Healthy Back to School Lunch Ideas

It’s back to school time, and I’m thinking about lunch. I love sending my daughter off to school with food I know she will a.) actually eat and b.) that is healthy for her! No one wants a boring lunch, so that’s why I’ve rounded up 15 of my favorite healthy back to school lunch ideas that will have your kids looking forward to getting back into the classroom. You might even get jealous and pack your own lunch, too!

These recipes are also about convenience: these healthy school lunch ideas are all about smooth prep and smoother mornings.

Bento box-style back to school lunch ideas

My ultimate hack for making back-to-school lunches exciting for my daughter is bento box style lunches! What’s that? I’m glad you asked—it’s simple!

I whip up one main protein source, like the recipes below, and then pair it with a variety of her favorite snacks. Think fresh vegetables, like baby carrots, cherry tomatoes, snap peas, or sliced cucumbers, or fresh fruit, like grapes, bananas, blueberries, or apple slices. I sometimes pop a dip or cheese cubes with crackers in there—or leftover corn on the cob, too. It’s super easy to change things up, with endless possibilities!

The chickpeas in these zucchini patties provide plenty of protein – they’re one of those sneaky delights that don’t taste as healthy as they are! They taste like falafel, and I pack them with a yogurt dip.

My bacon and egg cups are a lunchtime favorite that never fails. The egg will satisfy your little one, while the crispy and savory bacon will keep them reaching for it. It’s super easy to make a batch of them at the start of the week. The whole family can enjoy them, and you don’t have to worry about what’s for lunch for the next few days.

Finally, the undisputed champion of kid-friendly meals has to be these easy chicken bites or my baked chicken nuggets! They’re both baked, not fried, meaning they’re healthier. These are guaranteed to be a hit!

Zucchini Patties Recipe

These easy zucchini patties are moist, crispy, and falafel-like. They’re made with fresh ingredients like grated zucchini, chickpeas, feta cheese, fresh dill, and lemon and then pan-fried until golden. They’re a super tasty light meal or snack and they’re ready in just 30 minutes!

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Bacon and Egg Cups Recipe

Take your savory breakfast to go with these all-in-one bacon and egg cups. Thick-cut smoky bacon, eggs, and veggies are baked to perfection in a cheesy sweet potato crust. It’s a quick and easy recipe that’s ready in 40 minutes!

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Easy Chicken Bites Recipe

Easy Chicken Bites are simple enough to make for a quick and healthy snack and they freeze very well. A light coating of starch and spices makes them nice and crispy when baked. You’ll love them!

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Baked Chicken Nuggets Recipe

Healthy Baked Chicken Nuggets aren’t just for kids! They make a quick and easy lunch or dinner that we all love. These gluten-free and paleo chicken nuggets are crispy and delicious and can easily be made ahead and frozen. Perfect for meal prep!

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Packable back to school lunch ideas

Some lunches taste better when you heat them up—but that’s not an option at school! THESE packable recipes taste great at room temperature, too, so pop them in a container and enjoy them straight from the box!

This hearty vegetarian chili recipe is packed with beans, veggies, and spices. I usually make this during fall or winter so my girl has a comforting lunch to enjoy in the cooler months.

Yogurt is the ingredient that makes this pasta with peas and bacon so creamy, not heavy cream. This makes it lighter and healthier while tasting rich and delicious for your little one.

For refreshing and vibrant lunches, turn to Asian flavors! This Asian noodle salad is a breeze—it takes just 30 minutes, and you’ll have a batch to share around or last for a few days. These banh mi noodle bowls are inspired by the traditional Vietnamese sandwich for a fun and satisfying lunch.

Easy Vegetarian Chili Recipe (vegan chili!)

This easy vegetarian chili recipe is our family’s go-to, one-pot dinner. It’s full of vegetables, made with pantry staple ingredients, and is so easy to make. It’s a delicious vegan chili that everyone raves about!

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Pasta with Peas and Bacon Recipe

Pasta with peas and bacon is an easy and delicious pasta dinner recipe and a great way to use that bag of peas in your freezer. We make ours with healthy yogurt, lots of peas, a squeeze of lemon, and just enough bacon so this recipe feels like a treat.

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Healthy Asian Noodle Salad Recipe

This Asian noodle salad is fresh, fast, and full of flavor. It’s chewy noodles, colorful vegetables, and crunchy peanuts, all tossed in a tasty Asian-inspired dressing. It’s perfect for making ahead and feeding a crowd, and it’s ready in just 30 minutes!

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Banh Mi Noodle Bowls Recipe

If you’re a fan of banh mi sandwiches, you’re going to love these fresh banh mi noodle bowls. Rice noodles and crispy veggies are tossed in a tangy ginger-lime dressing, then topped with our homemade lemongrass Vietnamese meatballs. Drizzle it all with a creamy sriracha mayo for one super delicious and healthy meal that’s ready in under an hour!

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Sandwiches, wraps, and quesadillas

A good peanut butter and jelly sandwich has its place in my heart, but let’s admit it: they can get a bit boring if you eat them too often. These handheld sandwiches, wraps, and quesadillas are so good that your kid will be counting down until the lunch bell rings.

Try not to eat these BBQ chicken quesadillas before you pack them up – they’re sure to be hit lunch box ideas. Pack up a side of guacamole, avocado, or corn salsa to make it a school lunch feast.

