Quick, Easy, & Healthy Lunch Ideas for Toddlers

Welcome back to another edition of Answers by Mamas Uncut. Today’s topic comes from one of our loyal readers (a mama, just like you) who finds herself in quite a predicament when lunchtime rolls around.

The predicament? Finding something quick and easy, but also healthy, for her son to eat for lunch. 

“Toddler meal ideas for lunch? I can do breakfast and dinner because he eats what we eat but I don’t typically eat lunch so I’m stumped,” she wrote in our online forum, where mothers go to help one another.

RELATED: 10 Different Ways to Hide Vegetables In Your Kids’ Meals

And she brings up a powerful point. 

Mealtime can be very easy when everyone’s eating the same thing at the same time, but things get a little complicated when your child’s mealtime doesn’t coincide with your own mealtime – or if your child prefers something different than what’s on the menu for that day. Unfortunately, this is extremely common.

But don’t worry – we’re here to help. 

10 Healthy Lunch Ideas When at Home

Alright, so we can all agree that preparing a lunch for a toddler isn’t always as easy as it looks. On one hand, the lunch needs to be nutritious and healthy. On the other, it needs to be appealing and colorful. 

In other words – there’s both an art and a science to what seems like such a simple task. 

Our goal today is to help make that complicated task a little bit easier for parents who are pressed for time when lunch rolls around or stumped on what to serve their toddler (just like our reader described above). 

We’ll start things off with 10 quick, easy, and healthy lunch ideas you can make when your child is home.

10. Peanut Butter and Banana Rollups

Ingredients: whole wheat tortilla, banana, peanut butter

Serve With: strawberries, pretzels, celery sticks, clementine

Lay the whole wheat tortilla on a clean surface and spread a layer of peanut butter evenly over the entire tortilla. You can also drizzle some honey or cinnamon on top of the peanut butter to add more flavor. 

Place the whole banana on the edge of the tortilla and start rolling it – like you would an old carpet. The roll should be tight enough to keep the contents inside. All that’s left to do is slice it into smaller pieces. 

9. Tic-Tac-Toe Sandwiches

Ingredients: whole grain bread, cream cheese, cucumbers, red bell pepper, yellow bell pepper

Serve With: small salad, nuts, berries

Start by toasting the two slices of bread to your child’s preference. Spread a layer of cream cheese (or whatever spread your child likes) on each slice of toast and add thinly sliced cucumbers over top of it.

Combine the two pieces of toast to make a sandwich. Cut them into nine tiny squares and set them aside. Use the bell peppers to cut tiny X’s and O’s. Play a game of tic-tac-toe before letting your child dig right in.

8. Creamy Pasta Salad w/ Broccoli & Raisins

Ingredients: broccoli, elbow macaroni, raisins, green onion, sour cream, apple cider vinegar, honey, mustard, salt

Serve With: garlic bread, Brussels sprouts

Cut the broccoli into small, bite-sized florets and add them to a bowl with the macaroni, raisins, and green onion. Then, in a separate bowl, whisk together the sour cream, vinegar, honey, mustard, and salt. 

Combine the contents of both bowls by pouring the creamy mixture over the macaroni and stirring until evenly mixed. You can make a large bowl of this and serve it daily over the course of the next five days.

7. Broccoli Pesto Pasta

Ingredients: broccoli, pasta, pine nuts, green olives, basil, garlic, parmesan, pepper, salt

Serve With: zucchini, Italian bread, string beans

Cook the broccoli florets in boiling water for one minute before transferring to a blender, and cook the pine nuts in a saucepan until flagrant and toasted. Add the pine nuts, olives, basil, and garlic to the blender.

Add the olive oil to the blender and blend until pureed. Toss the mixture into a bowl with the cooked pasta. Mix it well and serve with your child’s favorite side dish – you can eat leftovers over the next few days.

6. BLT Pasta Salad

Ingredients: bacon, pasta, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, cider vinegar, tomatoes, avocado, romaine lettuce

Serve With: Garlic bread, hard-boiled egg

Preheat the oven to 375°F and bake the bacon. Boil the pasta, and set it aside. In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, mustard, and vinegar – you can season it with salt and pepper, as you wish.

Toss the pasta, tomato, avocado, and lettuce into a bigger bowl, and crumble the bacon into the salad. If you want to prepare for the near future, you can store this salad (without dressing) for up to two days. 

5. Crispy Cauliflower Tacos

Ingredients: cauliflower, eggs, flour, taco seasoning, lime, tortillas, scallions, jalapeno, cilantro, queso

Serve With: corn on the cob, coleslaw, black beans

To make the crispy cauliflower, whisk the eggs in one bowl and the flour (with the taco seasoning) in another bowl. Dip the cauliflower into the egg mixture, then the flour mixture before baking them at 400°F.

