20 vegetarian lunch box ideas for kids

Packing a lunch box for a picky eater is no easy task!

When your child only eats a limited amount of foods it is unbelievably easy to get stuck in a rut.

All too often I find myself sticking the same few things in his lunch box day after day, week after week.

As a result I'm always on the look out for vegetarian lunch box ideas for kids.

When free school meals come to an end

Last month my seven-year-old started in Year 3 at school. This means, for us in the UK, no more free hot school dinners.

We could have paid for him to have a cooked meal at school. Believe me I was sorely tempted.

However, he lobbied very hard for a packed lunch.

I decided in the end to use it as an opportunity to get him to try some new things. 

And it's worked - so far. He hasn't always come home with an empty lunchbox.

But whenever he starts to moan about something I offer to pay for him to have school dinners and he soon goes quiet.

Check out what I've been putting in my son's lunch box over on my Instagram feed.

Help! I don't know what to put in my child's lunchbox!

If this is you, believe me I sympathise! I mean how am I meant to put together a healthy vegetarian lunch box for a child who doesn't eat any fruit and vegetables? (I'm not even joking here!)

In addition he doesn't like many sandwich fillings. Cheese, cream cheese or hummus are all ruled out so sandwich options are limited to marmite, jam or honey.

And I'm really determined not to give him jam sandwiches for lunch!

Nut free lunch ideas for kids

Our school is nut free so that rules out some of the other things he likes. I have given him sunflower butter in a sandwich, which he said was ok but he didn't love.

He's also had veggie chicken slices a couple of times which he likes. But on the whole I think that sandwiches aren't the best lunch option for us.

If you're like me and after some new vegetarian lunch box inspiration I hope you'll find some ideas here that you - and more importantly your kids - love.

For more ideas check out these healthy lunch box ideas.

Nut free vegetarian lunch ideas for kids

Savoury vegetarian lunch box ideas for kids

Healthier pizza shapes by Goodie Goodie Lunchbox

Delicious savoury crackers that taste like pizza. These have to be a winner surely?

Sweet potato, spinach and ricotta pancakes

These are one of my toddler's all-time favourite lunches.

Broccoli and cheese mini muffins by Kidgredients

I'm yet to find any recipe that will convince my picky eater to try broccoli. Perhaps this could be the one.

Roasted pumpkin hummus by Easy Peasy Foodie

Hummus and dips are a great idea for a packed lunch - and if you can add an extra portion of veg even better.

Asparagus, new potato and spring vegetable frittata

Easily adapted to use seasonal veg.

Homemade pizza crackers

These deliciously crunchy pizza crackers that are great for lunch boxes. Gobbled up by kids and adults alike and suitable for vegans.

Vegan sushi by Allergy Families

This would be a bold one to try on my picky eater but I know loads of kids who love sushi.

Butternut squash broccoli muffins with feta by Captain Bobcat

A good hidden veg recipe to try for reluctant vegetable eaters.

Baked falafels

Served in a roll, with pitta or just on their own, these falafels are perfect for lunchboxes.

Cheese, spinach and lentil slice by Friendly First Foods

A great one for adding some protein into a vegetarian lunchbox.

Pizza swirls

Always a hit with my kiddos.

Sweet potato, zucchini strata bake by Kidgredients

Layer upon layer of veggie goodness

Kisir by Reduced Grub

If you have a vegetable lover then these would be perfect for a lunchbox!

Three ingredient butternut squash cheesy oat cakes 

Couldn't be easier to make and totally delicious

Sweet vegetarian lunch ideas for kids

Carrot cake nut free energy balls

Perfect for combatting those after-lunch sugar cravings.

Courgette, pear and carrot cakes by Organic Cookery School

Naturally sweet and packed full of veggies. My kind of recipe.

Sweet potato and orange oaty cookies

These are one of my favourite lunchbox fillers. They need just four ingredients, all of them healthy and take just 15 minutes or so to make.

Raspberry and vanilla cupcakes by Motherhood Diaries

Some schools don't allow cakes in lunch boxes. These cupcakes are lower in sugar and packed full of fruit.

Chocolate courgette rye muffins

Look like a treat, taste like a treat yet are packed full of goodness. More muffin recipes here!

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