Toddler Lunch Ideas

Last Updated on February 17, 2026 by Jordyn Koveleski Gorman

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Maybe more than any other meal, lunch needs to be straightforward and easy to prep, serve, and clean up. Whether your toddler eats lunch at home, with a caregiver, or at a daycare/preschool, you can master lunch for your little one without going crazy!

Balancing meals that are nutritious and filling, but also aren’t time-consuming, can get so exhausting after a while. That’s why Eat Play Say is here, to help you overcome the exhaustion and feel empowered as a parent!

We called on our registered dietitian for help on this blog full of great toddler lunch ideas. You deserve straightforward, easy to replicate lunch ideas, and that’s what you’ll get here!

Making healthy toddler lunches

Healthy, nourishing meals for toddlers don’t have to be hard or complicated. The key is to offer high quality, nutrient-dense food to get the most bang for your buck with every bite.

It’s worth noting: your toddler needs to be genuinely hungry for lunch! This helps tremendously with feeding picky toddlers because they are more likely to eat what’s served if they’re hungry. Starting off the day with a great breakfast, followed by a nice break, can truly help make lunch better.

The goal is to prepare lunches rich in protein and fiber with a good mix of carbs and healthy fats. This helps little ones have stable energy until their next meal. It will also keep them full so they’re not asking for a snack 20 minutes after eating.

All of the toddler lunch ideas below are a good source of protein and fiber, balanced with carbs and healthy fats. They are simple, yet a bit more creative than a PB&J.

Easy toddler lunch

These recipes are excellent for when you need to get lunch ready fast, but you don’t want to compromise nutrition. Coming together quickly, these meals contain plenty of protein, carbs, fat, and fiber to power-up your toddler’s afternoon.

Our favorite lunches that require little to no prep:

Snack plate

There are countless combinations to a snack plate or bento box meal! One of the easiest ways to provide a variety of nutrients without too much energy spent on prepwork. 

Try a plate with hummus, cucumber and/or carrot sticks, fresh fruit, uncured salami, and cheese. Another great combo is a hardboiled egg (pre-prepared), avocado chunks, olives, crackers, and fresh fruit. We also love a snack plate with wild caught smoked salmon, cream cheese, cucumber slices, and fresh fruit.

The roll up + cucumber tomato salad

Don’t sleep on a roll up for lunch! Lay a piece of nitrate-free ham or turkey flat, spread with hummus and top with cheese, then roll it up! For a full meal, make a quick cucumber tomato salad and offer some fresh fruit.

For the cucumber and tomato salad: chop cucumbers and tomatoes into age-appropriate chunks and sprinkle with sea salt and a drizzle of olive oil.

Canned fish

Canned oysters and clams are incredibly nutrient-dense and a great food to keep in the lunch rotation. If you need a little help getting your little one to accept these, try chopping the shellfish very small and mixing with sour cream or plain yogurt.

Other canned fish work well, too, such as tuna, salmon, or sardines! They take 5 minutes to make! Pop onto a place with some cheese, sliced bell pepper, and fruit.

Looking for more recipes like these? For more breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus that take 5–15 minutes from start to finish, check out our Family Meals Recipe e-book!

Toddler lunch ideas for daycare

If you’re hoping to prep lunches in batches, especially for daycare settings, the options below are excellent. Keep in mind any food restrictions that may conflict with daycare allergen policies.

All of the recipes below can be made in advance and stored in the fridge for the week. They’re also packed with protein and high in iron and fiber, helping keep your toddler satisfied until after daycare hours.

Chicken salad

Ingredients:

• 2 cups chopped/shredded cooked chicken
• ⅓ cup grapes, quartered
• ⅓ cup finely chopped celery
• ⅓-½ cup plain Greek yogurt or mayo (adjust amount based on how creamy you like it)
• 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Optional: chopped fresh herbs, such as dill, parsley, or chives

Directions:

1. Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. If your little one is not a fan of grapes or celery, they can be left out.
2. Store in the fridge for up to a week.
3. Serve with sliced apples and whole wheat bread or crackers.