Nothing beats a good old sandwich for lunch, and this roast beef sandwich is sure to be a winner. It has thinly sliced radishes for crunch and horseradish mayo for extra flavor.

These vibrant fresh spring rolls are easy, colorful, and tasty—and even better with the tahini dipping sauce. These bruschetta chicken lettuce wraps are just as good—especially in the warmer school months!

BBQ Chicken Quesadilla Recipe

This is the ultimate chicken quesadilla recipe. Loaded with saucy bbq chicken, lots of melty cheese, and Tex-Mex favorites like corn, black beans, and bell peppers, they are always a winner. You’ll love how quick and easy they are to make!

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Roast Beef Sandwich Recipe

This roast beef sandwich, made with either leftover roast beef or beef from the deli, is delicious. We top ours with thinly sliced radishes mixed with horseradish and mayo, which gives it the perfect crunch and flavor. You’ll love it!

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Fresh Spring Rolls Recipe

These fresh spring rolls are quick and easy to make and so delicious. Filled with hummus, pad Thai noodles, and your favorite veggies, they make an ideal appetizer or healthy lunch. Serve them with an addictive spicy tahini dip. You’ll love them!

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Bruschetta Chicken Lettuce Wraps Recipe

Bruschetta Chicken Lettuce Wraps are the ultimate easy and delicious summer dinner recipe. Chicken thighs are seasoned, grilled, chopped then put into lettuce wraps and topped with bruschetta and drizzled with sweet reduced balsamic vinegar. It’s a healthy recipe that will please everyone at your table!

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Salad ideas for school lunches

Who said you shouldn’t make friends with salad? These salads are vibrant and exciting, but they’ll also be filling enough to get your kiddo through the afternoon. My daughter loves them for their flavorful proteins and tasty extras and barely notices all the nourishing and fiber-filled leafy bits. These salads hold up really well until lunchtime without losing their texture.

They’ll love this tuna balls salad bowl – the tuna is crispy on the outside, which makes it feel like a treat, but tender and delicious once you sink your teeth in!

A good salad is full of contrasting and delicious flavors and textures, and this chicken salad is exactly that! Your kids will love the creaminess and the sweet grapes, and the celery will provide some satisfying crunch. Remember to omit the sliced almonds if your school is nut-free. This cranberry chicken salad will have the same result!

This curried wheat berry chicken salad is a nutrient-dense and hearty option that is full of flavor. With a balance of carbs, proteins, and healthy fats, it’ll keep them satiated until they get home. Again, remember to omit the walnuts for nut-free schools!

Tuna Balls Salad Bowls Recipe

Canned tuna is all dressed up in this delicious, fresh, and light tuna salad bowl recipe. Wrapped up in panko and browned until golden, the tuna balls are perfect to sink your teeth into – they’re crisp on the outside, yet juicy and tender inside. Lay them on a bed of salad and top it off with a simple remoulade salad dressing. It’s perfect for work lunches, meal prep, or a delicious dinner.

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Best Chicken Salad Recipe

This chicken salad is deliciously creamy, dotted with sweet red grapes, crunchy celery, and crisp almond slices. Served on top of greens, it’s a healthy, paleo and keto chicken salad.

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Cranberry Chicken Salad Recipe

This cranberry chicken salad is an easy and delicious recipe made with shredded chicken, dried cranberries, toasted pecans, and crunchy celery all wrapped up in a cream dressing. It’s perfect for meal-prep lunches or a quick snack! 

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Curried Wheat Berry Chicken Salad Recipe

A classic lunch gets deliciously updated in this nutritious variation of chicken salad that features chewy wheat berries with a bold curry kick. It’s a salad that has it all; it’s creamy, crunchy, fresh, hearty, and flavorful. It’s easy to make and there are endless ways to enjoy this flavorful spin on chicken salad!

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Snack time

Finally, let’s talk about snacks because who doesn’t love a little extra something to get them through the school day? First up, these nut-free granola bars are a favorite in my household—they’re packed with flavor yet completely nut-free (a must for many schools).

Or, swap out the crisps for something healthier – kids love these crispy baked apple chips for their natural sweetness.

My daughter loves apple cinnamon muffins with a tub of yogurt. If your kid’s school is nut-free, try these whole wheat muffins instead.

For a fun way to add a sweet treat surprise, tuck a strawberry rice krispie treat in their lunch box – don’t forget to pack a little note every now and again!

Nut Free Granola Bars Recipe

Nut-free granola bars are the perfect treat to pack for a work or school snack. They are sweetened naturally with dates and a little maple syrup for a healthy alternative to store-bought granola bars.

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Crispy Baked Apple Chips Recipe

Baked Apple Chips are so easy to make and absolutely delicious. They are made from thinly sliced apples that are sprinkled with cinnamon and baked at a low temperature until crisp. Apple chips are the ultimate tasty and healthy snack recipe!

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Paleo Apple Muffins Recipe

Busy mornings call for quick and healthy breakfasts like these paleo apple muffins! They’re packed with protein, subtly sweet, and full of cinnamon and apple flavor. They’re easy to make, they freeze well, and kids love them too!

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Strawberry Rice Krispie Treats Recipe

Satisfy your inner child with these strawberry rice krispie treats! Imagine gooey marshmallows, delightfully crunchy rice krispies, and the added sweetness of freeze-dried strawberries. They’re as delicious as they are pretty!