25 Healthy Toddler Lunch Ideas

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These 25 Healthy Toddler Lunch Ideas make it easy and fun to serve nutritious, delicious meals, all while keeping lunch prep quick and effortless! I’ve been making these recipes for my kids since they were 2 years old, and they still love them, even as “big kids”! Even picky kids can’t resist the delicious flavors in these fun and balanced meals, and you’ll feel great knowing they’re eating well.

When my kids started school, I remember how hard it was to come up with toddler lunch ideas that would work for their preschool, daycare, or just for taking on the go! I really wanted to create lunchtime recipes for my kids that were tasty, healthy, and that they would actually eat.

After lots of trial and error, I finally landed on these 25 lunch ideas for picky toddlers of all ages! In this post, I’m sharing the foolproof recipes my kids love most, the ones they keep asking for, and the ones that make lunch prep quick and easy for me!

🥘 How To Pack Healthy Lunches For Kids

When it comes to toddler lunches, or lunches in general, this is what I typically try to include (with the understanding that not every day is going to be perfect and that’s ok!)

Vegetables: I include at least 1 serving of vegetables (the more the better!), cut small. For toddlers, I’ll often steam veggies somewhat soft since they’re easier to chew. For bigger kids you can prepare the veggies any way they like: roasted, sautéed, steamed, raw with a dip or dressing – the possibilities are endless!

Fruit: I recommend 1 serving of fruit, which can be great for a snack or dessert. I like to go for lower glycemic fruits like apples, pears, oranges, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and stone fruits. When it comes to fruit, don’t do more than 1 serving for lunch. Also keep in mind, lots of kids love grapes and blueberries, but for toddlers you’ll have to cut those fruits in half (at least) so that they don’t become a choking hazard.

Protein: 1 serving of protein is absolutely important. For my kids, since we’re vegetarian – I’ll go for plant-protein sources like beans or lentils, or I’ll use dairy (cheese, Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, eggs). If you eat meat – this can be a great way to add protein (chopped chicken or chicken nuggets, meatballs, fish and more).

Complex Carbohydrates: The key here is to avoid all white grains. I recommend choosing whole wheat or sprouted wheat bread / tortillas / pita / crackers, whole wheat or legume based pasta, and brown rice or quinoa.

Healthy Fats: Nut butters, olive oil, coconut oil, cheeses, avocado, nuts and seeds are all great options here!

🍱 25 Easy Toddler Lunch Ideas

Tried and true, these toddler lunch ideas are not only incredibly easy to make, but they also taste amazing, a win-win for both kids and parents!

I’ve grouped them into 7 categories based on what the entree is: savory sandwiches, sweet sandwiches, burritos and wraps, bento box lunches, pizzas, quesadillas, and hot lunches. Feel free to change up the sides however you like depending on what your kids enjoy eating.

Savory Sandwiches

Savory sandwiches are always easy to make because you can get a lot of protein, fiber and flavor into a sandwich with just a few ingredients. Here are the sandwiches that my kids typically love:

1. Hummus And Cucumber Sandwiches

To make this lunchtime favorite, I’ll lightly toast two slices of sprouted wheat bread, spread with hummus, and top with sliced cucumbers. I like to serve these sandwiches with my kids’ favorite fruit (e.g. mandarin orange slices), and veggie (e.g. steamed broccoli cut into small florets, dressed with olive oil and salt). I also like to throw in a small treat – usually a small piece of dark chocolate for dessert – but this is optional!

2. Healthy Grilled Cheese

I make this on sprouted wheat bread, with some chopped baby spinach or diced tomatoes mixed into the cheese. Serve with a fruit (e.g. apple slices), and a veggie (e.g. roasted sweet potato fries – which can be made in bulk advance and last for 4-5 days in the fridge!). If you eat meat, you can always throw a slice of turkey or ham into the grilled cheese for extra protein.

3. Egg Salad Or Chickpea Salad Sandwich

I basically make all sandwiches on sprouted wheat bread because the sprouting process makes the nutrients in the grains more absorbable and it increases the protein content too! I’ll typically serve this type of sandwich with carrot sticks and hummus for dipping, or a favorite fruit and steamed carrots on the side.

4. Avocado “Toast” Sandwich

This one is so easy to make! I’ll just spread mashed avocado or guacamole on two slices of sprouted or whole wheat bread, top with cotija cheese (or your child’s favorite shredded cheese) and tomatoes. My kids like this with tortillas chips and fresh fruit on the side.

