Need easy kindergarten lunch ideas you can pack fast? This post shows you a variety of healthy school lunches kids will love that are both healthy and fresh.
Many of these easy lunches can be made ahead of time to save you precious time in the morning while you help your Kindergartener get ready for their day.
Sending your kids to Kindergarten means they might be experiencing packed lunch for the first time ever, and eating lunch away from home where mom reminds them to “keep eating” for the first time.
When my kids started school one of the biggest things they struggled with was having a time limit on their lunches. They wanted to chat with friends and have fun, but sometimes ended up missing half of lunch because they were talking.
For Kindergarten, easy-to-eat lunches are a MUST, and finger foods that feel like snacking will be their lunchbox BFFs. And if you think your little one might be missing you a little bit, then be sure to pack one of these sweet lunch notes in with the lunch!
Today, I want to help you do just that by providing easy recipes and tips I learned packing school lunches for my three picky kids.
Read next: Snack Ideas for Kindergarten
What to Pack for Lunch in Kindergarten
The best lunch ideas for kindergarten come down to nutritious foods you know your kids will like and are easily eaten and packed inside lunch containers.
Ideas such as bento boxes, mini quiches, and quesadillas will provide them with energy they need in a way that’s enjoyable to eat. Along with the recipes below, I’ve also included lunch ingredients favored by kids in preschool and kindergarten:
- Rolled deli turkey or ham
- Sliced cheese
- Whole-grain crackers
- Sliced berries
- Sliced apples
- Grapes
- Flavored Greek yogurt
- Baby carrots
- Sugar snap peas
- Olives
- Dips- such as hummus, Ranch dressing, and Veggie Dip
Also, adding an epic lunchbox snack to go along with the main lunch item is a nice surprise and makes the overall meal more fun to eat. It really is the small things that count.
Watch this video to see three of the biggest favorites at my house and then grab all the ideas below.
Easy Kindergarten Lunches
These kindergarten lunches are made with simple ingredients and the opportunity to load up on healthy ingredients. You’ll notice there are very few ideas for sandwiches and wraps. While I often pack sandwiches for lunch, I’ve found bento-style and finger foods more appealing to smaller kids. Don’t be surprised if your child asks for mini quiches on repeat.
With no further ado, here are the recipes:
If you loved these fresh and fun lunch ideas, check out my 101 Lunches eBook. Like the ideas above, it’s packed with healthy, delicious, and kid-approved meals.
101 Packed Lunches eBook
All my best kid-friendly lunches from over a decade of creating meal plans. Add some variety to your child’s lunchbox with these epic lunches, plus receive my Pack Meals Like a Pro ebook, free with purchase!
Best Lunchbox for Kindergarten
When it comes to the best lunchboxes for kindergarten, I have tested, tried, and reviewed SO many containers. Over the years, I’ve found certain lunchboxes better suited to smaller kids, and this kid’s bento is a great option to start with.
They’re the right size, leak-proof, and the compartments give you the option of packing both wet and dry ingredients into one container.
It’s also the type of lunch container you don’t outgrow. If I’m not packing a salad for lunch, I still find myself pulling out bentos like these to load up mini quiches, a sandwich, or odds and ends from dinner for lunch the next day.
Easy Kindergarten Lunch Ideas | ABC Bento
Ingredients
- 2 apples, sliced
- 4 hard-boiled eggs, halved
- 1 cup celery sticks
- 1 cup baby carrots
- 2 ounces cheese cubes
- Whole-grain crackers
Instructions
- Evenly divide the ingredients between 2 lunch containers with compartments making sure to keep the crackers separate so they don’t get soggy.
Laura
I appreciate these ideas. I’ll definitely be trying some of them for my little guy. Thank you!!