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
If you’re in need of some lunch inspiration – I feel ya! My kids have already returned back to school, and I am currently living the hustle bustle of drop off/pick up, pack lunch, grab a snack…go go, go! One thing I know, is that our days run smoother when I have taken the time to prepare nutritious meals and snack.
I love using these ideas to help vary our lunches. These 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. Note: see below for details on the lunch container I used in these photos.
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. Any recipes including peanut butter can be swapped for another nut or seed butter, if necessary.
Healthy Lunch Ideas for Kids & Adults
Cherry tomatoes, grapes, blueberries, hummus, pita, turkey and cheese roll ups, dark chocolate chips.
Energy bites, cucumbers, carrots, crackers, cheese, strawberries.
Raspberries, blueberries, broccoli, egg salad, radishes, ranch dressing, dark chocolate covered peanuts/raisins.
Cherry tomatoes, celery with cream cheese, peanut/almond butter and banana tortilla roll ups, strawberries and blueberries, dark chocolate covered peanuts/raisins.
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.
Pasta with pesto and peas (or tortellini salad), mini bell peppers, raspberries, string cheese, mini peanut butter cup.
Tortilla chips, blueberries, tomatoes, apples and celery with peanut/almond butter and raisins, turkey and cream cheese tortilla roll ups, chocolate candies.
Cranberry walnut chicken salad, cheese, bbq chips, strawberries, carrots, mini M&M’s.
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/almond 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, 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
Recipe Notes
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. Any recipes including peanut butter can be swapped for another nut or seed butter, if necessary.
Nutrition facts vary based on what is served.
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.
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.
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.
Love this! I sometimes struggle to stay healthy during the school year but this helps so much! And I am definitely buying a lunchbox!!
Yay! I’m so happy to hear that. Enjoy!
I’m teaching a class to some young women about healthy eating and Bento Box lunches. Your pages, pictures, everything was perfect! I didn’t even need to find another source! I especially appreciate the printable which was also perfect. Thanks so much!
That’s great! I’m so glad it worked out for you. Thanks for taking the time to stop by!
So many amazing ideas here. I am sure they are going to help a lot of people when the kids go back to school.
what fantastic ideas, I am sending this to my daughterinlaw, they are easy nutritious and fun for the kiddos!
Seriously what an awesome idea! Can’t wait to give some of these variations a go 🙂
Love these healthy ideas and are very easy to make. Great food combinations too!
I love those lunch boxes! I wish I had all of these ideas when my kids were younger.
Awesome lunch ideas. I would like to share this post with my friends so that even they can get benefited from it. Keep posting such ideas with the readers.
This is awesome, thank you so much. I have a question: how do you pack the tortilla roll up with the banana? Do you think it is going to be brown by lunch time. Thank you again !
Sorry for the late reply. I typically make the banana roll up in the morning (if you make it the night before it will definitely turn brown), and it usually stays fine until lunch. If you’re concerned about it, you can just cut it in half (instead of several pieces), and tightly wrap it in saran wrap.
Thank you so much for your answer, I will definately try the wrap!
Some really cute ideas here, however with so many kids that have peanut allergies these days it is unfortunate that you have suggested peanut products in so many of these lunches. No child should take peanut products to school, whether they have an allergy or not. It takes a community to keep children with life threatening allergies safe and able to enjoy a normal childhood free from being terrified that the kid sitting next to them could accidentally kill them with their lunch.
Hi, Leah. The very first tip I give is “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 would never want anyone to put a child at risk. In my recipes, peanut butter can always be swapped for another nut or seed butter (if allowed at that school). I know that different schools have different rules and procedures in place to keep kids safe. I appreciate you bringing this up – I’m going to add another reminder near the top of the post regarding allergens.