Food Recipe Collections & Favorites 26 Easy and Healthy School Lunch Ideas Even picky eaters will love these lunches. By Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner is a writer and recipe developer. She's a regular contributor to The New York Times, Time Out New York, Forbes, and many more publications. She also writes the food newsletter, Specialty. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on October 17, 2023 Close Photo: JENNIFER CAUSEY Packing a lunch bag day after day can feel tedious, especially if the literal fruits (and veggies) of your efforts come back uneaten after the bell rings. Make lunchtime more exciting and healthy with these school lunch ideas that can be prepared in minutes the night before, and packed easily to be in top tastiness come lunchtime. From sandwiches to bowls full of delicious and nutritious goodness, here's what to pack for lunch this school year. 01 of 26 Lemony Cucumber and Herb Pasta Salad Greg DuPree Designed to be enjoyed cold, this pasta salad is packed with freshness and stores easily. Plus, it can be even better a few days in, when the noodles soak up all the zesty vinaigrette. Keep the dressing on the side for picky kids. get the recipe 02 of 26 Fancy Tomato Sandwiches Greg DuPree Cheese, tomatoes, salt, pepper, arugula, and fried onions with delicious chive butter spread all on a baguette—there's a reason 'fancy' is in the title. This delicious sandwich is easy to put together and makes eight servings. School lunch prep is done for the whole week in just 15 minutes. get the recipe 03 of 26 PB&J Overnight Oats Antonis Achilleos Switch the classic combo from a sandwich to a lunch that packs easily in a lidded bowl or jar and is full of flavor and fiber. The oats themselves are a complete meal, or they can be a lunchbox component to a larger feast. For nut-free cafeterias, use sunflower butter instead of PB. get the recipe 04 of 26 Tomato, Bacon, and Garlic Mayo Sandwich Danny Kim Upgrade your standard BLT with a simple Greek yogurt spread! The colors and crunch help ensure an empty lunchbox after school. It will be ready to go in just twenty minutes. get the recipe 05 of 26 Avocado Toast Danny Kim Avocado toast is always a good idea for a quick and tasty meal! Add a little lemon or lime juice to your avocado mash to keep it from browning before lunchtime. get the recipe 06 of 26 Chicken, Sprouts and Provolone Sandwich Danny Kim Rotisserie chicken and cheese on a bagel is a perfect combo. Get creative with the bread and even the toppings with this sandwich that can be enjoyed warm (wrap it in foil) or cold. get the recipe 07 of 26 Hummus and Cucumber Toast Caitlin Bensel A swipe of hummus on crisp bread and layered cucumbers—feel free to cut them into cute shapes—makes for an easy and refreshing lunch that's beloved for its crunch! Package and serve open-faced or as a sandwich. get the recipe 08 of 26 Spring Fried Rice Jennifer Causey Add all your kid's favorite veggies to a big pot of fried rice to reheat and package in a thermos throughout the week. If they're a condiment kid, throw in a packet of soy sauce to amp it up at lunchtime. get the recipe 09 of 26 Caprese Skewers With Balsamic Glaze Getty Images Food on a small skewer is always fun at lunch and can be enjoyed without utensils. Serve with a salad or leftover rotisserie chicken for a complete and healthy meal. Best part is that this lunch idea comes together in just five minutes. get the recipe 10 of 26 Beef Koftas with Toasted Couscous Greg DuPree These flavorful meatballs on a stick are perfect with the side of couscous or another grain. Package them all together or wrap the koftas in foil and add small bowl containers with sides. get the recipe 11 of 26 Thai Peanut Butter Ramen Antonis Achilleos These cold noodles are so fun to eat! Sneak in veggies or protein and swap out the peanut butter for creamy tahini or almond butter depending on nut restrictions. get the recipe 12 of 26 Watermelon Poke Bowls Victor Protasio This completely plant-based lunch will be the envy of the lunchroom. It's colorful, tasty, healthy, and on-trend. The sweet marinated watermelon cubes alone will surely have your child asking for this dish in their lunchbox again and again. get the recipe 13 of 26 French Ham and Cheese Sandwich Danny Kim Who knew all you needed to give a ham and cheese sandwich a