50 Favorite Lunch Snacks (Easy Ideas for Kids and Parents)

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Round out any lunch—whether yours or the kids—with one of our top picks for lunch snacks. These ideas require minimal effort, can be added to a lunch at home or packed for on the go, and are a perfect way to add an extra dose of nutrition (and yumminess) to lunch.

Lunch Snacks

The easiest way to ensure the kids have enough to eat at lunch is to add on a snack or two to the main meal. This can be as simple as tucking in a piece of fruit or a veggie pouch, or adding a snack bar on the side. This helps to hit more food groups and can be a nice safety net if you aren’t sure if the kids will eat the main part of the lunch.

Below you’ll find 50 ideas for what you include with a lunch and each works at home or packed for daycare, preschool, or school. Use this to help you come up with ideas for filling that lunch box and to limit the amount of minutes you spend staring into the fridge wondering what on earth to pack!

Fruits

These are some of my go-to ideas for fruits for lunch.

Canned fruit in 100% juice
Freeze-dried fruit
Applesauce
Avocado, diced (or as guacamole)
Bananas
Blueberries
Clementines (dice up as needed)
Melon, diced
Strawberries
Raspberries

TIP: Check out my Master List of Fruits for Kids for all of my ideas.

Vegetables

TIP: Find all of my best vegetables recipes here.

Proteins

If the main part of the lunch isn’t high in protein, one of these ideas can be a nice add-on.

Drinkable yogurt
Beans (such as chickpeas or edamame)
Cheese stick or slice
Chicken, shredded
Cottage cheese
Eggs (hard-cooked, in Egg Muffins, scrambled)
Energy Bite
Fruit-on-the-Bottom Yogurt
Nut or seed butter (as a dip)
Snack bar (such as Larabar)
Turkey (low-sodium deli meat)
Smoothie

TIP: Learn more about kids and protein.

Carbohydrates

Whole grains and carbs are a helpful way to ensure we’re full enough after a meal. Here are some easy options to include in a lunch.

Desserts

Add a dessert to the lunch with one of these yummy ideas (or insert your favorite store-bought option).

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some healthy snacks for lunch?

Fruit, vegetables, simple proteins like cheese, yogurt, shredded chicken, and beans, carbohydrates including whole grain crackers, muffins, and bread, and any foods that fill in food groups that may not be in the main dish.

Can I replace lunch with snacks?

We love doing snack meals, where you essentially build lunch from an assortment of snacks. It’s super kid-friendly and is a great way to use ingredients you have on hand.