15 Easy Cold Lunch Ideas for Kids

5 from 9 votes

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.)

Prep Time10

Cook Time10

Total Time20

Course: lunch

Cuisine: Asian

Servings:

Calories: 356kcal

Author: Amy Palanjian

Equipment

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)

US Customary - Metric

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