French twist was a baguette, Dijon, Gruyere, and adding butter to the cornichon and mustard mixture? With only 10 minutes in the kitchen, you'll have four French-inspired sandwiches ready for the week. It doesn't get much easier than that. get the recipe 14 of 26 Better-for-You Caesar Salad With Lemon-Parmesan Croutons Alison Miksch Even picky eaters won't bat an eye at this healthy lunch idea. Caesar salad with yogurt dressing, topped with your choice of protein make a simple yet tasty meal. Pack the croutons and dressing separately so that the salad is freshly put together come lunchtime. get the recipe 15 of 26 Smashed Cucumber Salad With Spicy Feta and Olives Jennifer Causey The cucumbers in this recipe are smashed, salted, and drained—which makes them exceptionally crispy and crunchy. You'll want to eat them like popcorn! Top the salad with feta and olives for a flawless mixture of flavors. get the recipe 16 of 26 Chipotle Turkey Club Tom Schierlitz We already love the classic Turkey Club, but this spicy twist takes it up a notch. Just add the Chipotle chile powder to the mayonnaise before spreading it on the bread. get the recipe 17 of 26 Farro Bowl With Pomegranate Vinaigrette CAITLIN BENSEL Caramelized sweet potato, nutty farro, salty feta, and tangy pomegranate vinaigrette mix together to create this perfectly-blended vegetarian dish. Farro is among the healthiest of grains, providing protein, fiber, and lots of nutrients. Pack dressing in its own container for optimal freshness. get the recipe 18 of 26 Feta and Watermelon Grain Bowls Caitlin Bensel This colorful bowl is as intriguing and gorgeous as it is tasty. There's a good chance your youngster will rave about the sweet watermelon the moment they see you after school. Farro is the base, while watermelon cubes, cilantro, and a creamy avocado dressing tie it all together. get the recipe 19 of 26 Baby Kale and Chicken Caesar Caitlin Bensel This Caesar salad is all about the toppings—homemade croutons being one of the most desirable. Plus, you can easily add grilled chicken for some extra protein. Baby kale and brussel sprouts will ensure your kid gets all the nutrient-rich greens they need to power through the rest of their school day. get the recipe 20 of 26 Superfood Lentil Salad Victor Protasio The sunflower seed vinaigrette brings together the powerful flavors of golden raisins, chargrilled zucchini, and protein-packed lentils in this dish. Pack an extra container with sunflower seeds to top the salad with. Your kiddo will love the added crunch! get the recipe 21 of 26 Tomato, Bacon, and Garlic Mayo Sandwich kcline/Getty Images This lunch idea takes a BLT and makes it better by incorporating a rich garlicky yogurt sauce and sliced avocado. The garlic mayo is made up of yogurt, oregano, garlic, and salt. Toasted white bread gives the sandwich a nice crunch. get the recipe 22 of 26 Speedy Pork Banh Mi Sandwiches Caitlin Bensel This healthy sandwich packs in the protein, so you're kid can say fueled for the rest of their school day. Since this sandwich is filling, there's no need to pack additional sides. get the recipe 23 of 26 Vegetarian Tacos With Goat Cheese Con Poulos Everyone loves tacos, and these healthy vegetarian tacos are no exception. Pack these tacos with a side of salsa. get the recipe 24 of 26 Pickled Tuna-Salad Sandwiches Mark Lund This tuna salad sandwich is the perfect lunch idea for those who like to customize what they eat to their personal taste (aka picky eaters). The hard-boiled eggs are optional, and your kid can choose between sweet or dill pickle relish. This healthy lunch is ready in just under 10 minutes. get the recipe 25 of 26 Herby Chicken Salad Tartines Victor Protasio This is a great sandwich if you're looking to repurpose last night's leftover rotisserie chicken. This chicken salad sandwich recipe packs in a bunch of bold flavors, including a tangy mayonnaise dressing, apple cider vinegar, and even a drizzle of honey. Herby chives and piquant radishes top the creamy sandwich. get the recipe 26 of 26 Grilled Chicken and Spinach Quesadillas Alex Farnum Spinach and rotisserie chicken make for a healthy (and extremely tasty) lunch. Pack the quesadillas with sides of salsa, diced avocados, and sour cream. get the recipe 26 Easy and Healthy School Lunch Ideas Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit