57 Healthy Lunches for Kids

57 Healthy Lunches for Kids

Read Time: 28 mins

57 Healthy Lunches for Kids1/57 Chicken Avocado Wrap Test Kitchen Approved Chicken Avocado Wraps Recipe photo by Emily Davis for Taste of Home Total Time 50 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I came up with this chicken avocado wrap while trying to figure out what to make for lunch one day. The recipe is now a favorite at my house. —Shiva Houshidari, Plano, Texas Nutrition Facts: 1 wrap: 329 calories, 14g fat (2g saturated fat), 45mg cholesterol, 416mg sodium, 31g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 5g fiber), 19g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 lean meat, 2 fat,

1-1/2 starch, 1 vegetable

1-1/2 starch, 1 vegetable. 2/57 Turkey and Pasta Ranch Salad Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 25 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This easy pasta salad is loaded with fresh veggies, and the classic ranch dressing makes it appealing to kids. —Julie Peterson, Crofton, Maryland Nutrition Facts: 1-2/3 cups: 256 calories, 11g fat (2g saturated fat), 50mg cholesterol, 383mg sodium, 20g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 4g fiber), 19g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 1-1/2 fat, 1 starch, 1 vegetable. 3/57 Weeknight Turkey Tortilla Soup 8 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved JIM WIELAND FOR TASTE OF HOME

Total Time 1 hour 30 min Servings 8 servings (3 quarts) Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This is now my family’s most requested soup—so much so that they will make sure I have leftover turkey. You can spice up this soup and make it more hearty by adding smoked sausage or andouille and some Cajun seasoning to taste. —Gail Lucas, Olive Branch, Mississippi Nutrition Facts: 1-1/2 cups: 144 calories, 3g fat (1g saturated fat), 35mg cholesterol, 846mg sodium, 16g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 2g fiber), 14g protein. 4/57 Blueberry Cantaloupe Salad 2 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Blueberry Cantaloupe Salad

Diabetic Exchanges: 1 fruit

Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 10 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: The simple citrus and poppy seed dressing in this fruit medley really dresses up the refreshing mix of berries and melon. —R. Jean Rand, Edina, Minnesota Nutrition Facts: 3/4 cup with 3 tablespoons dressing: 76 calories, 1g fat (0 saturated fat), 1mg cholesterol, 24mg sodium, 17g carbohydrate (15g sugars, 1g fiber), 2g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 fruit. 5/57 Carrot Cookies 14 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Carrot Cookies Recipe photo by Christine Ma for Taste of Home Total Time 20 min

The shredded carrots add nice bright flecks of orange color

Servings 4-1/2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: These cookies are both flavorful and colorful. The shredded carrots add nice bright flecks of orange color. Nutrition Facts: 2 each: 128 calories, 8g fat (2g saturated fat), 16mg cholesterol, 80mg sodium, 13g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein. 6/57 Lunch Box Chicken Wrap Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 10 min Servings 1 serving Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This lunchbox-friendly wrap is a tasty way to use leftover chicken and get kids to eat more veggies. Using colorful, thin strips of vegetables adds visual interest when

the wrap is cut into slices

the wrap is cut into slices. Suddenly spinach is too pretty to refuse. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen Nutrition Facts: 1 wrap: 324 calories, 10g fat (1g saturated fat), 36mg cholesterol, 441mg sodium, 35g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 7g fiber), 23g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 2 starch, 1 vegetable, 1 fat. 7/57 Honey Poppy Seed Fruit Salad 4 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved JIM WIELAND FOR TASTE OF HOME Total Time 10 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This colorful fruit salad with poppy seed dressing pairs well with any morning entree and takes just

10 minutes to prepare

10 minutes to prepare. The subtle honey sauce in this salad steals the show. —Dorothy Dinnean, Harrison, Arkansas Nutrition Facts: 3/4 cup: 117 calories, 1g fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 2mg sodium, 30g carbohydrate (23g sugars, 5g fiber), 1g protein. 8/57 Tomato Soup 23 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved The Best Ever Tomato Soup Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 50 min Servings 16 servings (4 quarts) Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Creamy, rich and bursting with brightness, this soup is the ultimate sidekick to a grilled cheese sandwich. — Josh Rink, Milwaukee, Wisconsin Nutrition Facts:

