18 Healthy Lunch Ideas For Teens That'll Replace Their Boring Turkey Sandwich Routine
Teens are busy kids — they're on sports teams, they stay after school for extracurriculars that'll look good on their college applications, they're doing their chores (you hope), they're constantly trying to put a dent in growing piles of homework, and they're going to after-school jobs, among any number of other things. It can be hard to make sure your busy kid is eating healthy while staying satisfied in the hunger department as they run around like chickens with no heads trying to stay on top of their schedules; so to ensure that lunch, the meal that carries them through the end of their school day until dinner, is a good one, we've compiled some of our favorite healthy recipes that are perfect for lunch bags.
Not only that, but your teen, if they have the precious time, can make some of these themselves. Check them out ahead — you're definitely going to want to make a bunch of these in bulk so you can eat them, too!
Hummus Chicken Salad Wraps
Wrap it up! These hummus chicken salad wraps are packed with chickpea goodness.
Greek Cauliflower Salad Bowls
These grain-free Greek cauliflower salad bowls are packed with cauliflower rice, grape leaves, olives, crunchy pumpkin seeds, and goat cheese.
Buffalo Chicken Meatballs Bento Box
This buffalo chicken meatballs bento box looks like something we all need to make for ourselves.
Pesto Zucchini Noodles
Use your favorite store-bought pesto, or whip up some oil-free walnut pesto as this recipe suggests, and toss into spiralized zucchini noodles for a healthier lunch option your teen will devour.
Greek Grilled Chicken and Hummus Wrap
Combine the best elements of Greek salad into a pita wrap spread with hummus for an easy lunch.
Turkey and Carrot "Sushi"
This turkey and carrot "sushi" is a fun way to encourage your teen to eat more veggies at lunchtime.
Crunchy Zucchini Noodle Wrap
Add a little healthy crunch to their lunch with these zucchini noodle wraps that also have avocado and cheese for maximum flavor.
Turkey Chili With Butternut Squash
Keep them full until they hop off the bus or pull into the driveway in the afternoon with this turkey chili.
Avocado Egg Burrito
Who says eggs are only for breakfast? Send your teenager to school with an avocado and egg burrito full of protein to help them finish out the school day strong.
DIY Pizza Lunchables
These DIY pizza Lunchables are the definition of "a little bit of this, a little bit of that."
Spicy Turkey Taco Salad
This spicy turkey taco salad is for teens who like a bit of heat in their food.
Italian Zucchini Pasta Spring Rolls
These Italian zucchini pasta spring rolls are a fresh and healthy take on an Italian hero sandwich.
Turkey Pinwheels
Turkey pinwheels are a quick and easy lunch for a teen to make themselves before school.
Sweet Potato and Almond Butter Apple Sandwiches
These sweet potato and almond butter apple sandwiches sound delicious and can be packed on whole-grain bread.
Ranch Chicken Wrap
These chicken wraps are perfect for any ranch-loving kid. And the best part? You can shove a ton of spinach in them for crunch without them even thinking twice about it.
Prosciutto-Wrapped Sweet Potato Noodle Rolls
These prosciutto-wrapped sweet potato noodle rolls are a clever and unique way to shake things up in your teen's lunchbox.
Tropical Mango Spring Rolls
The perfect thing for teens on the go, these tropical mango spring rolls are healthy and simple!
Cucumber Avocado Tuna Hand Rolls
Crunchy cucumber and creamy avocado all get stuffed into these cucumber avocado tuna hand rolls.