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Home » Best Of

School Lunch Ideas for Picky Eaters

By Laura Fuentes Updated Jul 25, 2024

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Tired of making the same packed lunch daily? I was too and because of it, spent years feeling bad about my parenting efforts -but you don’t have to!

Below, you’ll find how to build healthy lunches for school when you have picky eaters and some ideas to get you started!

an image collage of school lunch ideas for picky eaters

It took me years to learn that the lunch box can be a great place to introduce NEW foods to our kids because at school our kids are around their friends who are likely eating other things! And without our parental watchful eye, they aren’t pressured to “try it.”

Best Lunches for Picky Eaters

Ultimately, the best lunches for our kids, especially when you have a picky eater, are ones that are focused on providing them with nutritious elements. Here are some ideas plus ways to change things up and turn them into a healthy packed lunch:

a stack of 3 uncrustables filled with peanut butter and jelly
Homemade Uncrustables
4.99 from 68 votes
Making your own at home can be a big upgrade then the store bought because you can add more nutrition by adding more filling and using whole-grain bread.
Tips + the Crimper
The Original Lunchable Upgraded
5 from 27 votes
Crackers + cheese + turkey (or ham) are the foundation of this iconic lunch. Learn how to turn it into a meal plus keep everything fresh in a lunch box in the post.
Pack this lunch
homemade version of lunchables nachos
DIY “Lunchables” Nachos
5 from 29 votes
Transform this kid favorite into a protein-packed healthy lunch! Plus, learn how to send the cheese sauce to school.
Pack this lunch
Fruit + Protein Lunch Box
5 from 15 votes
This is for the kid who loves to snack and could eat fruit until their heart is content. The tips for keeping all the ingredients fresh in the post!
Pack this lunch
pizza pasta salad in a metal lunch box with cucumber slices on the side
Pizza Pasta Salad for Kids
5 from 9 votes
Think of the pasta as the base for nutritious toppings. No different than what you'd put on a pizza! Deli meats + cheese + pepperoni + tomatoes.. anything goes!
Tip: use chickpea pasta for 5x the protein!
Pack this lunch
lunch container with blueberries, snap peas and apple & cheese slices wrapped with ham.
Ham & Cheese Apple Wraps
4.93 from 26 votes
The combo that kids love with the hand-held appeal! Tip: use store bought apple slices or learn how to keep apples from browning in the post.
Pack this lunch
Banana Sushi Rolls
5 from 26 votes
If bread is a no-go for your picky eater, try tortillas instead! These lunchbox "sushi" rolls are often a hit with little ones who are hesitant to try other lunches.
Pack this Lunch
Easy Peanut Butter & Jelly Roll-Ups
5 from 20 votes
If PB&J is your kid's go-to but they're too busy chatting to finish their lunch, try making these roll-ups and turning the sandwich into bite-sized pieces!
Pack this Lunch
How to Pack Thermos Macaroni and Cheese
5 from 19 votes
Have a kid who doesn't eat enough at lunch? Pack some extra food by sending a side of mac & cheese or as a main dish.
Learn to Keep it Hot!
a chicken nugget being dipped into a sauce cup of Ranch dressing with a lunch container filled with chicken nuggets, veggies, and strawberries, in the background.
Homemade Chicken Nuggets Lunchable
4.96 from 24 votes
Whether you make your own nuggets with the recipe or use your favorite frozen brand, you can build a more nutritious lunch at home! All the tips for packing nuggets for school.
Pack this Lunch
Pizza Bites Egg Cups
5 from 25 votes
Customize these protein-rich bites with your kids' favorite pizza toppings! The post explains how to make them ahead and pack them hot or cold for school.
Pack this Lunch
Lunch Box Smoothies
5 from 26 votes
If your kid loves smoothies, why not add one to their lunch box? Learn how to send it for school in a freezable container in the post.
Show me How!
Sandwich on a Stick
5 from 32 votes
Food on a stick is always better! Here is one fun way to get your kid to always finish their sandwich!
Pack this Lunch
grilled cheese stick dipping into a small dish of tomato soup
Grilled Cheese Dippers Thermos Lunch
5 from 14 votes
Learn how to pack this kid-favorite combo for school: crunchy grilled cheese and warm soup to dip them in!
Pack this Lunch
Homemade Fruit Cups
4.98 from 34 votes
Fill these cups with your kid's favorite fruit and learn how to make a healthier and lower-sugar syrup to keep it fresh!
Make These!

Tips for Packing School Lunches for Picky Eaters

Having worked with thousands of families since I first began sharing lunches online in 2012 and having experienced the many frustrations that come with packing school lunches for my picky eaters myself, it’s true that it can feel like you’re climbing a mountain daily.

Below are my top tips for parents whenever they ask what they can do to add variety to their picky eaters’ lunches and make them more nutritious.

1. Focus on one nutritious ingredient

“If it all else fails, focus on one item that you know your kid will eat” was what our feeding therapist told me years ago. Whether it’s chicken nuggets, ham + cheese + crackers, or fruit, make sure there’s one element your kid will eat -and all of it- in the packed lunch.

2. Bite-Size Pieces

Cutting sandwiches into small pieces, even making dino sandwiches, or making sandwich roll-ups, are great ways to ensure kids take a bite while they chat with their friends.

Bite-sized meals, including bento-style lunches, are a great solution to the most common reason for lunches coming home uneaten: kids socializing! For many young kids, lunch is the first opportunity they have to socialize with other kids and they’re busy chatting! young kids

3. Add a dip

Whether it’s ketchup or ranch dressing, a tablespoon of dip isn’t going to derail the nutritious value of an entire lunch. For many kids, dipping their veggies or nuggets in something can be the reason why they eat their meal. Go ahead and send the dip.

4. Ask Questions the right way

Instead of asking, “Why didn’t you eat your lunch?” which puts the blame on them, try asking questions that are open-ended and shift the focus away from them. For example “Did you run out of time today and didn’t get to finish your lunch?” or “Did the strawberries (or another food) not hold up well?” or “What are some foods your friends bring to school that look interesting?”

If something isn’t eaten, it’s important to find out the reason in a way that your child doesn’t feel blamed or ashamed. Establishing a positive tone for these conversations builds a foundation of trust and more openness to try new things.

5. Let Them Choose

Even young kids have opinions on what they’d like to eat and find in their lunch. Letting them select a few ingredients each week from which you can build a lunch can be a very powerful tool for them to feel like they have control over their food. Power struggles are a big reason many kids become picky/selective eaters.

One great tool to help you build healthy lunches and let kids participate and/or take ownership or this process is using a lunch box builder!

Packing picky-eater-approved school lunches filled with nutritious ingredients can be easier!

Use this printable PDF to add variety to your child’s lunches & come up with new ideas fast!

Download Now

5. Don’t Worry

While it’s incredibly frustrating to open our kids’ lunch boxes and find them uneaten, remember that lunch is just one meal out of the day! You have other opportunities, like a healthy after-school snack, to add more nutrition to their day.

For many kids, picky eating is a season, and yes, it can feel like an eternity for us parents. As long as they continue to grow and are healthy, it’s just that… a frustrating season. As parents, our job is simply to provide the opportunity to build a healthy school lunch by having those nutritious ingredients around; we can’t control what happens at school.

by Laura Fuentes
onOctober 5, 2017

If you enjoyed the article, please share it with others. Thank you!

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laura fuentes momables holding a lunch bag and lunch boxes

My name is Laura Fuentes
I’m here to help you simplify school lunches with fresh ideas your kids will actually eat.

Mom of 3. Certified in Integrative Nutrition. 5x Cookbook Author.

school lunch ideas! →

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