Easy, Healthy School Lunch Ideas (That Your Preschooler Will Love!)

At The Well, we have “Try It Tuesdays” where the preschoolers make and try a new lunch recipe each week in our “test kitchen”. We are sharing some of our favorite lunches with you!

We know that packing lunches can get monotonous, so we want to give you some fresh ideas. We also know that preschoolers can be picky eaters, which is why we had our little scholars taste test them first!

We’d say it is our “cookbook”, but the best part about all of these is that there’s not much cooking involved. You can even enlist the help of your child(ren) to make them with you at home!

Sandwich Kabobs

Kids like to take things apart, and this lunch recipe let’s them do just that!

What you will need :

• Sandwich meat: Ham, turkey, chicken or roast beef
• Provolone, cheddar or Swiss cheese
• Cubes of whole wheat bread
• Cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, or any other yummy veggie (choose as many as you want!)
• Dips: hummus, ranch dressing and/or mustard

Instructions: Pick your tiny chef’s favorite sandwich fixings and stick them on a kid-safe skewer; we suggest reusable straws, coffee stirrers or popsicle sticks. Dip the meat and veggie pieces in ranch, hummus or mustard for some extra flavor. Keep any unused or uneaten components in an airtight container so they stay fresh and you can use them the next day!  

 

Cool Apple Quesadillas

This recipe is the perfect excuse to go apple picking in the fall, but it will make taste buds happy all year long! 

• What you will need:
• 2-3 Granny Smith apples
• Shredded Colby jack, cheddar, Swiss or provolone cheese
• Whole wheat or soft corn tortillas

Instructions: Layer on thin-sliced apples and cheese slices, and melt them between tortillas, cut into triangles and serve! 

 

Banana Burritos

Here’s a wholesome lunch and maybe the only burrito that requires zero cooking!

What you will need:

• Peanut butter or sun butter (or other peanut butter alternative)
• Sugar-free jelly
• Banana
• Whole wheat tortilla

Instructions:  Smear peanut or sun butter and jelly on a tortilla, roll up a (peeled, of course) banana in the center, and viola! 

 

Bento Box “Food Groups” Lunch

This is a great meal with lots of variety that you can pack for school or for a picnic!

What you will need  (mix & match):

• Grain – crackers, pita chips, tortilla chips or pita bread triangles
• Protein – turkey, ham, chicken, tofu, nuts,  or tuna
• Dairy – string cheese or yogurt pouch
• Fruit – apple slices, oranges, bananas, blueberries or grapes
• Veggie – snap peas, carrot sticks, cucumber slices or kale chips

Instructions: Grab a a reusable container with different sections to pack four to six different bite-size treats.

 

Cucumber Cream Cheese Sandwich

Make these yummy “tea sandwiches” your child will surely love. 

What you will need: 

• Cream cheese
• Cucumber slices
• Whole wheat bread

Instructions: Simply smear some cream cheese onto two slices of whole wheat bread and add a layer of thin cucumber slices. Cut off crust and make into 4 squares. Bon appetit!  

 

Pizza Bagels

Does your child like to play with food? Let the little ones stack and assemble their own lunch by putting together the ingredients for pizza bagels.

What you will need:

• Mini or regular sized bagels
• Pizza sauce
• Mozzarella cheese slices
• Peppers
• Mushrooms
• Pepperoni slices

Instructions: Place all ingredients in a reusable lunch container with different sections. 

 

Tuna or Salmon Salad & Crackers

Tuna and salmon are both great forms of protein, and they also deliver healthy omega-3 fatty acid.

What you will need:

• Tuna salad or salmon salad:
  • Canned tuna or salmon
  • Mayo
  • Chopped celery, onion, peppers,  and/or cucumbers
  • Salt & pepper to taste
• Whole grain crackers or pita chips

Instructions:  Mix together all the ingredients for the salad and put it into a small reusable container. Include crackers or pita chips for scooping. Mix and match with your favorite fruit or include veggie sticks!

 

Pepper Ships

Feed your little pirate some healthy grub! Peppers contain more than 200%t of your daily vitamin C intake, are a great source of vitamin B6 and folate and are packed with antioxidants.

What you will need:

• Yellow or red bell peppers
• Spinach or lettuce
• Cream cheese
• Sliced turkey

Instructions:  Cut your bell peppers in half, scoop out the seeds. Fill the insides with a layer of cream cheese. Top with spinach, lettuce and sliced turkey. 

 

A special thanks to our resident nutrition and fitness expert, Ellie Heiking (aka Miss Ellie) for gathering these recipes and putting them to the test with the Wellies!