Picky Eater–Approved Back-to-School Lunch Ideas

It’s a new school year and you’ve promised yourself that this time you’ll make healthy lunches that your kids will actually eat, but you aren’t quite sure where to start. Our list of 10 picky eater–approved school lunch ideas is here to help! Let’s get started…

1. Spongebob shaped chicken sandwich

Spongebob may live in a pineapple under the sea but this snack idea can live right in your kiddo’s lunch box. Add a watermelon star-shaped Patrick, coral bits from dehydrated carrots, and blueberries for water to the Spongebob shaped chicken sandwich and you’ll hit all the major food groups. Yum.

2. Mini turkey meatloaves

Does your child love meatballs but won’t eat a bite of meatloaf? You’re in luck. One Sunday dinner, make these mini turkey meatloaves using lean ground turkey and add some oatmeal for fiber or even a tangy pineapple glaze. If it gets the picky eater thumbs up you’ll have a wonderful, healthy addition to their school lunches.

3. Hummus and veggie wrap

Lunch shouldn’t only be about meat. Let’s add in some great plant-based options. For hummus veggie wraps, you can do almost all the prep over the weekend and portion out the diced veggies into containers for the week. Remember to smear your hummus on a whole wheat tortilla and make it a super smile-friendly wrap.

4. Bean and tofu burger

Mushrooms, tofu, beans… this is the veggie burger your kids never knew they wanted. Even if your picky eater doesn’t like the texture of mushrooms, there are so many flavors going on in this veggie burger your child won’t even notice it. Another upside? Bean and tofu burgers have quite a bit of protein and plant-based fiber, which may just keep your little one’s post-lunch hunger pangs at bay—meaning fewer “Is dinner ready yet?” questions directed at you.

5. Taco bar

A taco bar is a perfect lunch idea for kids who don’t like their foods touching. You can pack all your child’s favorite toppings into separate compartments in their lunchbox. Use the biggest space for the whole wheat tortilla chips. Seal everything up and send your little one off to school. They’ll be the envy of all their classmates.

6. Chicken burrito bowls

Now this one is a dinner meal that turns into leftovers for kids to take to school. Don’t worry though, this one meal holds up nicely even after a stint in the fridge. Your kids will have a nice filling lunch of slightly hidden veggies (tomatoes and onions), protein (chicken and black beans), and fiber (corn). And if your kiddo doesn’t like sauce on their meat, you can always take some of the chicken out before adding in the sauce.

7. Veggie tofu scramble

A veggie tofu scramble is a healthy and delicious plant-based alternative to scrambled eggs that your kids can enjoy for lunch at school. What’s great about this meal is that if your child doesn’t like the taste of eggs, they’ll love the neutral flavor of tofu, which takes on any flavor you add to it. Tofu is also high in protein and rich in calcium, both important for strengthening your child’s teeth.

8. Chili mac and cheese

This one goes out to all the older kids who love adding chilli to everything. With this recipe, you can turn your mac and cheese leftovers into a delicious take-to-school lunch. To rock the taste buds of even the pickiest eaters, add pasta and grated cheese and head over to our Facebook page to thank us later.

9. Apple cheese quesadilla

Tired of packing PB&Js for lunch but still want something you can whip up quickly in the morning? Try an apple cheese quesadilla! You can assemble quesadillas the night before and then grill them in the morning. The tart apples and melted cheese between the grilled tortillas hit that sweet and savory spot, making it a kid-friendly dish.

10. Bunny rabbit rolls

Sometimes we don’t need to hide veggies in foods to make our kids eat them, we can just wrap them instead. Choose from any of the abundant summer veggies and include a variety of tastes and textures. You can even set up an ingredient bar and let your kids build their own roll up. They’ll be bunny-rabbiting their own wraps in no time.

There you have it—10 school lunch ideas that even the pickiest eaters will love. Don’t forget to also pack a toothbrush, a mini toothpaste, and some floss with your child’s lunch. Brushing after lunch will keep their teeth clean and their breath fresh, too. If you have any questions on how you can make your child’s lunch more tooth friendly, feel free to contact our Omaha dental office. We’re committed to helping kids have healthy teeth all throughout their lifetime.