Healthy Lunch Ideas for Adults and Kids – No heating or microwave needed; everything can be served chilled or at room temperature. Use my printable recipe list to mix and match hundreds of lunch combinations. VIDEO and PRINTABLE BELOW!
Healthy Lunch Ideas
It’s the time of year that many of us are trying to make healthier choices. If you’re in need of some lunch inspiration – I feel ya! My family returns to school and work tomorrow after a wonderful holiday break, and I am currently in denial of the hustle bustle that is to come. One thing I know, is that our days run smoother when I have taken the time to prepare nutritious meals and snack.
Here are some of our favorite healthy lunch combinations. Feel free to mix and match to suit your tastes. Check out my printable “recipe” list with different categories for creating a well balanced lunch.
Healthy Lunch Ideas for Kids & Adults
Cherry tomatoes, grapes, blueberries, hummus, pita, turkey and cheese roll ups, dark chocolate chips.
Raspberries, blueberries, broccoli, egg salad (or chicken salad), radishes, ranch dressing, dark chocolate covered peanuts.
Cherry tomatoes, celery with cream cheese, peanut butter and banana tortilla roll ups, strawberries and blueberries, dark chocolate covered peanuts.
Raspberries, blueberries, tomatoes, broccoli, hard boiled egg, granola bites, pasta salad (pasta, olive oil, parmesan cheese, peas and carrots).
Raspberries, graham crackers, salad, rotisserie chicken with BBQ sauce, mini oatmeal cookie.
Tortilla chips, blueberries, tomatoes, apples and celery with peanut butter and raisins, turkey and cream cheese tortilla roll ups, chocolate candies.
Carrots, blueberries, tortellini with marinara, cucumbers with ranch, banana chips.
Apple slices, pretzels, carrots and cucumbers with ranch, peanut butter granola bar, dried cherries.
Granola bites, pea crisps, apples with peanut butter, cream cheese and jelly sandwich, raisins.
Crackers, cucumbers, blueberries, turkey and cream cheese roll ups, cheese, raisins.
Trail mix, watermelon, crackers and cheese, ham and spinach roll ups, dark chocolate chips.
Mini muffins, string cheese, watermelon and blueberries, peanut butter sandwich crackers, almonds
Tortilla chips and salsa, fruit salad, almond butter and jelly sandwich, cheese, chocolate candies.
Banana chips and dark chocolate chips, string cheese, grapes, turkey roll ups, almonds.
Orange slices, raspberries, Mexican bean dip (smashed black beans, sour cream, cheese and salsa) with tortilla chips, mini oatmeal cookie.
Tomatoes, hummus with feta cheese, cucumber slices, crackers, chocolate chips.
Tips for packing these Healthy Lunch Ideas:
- 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.
- 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 spread for my husband to take to work, or I’ll set aside some of the same food for my young daughter to eat at home for lunch the next day. While you’ve got all that food out, think ahead a little. It’ll save you time in the long run.
- Adjust the portion size based on whether the lunch is for an adult or child. When packing Jake’s lunch his portion sizes are smaller than those pictured here.
- Be sure to keep food safety in mind. Certain items listed will keep at room temperature but some will require an ice pack to stay cool.
OPTIONS: 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.
Healthy Lunch Ideas (for adults and kids)
Ingredients
Fruits:
- Bananas
- Apple
- Orange
- Pears
- Melon sticks or cubes
- Berries
- Mango
- Pineapple
- Grapes try them frozen too!