Sweet Sandwiches

These sandwiches are healthier versions of comfort food classics. They all retain the flavor of the traditional versions, but are more nutritious for your kids to enjoy!

5. Nut Butter And “Fresh Jam” Sandwiches

I don’t like using pre-made jam because it’s packed with sugar, so instead I make a peanut butter and “jam” sandwich using two slices of sprouted wheat bread, spread with nut butter (peanut butter and almond butter always work well) or sun butter, and then I top with thin slices of my kids’ favorite fruit instead of the jelly/jam.

I’ve used sliced strawberries, apples, and pears and they all work well. I’ll usually serve this with some steamed cauliflower cut into small florets, dressed with olive oil & salt on the side. Sometimes my kids ask for extra fruit, and I also like to add a crunchy snack – either whole grain crackers or pretzels.

6. Apple And Cheddar Sandwich

Toast two slices of sprouted wheat bread, top with slices of mild cheddar cheese and apples. I will sometimes serve this cold, but I’ll also grill the sandwiches and serve them like a fancy grilled cheese. I always serve these with homemade fries or potato wedges, and another veggie like sauteed broccoli, squash, or cauliflower on the side.

7. Brie And Pear

To make this, I toast two slices of sprouted wheat bread, then I top with brie (but I’ll also change it up and just use another mild cheese), and then I’ll layer thin pear slices on top. For a little treat I’ll also drizzle the pears with 1 teaspoon of my vegan honey and 1 teaspoon of crushed walnuts on top. I serve this with steamed or roasted veggies (or a fresh salad) on the side, and some potato chips. My kids love it!

Burritos And Wraps

Wraps can be an easy way to change things up when your kids get tired of sandwiches. Whole wheat tortillas are my go-to and make for a great “vehicle” for a bunch of creative toppings!

8. Bean & Cheese Burrito “Sushi”

This lunch always gets rave reviews when I make it. First I’ll mix canned refried black beans with a little bit of taco seasoning (either on the stovetop on low heat, or in the microwave). Then I take a large whole wheat tortilla, and spread it with the refried black beans, then I add a sprinkle of Mexican shredded cheese, diced tomatoes, diced bell peppers, and a little bit of diced onion on top. I roll up the burrito and cut into “sushi” like slices.

My kids like this served with cucumber sticks and hummus for dipping, plus apple slices on the side. Sometimes I’ll even add a little container of guacamole and salsa. Feel free to choose whichever sides your kids enjoy the most!

9. Breakfast Burrito

I’ll make this whenever we have some eggs leftover from breakfast! To a whole wheat tortilla, I’ll add some scrambled eggs with diced bell peppers, tomatoes, and baby spinach mixed in (seasoned with salt + pepper as needed), and top it with shredded cheese. My kids’ like this with apple slices and any type of crunchy snack (crackers, pretzels, etc.) on the side.

10. Rainbow Wraps

Spread cream cheese on a whole wheat tortilla, then top with thin slices of fresh veggies: red and yellow bell peppers, thinly sliced carrots, shredded baby spinach. I like to serve this with some diced berries, Greek yogurt and a sprinkle of granola on the side as a mini “parfait”!

Bento Box Style Lunches

I really enjoy making bento boxes because they require almost no prep, besides slicing some fruits and veggies. You can pretty much throw it together in under 5 minutes and it’s easy to hit all the major food groups for a balanced lunch!

11. Mezze Platter

This Mediterranean style lunch typically includes hummus or roasted chickpeas, whole wheat pita, cherry or grape tomatoes, a couple of olives, sliced cucumbers, and mild cheddar cheese slices. Sometimes I’ll add in a fruit too, and then I just let my kids mix and match as they’re eating!

12. Fancy Cheese And Crackers

My kids call this the “cheese plate” lunch. Which is pretty much what it is! I’ll add whole grain crackers and my kids’ favorite cheeses along with cucumbers, carrot sticks, snap peas, olives, slices of apples and pears, and a mix of nuts (my kids like cashews, almonds, and walnuts). Sometimes I’ll throw in a couple of dried apricots or cherries on the side with some dark chocolate too!

13. Protein Bento Box

This one is great for meal prep — I’ll add hardboiled eggs, a cheese stick, steamed veggies (broccoli, carrots, cauliflower) tossed with olive oil and salt, and crackers with nut butter for dipping on the side!

Pizzas And Flatbreads

Who doesn’t like pizza for lunch?? I love making different versions of pizzas and flatbreads because they take minimal time to prep and kids love them. I have 3 pizza recipes on rotation for my kids lunchboxes, and here they are!

