17 Healthy Lunchbox Recipes for Kids

You may have devoted your household to clean eating, but is it a struggle to keep your kids Paleo-compliant?

With lunchbox standards like packaged chips, cookies, and peanut butter and jellies filling their friend’s bags, it can be a struggle to keep your kid satisfied. Thankfully, it’s easy to get creative.

We’ve compiled recipes that win points both in the flavor and fun category, with options like Paleo ham and cheese pinwheels, apple “sun-wiches,” rainbow veggie skewers, and corn dog muffins. Feel free to assemble a few of these in a lunchbox for a balanced meal your kid will love.

Ham and Cheese Pinwheels

Think it’s impossible to pack your kid a sandwich and keep it Paleo? Think again: These smoky ham and Paleo cheese pinwheels are a fun take on the classic ham and cheese.

Recipe: PaleoHacks | Ham and Cheese Pinwheels

Melon Gummies

Button drop-shaped melon gummies—made with ripe cantaloupe and grass-fed gelatin—make for a healthy treat to complete your kid’s lunch.

Recipe: Delicious Obsessions | Melon Gummies

Apple ‘Sun-wiches’ and Sausage Patties

Apple slices are another great sandwich bread replacement, while sunbutter is a healthy peanut butter alternative. Sausage patties included in the bento-style boxes add necessary protein to your kid’s lunch.

Recipe: Nom Nom Paleo | Apple “Sun-wiches” and Sausage Patties

Paleo Corn Dog Muffins

What’s even more adorable (and way easier to make) than a corn dog? Oven-friendly corn dog muffins. Made with coconut and almond flour “corn” bread and nitrate-free hot dogs, these are a clean-eating and kid-friendly meal.

Recipe: Jay’s Baking Me Crazy | Paleo Corn Dog Muffins

Tortilla-Free Steak Wraps

These simple tortilla-free steak wraps have a two-ingredient marinade and can do double-duty as dinner one night, lunch-box component the next day.

Recipe: PaleoHacks | Tortilla-Free Steak Wraps

Blueberry Peach Fruit Roll-Ups

You might not believe this, but true fruit roll-ups require only fresh fruit and a little bit of your sweetener of choice. Skip the processed junk and add these to your little one’s lunch box.

Recipe: Cupcakes and Kale Chips | Blueberry Peach Fruit Roll-Ups

Chocolate Hazelnut Roll-Ups

For a sweet take on a roll-up sandwich, try these Paleo Nutella-filled roll-ups. Rolled in coconut sugar, they’re adorable and delicious.

Recipe: PaleoHacks | Chocolate Hazelnut Roll-Ups

Dark Chocolate Detox Bites

Instead of a candy bar, pack a few of these dark chocolate bites, filled with clean-eating friendly nibs. Bonus: these simple bites can be made with your kiddo.

Recipe: The View from Great Island | Dark Chocolate Detox Bites

Rainbow Veggie Skewers

How do you get your kid to eat their vegetables? Assemble them in a rainbow pattern on a skewer.

Recipe: Gimme Some Oven | Rainbow Veggie Skewers

Paleo ‘Dirt’ Cake

Remember those “dirt” pies you used to eat as a kid? This version combines Paleo chocolate brownies and pudding with homemade gummy worms.

Recipe: Paleo Cupboard | Paleo “Dirt” Cake

Buffalo Cauliflower Bites

A healthy snack with all the spicy buffalo flavor you love packed into cauliflower bites served with a creamy cashew ranch dip.

Recipe: PaleoHacks | Buffalo Cauliflower Bites

Nacho ‘Cheese’ Kale Chips

Don’t throw a bag of Doritos in your kid’s bag—instead, whip up a batch of these “cheesy” crispy kale chips.

Recipe: PaleoHacks | Nacho “Cheese” Kale Chips

Watermelon Flower Cups

These edible flower arrangements are easier than you think to make. If your kid’s lunch bag won’t fit an upright flower, try laying it flat over the fruit assemblage.

Recipe: One Crafty Thing | Watermelon Flower Cups

Coconut Blueberry Gummies

These gummies are the perfect way to use up leftover coconut milk, especially when they’re made in adorable, robot-shaped molds.

Recipe: Enjoying This Journey | Coconut Blueberry Gummies

Chipotle Chicken Bacon Bites

Your kid will love these bacon-wrapped, flavor-packed bites, and you’ll appreciate the built-in portion control and lunchbox-friendly prep.

Recipe: Low Carb Maven | Chipotle Chicken Bacon Bites

Applesauce Fruit Leather

Like the blueberry fruit roll-ups, these fruit leathers are incredibly easy to make. You’ll just need to ingredients: cinnamon and apples!

Recipe: PaleoHacks | Applesauce Fruit Leather

Paleo Teddy Grahams

A healthier version of a classic lunchbox treat, your kid will gobble these down (it’s cool if you sneak a few, too).

Recipe: Purely Twins | Paleo Teddy Grahams

(You’ll Also Love: 5 Easy Tips to Make Paleo Meals for Kids)