Apricot smash jam

If your little one loves bread or crackers, this one is for you, and it’s super easy to pack for lunch!

Ingredients:

• 1.5lb whole ripe apricots 
• ½ cup maple syrup or honey 
• 1 Tablespoon lemon juice

Directions:

1. Wash apricots and remove pits. 
2. Cut them into quarters and place into a sauce pan and drizzle over honey and lemon juice. 
3. Turn up to high heat for about 10 minutes, thoroughly stirring every few minutes throughout. The jam will reach a good consistency at about 215-220F. This will yield at least one full canning jar of jam. 
4. Spread on your bread of choice and add peanut butter or cream cheese for more fat and protein!

Black bean dip

This recipe pairs with vegetables or chips equally well. Black beans are packed full of fiber, plant-based protein, and even a boost of iron. This five-minute dip has way more flavor than you’d expect, too!

Ingredients:

• 1 can black beans
• 1 cup favorite salsa
• 1-2 teaspoons sea salt (optional)
• ¼ cup fresh cilantro (optional)
• Raw vegetables, tortilla chips or other chip of choice

Directions:

1. Thoroughly drain and rinse black beans. 
2. Add the beans, salsa, and sea salt into a blender or food processor and blend until your desired dip consistency is achieved. 
3. Top with fresh cilantro and serve with your favorite chips or other dippers.

Lunch ideas for picky eaters

In addition to some of the no-prep options above (the roll up especially!), we wanted to share a couple slam-dunk recipes for feeding a picky eater.

Pizza hot pocket

Ingredients:

• Small or medium tortillas of choice (we like Siete Almond or Cassava Flour)
• 1/2 cup fresh mozzarella, roughly shredded by hand
• 1/2 cup pasta or pizza sauce (we use DelGrosso Organic Tomato Basil)
• 1/2 cup cooked meat of choice (Teton Uncured Polish Sausage works great)

Directions:

1. Preheat a skillet over low–medium heat. 
2. Mix sauce and meat in a small bowl. 
3. Place tortilla onto the skillet. On one half of a tortilla, add 2–3 Tablespoons of mozzarella, then 2–3 Tablespoons of the meat-sauce mixture. Leave a small border of cheese around the edge for sealing. Cook for 2–3 minutes until lightly browned and crisp. 
4. Using a spatula, fold the empty half over the filled side, pressing the edges to seal into the melted cheese. 
5. Cook for another 2–3 minutes, gently pressing the edge to secure the seal. 
6. Repeat until all filling or tortillas are used (makes about 3–4 pockets).

Cinnamon apples with peanut butter

For the fruit lover, savory lunch options can be tough. Try this sweeter option that still includes great nutritional balance!

Ingredients:

• Apples, any variety your little one likes
• Cinnamon
• Peanut butter
• Optional: whole fat plain yogurt

Directions:

1. Dice up apples and sprinkle with cinnamon.
2. Microwave for 30 seconds until warm.
3. Drizzle with peanut butter. If looking for more calories, serve with whole fat plain yogurt for dipping.

For more expert-led guidance on navigating picky eating, download our Picky Eating freebie!

Need more toddler meal ideas?

With any luck, these recipes will help mix up your lunch routine! Just like with breakfast, you don’t have to serve a new lunch every day of the week.

Having a few meals in rotation for a few weeks to a month can be a helpful way to simplify meal prep. You can stock up on the ingredients you need for those meals and put them together easily.

When building your lunch “menu,” consider which fruits and veggies are in season. Think about whether you need meals that are more packable or if you’re eating at home most of the week. These considerations can help when brainstorming what to prep!

Our registered dietitian helped out with more ideas for breakfast, dinner, and even snacktime.

For more fast food you can prep, cook, and serve before the hanger sets in, check out our latest resource. We just launched our book of 50 toddler-approved family meals that can be made in 15 minutes or less!