14. Pita Pizzas

I use this pita pizza recipe, cut it into 4 triangles, and then serve some carrot sticks, celery sticks and hummus on the side. I let my kids choose their fruit, typically they’ll ask for diced apples or pears.

15. BBQ Pizza

This one is great for meal prep because I can just make this BBQ black bean pizza the night before, and then cut into slices for lunches all week. My kids like this with tortilla chips and guacamole on the side and some fresh fruit!

16. English Muffin Pizzas

This is a variation on my pita pizzas, using English muffins as a base instead! I toast whole wheat English muffins, top with pizza sauce and mozzarella cheese and I let my kids pick out veggies for their toppings! Serve with a green salad or steamed broccoli + fruit as a healthy snack on the side.

Easy Quesadillas

When my kids get tired of pizza for lunch, I switch to quesadillas! Same principle as mini pizzas but it’s just a folded over tortilla as your base. I like filling them with a variety of toppings and have tried tons of combinations over the years, but these are the ones my kids have enjoyed the most.

17. Bean And Cheese Quesadillas

I make these on a wheat tortilla and grill them lightly on a grill pan in the morning before cutting them into quarters and adding them to my kids’ lunchbox. I use this healthy guacamole recipe or salsa for dipping, and I serve with tortilla chips and strawberries on the side.

18. Lentil Quesadillas

Yes you can use lentils as a filling for quesadillas! I use my recipe for lentil quesadillas and I serve them with steamed or roasted corn, steamed or raw carrot sticks, tortilla chips, and fresh berries on the side.

19. Vegan Quesadillas

Did you know you don’t always need cheese for quesadillas?? Sometimes when I want to give my kids a different option, I’ll make these butternut squash quesadillas with some greens, and then add applesauce and pretzels on the side.

20. Sweet Quesadillas

Think of this as a variation on a PB&J, but so much more fun because it’s in quesadilla form! To make these, I’ll spread nut butter on a wheat tortilla, top with sliced bananas, crushed walnuts, a sprinkle of cinnamon and 1 teaspoon of honey drizzled on top. Then I fold in half and cut into quarters. I’ll serve this with a side salad or roasted veggies on the side!

Hot Lunches

Hot lunches are a great way to get a ton of nutrition and flavor into your child’s diet, and you can also prep an entire week’s worth of lunches in one day, or even serve dinner leftovers for lunch the next day – which is usually what I do!

21. Pasta

I’ll use any shape of whole wheat or legume based pasta my kids are in the mood for, and toss with either a pesto sauce or marinara sauce and sautéed veggies (zucchini, carrots, bell peppers and spinach are my kids’ favorites). I’ll give them some parmesan cheese and homemade garlic bread on the side too!

22. Salad

With salads, you can go one of two ways: a chopped salad that has a combination of protein and healthy fats – like this avocado tomato cucumber salad; or a pasta salad. My kids like both varieties, and I’ll just mix the salad dressing right in so I can just scoop into containers and have it ready to go in the morning.

23. Soups

The possibilities are endless here, but two that are always a hit are my Tuscan bean stew served with garlic bread, or my Instant Pot vegetarian chili served with brown rice, quinoa, or tortilla chips. Both of these I’ll make in bulk, portion out into individual lunch containers, then just heat in the morning and pack!

24. Grain Bowls

You can make your own grain bowls by choosing either quinoa or brown rice, a protein, veggie and sauce and just toss it all together. But what I’ll typically do is make these vegetarian burrito bowls in advance, portion out and serve to my kids in their lunchboxes!

25. Breakfast For Lunch

I love doing breakfast for lunch because my kids feel like it’s a fun surprise and it is really easy to prep. I’ll make this vegan baked oatmeal the night before and then just add it to my kids’ lunchboxes along with some veggies, fresh fruit, and maybe some type of crunchy snack on the side.

Alternatively, my vegan breakfast cookies are also a fun lunchbox treat, served with a cheese stick and steamed veggies on the side. My kids also love getting these oat flour pancakes or waffles for lunch – you can serve them with syrup for dipping, or use them as “bread” instead of a regular sandwich (you can spread nut butter in between two pancakes for a “pancake PB&J!”)

🍽 My Favorite Lunchboxes For Kids

These are my picks for my favorite kid and toddler lunchboxes – depending on whether you want to send all cold foods vs. foods that need to stay hot after they’ve been packed. I have listed them from least to most expensive, so there’s an option for every budget!

❓FAQs