Simplify your mornings with these 3 healthy and easy school lunch meal prep ideas. Prep ahead and keep your kids eating well all week!
Back-to-school season is here, and if you’re anything like me, that means dusting off the lunchboxes and getting back into the groove of weekday school lunch meal prep. Packing lunches can feel like one more thing on an already full plate, but with a little planning and a few go-to recipes, it doesn’t have to be a daily stressor.
This week, I’m sharing three easy, prep-ahead lunch ideas that are perfect for busy school days (and yes, grown-up lunches too!). These aren’t just quick to make—they’re also full of flavor and kid-approved.
You’ll find a Turkey Roll-Up that’s simple but satisfying, a protein-packed Pepperoni Frittata that works well warm or cold, and a Sweet & Crunchy Tuna Salad Wrap that adds a fun twist to the classic. Each recipe is designed to be made ahead and packed with minimal effort, giving you more time and fewer lunchtime battles.
Whether you’re prepping for school, work, or just looking to simplify your midday meals, these recipes are a great place to start!
Pepperoni Frittata
This Pepperoni Frittata is a tasty, protein-packed lunch option that’s perfect for busy school days. With fresh veggies, savory pepperoni, and melty mozzarella, it’s easy to prep ahead and just as delicious served cold or warm in a lunchbox.
Pepperoni Frittata
Ingredients
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes
- 1 red onion
- 1 bag baby spinach
- 4 oz pepperoni slices
- 8 eggs
- 4 oz mozzarella
- 1 tbsp italian seasoning
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees
- Finely dice 1 red onion, halve 1 pint cherry tomatoes, and roughly chop pepperoni & mozzarella. Set aside.
- In a large sauté pan, heat 1T olive oil on high, add diced onion. Cook ~5-10 min.
- Season w/ ½t salt & 1T pizza seasoning. Add halved tomatoes & 1 bag baby spinach. Cook 5-10 more minutes, stirring and adding oil if needed. Set aside to cool.
- Whisk 8 eggs in large bowl, season w/ S&P. Stir in cooked veggies & chopped pepperoni & cheese. Pour into an oiled pie pan.Bake at 350 F for 45-50 minutes or cooked through and no longer jiggly in the center (cover w/ foil after top browns). Cool.
Turkey Roll-ups
Turkey Roll-Ups are a quick and fun lunchbox favorite that kids love to eat and are easy to prep ahead. Just wrap sliced turkey around dill pickle spears, secure with a toothpick, and you’ve got a protein-packed, crunchy lunch ready to go!
Turkey Roll-ups
Ingredients
- 4 oz sliced turkey
- 1 jar dill pickle spears
- toothpicks
Instructions
- Wrap 1 slice of turkey around a pickle spear. Secure with tooth pick.
Sweet & Crunchy Tuna Salad Wraps
These Sweet & Crunchy Tuna Salad Wraps are a fun twist on the classic tuna salad—perfect for a refreshing, no-heat school lunch. With crunchy sunflower seeds and tangy cranberries, this flavorful mix is wrapped in crisp romaine leaves and easy to pack ahead.
Sweet & Crunchy Tuna Salad Wraps
Ingredients
- 1 small bunch grapes
- 3x 5 oz cans of tuna (or chicken)
- 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
- 1/3 cup mayo
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries
- 1 head Romaine lettuce leaves
Instructions
- Half grapes to equal ~3/4c
- Mix the following together:– 3x 5oz cans tuna, drained– ¼c sunflower seeds– 1/3c mayo– ¼c dried cranberries (break apart if needed)– ¾c grape halves– S&P, to taste
- Store in air-tight container in fridge until ready to use.
- To serve: wrap tuna salad in lettuce wraps.
Are these school lunches good for meal prep?
Yes! All three of these recipes are perfect for meal prep. For the Pepperoni Frittata, you can chop the veggies, mozzarella, and pepperoni ahead of time. When you're ready to cook, simply follow the recipe steps, then let it cool and store it in the fridge. It’s also freezer-friendly—a great bonus for busy weeks!