Diabetic Exchanges: 1 starch, 1 fat

1 cup: 104 calories, 5g fat (2g saturated fat), 6mg cholesterol, 572mg sodium, 15g carbohydrate (10g sugars, 2g fiber), 3g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 starch, 1 fat. 9/57 Raspberry Pecan Chicken Salad 2 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 15 min Servings 6 sandwiches Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I gave this sweet-savory chicken salad a little zip with Chinese five-spice powder, which tastes a bit like pumpkin pie spice. Sprinkle some on roasted carrots for an awesome meal. —Lisa Renshaw, Kansas City, Missouri Nutrition Facts: 1 sandwich: 463 calories, 24g fat (4g saturated fat), 65mg cholesterol, 371mg

sodium, 31g carbohydrate (10g sugars, 6g fiber), 29g protein

sodium, 31g carbohydrate (10g sugars, 6g fiber), 29g protein. 10/57 Sweet Potato & Bean Quesadillas 12 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Sweet Potato & Bean Quesadillas Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Sweet potatoes and black beans roll up together for a quesadilla that’s easy, fast, fun and delicious. —Brittany Hubbard, St. Paul, Minnesota Nutrition Facts: 1 quesadilla with 3 tablespoons salsa: 306 calories, 8g fat (3g saturated fat), 15mg cholesterol, 531mg sodium, 46g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 6g fiber), 11g protein. 11/57 Really Good Snack Mix 1

Now there’s never any left!

Review Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 55 min Servings about 7 cups Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I grew tired of my family picking through a snack mix for their favorite ingredients and leaving the rest. So I experimented using only their most-loved mix-ins and came up with this recipe. Now there’s never any left! —Lori Genske, Waldo, Wisconsin Nutrition Facts: 1/2 cup: 180 calories, 11g fat (3g saturated fat), 7mg cholesterol, 269mg sodium, 18g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 2g fiber), 4g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 fat, 1 starch. 12/57 Peanut Butter, Honey & Pear Open-Faced

Sandwiches 3 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Peanut Butter, Honey & Pear Open-Faced Sandwiches Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 10 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I work a 12-hour night shift at a hospital, and when I come home in the morning, I don’t want to cook a big breakfast. I love these sandwiches because they’re versatile; sometimes I use apples instead of pears and different cheeses, such as Brie or grated Parmesan. —L.J.Washington, Carpinteria, California Nutrition Facts: 1 open-faced sandwich: 268 calories, 14g fat (4g saturated fat), 14mg cholesterol, 446mg sodium,

28g carbohydrate (13g sugars, 4g fiber), 11g protein

28g carbohydrate (13g sugars, 4g fiber), 11g protein. 13/57 Grapes with Lemon-Honey Yogurt 3 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 10 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: We like to sweeten up Greek yogurt with honey, cinnamon and vanilla. The tasty dressing is a delightful counterpoint to plump grapes and crunchy nuts. —Julie Sterchi, Campbellsville, Kentucky Nutrition Facts: 3/4 cup grapes with 2 tablespoons yogurt mixture and about 1 teaspoon almonds: 138 calories, 2g fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 20mg sodium, 28g carbohydrate (26g sugars, 2g fiber), 6g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1-1/2 fruit, 1/2

Diabetic exchanges: 2 lean meat,

starch. 14/57 Cold-Day Chicken Noodle Soup 17 Reviews Cold-Day Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 40 min Servings 8 servings (3 quarts) Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: When I was sick, my mom would make me this heartwarming chicken noodle soup. It was soothing when I had a cold, but this soup is a bowlful of comfort on any chilly day. —Anthony Graham, Ottawa, lllinois Nutrition Facts: 1-1/2 cups: 195 calories, 6g fat (1g saturated fat), 47mg cholesterol, 639mg sodium, 16g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 3g fiber), 21g protein. Diabetic exchanges: 2 lean meat,

1 starch, 1/2 fat

1 starch, 1/2 fat. 15/57 Slow-Cooker Applesauce 4 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Slow-Cooked Applesauce Recipe photo by Orly Catz for Taste of Home Total Time 6 hours 20 min Servings 12 cups Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My sweet and chunky applesauce is a perfect snack or side dish with your favorite entree. Because it’s prepared in the slow cooker, you can fix it and forget it before you and the family head out for some fun. —Susanne Wasson, Montgomery, New York Nutrition Facts: 1/2 cup: 105 calories, 2g fat (1g saturated fat), 5mg cholesterol, 112mg sodium, 23g

carbohydrate (20g sugars, 2g fiber), 0 protein

carbohydrate (20g sugars, 2g fiber), 0 protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 fruit, 1/2 starch, 1/2 fat. 16/57 Turkey Avocado Sandwich 7 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Turkey Avocado Sandwich With Gouda Spread Recipe Recipe photo by Sheri Silver for Taste of Home Total Time 15 min Servings 2 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: With this recipe, two can enjoy the taste of something new and elegant in minutes. All you need to add is the ambiance for a bistro meal at home. —Karen Harris, Littleton, Colorado Nutrition Facts: 1 sandwich: 464 calories, 27g fat (10g saturated fat), 63mg cholesterol,

💡 Frequently Asked Questions

⭐ Expert Tips

  • Include seasonal or trendy variations to keep your meals exciting.

  • Highlight prep shortcuts or time-saving techniques for busy cooks.

  • Consider dietary restrictions and include substitution suggestions.

✅ Key Takeaways

  • These dinner ideas are perfect for impressing guests or enjoying special occasions.

  • Choose recipes that match your skill level and available kitchen tools.

  • Presentation and taste both contribute to a memorable dining experience.

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