Breakfast may be the most important meal of the day, but parents know that a hearty lunch will keep kids fueled through that afternoon slump (and also stop them from asking for a million after-school snacks). If your child has a nut allergy, you have to put even more planning into making sure they get the nutrients they need without any of the dangers of nut products (so long, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches!). And even if your child doesn't have a nut allergy, one of their friends who comes over for a playdate or another student in class may have the sensitivity, which is something to always be mindful of. Although peanut allergies only affect a small percentage of children, it's never a bad idea to have a few go-to, nut-free lunch ideas on hand.
Pizza is an automatic win for any meal. This recipe uses sweet potatoes as the crust to add an extra good-for-you ingredient. Load them up with tons of veggies for a healthy lunch (just stay away from pesto with pine nuts!).
Chances are that your little one already loves pasta, but this recipe sneaks in the healthy fats with the avocado. Combine all of the ingredients, besides the pasta, in a food processor, and then mix it with your noddle of choice.
It doesn't get any easier for busy parents than this four-ingredient recipe. Just mix shredded chicken, avocado, plain yogurt, and lemon juice. Your little one can eat it plain or piled on an English muffin or bread.
Your mini muffin tin will come in handy here. Once you mix up the batter and fill the tin, pop a piece of a hot dog in the center and bake away.
Foods are always more fun to eat on a stick, so alternate your child's favorite lunch meat and cheese on skewers for a twist on lunch.
If the Obama kids are backing it up, it must be a good. This mac and cheese dish starts out as any other, but the steamed cauliflower really makes it special. Don't forget to add breadcrumbs on top for a nice crunch.
If homemade pizza dough is too time-consuming, take advantage of store-bought for these cheesy chicken pizza pockets. It doesn't take much time to load up the middle with sauce, cheese, and whatever other toppings your little one typically likes.
It won't be hard to persuade your child to taste the rainbow with these colorful fruit skewers. Grab your child's favorite fruit and go to town creating the perfect stack to pair with yogurt.
Consider this an upgrade from a boring sandwich. Build it, coat it in the melted butter mixture, and pop it in the oven for delicious sliders.
This sun-dried tomato pasta salad is the ultimate dish to make in big batches so your child has lunch for the entire week. It's an easy pasta recipe filled with yummy ingredients like sun-dried tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and garlic.
No cooking required here! Grab your favorite hummus and load up this sandwich with avocado, tomato, carrots, cucumbers, and sprouts.
It's all the makings of your favorite pie, but without the need to cook. Gather cheese, tomatoes, pepperoni, and other veggies to put on skewers for this creative pizza on a stick lunch.
String cheese gets new life with these baked mozzarella sticks! Roll them in flour, then eggs, and finally in breadcrumbs. Throw them in the oven for six to eight minutes and you're done.
Your child will be loving the cheese and tortillas so much that they won't even realize all the veggies you snuck in there. Peppers, zucchini, and corn work well in this recipe.
You probably already have the ingredients for a BLT in your kitchen, and you can enlist the help of your child to stack them together. Extra bacon, please!
Who said muffins are just for breakfast? This recipe combines blueberries, avocados, blueberry yogurt, grated carrots, and a couple more ingredients for a nutrient-packed meal.
If you've never had the Monte Cristo sandwich at Disneyland, you're in for a treat when you make it at home! Pile on turkey, ham, and Swiss cheese on Texas toast for a filling lunch.
Swap out those tater tots for a healthier version with baked butternut squash. These tots are great to make in large batches, and require only six ingredients.
Not only are these mini ranch chicken salad rolls creative, but they're also surprisingly easy to make. Hollow out small dinner rolls and fill them with the mixture of diced chicken, apples, sunflower seeds, yellow bell peppers, cheddar cheese, mayo, and ranch dressing.
Grab your kid's favorite cold cuts and add some lettuce in there for a nutritious lunch. Plus, they look adorable rolled up in a lunchbox.
Grab a tube of your favorite refrigerated biscuits and flatten them. Then, put them in a muffin tin and top them with condensed soup and frozen veggies for mini pot pies.
Cheese, cheese, and more cheese! All you have to do is put your favorite variety (try a Mexican blend, cheddar, or Monterey Jack) in a tortilla, roll it up, and melt it together in a skillet.
We bet your child has never had pasta cupcakes before! Cook the spaghetti like normal, and then load it into muffin tins. Top with sauce and meatballs as you please.
Chicken nuggets are never a bad idea, especially when this recipe uses parmesan in the breadcrumb mixture. Place boneless chicken strips in flour, eggs, and breadcrumbs, then place in a skillet for a sure-to-please lunch.
You'll never heat up Hot Pockets again after you get a taste of these homemade ones. Start with pizza dough (homemade or store-bought), and use a cookie cutter to make circles. Fill the middle with ham and cheddar cheese, and put them in the oven.
Chinese-style dried egg noodles are easy enough to make. Just spice them up with chicken stock, soy sauce, peas, corn, and onion for a dish that will last throughout the week.