic with a delicious skinless baked chicken drumstick or two. They're crunchy thanks to whole-wheat breadcrumbs. View Recipe 13 of 21 Whole-Wheat Brownies These brownies get a healthy boost from whole-wheat flour and applesauce, while cocoa powder and plenty of semisweet chocolate make them nice and fudgy. View Recipe 14 of 21 Soba Noodle Salad with Chicken and Scallions Toss soba noodles, leftover chicken, and thinly sliced red cabbage in a kid-approved dressing of soy sauce, rice vinegar, ginger, and garlic to make this cool Asian-inspired salad that makes a colorful, fun, and filling lunch. View Recipe 15 of 21 Zucchini Quesadillas Fold garlicky sautéed zucchini, corn, cilantro, and grated pepper jack cheese into tortillas and bake until browned and melty for a fun, healthy sandwich alternative. View Recipe 16 of 21 Edamame Lisa Hubbard Introduce your kids to protein-packed edamame: They'll have fun sucking the tender beans out of their pods. View Recipe 17 of 21 Chocolate-Zucchini Cakes These mini chocolate cupcakes are a delicious twist on traditional zucchini bread. If your kids prefer, substitute pecans or sliced almonds for the walnuts, or skip the nuts altogether. View Recipe 18 of 21 Edamame Spread Instead of the usual hummus, try this brilliant-green, protein-packed spread with vegetables and whole-grain crackers or pita for dipping. View Recipe 19 of 21 Vegetarian Black-Bean Chili A thermos full of this mild-but-tasty vegetable-packed chili and some baked tortilla chips will keep little tummies happy all afternoon long. View Recipe 20 of 21 Ants on a Log Using assorted dried fruit adds a colorful twist to this classic snack. View Recipe 21 of 21 Vegetable Sushi Luca Trovato Julienned carrot, red bell pepper, celery, and scallion are rolled in tangy sushi rice and crisp nori to make this colorful, fun-to-eat veggie sushi. View Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit