Coming up with healthy lunch box ideas that are delicious, nutritious AND will actually get eaten is a constant challenge for parents.
Many of these lunch box recipes are designed to be prepared in advance and stored in the refrigerator or in airtight containers in the pantry. Additionally, some can be conveniently frozen in airtight containers, ready to be retrieved from the freezer whenever needed. Simplify your mornings by preparing sandwiches the night before and refrigerating them in the lunch box. For salads, either toss them with dressing in the morning or pack the dressing separately for your child to add at lunchtime.
Lunch ideas for kids
Encourage your child to choose a vibrant and playful lunch box, one they will treasure. Bento boxes, with their compartments, offer a practical and fun solution for including a variety of foods in a single container. Bento lunch box ideas span a range of options, including vegetable sticks, bliss balls, muffins, sandwiches, fritters, popcorn, and sliced fruits or berries. Allow your child to choose which fruit and vegetables go in the lunch box each day.
To streamline your morning routine, prepare one or two items in advance, such as the zesty lemon chicken rissoles, delectable spinach and feta pinwheels, or savoury corn, spinach, and bacon muffins. These can be made ahead of time and stored for easy access.
Complement these main items with a colourful array of vegetable sticks, cherry tomatoes, and sliced apples or berries to ensure a well-rounded and nutritious lunch. For a sweet treat, consider including a sugar-free sultana muffin or a brekkie bliss ball for recess. You can conveniently make these over the weekend and freeze them, ensuring a hassle-free grab-and-go option for busy weekday mornings.
By incorporating these ideas into your lunch routine, you’ll not only ensure your child receives a well-balanced and tasty meal but also foster a sense of excitement about what awaits them in next week’s lunch boxes.
Healthy
July 29, 2012
Sugar-free sultana muffins
These light and fluffy muffins are naturally sweetened with dried sultanas, making them a perfect healthy lunchbox snack for school and work.
ByWomen's Weekly Food
Snacks
May 8, 2023
Brekkie bliss balls
The kids won’t believe which breakfast cereal forms the basis of these delicious bliss balls.
ByWomen's Weekly Food
February 28, 2010
Wholemeal date loaf
This date loaf comes out tremendously moist and is great served fresh with melted butter, but also keeps nicely for a rainy day.
ByWomen's Weekly Food
June 30, 1975
Pasta salad with green beans and tuna
ByWomen's Weekly Food
October 27, 2013
Traffic light pasta salad
For the perfect balanced lunch, add fresh fruit, grissini (bread sticks) and water. Not suitable to freeze. Pasta suitable to microwave. Note
ByWomen's Weekly Food
Baking
March 20, 2022
Homemade muesli bars
Ditch the store bought bars!
ByWomen's Weekly Food
Baking
April 15, 2022
Apricot muesli cookies
A low carb tasty treat.
ByWomen's Weekly Food
Baking
November 29, 2014
Oat and fruit slice
A toasty combination of wholesome rolled oats with dried fruit makes a feel-good treat for a morning and afternoon tea, or lunchbox snack for your kids.
ByWomen's Weekly Food
February 28, 2010
Teriyaki chicken rice salad
Healthy, fragrant and authentic Japanese teriyaki chicken rice salad.
ByWomen's Weekly Food
April 27, 2013
Pinwheel sandwiches
Pinwheels are a great idea for kids school lunchboxes. Note
ByWomen's Weekly Food
January 28, 2023
Corn and bacon fritters with avocado dressing
Fritters are quick to make and delicious to eat.
ByWomen's Weekly Food
Zucchini and corn fritters
Fabulous fritters.
ByWomen's Weekly Food
June 4, 2019
Vegetable and chickpea fritters
Fabulously tasty and loaded with veggies, this handy fritter recipe is a perfect lunchbox-filler. You can also serve them with bacon and a lovely poached egg for more substantial meal.
ByWomen's Weekly Food
Gluten-free
September 17, 2020
Ham, zucchini and green onion fritters
These tasty fritters are gluten-and-dairy-free so they’re ideal for kids lunches.
ByWomen's Weekly Food
September 22, 2015
Ham, cheese and zucchini pizza scrolls
These scrolls are great for school lunchboxes (instead of sandwiches) and after-school snacks.
ByWomen's Weekly Food
Baking
July 7, 2022
Wheaty banana muffins
Boost your fibre content.
ByWomen's Weekly Food
February 17, 2018
Tuna sushi sandwiches
These delicious tuna sushi style sandwiches are perfect for a kids’ lunchbox or light snack with drinks.
ByWomen's Weekly Food
June 30, 2011
Chicken teriyaki brown rice sushi
There may well be some time investment here, but your efforts will be worth it. These chicken teriyaki brown rice sushi rolls look fabulous and the brown rice filling makes it an extra nutritious snack.
ByWomen's Weekly Food
January 31, 1975
Mini lamb kofta with hummus dip
Tasty, simple and spicy little lamb kofta that are great for summer lunches, co*cktail parties or as spicy snacks.
ByWomen's Weekly Food
November 30, 2021
Lemon chicken rissoles
What do you call this, darl? Rissoles.
ByWomen's Weekly Food
You’ll need these …
01
Penny Scallan Chirpy Bird Bento, Myer (also comes in other designs)
$49.95
This bento box is a great size – perfect for housing both recess and lunch in the one lunchbox. The bento compartment is removable and can be cleaned in the dishwasher. The lid is lined with a silicone seal making it leak-proof. So that compartment of yoghurt or orange segments will stay secure and not ‘flavour’ the sandwich or crackers!
02
Milkshake Lunch Box and Bottle Set, Myer (also comes in other designs)
$49.99
Pop in an ice brick and keep the contents of their lunchbox cool with this insulated lunch bag. It has a handy water bottle holder too, plus the bottle!
03
Thermos Funtainer, Myer (also comes in other designs)
$31.95
Kids sick of sandwiches? Mix things up with some of the recipes in this collection, and this thermos! It’ll keep food hot for up to five hours or cold for up to 7 hours.
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