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These cold lunch ideas for kids are easy to pack, made with familiar foods, and do not need to be reheated. You'll also find tips for prepping them ahead and keeping everything fresh until lunchtime.
Cold Lunch Ideas
I've packed school lunches for my three kids for years, and cold lunches are some of the easiest to prep ahead and customize with foods they already enjoy. The ideas below include sandwiches, wraps, bentos, salads, and other lunches that taste good without reheating. For bigger appetites, try these cold lunch ideas for teens.
Use a sturdy lunch container and one of these top-performing ice packs to keep perishable foods chilled and protected until lunch.
Cold Lunch Ideas That Come Together in Minutes
Build a cold lunch around one main food and a couple of sides, or mix smaller foods into a bento-style lunch. Start with a sandwich, a wrap, a high-protein main, pasta salad, or a salad, then add one or two lunch sides.
Watch the video below for more cold lunch combinations you can pack for school or work.
Room Temperature School Lunches
These lunches do not need to be reheated and still taste good once they lose their refrigerator chill. Pack perishable ingredients with an ice pack inside the lunch bag so they stay safely chilled until lunchtime.
Lunch Sides That Don’t Need Refrigeration
Round out the main lunch with fruit, vegetables, bars, chips, or another easy side. Many of these can be made ahead and portioned throughout the week.
Tips for Packing Cold Lunches
Pack salad dressing, dips, and other sauces in a small leakproof container and add them right before eating.
Ice packs help keep perishable foods chilled until lunch. You can also freeze a juice box or applesauce pouch to provide extra cooling as it thaws.
Yes. Pack lunch the night before and refrigerate it overnight. Add the chilled lunch and an ice pack to the lunch bag in the morning.
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20+ Cold Lunch Ideas for School (quick & easy)
Watch How It’s Made:
Ingredients
Main Lunch Item:
- Sandwich
- Wrap
- Pinwheels
- Egg cups
- Healthy salad
- Pasta salad
Sides:
- Fruit: apples
- Veggies: Peppers
- Dips: hummus
- Treat: bites
Instructions
Build the lunch:
- Pick a main food item and place it in the main compartment of the lunch box, separate from moisture-containing ingredients.
Add nutrition:
- Select your sides to bulk up the lunch. From fresh fruit, cut-up veggies, dips, chips, yogurt, and store-bought items, anything goes!
Pack it right:
- Refrigerate the lunch until ready to pack inside the lunch bag with an ice pack if necessary.
Norah says
Love the fact that you have cold lunches but if you could make a dairy free cold lunch that would be great
MOMables-Laura says
I have a few ideas in this post: https://www.momables.com/7-dairy-free-school-lunch-ideas/
Dawn says
These are all awesome! I recommend leaving a mint or 2 for your kids. Anything with onions can cause “onions breath”. For help with the kids that way they are avoiding possible bully situations.
Sherry Lamoreaux says
I’m concerned that certain foods (hard boiled eggs, chicken, mayo, etc.) become dangerous if kept at room temperature too long. We do use an ice pack… is that enough? How can we feel he will be safe?
MOMables-Laura says
Hi Sherry, I definitely recommend packing them with an ice pack to keep the ingredients fresh.
Natalie says
Thanks for ideas! My daughter is a picky eater as well as it having to be cold… I have a great share as well… We found a lunch box that is an ice pack itself. We just pop it into the freezer every night and morning time its frozen. Lasts ALL day
Blaine says
Nice My chidren love your cold luch ideas
Chrissy says
I’m completely new to the bento box thing for lunches. Should I put a little ice pack inside the box, or on the outside (inside my kid’s lunch bag? Also, any tips for keeping chips crunchy? Are they safe in there?
MOMables-Laura says
You can put the ice pack in the lunch bag. Chips should be packed in their own separate compartment (if using a bento box) or another container.
Cam says
Loved this post! I’m certain my kids will love these cold lunches!