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Photo: Diana Chistruga
These healthy lunches for kids aim to please even the pickiest palates. No lunch trades here! Pack a healthier lunchbox for school with these healthy lunch and snack ideas kids will actually want to eat.
01of 18DIY Taco LunchboxView RecipeDiana ChistrugaWho doesn’t love a taco? While the tortillas most likely won’t be warm when you eat it, warming them first keeps them pliable for filling. If you’re missing the crunch of a hard taco, sub tortilla chips for the soft tortillas.
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DIY Taco Lunchbox
View Recipe
Diana Chistruga
Who doesn’t love a taco? While the tortillas most likely won’t be warm when you eat it, warming them first keeps them pliable for filling. If you’re missing the crunch of a hard taco, sub tortilla chips for the soft tortillas.
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Turkey Meatball & Feta Lunchbox
03of 18Cucumber SandwichView RecipePhotographer / Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist / Kay Clarke, Food Stylist / Ruth BlackburnThis creamy, crunchy cucumber sandwich recipe strikes a lovely balance between decadent and light. The cream cheese-yogurt spread complements the crisp refreshing cucumber while the hearty flavor and texture of the whole-wheat bread holds everything together. Removing the crusts makes it more delicate than your average sandwich.
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Cucumber Sandwich
Photographer / Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist / Kay Clarke, Food Stylist / Ruth Blackburn
This creamy, crunchy cucumber sandwich recipe strikes a lovely balance between decadent and light. The cream cheese-yogurt spread complements the crisp refreshing cucumber while the hearty flavor and texture of the whole-wheat bread holds everything together. Removing the crusts makes it more delicate than your average sandwich.
04of 18Rainbow Veggie WrapsView RecipeThere’s definitely a sushi vibe to these kid-friendly wraps, which are stuffed with vegetables, cheese and hummus and then rolled and sliced. Serve them with store-bought green goddess, a creamy herb-filled dressing, to take it up a notch with ease. They look impressive but they’re easy enough for kids to assemble themselves for an easy lunch or dinner.
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Rainbow Veggie Wraps
There’s definitely a sushi vibe to these kid-friendly wraps, which are stuffed with vegetables, cheese and hummus and then rolled and sliced. Serve them with store-bought green goddess, a creamy herb-filled dressing, to take it up a notch with ease. They look impressive but they’re easy enough for kids to assemble themselves for an easy lunch or dinner.
05of 18S’mores Energy BallsView RecipeJoy HowardThese two-bite, protein-packed snacks have all the flavors of a campfire favorite rolled right in. Mini chocolate chips and graham cracker pieces are blended into the base mixture, while a mini marshmallow is tucked into the center. Even better, they’re no-bake and you can make a big batch in about 30 minutes.
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S’mores Energy Balls
Joy Howard
These two-bite, protein-packed snacks have all the flavors of a campfire favorite rolled right in. Mini chocolate chips and graham cracker pieces are blended into the base mixture, while a mini marshmallow is tucked into the center. Even better, they’re no-bake and you can make a big batch in about 30 minutes.
06of 18Strawberry & Cream Cheese SandwichView RecipeSliced strawberries and reduced-fat cream cheese come together in a sandwich for this quick and healthy lunchbox treat.
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Strawberry & Cream Cheese Sandwich
Sliced strawberries and reduced-fat cream cheese come together in a sandwich for this quick and healthy lunchbox treat.
07of 18Garlic HummusView RecipeThis classic hummus recipe couldn’t be easier–just toss a few ingredients in the food processor and whir away! Aquafaba (the liquid from a can of chickpeas) makes this healthy dip extra smooth and creamy. Serve with veggie chips, pita chips or crudités.
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Garlic Hummus
This classic hummus recipe couldn’t be easier–just toss a few ingredients in the food processor and whir away! Aquafaba (the liquid from a can of chickpeas) makes this healthy dip extra smooth and creamy. Serve with veggie chips, pita chips or crudités.
08of 18Chipotle Chicken Quinoa Burrito BowlView RecipeThis chipotle-flavored burrito bowl recipe is even better than takeout and just as fast. Loading it with vegetables and using quinoa in place of rice adds nutrition for a healthy dinner.
