26 Toddler Lunch Ideas for When You’re on the Go

Life doesn't slow down just because kids need to eat.

By Shelley Massey June 15, 2024

a little girl at a picnic table eating a recipe from our toddler lunch ideas

iStock

If you’re trying to meal-plan for your toddler whose social life (or siblings’ sports schedules) translates to lunch in the fast lane, you have a few things going for you. Toddlers don’t eat that much—even on a good day—so you have room to pack a couple of choices. Plus, they tend to be distracted (translation: less picky). The next time you need to pack a quick bite, try one of our favorite healthy (and just plain enticing) toddler lunch ideas.

Savory Toddler Lunch Ideas

Quesadilla: Portable, handheld, and generally liked by all, the quesadilla is the king of the toddler lunch on the road.
Toddler Portion of Leftovers (plus wipes): Forget about being clean. Just get them fed.
Hard Boiled Egg & Sesame Bagel: For the pickier eaters or ones with sesame allergies, try plain instead.
Whole Avocados: Just remember to bring a bread knife to cut it in half, then hand the unseeded side to your toddler with a kiddie spoon.
Corn Dog Mini Muffins: These are bound to become an instant favorite. Pack ketchup too!
Kid-cuterie: Unpack a Ziploc bag with a protein, a dairy, fruit, and vegetable onto a paper plate and you’ve got yourself a kid-cuterie. Throw in a small container of hummus or ranch to kick it up a notch, or pack all the components in a bento to make it a “snackle box.”
Roly-Poly: Cream cheese and turkey rolled into a tortilla.
Deconstructed Sandwiches on a Stick: For your older toddlers, skewer rolls of deli meat, mini tomatoes, chunks of bagels or whole-grain bread, and cheese cubes.
Breakfast for lunch: Pack a thermos full of milk and a bag of your kiddo’s fave cereal. At lunchtime let them pour in the cereal all by themselves and offer some fruit on the side.

Sweet Options

Peanut Butter & Anything: For toddlers who’ve cleared the peanut allergy test, this gold-standard of child-rearing nutrition won’t fall apart and packs a protein-filled punch. Instead of jelly, try adding mini marshmallows or sliced bananas to keep it fresh. You can also shmear it on a rice cake to mix things up. Or, simply allow a frozen Uncrustable that will thaw in your bag to do the work for you.
Yogurt Parfait: Freeze a yogurt so it thaws by lunchtime and sprinkle on some granola and diced fruit.
Apple Sticks Wrapped in Deli Turkey
Roly-Poly: But this time with Nutella and strawberries, or peanut butter and banana (Hot tip: Don’t slice the banana! Spread peanut butter on the tortilla and wrap that thing up whole for a sushi vibe).
Yogurt Dip & Graham Crackers with chopped fruit: Freeze this healthy treat and pull it out before you leave. Serve with strawberries, apples, or even bananas.
No-Bake Energy Bites: Made with peanut butter, chocolate, old-fashioned oats, and chia seeds, your toddler will get tons of nutrition in one tasty nibble.

Ideas That Sneak in Healthy Foods

Cucumber & Cream Cheese Crustless Sandwiches: Your mother had them at her baby shower and you can bet your toddler will love the cream cheese paired with the salty crunch of the cuke.
Garbanzo Beans & Halved Cherry Tomatoes: Squeeze some lemon and sprinkle some salt on this easy finger food.
Thawed Frozen Veggies & a Cheese Stick
Frozen Pre-Made Smoothies: Freeze these in advance and they’ll thaw out just in time for lunch on the go.
Shelled Edamame & Pasta: Add a splash of soy and sesame oil for the adventurous eaters.
Hummus & Pretzel Chips: Throw in a few slices of bell pepper for a vitamin C boost.
Butter Noodles with Parmesan & Peas: You could also use corn niblets or diced carrot—whichever veggie your tot is willing to eat.

Last-Ditch Toddler Lunch Ideas

Grilled Cheese Sandwiches: Prep these crowd-pleasers the night before and keep them in the fridge for portable possibilities.
Frozen Yogurt Tube
Dry Cereal & Banana: Because sometimes, it’s the answer.
Clif or Any Kind of Protein Bar