Healthy School Lunch Ideas (Roundup 12!)

14 Comments / By / September 29, 2020 / School Lunches

It’s that time of year for another installment in my School Lunch Roundup series! Sit down and look at these healthy school lunch ideas with your little ones so they can point out what they want you to make (and, more importantly, what they’ll actually eat!). And for older kids, don’t be scared to ask them to help or even make some of these all by themselves.

Healthy School Lunch Ideas on 100 Days of Real Food

I also want to mention that my newest cookbook, 100 Days of Real Food: On a Budget (that was just released yesterday!!), has a dozen new packed lunch ideas for both school and work, so be sure to check that out as well!

100 Days of Real Food on a Budget Cookbook

My Favorite On-the-go Wipes: Handzies

Handzies on 100 Days of Real Food

I want to make sure you know about a “clean” product that we love and use ourselves, Handzies. Sometimes a sink is not available and a spray just won’t do. Great for giving your kids a good cleaning before (and after) they eat all these lovely lunches, Handzies was created by a mom who wanted to be able to clean hands on the go without the use of alcohol, BZK, and triclosan. So she created Handzies wipes, which are made of pure Castile (olive oil-based) soap and tea tree and tangerine oils. Always great to have on hand!

Here are some other resources to check out as well:

School Lunch Roundup

Potato Soup, Spinach Caesar salad, Whole Wheat Biscuit, Grapes - School Lunch Roundup 12 on 100 Days of Real Food

Hummus and cheese sandwich, Orzo pasta salad, Diced mango, Trail mix - School Lunch Roundup 12 on 100 Days of Real Food

  • Hummus and cheese sandwich
  • Orzo pasta salad (with tomatoes, Parmesan, and a simple vinaigrette)
  • Diced mango
  • Trail mix

Defrosted panini sandwich, Tomato bisque, Kiwi, Oranges - School Lunch Roundup 12 on 100 Days of Real Food

  • Grilled (defrosted) panini with cheese, spinach/basil pesto and roasted bell peppers
  • Homemade Tomato Bisque (defrosted) with whole-wheat noodles
  • Fresh kiwi
  • Oranges (the Cara Cara variety – my favorite!)

Taco salad, Whole grain pumpkin muffin, Blood oranges - School Lunch Roundup 12 on 100 Days of Real Food

Quiche with whole wheat crust, Pork tenderloin, Salad, Sliced apples - School Lunch Roundup 12 on 100 Days of Real Food

Veggie cream cheese and cucumber sandwich, Corn muffin, Popcorn, Grapes - School Lunch Roundup 12 on 100 Days of Real Food

Defrosted sandwich, Mini bell peppers, Plain yogurt with berry sauce and granola, Watermelon - School Lunch Roundup 12 on 100 Days of Real Food

Veggie corn chowder, Brown rice cake with peanut butter and raisins, Apple and cheddar cubes, Raspberries, Dark chocolate - School Lunch Roundup 12 on 100 Days of Real Food

  • Leftover Veggie Corn Chowder (from my 100 Days of Real Food cookbook)
  • Brown rice cake with peanut butter and raisins
  • Apple and cheddar cubes
  • Raspberries
  • Dark chocolate

Taco salad, Sliced apples - School Lunch Roundup 12 on 100 Days of Real Food

  • Taco Salad with leftover ground pork/beans, lettuce, cabbage, tomatoes, cheese, and sour cream
  • Apples

Homemade chicken nuggets, Apples, Whole wheat pretzels, Veggie slices with Tzatziki sauce - School Lunch Roundup 12 on 100 Days of Real Food

Homemade breakfast burrito, Apples, Yogurt with maple syrup and frozen pomegranate seeds, Homemade granola - School Lunch Roundup 12 on 100 Days of Real Food

Red pepper hummus, cheese, and lettuce sandwich on whole wheat, Grapes, Apples, Homemade white bean dip, Blue tortilla chips - School Lunch Roundup 12 on 100 Days of Real Food

  • Red pepper hummus, cheese, and lettuce sandwich on whole-wheat
  • Grapes
  • Apples
  • Homemade White Bean Dip (from my 100 Days of Real Food cookbook) with blue tortilla chips (a treat) for dipping

Egg salad lettuce wraps, Apples, Red bell pepper slices, Cheese and whole grain crackers - School Lunch Roundup 12 on 100 Days of Real Food

  • Egg salad lettuce wraps
  • Apples
  • Red bell pepper slices
  • Cheese & (whole grain) crackers

Homemade whole wheat blueberry pancakes, Oranges, Plain yogurt with maple syrup and frozen raspberries, Homemade granola - School Lunch Roundup 12 on 100 Days of Real Food

  • Homemade whole-wheat blueberry pancakes
  • Oranges
  • Plain yogurt mixed with a little pure maple syrup & frozen raspberries
  • Homemade Granola

Leftover meat, Whole wheat egg noodles, Plain yogurt mixed with maple syrup and frozen raspberries, Kiwi, Carrots, Dark chocolate - School Lunch Roundup 12 on 100 Days of Real Food

  • Leftover meat (from Beef Bourguignon)
  • Whole-wheat egg noodles
  • Yogurt mixed with a little pure maple syrup & frozen raspberries
  • Kiwi
  • Carrots
  • Dark chocolate

Whole wheat cinnamon raisin and cream cheese sandwiches, Apple, Deviled eggs, Strawberries - School Lunch Roundup 12 on 100 Days of Real Food

Easy Chinese chicken, Coconut rice, Maple roasted sweet potatoes and carrots, Strawberries - School Lunch Roundup 12 on 100 Days of Real Food

Peanut butter and honey on whole wheat, Apples, Cucumbers, Plain yogurt with maple syrup and pomegranate seeds, Homemade granola - School Lunch Roundup 12 on 100 Days of Real Food

  • PB & honey on whole-wheat
  • Apples
  • Cucumbers
  • Plain yogurt mixed with a little pure maple syrup & pomegranate seeds
  • Homemade Granola

Leftover sliced steak and melted cheese on open-faced sandwich, Caprese salad, Peaches and strawberries, Homemade whole wheat chocolate chip cookie - School Lunch Roundup 12 on 100 Days of Real Food

Grilled Caprese panini, Apples, Deviled eggs, Health Warrior bar - School Lunch Roundup 12 on 100 Days of Real Food

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14 thoughts on “Healthy School Lunch Ideas (Roundup 12!)”

  2. Laura

    Love your cookbooks and lunch ideas! I just started packing school lunches for my kindergartener. If you send a thermos with hot food, do you still include an icepack for the other food? Thanks!

  3. lisa

    how do you serve things that are usually warm not in a thermos? for example – the pancakes, or left over roasted veggies (like sweet potato or carrots) or a panini or taco?

    1. Amy Taylor (comment moderator)

      Lisa doesn’t try to keep them from browning. I use lemon or various fruit juices.

  7. Simone Ritcey

    Hi Lisa.

    I love looking at all of your posted suggestions… but struggle with supporting my 9 year old son’s food exploration.

    At home he will try something new every now and then. But at school – no, never. He is also very particular about hot things being hot, and cold things being cold and most food items seem to end up about room temperature in the classroom. He has a pack-it insulated lunchbag too.

    Any ideas on how to persuade him to eat more than hummus & crackers, with fruit and veg options in his YumBox?

  8. Christy

    Are you able to find the ziploc containers for sale again? I had a bunch but my husband has lost them all… and I’m about to start packing lunches for my little guy who’s starting preschool!

      1. Christy

        I’ll have to check Target– Amazon only has them from a third party seller for a ridiculous amount of money!

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