Fun Lunch Ideas for Kids

Coming up with fun lunch ideas can be challenging, but lunch is a great chance to include vegetables, protein, and dairy into the overall daily meal plan. Here are some ideas to try:

Eating Together

If you can, make lunch a group effort! Lunch can be a time for children to help make their meal and serve themselves. One fun way to involve children is to host a sandwich bar where each child can "build” their own sandwich. Put several types of low-fat deli meat out on a platter, with another plate of low-fat cheese slices and lettuce or spinach leaves. Offer sliced veggies like tomatoes, onions, or bell peppers, and don’t forget some whole grain bread.

A salad bar would work the same way. Have the children help tear and rinse lettuce into bowls. Jazz up the salad bar with different colored veggies, fruits, and mushrooms. Add protein options with chopped chicken breast, beans, and sunflower seeds.  Have another bowl with shredded low-fat cheese. Include a variety of low-fat dressings to add a little more flavor. Challenge children to make their own Rainbow Salad.

On Their Own

When you need to leave the children to make their own lunches, have plenty of easy ingredients on hand. Whole grain bread or flour tortillas are easy to spread with peanut butter; leave one banana to be sliced or rolled per sandwich/tortilla. Try out this Banana Burrito recipe!

Use leftover pasta from earlier meals and add lots of diced veggies for a quick and cool lunch.

Mix diced hard-boiled eggs or drained tuna with low-fat mayonnaise and leave pre-rinsed lettuce leaves with a loaf of whole grain bread for older children to make their own sandwiches.

Want to make lunch time even easier? When you make dinner during the week, think about leftovers. Store them in child-sized portions and let each child enjoy the leftovers throughout the week for lunch.

Check out our previous Eat Smart blogs and our Recipes section on the Eat Smart website for other lunch ideas!

Fresh Sandwich Ideas

Lunch is an important but sometimes forgotten meal.  It offers you a break away from the busy day to refuel and refresh.  But finding creative ways of making your sandwich healthy yet taste good can sometimes be a challenge.

Sandwiches are a great way to add a few vegetables to your day.  Whether it be a few lettuce leaves, some shredded carrots or sliced zucchini, veggies in a sandwich is will offer additional nutrients to meet your daily need for vitamins, minerals, and get more veggies!

Turkey and cheese or peanut butter and jelly may be standard choices in your sandwich routine, but mix it up with a few veggie filled options with these simple tips:

1. Bring on the Beans
   Beans are packed with protein and fiber to help keep you full through the afternoon.  Beans plus veggies will give you energy to tackle your to-do list.  Mash beans with a fork or blend them into a spread to use as a base on a wonderful sandwich.  Try our Homemade Hummus instead of adding mayonnaise or salad dressing to your sandwich.  For a veggie packed sandwich, consider making a Veggie Bean Wrap for lunch one day.
2. Fruit Punch
   Fruit may not seem like your typical sandwich ingredient, but it provides just a touch of mid-day sweetness.  Both dried and fresh fruit will work.  Try a few combinations until you find one you like. Chicken Waldorf Salad has apples and raisins added to traditional chicken salad.   Add bananas and raisins to a peanut butter and jelly for Banana Burritos.  
3. Wrap it up
   Sandwiches do not have to be served on bread.  Whole wheat tortillas make a substitute to bread for sandwiches.  Pita pockets are also a great option that has room to hold lots of fruits and veggies.  Mix up your lunch routine with Crunchy Vegetable Wraps,  Tasty Tuna Lettuce Wraps, and Packed Pitas.