To make the tacos, just add the crispy cauliflower to a tortilla or hard shell, and add any other fillers – such as lettuce or tomatoes. Spread the queso over top and serve with your child’s favorite side dishes.

4. Sandwich on a Stick

Ingredients: whole grain bread, turkey, bacon, creamy havarti, lettuce, grape tomatoes, mustard, peanut butter, jelly, raspberries, grapes, salami, gouda, cucumber, bell peppers, hummus

Serve With: vegetables, chips, potato salad

This kabob consists of four different sections – a club sandwich, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, a turkey and salami sandwich, and veggies. All you need to do is cut them up and add them to a stick. 

The hummus can be placed in a small bowl to the side and used as a dip – either for the sandwiches or the vegetables. If possible, round out the ends of the stick before serving – to avoid the risk of injury. 

3. Healthy Mac and Cheese

Ingredients: elbow macaroni, butter, onion, butternut squash, broth, milk, salt, shredded cheese, parsley

Serve With: roasted broccoli, garlic green beans, glazed carrots

Cook the macaroni and set aside. Sautee the onion in a saucepan with the butter. Remove the skin and seeds from the squash before cutting them into small cubes and cooking until tender – or to your liking. 

Add the squash, onions, milk, salt, and broth to the blender and puree it until smooth and creamy. Pour the mixture over the noodles and add shredded cheese. You can add water or milk to adjust consistency.

2. Peanut Butter-Apple Cinnamon Sushi Rolls

Ingredients: whole grain bread, creamy peanut butter, apple, honey, cinnamon

Serve With: strawberries, grapes, pretzels

Spread an even layer of peanut butter onto a piece of bread, then lay the apple sticks on top. Drizzle honey over the apples and sprinkle with cinnamon – like a piece of toast, but with peanut butter on it.

Once the contents are on the piece of bread, all you need to do is roll the bread up like a cinnamon roll and press firmly so the bread sticks together. Slice the bread into smaller pieces and serve with a side.

1. Carrot Pigs in a Blanket

Ingredients: carrots, olive oil, salt, pepper, cumin, pizza dough, sesame seeds, green goddess dressing

Serve With: potato salad, celery, grapes

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Toss the carrots into a bowl with the olive oil, salt, pepper, and cumin. Then, divide the pizza dough into small pieces and roll each piece until they’re about a quarter-inch thick. 

Place a carrot at one end of the dough and then roll the dough around the carrot. Brush each piece with olive oil and sesame seeds before transferring to the oven and baking until lightly golden and tender. 

10 Healthy Lunches to Pack for Your Child

Preparing a quick, easy, healthy, and appealing lunch for your toddler at home is one thing, but packing a lunch for school, daycare, the babysitter, long road trips, or park outings is a completely different story. 

More than just different, it’s quite a challenge – especially when you’re pressed for time. 

But with a little help from mothers who have been there (and done that), your child will be eating like a King or Queen – no matter where they are, who they’re with, or what you decide to put in front of them. 

With that said, let’s take a look at 10 of our favorite lunch ideas to pack when the situation calls for it.

10. Hard-Boiled Eggs, Pretzels, & Carrots

Hard-boiled eggs are easy to make. Place the eggs in a pot, add cold water, bring the water to a boil, and then remove it from the heat. Let the eggs sit in the hot water for about 10 minutes before letting it cool.

Once hard, you can peel the eggs – cutting them in half will make it easier for your child. You can remove the yolk if they don’t like it. Add to a lunchbox with a cheese stick, apple sauce, carrots, and pretzels.

9. Turkey Sandwich, Celery, & Grapes

Begin by choosing soft, whole-grain bread that’s not only healthy but also easy for little hands to hold. Lightly toast the bread slices if your child prefers a bit of crunch – otherwise, you can keep them soft.

Add mayonnaise or mustard, cheese, turkey breast, cucumber, and whatever other ingredients your child prefers. Serve in a lunchbox with celery sticks with peanut butter and raisins, grapes, and a granola bar.

8. Homemade Lunchable

There’s something about a Lunchable that makes lunchtime easy for everyone. The only problem with store-bought Lunchables is that they aren’t very healthy and often contain poor ingredient choices.

That’s why we suggest making your own with wheat thins, pepperoni, small pieces of ham, yogurt, turkey, roasted sweet potatoes, and your child’s favorite granola bar. Add all the contents to a sealed lunchbox.  

7. Chicken Sausage, Muffin, & Corn

Chicken sausage is a type of sausage made primarily from ground chicken meat. Due to its lower fat content, chicken sausage is a healthier alternative to traditional sausages made from pork or beef.

To make a meal out of chicken sausage, add it to a lunchbox with a zucchini apple muffin, Simple Mills almond crackers, buttered corn, strawberries, and cottage cheese – or whatever else your child enjoys. 

