15 Healthy School Lunch Ideas for Teens – Ready to Eat!

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Lunch Box Ideas for Teens

Given the current state, heating up lunches at my kids’ schools is not an option. My kids are not only designated to certain floors, bathrooms and stairwells this year, they no longer have access to a microwave. Unfortunately for me, I’ve always relied on frozen meals (A LOT more than I’d like to admit) and other lunch options that require reheating. And for some weird reason, my kids refuse to use a thermos these days- I guess it’s no longer “cool.”

S**t just got real!  

So… I find myself scrambling to ensure we have lots of ideas for cold lunches and trying to decide what to make for lunches that they’ll like, that are healthy, I can eat myself, don’t require reheating and won’t take a ton of time ! If you find yourself in the same boat, you’ll love these ready to eat school lunch ideas.

School Lunch Ideas

When I look back at what I ate for lunch as a teenager, that’s when I get concerned. Let’s just say I ate more fries and gravy at the cafeteria than any person should have. However, the school cafeterias and canteens probably won’t be open this year, so at least I get a bit of a reprieve on that. And fortunately, all the years we nagged our kids (aka tried to instill healthy eating habits in them) seem to be paying off. My teenagers are both pretty health conscious now and like the idea of eating healthier versions of the junkier foods they love! So without further adieu…

15 Healthy School Lunch Ideas

Healthy Pizza Dippers

Teenagers LOVE their pizza and these Healthy Pizza Dippers are not only a teenager’s dream lunch, they are a parent’s. They are quick and easy to make with 2 ingredient dough (Greek yogurt and flour) and can be made ahead, frozen, heated or eaten cold, making them the perfect lunch box meal because they are ready to eat. Younger kids can help make them and older teens can make them on their own with the easy step by step directions included in the recipe!

Check out this recipe

Copycat Chick-fil-A Chicken Salad Sandwich

This tasty, Copycat Chick-fil-A Chicken Salad sandwich is made in 15 minutes with frozen breaded chicken, pickle relish, celery, eggs, and mayo. What’s not to love about this iconic salad? Teens can easily make this on their own!

Check out this recipe

Muffin Tin Sushi Cups

These Muffin Tin Sushi Cups are super easy to make, so adorable and full of healthy goodness! Naturally vegan and gluten-free.

Check out this recipe

Taco Salad Meal Prep (Taco Bowls)

These Taco Salad Meal Prep Taco Bowls are made with healthy ground turkey and filled with black beans, sweet corn, shredded cheese, crisp lettuce, and all your favorite toppings. Enjoy these delicious Taco Bowls for dinner and repurpose the leftovers into perfectly portioned make-ahead meal prep lunches.

Check out this recipe

Italian Chicken Salad

This Italian Chicken Salad is fresh, easy, and bursting with flavor. It takes 10 minutes to make and your teen can make it on their own! Loaded with mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, black olives and pesto, this fun twist on a classic flavor will have you coming back for more. This salad is perfect for an easy lunch or dinner and makes delicious sandwiches, too!

Check out this recipe

Lunchbox Fried Rice Salad

Who doesn’t love fried rice?! I know my teenagers are fried rice crazy – my 15 year old always wants to make it. And it doesn’t get better than healthy fried rice salad! This lunchbox fried rice salad takes the boring out of your lunchbox! Best served cold.

Check out this recipe

Turkey Bacon Ranch Wrap

This Turkey Bacon Ranch Wrap will take you 5 minutes to throw together. Make it with leftover turkey or deli meat. Either way, this tortilla wrap recipe makes a great lunch box meal for kids and adults alike. Teens can easily make this on their own, as this recipe uses pre-cooked bacon (heated in microwave)!

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Cuban Deviled Ham Sandwiches (Pasta de Bocaditos)

Pasta de Bocaditos {Cuban Deviled Ham Sandwiches} are little bites of deliciousness. Filled with ham, cream cheese and roasted red peppers. You won’t be able to stop at one!

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Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

This Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad is a simple dish that’s ready in less than 30 minutes. Romaine lettuce, fresh pasta, chicken, and Parmesan cheese are tossed in a creamy caesar dressing that’s full of flavor. Light, yet filling, this easy dish makes a delicious weeknight meal with leftovers for lunch the next day. I know my teens would go crazy for this as leftovers for lunch!

Check out this recipe

Freezable Homemade Uncrustables

My kids may be teenagers, but I'm pretty sure they'd take the crustless sandwich over the one with crust. That's why these Homemade uncrustables are perfect for a teen's lunch box. They are a quick, freezable, kid-friendly option for easy school lunches! You control the ingredients, and they are healthier and generally come out cheaper than their store-bought counterparts.

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Lunchables

No matter how old kids are, they still love lunchables! Homemade lunchables are a popular trend all kids love! These are made with store-bought phyllo cups and can be filled with any savory or sweet filling including leftovers making them fun and delicious!

Check out this recipe

Light Reuben Wrap

Who doesn’t love a good Reuben sandwich, especially when it’s healthy! I know my teens do. A simple and easy light Reuben wrap sandwich recipe made with sliced deli roast beef, baby Swiss cheese, red cabbage, homemade thousand island dressing rolled up in a high fiber wrap. This protein-packed recipe is perfect for lunch meal prep!

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Ukrainian Bento Box

This bento box idea is a quick and easy cold meal of Ukrainian sausage (kubasa/kielbasa), cubed cheddar cheese, sliced dill pickles, rye bread, crackers, mustard and baby carrots. It's just like the late night snack you'd have at a prairie "social"!

Check out this recipe

Chinese Mandarin Pasta Salad Bento Box

Chinese chicken salad goes plant-based with this delicious vegan recipe. This pasta salad is packed with mini sweet peppers, mandarins, green onions, spinach and carrots, then tossed with a sesame ginger dressing and topped with Chow Mein noodles for added crunch!

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Ranch Cream Cheese Ham Roll Ups

Ham Roll Ups will be your favorite back to school lunch solution! Super quick and easy to make, these tasty ranch ham and cream cheese roll ups are totally teen-approved.

Check out this recipe

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Not only will teens love these healthy school lunch ideas, so will parents!

More Lunchbox ideas (for dessert)!

Healthy Applesauce & Spinach Brownies

Healthy Banana, Chocolate Chip and Pineapple Muffins

Vegan Fruit & Oat Bars (dairy, nut, gluten, egg and sugar-free)

No Bake Healthy Chocolate Rocky Road Bars  (my daughter’s friends were begging her to share this one!)

Healthy Blueberry Cornbread