10 Easy Kid-Friendly Lunches You Can Make Without Spending Hours in the Kitchen

A nutritious meal—including protein, carbohydrates, vegetables and healthy fat— doesn’t have to be complicated to make. You can put together a complete meal in 10 minutes, usually using ingredients you already have at home.

1. Cheese Toast, Egg and Vegetables

Whole-wheat bread provides carbohydrates and fiber, while cheese and egg add protein and fat. The vegetables round out the meal with color, fluids and vitamins. Make toast with whole-wheat bread and yellow cheese, and serve it with a hard-boiled egg or an omelet, cucumber and tomato. For kids who like everything inside the sandwich, add the omelet and vegetables inside for a more filling toast.

2. Pita With Hummus and an Omelet

Whole-wheat pita, hummus and an omelet are a quick, filling combination that feels kid-friendly in the best sense of the word. Spread hummus inside the pita, then add an omelet, lettuce, tomato and a little tahini. The hummus and egg add protein, the tahini provides healthy fat, and the pita supplies the carbohydrates. If your child doesn’t really like vegetables inside the pita, serve them on the side.

3. Pasta With Tuna and Corn

This is one of the easiest meals to make from what you have in the pantry. Cook short pasta, then add tuna, corn, cherry tomatoes and a little olive oil. You can also add peas. To make the dish especially kid-friendly, mix everything together while the pasta is still warm and add a little grated cheese. You’ll get a colorful, soft and satisfying meal without much work.

4. Rice With Egg and Sautéed Vegetables

If you have cooked rice in the fridge, this meal can be ready in minutes. Warm the rice in a pan, add scrambled egg, peas, carrots and corn, and mix it all together. You can add a little olive oil or serve tahini on the side. This meal includes carbohydrates, protein, vegetables and fat, and it’s also great for kids who prefer everything mixed together on one plate.

5. Quick Couscous With Chickpeas

Couscous is an excellent solution for days when there’s no time. Prepare it with hot water, then add cooked chickpeas, grated carrot, cucumber, olive oil and lemon.

You can add corn, chopped parsley or a little Bulgarian cheese if the kids like it. The chickpeas provide protein and fiber, while the couscous offers a quick feeling of fullness.

6. Tortilla With Chicken and Vegetables

A tortilla is a great way to turn leftover chicken into a new meal. Fill a tortilla with prepared chicken strips, avocado or tahini, lettuce, tomato and cucumber. Roll it up, cut it in half and serve. Many kids enjoy food they can hold in their hands, so sometimes the shape alone makes a meal more appealing.

7. Potato With Cottage Cheese

You can quickly make a potato or sweet potato in the microwave. Once the potato is soft, open it up and fill it with cottage cheese, corn and a little olive oil. Serve with cut vegetables on the side. 

8. Quick Pita Pizza

Almost any child will be happy to get pizza for lunch, and it’s easy to turn it into a more balanced meal. Spread tomato sauce on a whole-wheat pita, sprinkle with mozzarella or yellow cheese, add olives and corn, and place it in the oven or toaster for a few minutes.

Serve cut vegetables alongside the pizza. You can also add mushrooms, peppers or cherry tomatoes, depending on what the kids like.

9. Savory Yogurt Bowl With Egg and Pita

Yogurt doesn’t have to be sweet. You can turn it into a quick lunch with a hard-boiled egg, a small pita, cucumber, tomato and olives. Season the yogurt with a little olive oil and za’atar, and serve everything together as a small plate of “tastes.” This is an especially good option for kids who prefer to eat each ingredient separately.

10. Quick Schnitzel With Ptitim and Vegetables

Good-quality prepared schnitzel or chicken strips can become the base for a quick meal. Serve them with ptitim, peas and carrots, and add tahini on the side. If you don’t have ptitim, you can use rice, couscous or legumes such as red lentils and chickpeas.