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Chipotle Chicken Quinoa Burrito Bowl
This chipotle-flavored burrito bowl recipe is even better than takeout and just as fast. Loading it with vegetables and using quinoa in place of rice adds nutrition for a healthy dinner.
09of 18Muffin-Tin Quiches with Smoked Cheddar & PotatoView RecipePotatoes, cheese and greens make this mini quiche recipe delicious and satisfying. Bake up a batch over the weekend and you’ll have breakfast available in a hurry for the rest of the week.
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Muffin-Tin Quiches with Smoked Cheddar & Potato
Potatoes, cheese and greens make this mini quiche recipe delicious and satisfying. Bake up a batch over the weekend and you’ll have breakfast available in a hurry for the rest of the week.
10of 18Sweet Potato ChipsView RecipeMake perfectly crunchy veggie chips at home with this healthy recipe. Use a mandoline to slice the sweet potatoes extra-thin for the optimum crunch!
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Sweet Potato Chips
Make perfectly crunchy veggie chips at home with this healthy recipe. Use a mandoline to slice the sweet potatoes extra-thin for the optimum crunch!
11of 18Strawberry & Yogurt ParfaitView RecipeThis healthy yogurt parfait recipe combines fresh fruit, Greek yogurt and crunchy granola for an easy breakfast. Pack the parfait in a mason jar for a healthy breakfast on the go.
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Strawberry & Yogurt Parfait
This healthy yogurt parfait recipe combines fresh fruit, Greek yogurt and crunchy granola for an easy breakfast. Pack the parfait in a mason jar for a healthy breakfast on the go.
12of 18Clean-Eating Bento Box LunchView RecipeWho says bento boxes are just for kids? This healthy bento-style lunch–loaded with clean, satisfying foods–is perfect to pack for work.
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Clean-Eating Bento Box Lunch
Who says bento boxes are just for kids? This healthy bento-style lunch–loaded with clean, satisfying foods–is perfect to pack for work.
13of 18Quick Strawberry “Cheesecake"View RecipeGet cheesecake flavor without having to bake with this healthy dessert recipe. To make it gluten-free, look for gluten-free graham crackers.
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Quick Strawberry “Cheesecake”
Get cheesecake flavor without having to bake with this healthy dessert recipe. To make it gluten-free, look for gluten-free graham crackers.
14of 18Tuna Salad Sandwich with Sweet RelishView RecipeThis sweet twist on a classic tuna-salad sandwich is a healthy high-protein lunch that even your kids will love.
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Tuna Salad Sandwich with Sweet Relish
This sweet twist on a classic tuna-salad sandwich is a healthy high-protein lunch that even your kids will love.
15of 18Peanut Butter-Banana Roll-UpsView RecipeThese healthy roll-ups with peanut butter and bananas make eating lunch fun! Kids will love the bite-sized version of this sandwich. Try sunflower seed butter as an allergy-friendly alternative.
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Peanut Butter-Banana Roll-Ups
These healthy roll-ups with peanut butter and bananas make eating lunch fun! Kids will love the bite-sized version of this sandwich. Try sunflower seed butter as an allergy-friendly alternative.
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Cream Cheese & Veggie Roll-Up
Jacob Fox
17of 18Turkey Apple Cheddar SandwichView RecipeIt only takes 5 minutes to make this healthy sandwich with whole-wheat bread and the classic combination of Cheddar cheese and apples that your kids will love.
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Turkey Apple Cheddar Sandwich
It only takes 5 minutes to make this healthy sandwich with whole-wheat bread and the classic combination of Cheddar cheese and apples that your kids will love.
18of 18A Week of Healthy School Lunch IdeasSee Lunch PlanDiana ChistrugaMaking lunches for school in the morning is tough, especially if you’re short on time and trying to appease eating habits that seem to change on a dime. But a little prep (and a lot of choices!) can go a long way. With just one hour of prep time on Sunday, you can have lunches ready to go (or almost ready to go) for the weekdays.
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A Week of Healthy School Lunch Ideas
See Lunch Plan
Making lunches for school in the morning is tough, especially if you’re short on time and trying to appease eating habits that seem to change on a dime. But a little prep (and a lot of choices!) can go a long way. With just one hour of prep time on Sunday, you can have lunches ready to go (or almost ready to go) for the weekdays.
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