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Healthy Lunch Ideas

Published: Aug 16, 2022 · Modified: Aug 16, 2022 by Allison · 99 Comments

Choose from this large variety of healthy lunch ideas. No heating or microwave needed. Everything can be served chilled or at room temperature (perfect for packing school or work lunches). Use our printable recipe list to mix and match hundreds of lunch combinations.

If you’re in need of lunch inspiration we’ve got the solution! These ideas work great for school, work, road trips, or picnics. When you don’t have access to a microwave or oven but you still want a delicious and healthy lunch, we’ve got ya covered!

Metal tin filled with various packed lunch foods.

I just did the math and I have packed over one thousand(!!) school lunches for my kids. In full disclosure, there are days when they get Uncrustables or leftover cold pizza, but most days I *try* to give them a healthy packed lunch. Here are some combinations we’ve come up with over the years.

Mix and match the various foods to to suit your taste and create your perfect lunch. Check out our printable list with different categories for creating a well balanced lunch.

NOTE: If packing lunch for school, make sure that you are aware of any peanut or other food restrictions that the school might have in place.

Jump to:

Healthy lunch ideas for kids & adults
Healthy protein sources
Lunch idea tips
Tips for school lunches
Mix and match printable
Lunchbox pictured
Healthy hot lunches
Healthy breakfasts
Recipe

Healthy lunch ideas for kids & adults

Greek yogurt, chickpeas, cheese, pea crisps, strawberries, chocolate chips. Not pictured: a bag of granola on the side.

Cherry tomatoes, fruit, hummus, pita, turkey and cheese roll ups, dark chocolate chips.

Lunchbox with pita, hummus, turkey, and fruit.

Energy bites, cucumbers, carrots, crackers, cheese, strawberries. Not pictured: hummus cup on the side.

Lunchbox filled with fruit, veggies, cheese, energy bites, and crackers.

Berries, broccoli, egg salad, radishes, ranch dressing, dark chocolate raisins. Not pictured: bag of crackers on the side.

Lunchbox filled with egg salad, fruit broccoli, and radishes.

Cherry tomatoes, celery with cream cheese, peanut butter banana tortilla roll ups, berries, dark chocolate covered peanuts.

Lunchbox filled with banana roll ups fruit, veggies, and chocolate.

Berries, tomatoes, broccoli, hard boiled egg, granola bites, pasta salad (pasta, olive oil, parmesan cheese, peas and carrots).

Lunchbox filled with pasta salad, hard boiled egg, fruit, and vegetables.

Raspberries, graham crackers, salad, rotisserie chicken with BBQ sauce, mini oatmeal cookie.

Lunchbox filled with salad, chicken, fruit, crackers.

Tortilla chips, blueberries, tomatoes, apples and celery with peanut/almond butter and raisins, turkey and cream cheese tortilla roll ups, chocolate candies.

Lunchbox filled with turkey roll ups, celery, nut butter, fruit, and chips.

Cranberry walnut chicken salad, cheese, bbq chips, strawberries, carrots, mini M&M’s.

Lunchbox filled with chicken salad, cheese, chips, and fruit.

Carrots, blueberries, tortellini with marinara, cucumbers with ranch, banana chips.

Lunchbox filled with tortellini, vegetables, fruit.

Black beans with salsa, sour cream, and cheese, tortilla chips, fruit, mini cookie. Not pictured: applesauce or yogurt pouch.

Lunchbox filled with black beans, tortilla chips, and fruit.

Bagel with cream cheese, hummus, chickpeas, celery and carrots, fruit, dark chocolate chips. Not pictured: bag of tortilla chips or pita chips.

Lunchbox filled with a bagel, chickpeas, hummus, vegetables.

Healthy protein sources

The key to having a lunch that sticks with you is protein. Here are some of our favorite protein sources:

Rotisserie chicken
Deli meat (turkey, ham, etc)
Chicken salad
Hard boiled eggs
Dave’s Killer Bagels
Whole grain pasta
Quinoa
Beans
Edamame
Cottage cheese
Hummus and chickpeas
Greek yogurt (add protein powder for an added boost)

Lunch idea tips

Mix and match to suit your taste.
Variety! This is the key. It’s much easier to eat healthy if you don’t get burned out. Try new and different fruits, veggies, and protein sources.
Think “outside” the sandwich. Use tortillas, flatbread, pita bread, bagels, or English muffins in place of regular bread.
Adjust portion size accordingly. These photos are for elementary-age kids lunches. Obviously a high schooler or adult would eat more.
Be sure to keep food safety in mind. Certain items will keep at room temperature but some will require an ice pack to stay cool.

Tips for school lunches

If packing lunch for school, make sure that you are aware of any peanut or other food restrictions that the school might have in place.
Frozen squeezy yogurt or kefir can work as an edible icepack.
Get your kids involved! When my kids pack their own lunches they are much more likely to eat it and less likely to complain.
When packing lunch for yourself or your child, think about the other members of your family, too. While assembling my son’s lunch I’ll put together a similar items for my husband to take to work.

Mix and match printable

Print the RECIPE CARD below for lists that you can mix and match to create your perfect lunch OR click here → LUNCH IDEAS PRINTABLE for a pretty printable to hang in your pantry or cabinet.

Lunchbox pictured

The lunchbox pictured is the Rover lunchbox from PlanetBox. All the food stays separated, nothing leaks, or gets squished. It’s made from safe stainless steel, it’s eco-friendly, and it’s dishwasher safe.

PlanetBox was kind enough to send me the Rover lunchbox and bag in exchange for my review of their product. All opinions expressed are my own.

Amazon also has similar less expensive options.