Strawberry Cheesecake Lunchbox Parfait

Want to swap out the usual fruit and veggies in your packed lunches for a more interesting side? Give this strawberry cheesecake lunchbox parfait a try!

You get the combination of fresh strawberries and creamy Greek yogurt filling, along with tips on assembling and packing so everything stays fresh.

Lunchbox Strawberry Parfait

Parfaits have that special knack of tasting like a dessert while being a healthy side you can pack in the lunch box. Even better, this parfait recipe can offer up to 20 grams of protein when made with Greek yogurt!

That said, the parfait mixture isn’t yogurt alone; almond butter is added to the mix to give it a thick, cheesecake-like consistency. And instead of a granola topping, we use crushed graham crackers- it’s a delicious combination!

Not sure how to pack a parfait or yogurt in a lunch bag?

I share some helpful tips in this post, one of them being a double-insulated thermos. It does an excellent job of retaining cold air; with it, you can pack this recipe and my Easy Blueberry Parfait!

What is in a Strawberry Cheesecake Parfait

Now, let’s do a quick run-through of what you’ll need to make this cheesecake parfait: 

• Greek yogurt: regular vanilla is perfect! 
• Almond butter: a source of healthy fats and can be swapped for peanut butter. 
• Maple syrup: optional, but sweetens the yogurt mixture. 
• Strawberries: use fresh or frozen & thawed berries
• Graham crackers: to crumble and top over the parfait- like the graham cracker crust! 

Love this idea? I knew you would, and if you’re looking for some incredible lunch recipes to go with it, you’ll find them here: 

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How to Pack a Parfait with Lunch

In the following directions, I’ll show you how easy it is to pack a parfait in the lunchbox. 

1. Prep the thermos
   To keep the yogurt chilled all day, start with an ice-cold thermos by placing it in the freezer 20 to 30 minutes before assembly. 
2. Assemble
   Combine the parfait ingredients until smooth, and add the mixture to your thermos. Close and pack the container into a lunch bag with an ice pack. 
3. Don’t forget the topping
   Place the crushed graham cracker into a mini sauce container. If you add it to the parfait too soon, the crumbs will get soggy. 

Plan on including this lunch side with a grilled sandwich or thermos full of soup? Check out this video on how to properly pack cold and hot things in the same lunch bag:

Keeping Yogurt Parfaits Fresh for School Lunches 

Follow these tips for packing yogurt parfaits in the lunch box so they stay fresh for hours:

Prep ahead
You can assemble this yogurt parfait ahead and refrigerate it overnight. Remember to pack the granola in a separate container so it stays crunchy.

Keep it cool
While an ice-cold thermos does a great job keeping parfait cool, I also add an ice pack to the lunch bag to regulate the temperature and keep all the items fresh.

More School Lunch Sides with Fruit

Grab fresh or frozen fruit and make healthy school sides like these fruit cups, baked banana chips, or these fun rainbow fruit skewers. Oh! And this fruit and veggie stoplight bento is also a winner as a side or for snacking!

Strawberry Cheesecake Lunchbox Parfait

Servings: 1

Prep Time: 20 minutes mins

Total Time: 20 minutes mins

Make this strawberry cheesecake lunchbox parfait for a healthy lunch side that tastes like dessert and packs 20+ grams of protein!

5 from 13 votes

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Ingredients

• 6- ounce cup vanilla Greek yogurt
• 1 tablespoon almond or peanut butter
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey, optional
• 2 –3 strawberries, sliced
• 1 graham cracker sheet, crumbled

Instructions

Prep the thermos:

• Place your thermos container in the freezer 20 to 30 minutes before assembling. 

Assemble:

• In a medium bowl, mix the yogurt with the almond or peanut butter and maple syrup. 
• Add the strawberries to the yogurt mixture and transfer it to the chilled thermos. Close the lid and seal. 

Pack it for lunch:

• Place the graham cracker crumbles into a mini sauce container and pack it into the lunch bag with the parfait and an ice pack.

Equipment

The Best Homemade Kid’s Snacks on the Planet

Thermos