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Prep this lunchbox fruit salad for a fresh snack to enjoy with your favorite sandwiches, wraps, and bentos. It’s the perfect way of making fruit portable, and we add just a touch of maple syrup to make it slightly sweet.
Simple Lunchbox Fruit Salad
This lunchbox fruit salad is a tastier option than the store-bought fruit cups, and since it doesn’t include diced apples, you can prep it the day before without worrying about anything browning.
If you’re curious whether you can swap out/add different fruits, the answer is yes! Chopped berries, mango, and peaches are great alternatives.
Need some lunch ideas to go with these fruit cups? I’ve got a ton of them waiting for you right here:
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What is in a Lunchbox Fruit Salad
Here’s everything you need to assemble this quick fruit salad, along with some fun facts about their health benefits:
- Kiwi: a good source of fiber and antioxidants.
- Pineapple: high in manganese and adds a tropical flavor.
- Raspberries: are an excellent source of vitamin C.
- Blueberries: rich in antioxidants and vitamins C and K.
- Maple syrup: is optional, but it’s a natural sweetener and a much healthier option than the syrups in pre-packaged fruit cups. This fruit salad dressing is another great alternative.
A quick note on the berries: you can also make this recipe with frozen berries that have been thawed. They will give the salad a little color, but the flavors are still the same.
How to Pack Lunchbox Fruit Salad for Lunch
Here’s how to prepare this fruit salad so it stays fresh in your child’s lunchbox:
- Prep
Dice the peeled kiwi and pineapple into similar-sized cubes. - Grab a bowl
Combine the berries, kiwi, and pineapple in a large bowl. Drizzle with maple syrup, and toss to combine. - Prepare for transport
Divide the fruit salad into small thermos containers and refrigerate overnight or pack them into the lunch bag with an ice pack.
Need the perfect vessel to transport this snack to and from school? Check out my favorite thermos options here.
How to Keep Fruit Salad Fresh for Lunch
Follow these packing tips and your fruit salads will remain fresh and appealing until lunchtime:
Make it bite-size
Chop the fruit of your choice into bite-size pieces to make the fruit salad easy for younger kids to eat.
Keep fruit from browning
If you’re adding apples or pears to this fruit salad, you can slow down the browning process by adding a little bit of lemon juice or pineapple juice.
Keep it cool
Adding an ice pack to the lunch bag will keep this fruit salad and other lunch items fresh and safe to eat.
More Ways to Pack Fruit for Lunch
Have kids who can’t get enough fruit? I’ve got ideas! These are tried and true snacks you can make with everyday options like bananas and berries.
Banana Chips | Strawberry Fruit Roll-Ups | Fruit & Yogurt Parfait
Lunchbox Fruit Salad Cups
Ingredients
- 2 kiwis, peeled and diced
- 1 cup raspberries
- 1 cup blueberries
- 1 cup diced pineapple
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup, optional
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the fruit and maple syrup. Toss to combine.
- Divide the salad into 4 8-ounce lidded cups or thermos containers.
- Pack the fruit salads into a lunch bag with an ice pack or refrigerate overnight.
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