24 deliciously healthy snack lunchbox ideas
Snack or lunchbox fillers for most kids are what makes the lunch exciting! Here are 24 healthy snack ideas for your child’s lunchbox.
1. Raw veggie sticks and dip sounds boring but it’s my every day go-to to help increase my child’s intake of vegetables. And the best bit is you don’t have to spend time baking them!
2. Before I consider a treat, I choose a small piece of fruit limiting it to two serves. When choosing fruit, pick 2-3 different seasonal fruits you can rotate throughout the week.
3. Hard-boiled eggs are another affordable and cost-effective snack, plus they are one of the most nutrient-dense lunchbox additions. My tip for the perfect hard-boiled egg is to place in cold water about 1 inch above the eggs. Bring to the boil with the lid off. Once boiling, put on the lid and turn off the heat. Set the timer to 6.5 minutes and you’ll have your perfect hard-boiled egg.
4. If you have a little space to fill, like on the Yumbox, Olives are a great option. They’re often an acquired taste, so if your child has rejected them in the past, try a different variety. My son hates black olives but loves the Silician variety.
5. An easy snack idea that can be made the night before and kept in the freezer is energy balls. Just watch that the recipe doesn’t contain nuts and consider the overall sugar content. Make them yourself and you can control the size and if you’re short of time, make it as a slice and then cut it up in squares. Try my Nut-Free Cacao Balls here.
6. Roasted chickpeas, like these from Healthy Little Foodies, are a great crunchy addition to your child’s lunchbox adding some more protein to keep them feeling fuller for longer.
7. It’s also hard to go past home popped popcorn! Again, so cost-effective and can be made within minutes. We pop ours in a brown paper bag in the microwave and drizzle some cold-pressed olive oil with a dash of salt.
8. This Choc Muesli Slice is a regular in my household. Super easy to make, you can use what you have in your pantry and it can stay in the freezer, portioned up ready to go. Give in a try in your lunchbox prep.
9. Who doesn’t like carrot cake? These Carrot Cake Bliss Balls are a great opportunity to add another vegetable to your child’s lunchbox.
10. You can’t go wrong with a tasty guacamole like this one from Fork and Beans. Perfect paired with veggie sticks or a nourishing seed cracker.
11. We’ve loved these Baked Cauliflower Tots. They don’t require a long list of ingredients, are relatively plain tasting (perfect for fussy ones) and don’t require a lot of labour.
12. Did someone say hidden veg? I don’t think the kids will suspect anything with these rich Choc Veg Muffins.
13. Pikelets are a great option that can be made sweet or savoury. They’re also a good freezer option so you can make them in advance. Try these Raspberry Porridge Pikelets by Kid Ingredients.
14. If you’re pressed for time and need an energy-boosting snack, why not make a nourishing smoothie? Think yoghurt, berries, spinach, zucchini, banana and cocao, seeds. Yum!
15. Is your child not a chocolate fan? Try this delicious Raspberry and Coconut Slice.
16. Salty Kale Chips are a fun snack for the kids to make and will last a few days. If your child isn’t convinced, have them experiment with some flavours (with your guidance of course!)
17. Don’t forget the humble Greek yoghurt as a good protein snack option. Put it in a leak proof container topped with seeds and berries or into a squeezable pouch ready for on the go.
18. I’ve been eying off these Carrot and Apple Breakfast Cookies. They look pretty yummy and a good whole food option.
19. These Cheesy Broccoli Bites are another good savoury option. I personally would swap the breadcrumb for oats to make it a little more nutritious.
20. This Carrot and Zucchini Loaf is an easy, yet nourishing, snack that can be portioned into small slices for your little one. Try it here.
21. If you have left over roast veg, don’t hesitate to pop it into a lunchbox. We love using cold roast sweet potato chips.
22. Egg cups are a regular sight in our household. They’re convenient and can be eaten at any time of the day. Try these simple Egg and Bacon Muffins.
23. Get your gut-loving on and make some fermented carrots. This recipe is delicious and gives the raw carrot a run for it’s money!
24. Finally, a good muffin is what you need in any lunchbox maker’s toolbox. We love this one by Healthy Little Foodies.