- Applesauce
Veggies:
- Carrots with dressing/dip
- Cucumber with dressing/dip
- Broccoli florets with dressing/dip
- Celery sticks with peanut butter or cream cheese
- Bell pepper strips
- Green beans
- Cherry tomatoes
- Green salad
- Radishes
Mains:
- Sandwiches pb&j, turkey, ham, cream cheese and jelly
- Peanut butter, honey and banana tortilla roll ups
- Turkey/ham, cream cheese and spinach roll ups
- Turkey/ham with cheese and crackers
- Tortellini or pasta with pesto, olive oil or marinara
- Chicken salad (on bread, lettuce, or served with crackers)
- Egg salad (on bread, lettuce, or served with crackers)
- Tuna salad (on bread, lettuce, or served with crackers)
- Hard boiled eggs
- Bagel with cream cheese
- Rotisserie chicken with ketchup or BBQ sauce for dipping
- Layered Mexican bean dip with tortilla chips (beans, sour cream, salsa and cheese)
- Hummus topped with feta cheese serve with crackers or pita
- Whole grain waffles or mini pancakes
- Quinoa and veggie bowls
- Overnight oats
Misc:
- Pretzels with peanut butter or almond butter
- Tortilla chips and salsa
- Hummus and pita chips
- Baked cheese puffs
- Crackers
- Trail mix
- String cheese
- Cottage cheese
- Yogurt
- Granola
- Whole grain muffins
- Protein bars or granola bars
- Popcorn
- Graham crackers
Instructions
- Mix and match ingredients from each category to create your perfect lunch!
Recipe Video
Note: 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. I seriously love it.
Omg, these are amazing!
Serisously!
I LOVE your ideas! These would work for my kids because they hate it when their different foods touch. Plus they love a little treat, so it’s so perfect that you include it! Thanks for the great ideas:)
I LOVE all these combos–and my kids would too. Great round-up! I feel better about school starting already 🙂
So many great lunch ideas here! Love that they are healthy too!
Were did found the lunch box that is a wonderful idea
Hi Judy. It is from Planet Box. It is a fantastic lunch box!
This is an amazing collection of yummy lunch ideas!
Great ideas! Love the recipes. Where is the lunch box from?
Hi, Leslie. Thank you! It is from Planet Box; it’s great! https://www.planetbox.com/products/planetbox-rover-lunchbox?variant=20636936321
Please make sure peanuts and other tree nuts are allowed at your school.
Hi, Susan. Yes, agreed! In the blog post I list tips and the first tip I included says “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.” I know this can be dangerous for sensitive kiddos. Thanks for stopping by!
Thank you so much for inspiring my next lunch!
Great ideas and lots of combos. My husband started night shift driving train and doesn’t have access to fridge or microwave! I’ll definitely be using these. Thank you!
Perfect! Glad I could help. Thanks for stopping by!
This is a great reminder for lunches I can pack when I substitute!
Thank you for sharing! Anyone have a coupon code for Planet Box?
I don’t. Sorry! Thanks for stopping by!
Yum! These look amazing! Thank you so much for fresh ideas. These make me want to pack my lunch and I stay home with my kids. 😉 love the variety.
You are welcome. Thanks for stopping by. Enjoy! 🙂
What is in the pAsta salad with the peas and looks like carrots
It’s pasta with olive oil, parmesan cheese, salt and pepper and frozen (cooked) peas and carrots.
Beautiful photos! Are some parts of these meant to be heated or just eaten cold? My kids aren’t able to heat their lunch.
Hi, Kami. All of this can be eaten cold or room temp. Enjoy! Thanks for stopping by.
So many great lunch ideas. Always love a healthy lunch. High Five!
Pinned! I love these! My kid is only two and a half but I’m already thinking about and looking forward to making his school lunches haha! Guessing I will feel differently when the time comes, but good to have great ideas like these.
I am blown away by your creativity. I love all of these healthier variations, and that each meal is well balanced! Thanks for the resource!
I am ALWAYS on the look out for lunch ideas- especially for my kids who easily bore of the same meal day after day if I don’t keep things exciting. I’m definitely getting a lot of inspiration here so thank you!
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I get so tired of coming up with things to do for lunches. Your ideas are beautiful and healthy. A win-win!
So many great ideas! I love that these can all be served at room temp – perfect for healthy lunches on the go!
There are lots of healthy and balanced lunch ideas here that i think my kids would love. I like how you’ve included some treats in there too.
This is perfect for those of us that are stuck in a rut packing the same ol lunches over and over. So many great ideas!
These are all great. We’re always looking for good yet flavorful ways to lighten up our lunches. Bookmarking this one.
Such a great collection! I will definitely be keeping a few of these in mind. Love all the tips you included.