Kids Lunch Box Ideas
Updated: August 6, 2022, By Swasthi
Kids lunch box ideas, Indian vegetarian recipes for kids. Finding ideas for kids lunch box or snack is one of the challenging tasks for many mums, especially if the kids are fussy or demanding. As mums we are more interested to load their boxes with nutrition and want to make it interesting for the kids. I have a complete collection of recipes for kids that are good for lunch box, snack and even dinner too. These recipes have been tried for my kids and the ones liked by them are here on this page.
I do not pack anything that has been prepared with egg or meat, since the food is stored for several hours before consumption. Egg and meat are supposed to be eaten within 2 hours of preparing. I have put together some of my recipes that are good for lunch boxes, all these are mostly Indian that can be made in less than an hour.
I personally do not prefer pasta and noodles in kids’ school box. Since I had a many readers requests for the same, I have included some simple pasta and noodles recipes that are healthy as well quick to make in the morning rush hours.
Kids are different some like to eat only rice based dishes as they are lazy to chew roti /chapathi or bread and they feel rice can be finished faster. While some like to eat only finger foods like roti or roti rolls or sandwiches. After a short survey talking to other mums, I have understood that most kids love to munch on some finger foods like roti rolls, sandwich or burgers, so that they could rush to play in the leisure .
Here is the collection of 80+ delicious healthy snacks recipes for kids snack box or after school.
You can also check this complete collection of recipes for kids.
Kids Lunch Box Ideas – pasta, paratha, bread sandwich recipes
These are not stuffed parathas and are easy to make. Some of them do not need much kneading and soaking time too, yet they turn out to be mouth melting. These parathas do not need any side dish, but if you wish to include more veggies, you can use these to roll up some steamed or sauteed veggies. A chutney or salad too makes a good side for these. I have also included some bread sandwich recipes which are liked by kids.
Spaghetti Aglio e Olio
Red Sauce Pasta (Red Pasta Recipe)
Kathi Roll Recipe
Veg Wraps Recipe | How to make Vegetable Wraps | Roti wraps
Paratha Recipe
Veg Noodles Recipe (Vegetable Noodles)
Palak Paratha (Spinach Paratha)
Masala Pasta Recipe (Indian Style Pasta)
Methi Paratha Recipe (Methi Roti)
Lauki Paratha (Bottle Gourd Paratha)
Paneer Paratha Recipe (Plain Layered & Stuffed)
Veg Burger Recipe (Veggie Burger)
Chocolate Sandwich
Potato Sandwich Recipe (Aloo Sandwich)
Paneer Sandwich Recipe (3 Variations)
Pav Bhaji Recipe (Mumbai Street Style)
Lunch Box ideas for kids – rice recipes
You can pack these either with a salad or some healthy baked chips or a stir fried vegetable to make it interesting. You can also check these 75 rice recipes for better choice. Below is the list of recipes that have been liked by my friend’s kids, readers’ kids’ and my kids for lunch box.
All the fried rice recipes can be made without using soya sauce. Just skip them in the recipe. Use a good quality vinegar. Limit the use of soya sauce for kids. It is a hormone disruptor and is not good to use often. If using, use naturally brewed or organic soya sauce. Kikkoman is one of the popular brands of naturally brewed soya sauce available in India as well. Avoid the use of sauces with added msg, colors or preservatives in E series.
Peanut Rice Recipe
Peas Pulao | Matar Pulao Recipe
Corn Fried Rice Recipe
Potato Rice (Aloo Rice)
Palak Rice Recipe (Spinach Rice)
Curry Leaves Powder (Karivepaku Podi)
Pulao Recipe | Vegetable Pulao
Carrot Rice Recipe (Indian Style)
Methi Rice (Methi Leaves Rice)
Beetroot Rice Pulao
Jeera Rice Recipe (Cumin Rice)
Mushroom Fried Rice
Cabbage Rice (Cabbage Fried Rice)
Paneer Pulao (Paneer Rice)
Biryani Rice Recipe (Kuska Rice)
Veg Biryani | Vegetable Biryani
Capsicum Rice Recipe
Tomato Bath Recipe
Pudina Rice (Mint Rice)
Lemon Rice Recipe
Coconut Rice Recipe
Tawa Pulao Recipe
Coconut Milk Rice Recipe
Ghee Rice Recipe
Kashmiri Pulao Recipe
Coconut Milk Pulao
Methi Pulao Recipe
Paneer fried rice
Pineapple Rice
Veg Fried Rice Recipe (Vegetable Fried Rice)
Soya Chunks Biryani | Meal Maker Biryani
Vangi Bath Recipe with Homemade Powder
About Swasthi
I’m Swasthi Shreekanth, the recipe developer, food photographer & food writer behind Swasthi’s Recipes. My aim is to help you cook great Indian food with my time-tested recipes. After 2 decades of experience in practical Indian cooking I started this blog to help people cook better & more often at home. Whether you are a novice or an experienced cook I am sure Swasthi’s Recipes will assist you to enhance your cooking skills. More about me
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Comments
Please create a cookbook! I would easily pay to download a PDF recipe book by you for your Indian restaurant version recipes and quick Indian meals for families or lunches for kids.
