Make it easier to come up with cold lunch ideas for kids with this super easy options that go beyond sandwiches! You can pack these kids lunches to be served cold or at room temperature at daycare, preschool, big kid school, and camp.

cold-lunch-ideas-in-lunchboxes

Whenever we need cold lunch ideas for kids, whether for preschool, elementary school, or a day on the go, these options are the ones I turn to again and again. These kids lunches don’t need to be reheated and can be eaten right out of their lunch bag. Each of these can be packed with an ice pack (ideally!) or can be served at room temperature if needed.

These cold lunch ideas for kids work as school lunches for kids, camp lunches ideas, summer lunches ideas, and toddler lunch Ideas. There are a range of options to give you ideas (even if you have a “picky eater“), and most of these can be packed ahead of time to simplify your morning routine.

I even have tips for which foods you can freeze and use as ice packs, that will thaw and be ready to be consumed by lunch time. Win!

(You may also like Make-Ahead Toddler Dinners, Kids Lunch Boxes, and best Kids Thermoses.)

sesame-noodles-in-lunchbox

1. Sesame Noodles

Combine fully cooked and slightly cooled noodles with green beans and a simple sesame sauce for cold sesame noodles. Add easy sides to this kids lunch like a fruit cup (I like the ones packed in 100% fruit juice) and veggie straws. You can use any type of noodle that your kids prefer—and enjoy this for your own lunch, too.

P.S. Scroll to the bottom of this post of cold lunch ideas for kids for the full recipe.

baby-pasta-lunch-in-gray-lunchbox

2. Parmesan Noodles with Peas

Toss fully cooked pasta with a little olive oil or butter—or Spinach Pesto—and grated Parmesan cheese and pack with peas and a side of fruit. You can send this to be eaten like my Best Pasta Salad, chilled or at room temperature in a bento box for kids.

sandwich-lunch-with-crackers

3. Sunflower Seed Butter and Jelly Sandwich

Make a simple sandwich with sunflower seed butter (or any nut or seed butter allowed in your center or school) with jam. Add some crackers, sliced cucumbers, and a clementine alongside. (Peel the clementine for younger kids. This partially peeled option works for kids 3 or 4 and up who should be able to finish peeling it themselves.)

Click here for more easy ideas for sandwiches for kids.

banana-sushi-on-white-plate

4. Banana “Sushi”

Spread a whole grain wrap with sunflower seed butter, add a ripe banana and roll up. If at home, slice into rounds as shown above. If packing as a homemade summer lunch idea or school lunch, only slice in half to help prevent the banana from browning. Pack in a lunch box for kids with simple lunch snacks such as crackers for toddlers and shelf-stable milk or another drink.

sandwich-roll-ups-in-stainless-container

5. Sandwich Roll-Up

Use a nut-free spread, such as sunflower seed butter or granola butter, or just use jam to make easy Sandwich Roll-Ups. This one of those cold lunch ideas for kids that works when they are bored of sandwiches the usual way.

Bagel sandwich with fruit and veggies for a vegetarian lunch idea

6. Bagel Sandwich with Veggie and Fruit

Use a regular or mini bagel to make a simple sandwich. Try hummus, sunflower seed butter, or another nut or seed butter. Or use jam, a favorite lunch meat option, or hummus. Add fruit and a vegetable for lunch and a drink.

hummus-and-pita-on-pooh-bear-plate

7. Hummus and Pita

A smear of store-bought or Homemade Hummus without Tahini (for a nut- and seed-free option) is one of our go-to cold lunch ideas for kids. Add simple sides to round out this meal as you like. This is a fast 5-minute homemade lunch idea and one that works as a baby-led weaning recipe or meal, too.

pesto-pasta-salad-in-lunch-box

8. Pesto Pasta Salad with Fruit and Puffs

Pasta salad is a great cold lunch idea for kids, since you can make it in advance and use it as a meal prep lunch idea for a few lunches in the same week. This Pesto Pasta Salad is easy to make and easy to pack, and you can adjust it with veggies and beans your kids like (or just make it with pasta only). Add puffs and a fruit.

quinoa salad and strawberry yogurt lunch prep

9. Quinoa Salad

Make a flavorful grain salad, like this easy Quinoa Salad to mix up cold lunches for kids. Use the cheese and veggies your family prefers, and pack with a Yogurt Drink or Strawberry Smoothie in an insulated lunch bag for kids with an ice pack.

crackers-and-cheese-snack-lunch

10. Snack Lunch

I love assembling a mix of snacks from different food groups as an easy cold lunch idea for kids. This works just as well as snack dinner! Babybel cheese can be left at room temperature, which makes it a great option as one of our cold lunch ideas for kids, along with fresh produce, crackers, and a snack bar.

cheese and crackers cold lunch

11. Cheese and Crackers Lunch

Vary the snack lunch by building around cheese and whole grain crackers. This is an easy toddler lunch and can work as a kindergarten lunch for older kids too. Add milk or a smoothie in a reusable pouch to make this one more filling as needed.

snack lunch with snacks and a smoothie

12. Dry Cereal Lunch

Dry cereal for kids can be an easy lunch option when paired with protein snacks for kids that you may have on hand. You can also pack cereal in a larger section of a lunchbox and send a small container of milk to be poured over top for older kids to have breakfast for lunch.

