Find lunchbox ideas for picky eaters of all ages to help you quickly pack meals for daycare, preschool, and elementary school—that are more likely to be enjoyed and eaten by the kids!
Lunchbox Ideas for Picky Eaters
Whether you need kids lunch ideas for daycare, preschool, or big kid school, I know packing can be a challenge for families. I hope these really easy ideas help you when it seems like you have otherwise run out of options.
Below you’ll find a handful of easy lunchbox ideas for picky eaters that work well to pack in a lunchbox. I recommend packing kids lunches with an ice pack or two in an insulated lunch bag to ensure that the food stays cold and safe.
NOTE: I don’t typically like to use the term “picky eater” since every kid is simply a unique eater and it doesn’t usually help to call them picky, which is overtly negative. That said, I know this is a term that our culture uses, so I hope it helps deliver the content you are looking for to pack easy lunches.
(You may also like Toddler Lunch Ideas, Kindergarten Lunch Ideas, and no-cook School Lunch Ideas.)
Your toddler won’t eat? Help is here!
Sign up for our email updates to get tips and ideas sent to your inbox.
Easy Turkey Wrap
The idea is so simple, but we have found a few tips that make the classic wrap tastier, have a better texture, and hold together well enough for little kids to pick up. Find the full recipe below.
Roll up a few simple ingredients to make this delicious Turkey Wrap recipe in minutes. It’s a great lunch wrap for home or school, and you can easily adjust the ingredients to suit the preferences of your child. This makes one wrap, so scale up as desired.
Easy Turkey Wrap Recipe
Cereal and Milk
This is one of my absolute favorite easy lunchbox ideas for picky eaters (and all kids) because it’s both fun and easy. And it’s also nutritious! Pack whichever cereal your kids like in a kids lunchbox with sections, then include milk on the side for them to add.
Baked Chicken Meatballs
This easy meatballs use super simple ingredients, are easy to mix together, and are a wonderful lunch box option.
With just four simple and affordable ingredients, you can make tender Baked Chicken Meatballs to share with the kids. Bonus: You can tuck a veggie into the mix, and they are perfect to batch-cook and stash in the freezer!
4-Ingredient Baked Chicken Meatballs
Muffin Lunchbox
Muffins make a really great lunchbox idea for picky eaters since you can make the ones that they like best (or buy them from the store) and add simple sides like fruit and cheese.
With fresh berries and a burst of lemon, these healthy Strawberry Muffins are a delicious and nutritious breakfast or snack to share with the kids.
Healthy Strawberry Muffins
Homemade Uncrustables
Learn how to make a batch of healthy, homemade Uncrustables to stash into the freezer for fast kids lunches. I love this method so much because you can decide exactly what to put inside, they’re crazy fast, AND they freeze beautifully.
You can make one sandwich at a time, or make a batch of a few to stash in the freezer. Adjust this as needed for your preference.
Easiest Homemade Uncrustables
Cheese and Crackers
Snacky lunches are one of my go-tos all year long since they are easy to assemble, take just minutes to make, and you can customize them for your kids.
Check out my favorite crackers for kids or just use the ones that you already know your littles like.
Yogurt Parfait
Yogurt and granola is another favorite easy lunch since there’s no prep work involved, it’s satisfying from the protein and complex carbohydrates, and you can adjust it for allergies as needed.
Try serving these parfaits for a fun breakfast or snack. Adjust the amount as needed for your child.
Quick Yogurt Parfaits
Easy Pesto Pasta Salad
Made with just a few simple ingredients, this fresh and flavorful Pesto Pasta Salad is a quick and easy family meal you’ll be able to pull together. Plus, it’s easy to make it nut-free for school, and more or less flavorful as a lunchbox idea for picky eaters.
Pizza Lunchables
This super quick and easy Pizza Lunchables idea is one of our favorite copycat recipes. Homemade is less expensive—and you can even customize them with the pizza toppings your kids prefer!
Have more fun with lunch with this super quick and easy Pizza Lunchable idea. It’s one of our favorite copycat recipes that makes it less expensive to recreate Lunchables at home…that you can even customize!
DIY Pizza Lunchables
More Kids Lunch Resources
Best Tips for Success
- Work with your child to make a list of their favorite lunches so you always have a place to start.
- Know that it’s okay to rely on only a handful of ideas—they can get variety at other meals.
- Try to make sure that lunchboxes and packages are easy for the kids to open on their own since they may not always have someone to easily ask for help.
- Talk to your child at the end of the day to get feedback on what you packed so you can adjust as needed and waste less food.
Related Posts