10 healthy, delicious school packed lunch ideas

A lunchbox they will actually look forward to

A packed lunch does not need a different theme every day. Start with a main your child likes, then add a vegetable, fruit and a suitable dairy food or alternative. A familiar lunch with one small change often works better than a box full of surprises. These ideas are for school-age children: adapt amounts and textures to their age, appetite and needs.

Ask your child to choose two options for the week. Use the same ingredients in different ways: a roast chicken can become a wrap one day and a pasta pot the next, provided it is stored safely. Follow the school's rules on allergens and foods brought from home. None of these combinations is automatically suitable for every allergy.

1. Chicken and cucumber wrap

Spread a wholemeal wrap with plain yoghurt, add fully cooked shredded chicken and thin cucumber strips, then roll tightly. Pack satsuma segments separately so their juice does not soak the wrap. Pat the cucumber dry first; it makes a noticeable difference by lunchtime.

2. Cheese and grated carrot sandwich

Mix a little grated cheese with finely grated carrot and sandwich between bread slices. Add soft pear slices and a plain yoghurt. Grating the filling helps it stay in the sandwich, and a stronger cheese gives plenty of flavour without needing a thick layer.

3. Pea and tuna pasta pot

Combine cooled cooked pasta, cooked peas and drained tinned tuna with a little plain yoghurt. Add a separate fruit portion. Use small pasta shapes that are easy to scoop, and pack a fork. Keep the pot refrigerated before taking it out for school.

4. Hummus and pitta dip box

Pack pitta strips, hummus, thin cucumber batons and fruit in separate compartments. Add a suitable yoghurt or dairy alternative if wanted. Check the hummus label: it commonly contains sesame. A mashed white-bean dip without tahini is another option, subject to your child's needs and school rules.

5. Egg and cress roll

Mash a fully cooked egg with a little yoghurt and chopped cress, then tuck it into a small roll. Keep tomato pieces in a separate pot. Make the filling the night before and chill it; fill the roll in the morning if your child prefers softer bread without soggy edges.

6. Mild bean quesadilla wedges

Mash drained tinned beans, spread over half a tortilla and add grated cheese. Fold, heat in a dry pan until hot throughout, then cool promptly and refrigerate. Pack wedges with cucumber and fruit. Leave chilli out and let the beans and cheese provide the flavour.

7. Potato and salmon salad

Mix cooled cooked potato pieces with boneless flaked cooked salmon and cooked green beans. Dress lightly with lemon and olive oil. Check carefully for bones. This is a useful change for children who enjoy savoury food but are tired of sandwiches.

8. Sweetcorn and pepper couscous

Prepare couscous following the packet, fluff it, then combine with cooked sweetcorn, finely diced pepper and mashed chickpeas. Cool and chill promptly. Add a yoghurt and fruit alongside. For a wheat-free variation, use a suitable cooked grain and check every ingredient label.

9. Spinach and cheese frittata fingers

Cook beaten eggs with chopped cooked spinach and a little grated cheese until fully set. Cool, refrigerate and cut into fingers. Pack with bread and fruit. Make a small batch for the next day's lunch rather than keeping an entire school week's cooked eggs in the fridge.

10. Build-your-own chicken pitta

Keep cooked chicken, shredded lettuce and a small dressing pot separate from the pitta. Children can fill it themselves if they have enough lunchtime and can manage the containers. Include a fruit they can open or eat easily; an appealing lunch also needs to be practical.

Pack it safely and keep it simple

Keep perishable lunches cold until they are eaten. Use an insulated bag with cold packs, or a fridge where available, and pack chilled food just before leaving. Cool cooked ingredients before packing. Follow use-by dates and our storage guide.

For younger children, cut grapes and cherry tomatoes lengthways into quarters and adapt firm foods to their chewing ability. The photograph is lunchbox inspiration; prepare fruit and vegetables to suit your child rather than copying whole small tomatoes. Let school staff know about any allergies and avoid sharing food where this creates a risk.

Need your own lunch sorted too? Try our 10 packed lunches for work.