Hummus wrap in container a vegetarian lunch idea

13. Hummus Wrap

Spread hummus onto a whole grain tortilla, add thinly sliced veggies such as lettuce or bell pepper, then roll up, and slice with a serrated knife to make an easy Vegetarian Hummus Wrap. Add simple sides such as fruit and yogurt or crackers. Use my method to store fresh apples without browning to send apple slices, too.

Strawberry muffin in container with sides for a vegetarian lunch idea

14. Muffin Lunch

Bake a batch of healthy muffins for kids and pack one as the main dish. This is one of our favorite easy cold lunch ideas for kids. Add easy sides such as a cheese stick, fruit, or thinly sliced veggies. We love Healthy Strawberry Muffins, Banana Zucchini Muffins, Spinach Muffins, and my Donut Muffins for this.

Pancake lunch in lunchbox

15. Pancake Lunch

Pack leftover pancakes in a lunch box or even as a sandwich! Spread on nut or seed butter or jam (or both!) and pack or dice as needed for a younger child. Add some simple sides as shown above.

Frequently Asked Questions

What foods are good for cold lunch?

Pasta salad, sandwiches, snack lunches, muffins, and more are easy cold lunch options.

What can I put into my kid’s lunch besides sandwiches?

Wraps, roll-ups, muffins, yogurt and granola, burritos, cheese and crackers, and more are easy non-sandwich lunch ideas for kids.

What are 10 good lunch foods for kids?

Yogurt and granola, sandwiches, muffins, leftover pasta dishes and pizza, wraps, pasta salad, cheese and crackers, snack lunches, burritos, rice and beans, and salads like chicken salad and tuna salad are good lunch options for kids. (And adults!)

Foods You Can Freeze and Use as Ice Packs

If you aren’t able to send an ice pack with a lunch and there’s no fridge option, or you just want to keep the food colder, try freezing these items the night before and packing frozen. They all thaw in about 3-4 hours at room temperature. (Skip the dairy-based items if you expect the lunch to be in warm temperatures.)

Shelf-Stable Lunch Sides to Add

You can look at my favorite Healthy Kids Snacks for more ideas, but here are some great shelf-stable lunch side to add to lunches.

Best Tips for Success

  • Aim to include foods that you are reasonably sure that your child likes.
  • Add easy sides such as snap peas, fruit salad, raspberries, cheese cubes, string cheese, diced watermelon, and more.
  • Aim for the food to be easy to eat, so cut, dice, or otherwise serve the foods in ways that are appropriate for the age of your child. Slice oranges into wedges, cut grapes in half for kids under age 4.
  • Consider if they have a teacher who can help them open packages, too, if that is a challenge.
  • Pack food in a lunch box with ice packs or in an insulated lunch bag to keep the food at a safe temperature.
  • Avoid peanut butter, nut butter, and nuts if needed for your school or center.
  • Try sending leftovers such as hard-boiled eggs, chicken salad, pizza, Ham and Cheese Pinwheels, or black beans with salsa and cheese.
  • Check out my Pinwheel Sandwiches and Turkey Wrap ideas for more easy cold lunch options.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on these ideas or if you have others to add. Please comment below to help make my content better and share with more families!

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cold-lunch-ideas-in-lunchboxes

15 Easy Cold Lunch Ideas for Kids

Coming up with cold lunch ideas for kids can feel really daunting, but the good news is that there are actually many options beyond sandwiches! You can pack these kids lunches to be served cold or at room temperature at daycare, preschool, big kid school, and camp. (Below is the recipe for the Sesame Noodles. Check the Notes for more ideas.)
5 from 9 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Cuisine Asian
Course lunch
Calories 356kcal
Servings 6

Ingredients

  • 1 pound fettuccini (or linguine or spaghetti)
  • 4 cups chopped green beans
  • 1/4 cup reduced sodium soy sauce (or tamari if gluten-free)
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup (or honey for kids over 1)
  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon lime juice
  • 1 tablespoon grated ginger (optional; grate on a microplane)
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Instructions

  • Prepare the pasta according to package directions. Add the green beans for the last 6 minutes of cooking. Drain.
  • In a large bowl, stir together the soy sauce, maple syrup, sesame oil, lime juice and ginger (if using). Stir in the pasta.
  • Pack in lunches or store in a container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Serve cold or at room temperature. (This can also be served warm.)

Notes

  • You can make and pack the noodles in a lunch box right away. Or store in a container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
  • Serve cold or at room temperature. 
  • Add simple sides like fresh fruit, granola bar, applesauce pouch, whole grain crackers, milk, yogurt, or other preferred lunch snacks.
  • Here are the rest of the ideas for easy reference: buttered noodles with peas, sunflower seed butter and jelly sandwich, banana “sushi”, sandwich roll-up, bagel sandwich, hummus and pita, pesto pasta salad, quinoa salad, snack lunch with a mix of food groups, cheese and crackers lunch, cereal and milk lunch, hummus wrap, muffin lunch, and pancake lunch.

Nutrition

Calories: 356kcal, Carbohydrates: 69g, Protein: 13g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 64mg, Sodium: 376mg, Potassium: 396mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 12g, Vitamin A: 554IU, Vitamin C: 10mg, Calcium: 71mg, Iron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Rate in the comments and tag @yummytoddlerfood on IG!

This post was first published July 2020.

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Thank you for always sharing your content with such a helpful and realistic approach to “life with toddlers.” Love your recipes and the ease and joy it brings to real life. So we can enjoy meals more with our family.