The Turkey Roll-Ups can be assembled in advance and stored in an airtight container in the fridge, making lunchbox packing quick and easy.
And the Sweet & Crunchy Tuna Salad can be mixed ahead of time and kept in the fridge. When you’re packing lunches, just spoon it into romaine leaves and you’re good to go!
What's the nutrition like for these school lunches?
These recipes are a great base for the start of any school lunch. Filled with protein, nutrients, and flavor, they're sure to keep your kid feeling energized throughout the long school days. Here are some of the details:
Tomato (Vitamin C, Potassium, Vitamin K, Folate, Lycopene)
Tomatoes are an excellent source of the antioxidant, lycopene. Lycopene is believed to be the reason that tomatoes are linked to lower rates of certain types of cancers. Eating tomatoes along with a source of fat significantly increases how much lycopene your body absorbs.
Red Onion (Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Antioxidants, Folate, Potassium)
Onions in general are super healthy as they're full of antioxidants, B vitamins and potassium. Red onions in particular contain anthocyanins, a type of flavonoid believed to reduce the risk of heart disease.
Spinach (Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Folic Acid, Calcium, Iron)
Spinach is great for your eye health and may help prevent inflammation. Due to its high fiber content, it's also great for digestion. Plant compounds in spinach may also help prevent and slow the growth of certain cancers.
Eggs
An egg contains 7 grams of protein and is full of lutein (good for your eyes) and choline (good for your brain).
Turkey
In addition to being a low fat source of protein, turkey contains significant amounts of B vitamins, selenium and zinc
Grapes (Vitamin K, Copper, B Vitamins, Potassium, Vitamin C)
The copper found in grapes helps your body with energy production. Your body uses Vitamin K to aid in blood clotting. The potassium in grapes may help lower blood pressure. Eating red grapes in particular may help reduce cholesterol. Some studies also show that grapes can benefit your mood and brain health so eat up!
Tuna Fish (Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Omega-3s, Vitamin D, Iron, Potassium, Selenium, Iodine)
Due to its Vitamin B12 and iron content, eating tuna may help prevent anemia. It also contains significant Omega-3s, making it good for eye health, heart health and possible cancer prevention. Tuna is an excellent source of lean protein.
Although it does offer significant nutritional benefits, you do need to limit how much tuna you consume, due to its mercury content. For that reason, I personally love the Safe Catch brand of canned tuna. They actually test each fish for mercury content before canning!
Sunflower Seeds (Vitamin E, B Vitamins, Folate, Magnesium, Iron, Zinc, Copper, Manganese, Selenium)
Quite high in both Vitamin E and Selenium, eating sunflower seeds may help your body fight chronic disease and inflammation. Sunflower seeds may also help lower blood pressure. As with all nut and seed butters, look for a sunbutter that contains only sunflower seeds and possibly a bit of salt.
Romaine Lettuce (Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Folate, Calcium, Potassium)
Romaine lettuce is good for your bones, your immune system and your eye health.
FAQs
What else can I pack with these meals?
These meals make a great foundation for a healthy lunch, and there are plenty of tasty extras you can add to round things out. Try including fresh veggies like cherry tomatoes, snap peas, cucumbers, broccoli, or carrots—whatever your kid enjoys most! You can also add snacks like popcorn or fiber-rich fruits such as raspberries, apples, or blueberries to keep things balanced and satisfying. A simple dip like hummus pairs perfectly with veggies, and yogurt mixed with a little honey is a great option for fruit.
What tips do you have for packing school lunches?
Start with a balanced meal—include a protein, fruit, veggie, and healthy fat. Use quality containers to keep hot foods hot and cold foods fresh. Pack leftovers when possible to save time, and let your kids help choose items so they're more likely to eat what you pack. Keep it simple, but make it colorful and fun!
What should I pack for dessert in my kid's lunches?
I love these Almond Butter Protein Bites, this Gluten-Free Banana Muffin recipe, and this 3 ingredient Peanut butter cookie recipe. When in doubt (or short on time) fruit is always a delicious and nourishing sweet treat for the end of a meal!
I want more meal prep ideas for school lunches!
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Kids' Favorite Recipes
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