6. Pepperoni Egg Wrap, Banana Bread, & Grapes

To make a pepperoni egg wrap, whisk a couple of eggs together and pour it into a skillet – spread the mixture out into a thin layer, like an omelette. Once it starts to harden, add the pepperoni on half of it.

Next, place a tortilla over the entire mixture and press down to help the tortilla adhere to the egg. Flip the entire setup so that the tortilla is on the bottom and roll it into a wrap, with the pepperoni in the middle of it all. Serve with banana bread, grapes, Sun Chips, and carrots with ranch. 

5. Quesadilla, Clementine, & Raisins

Take a soft flour tortilla and sprinkle a generous amount of mild cheese, such as mozzarella or cheddar, over one half. You can add other child-friendly fillings, such as cooked chicken or finely chopped veggies.

Fold the tortilla over to encase the toppings, creating a half-moon shape. Cook the quesadilla in a skillet over medium heat until the tortilla turns golden and the cheese melts, usually 2-3 minutes on each side.

Add to a lunchbox with carrots, a hard-boiled egg, clementines, fruit snacks, raisins, and tortilla chips. 

4. PB&J Mini Bagel, Fruit Salad, & Cheese Stick

Instead of using your child’s favorite type of bread for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, try replacing the bread with a mini bagel. You can also swap the peanut butter and jelly for your child’s favorite sandwich.

In addition to the PB&J mini bagel, add your child’s favorite type of cookie, a mixture of beef sticks, cheese sticks, cherry tomatoes, a fruit salad, and banana bread to give your child a well-balanced meal. 

3. Turkey Pickle Wrap, Dates, & Broccoli

Start by laying out a whole wheat tortilla. Spread a thin layer of cream cheese over the tortilla and place a few slices of deli turkey evenly across the tortilla. Add a whole dill pickle in the center of the tortilla. 

Carefully roll the tortilla around the turkey and pickle, pressing lightly to seal the wrap with the cream cheese. If desired, slice the wrap into bite-sized pieces, making them the perfect size for small hands. 

Add to a lunchbox with a lentil banana muffin, graham crackers, roasted broccoli, and dates with peanut butter.

2. Egg Waffle, Mini Pancakes, & Strawberries

To make an egg waffle, whisk eggs in a bowl until well mixed and preheat your waffle iron – always use a cooking spray or butter to avoid a sticky waffle. Pour the eggs onto the iron, add toppings, and let it cook.

Mini pancakes are just as easy. Whisk your egg, milk, and melted butter into a small bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt before combining the two mixtures. Then take it to the griddle or stovetop!

Serve these mini pancakes and egg waffle with strawberries, and a carrot banana muffin. 

1. Pizza Puffs, Peaches, & Watermelon

Preheat your oven to 375 and grease your mini muffin pan. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, Italian seasoning, and salt. Once its well-mixed, go ahead and add in the milk and egg. 

Next, stir in the cheese and pepperoni (small bits) and let the batter stand for 10 minutes. Put the batter in the mini-muffin cups and bake for 20-25 minutes. Serve with a side of dipping sauce – i.e., marinara – peaches, watermelon, and a granola bar. 

The Importance of Healthy Eating for Children

There’s nothing more important to your child’s growth, development, and future than making sure they receive the right nutrients – and the right amount of nutrients, at the right time – on a day-to-day basis. 

It’s fundamental to the cognitive, physical, and emotional growth that occurs during these formative years.

Not only that, but it helps them develop the right eating habits and routines at an early age – and let’s not forget, these habits can help set the foundation for a lifetime of healthy dietary choices and preferences. 

So, what do parents need to do to achieve this? 

The key is to ensure that every lunch you serve has a healthy combination of macronutrients (protein, carbohydrates, and healthy fats) and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals)—that’s really all there is to it.

If you can do that, your child will have everything they need to grow and develop properly. 

They’ll have a more steady energy supply, strong bones and teeth, improved cognitive health, a healthy weight, and a reduced risk of catching an illness – in other words, their quality of life will increase greatly.

Need More Ideas? Ask Our Mama Experts!

Is your child a picky eater? Do they like to eat at a different time than you and your significant other? Are you struggling to find the time to make a healthy, appealing, and well-balanced meal for your little one? 

If you answered ‘yes’ to any of those questions, then you’ve come to the right place. 

Our Answers by Mamas Uncut forum is every mother’s go-to source when they need some tips, tricks, advice, or recommendations on parenting, mothering, and giving your little one the best life possible. 

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: 15 Crock Pot Meals for Quick Eats

Whenever you have a question or need some help from a mama who knows what you’re going through, head over to our online community and ask away – our mama experts will rush to your assistance.