6 Healthy Spring Lunch Recipes for Kids at School and Home
Last month, we shared some tips for teaching your kids about healthy eating. A balanced diet is important for a growing child, so we’d like to encourage Westminster Academy parents to send their students to school with nutritional lunches. Seasonal fruits and veggies make a wonderful addition to any meal. Here are some easy, fun, and tasty spring lunch recipes for kids at school and at home. (Gluten-free and dairy-free options are included!)
Butterfly sandwiches
If you’re introducing your child to fruits and veggies they’ve never tried before, adding a fun twist can make them more likely to give the food a fair taste. Plus, a lunchbox filled with spring shapes is sure to bring a smile to their face.
Gathered Living shared a quick and easy recipe for butterfly-shaped sandwiches. You’ll need a butterfly cookie cutter to cut the bread (you can opt for gluten-free or any other kind), or you can do it by hand. Make the sandwich with your child’s favorite fillings, such as lunch meats or PB&J. Then, cut some celery slices to be the “antenna,” place a thin baby carrot in the center of the bread to be the “body,” and there you go!
Green grape caterpillars
Another spring-themed snack shared by Gathered Living: green grape caterpillars. The only tool needed is a large toothpick or skewer. Push some green grapes onto the center of the toothpick to act as the caterpillar’s body, and then add a single cherry tomato as the caterpillar’s head. You can add some edible eye sprinkles to make the recipe extra cute.
The caterpillar design can also be achieved using celery sticks filled with blueberries, strawberries, mini peppers, or even cucumbers.
Fruit pizza crackers
This pizza recipe from Homemade Ginger does not include tomato sauce or mozzarella cheese. Instead, it calls for crackers (multi-grain or sourdough recommended; can be gluten-free), cream cheese, honey, and of course, fruit. The recipe uses strawberries, blueberries, kiwi, and raspberries, but you can add or eliminate ingredients as you see fit.
First, mix a small amount of honey and cream cheese. Spread the mixture onto the crackers. Then, add some small slices of fruit all over the crackers to complete the “pizza.” The slight sweetness will make for a perfect lunchtime treat.
Spinach quesadillas
Here’s another veggie twist on a classic meal. Yummy Toddler Food shared a spinach quesadilla recipe for dinner, but this could also easily be made for lunch at home. You’ll need some small tortillas (corn, flour, or gluten-free alternatives), as well as baby spinach, shredded cheddar cheese, cream cheese, cumin, and chili powder. Salt is optional.
First, you’ll have to briefly heat the baby spinach in the microwave. Then, combine the spinach, cheeses, and seasonings in a food processor and blend until smooth. Spread the mixture onto the tortillas and warm them on the stove over medium heat for a few minutes. Cut into wedges and serve! Leftover quesadillas can easily be popped into the microwave.
Caprese zoodle salad
This might sound a little fancy for a child’s school lunchbox, but Healthy Family Project’s caprese zoodle salad is quick and simple. Zoodles are vegetable noodles (uncooked) made from zucchini spirals, so they are a healthier and gluten-free alternative to pasta. You can purchase zucchini noodles or make your own using a spiralizer or vegetable peeler.
The salad calls for zoodles, mozzarella balls or shredded mozzarella, basil, and tomatoes. You can make dressing with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and honey, or use a similar pre-made dressing of your choice.
Chicken and hummus box
Finally, you can fill your child’s lunchbox with this chicken and hummus meal from Momables. The “bistro box” recipe includes pita bread (or gluten-free wraps), strips or chunks of chicken breast (turkey also works), cucumber spears, cherry tomatoes, and Greek hummus.
You can make homemade hummus or purchase your favorite brand. Hummus is generally gluten-free and dairy-free, so it’s a great snack for almost anyone. Simply arrange all of the ingredients in a lunchbox and serve.
Happy healthy eating! We hope to see some of our students enjoying these recipes during lunch at Westminster Academy.