As I’ve been cooking your recipes for years now, I would love to contribute this way and am.sure many others would as well.
Many thanks!!
Thank you so much Celine.
Excellent tips & recipes for lunch boxes. I am always tensed what to prepare for my 5 year old for his lunch box considering he is a very fussy eater. Your useful suggestions are very helpful.
Dear Swasthi, whenever I cook you recipes it never goes wrong and get praises. All thanks to you.
Hi Sangita,
Glad your food turns out good. Thank you so much!
I have try the corn pula it’s
Taste very nice than you
Thank you
Hello
I need lunch box recipes that can be eaten cold/normal temperature.
Please reply.
very nice recipes!
Hello i m hetal soni from gujarat, anand. i want lunch box receipe for my kids in school. My kids are like some items. they dont each & every items made at home. so, please share receipe with me.
Hi Hetal
All the recipes mentioned above are for lunch box which i make for my kids.
Nice kid friendly recipes swasthi. Cd u suggest some chutneys or dips that can be sent along with parathas in kids lunch boxes as they usually don’t have thapatience to eat the parathas with subzi
Thanks Shalini
I usually pack some healthy and delicious chutneys made using veggies like beetroot chutney, capsicum chutney, methi leaves chutney, bottle gourd chutney etc. You can find all chutney recipes here . I serve the same chutney for their breakfast too like idli, dosa and pesarattu
Super. ..very helpfull n healthy
thanks
Thanks.i want to do receipes for my child .she is not eating lunch box daily.
Welcome Sandhya
Try them she may like
do you have wraps for children which r healthy.
Yes I will be sharing soon
Good collection. Good Information. Great work. Keep it up.
Was very useful. My wife and kids liked these recipes.
Thank You
Happy to know you all liked the recipes.
Very useful recipe …. Very easy to prepare. yammy
Thank you
Very useful recipe …. Very easy to prepare.
Hi Poornima
Happy to know the recipes are useful
Really helpful….while I was reading itself ,got interest to prepare the food immediately,,,healthy and tasty
Thanks Maha
Happy to know they are helpful and you liked them.
what an amazing range of recipes to select from. Its just wow.
Is there an egg and paneer combination in curry or fried rice (as i love both).
In south India, I see them boil the paneer, but I love panner kacha, as we get it North Indian restaurants /homes.
Thanks Jayaraj,
I haven’t shared any recipe yet with paneer & egg combo. But i make this egg butter masala, towards the end i just add cubes of paneer. You can also add crumbled paneer towards the end in this egg bhurji sandwich or egg bhurji. Yes in the south, paneer is cooked for 2 mins to get the flavors of curry. Thanks a lot for the feedback
I very happy about your receipes……..i try your south indian foods, after taste my foods, my son, my brother, husband, every one happy……. i thank you for your different making knowledge………..
Hi Suganthi,
i am happy to know every one at home likes your food. Welcome and Thanks for the feedback.
Very nice recipes?????
Thank you Jhoncy
🙂
Hii…
Swathi
Tried uar Uddin Vada recipe …shape didnt cum out well bt d taste was good..all my family members luvd it..thanks a ton…
Welcome Shaila,
2 important things to get a proper shape:
one- correct consistency of the batter. Even If the batter is slightly thin, then they go out of shape or turn out odd shaped.
two- proper shape comes out of practice
May be after few trials, you will get them right.
Thanks for the feedback. Glad everyone at home liked it.
🙂
Thanks for so many good recipes my kid lovesmost of these .
welcome Lahari
Glad to know your kid loves them. Thanks for the feedback
you. RECIPES IS SO GOOD
Thanks Krishna Veni