Back to school season is fast approaching! That means you will be going back to the old routine of preparing and rushing your kids to school all the while missing their meals. However, every meal is important especially if your kids are still young. So, whether you or your kids are in a rush or not, here are 21 no-cook lunch ideas for daycare kids you can easily prepare! See more healthy cold lunch ideas.
Contents
21. Chickpea Salad Bento Box (Vegan)
The Chickpea salad bento box is an entirely plant-based, non-cooking midday meal option that can be prepared in less than half an hour!
Searching for a nutritious midday meal but don’t fancy cooking? Today’s recipe is sure to enthrall you!
These bento boxes demand absolutely no cooking…we’re talking no oven, no stovetop, nada. Your tasks involve opening a can, slicing some items, and combining a few elements in a bowl.
Your total preparation time? 25 minutes, and honestly, this is for those who take their sweet time chopping. If you’re quick, you could probably get these ready in less than a quarter of an hour!
This chickpea salad is a plant-based alternative to traditional chicken salad. We swap out chicken for chickpeas, which are mashed up with similar ingredients.
I’ve been finding immense satisfaction in my triple compartment glass containers lately, and they are perfectly suited for these bento boxes.
Owing to these compartments, our chickpea salad remains distinct from the naan bread and the veggies, thus preventing the bread from becoming mushy and the carrots from losing their crunch.
These triple compartment glass storage containers are sourced from Prep Naturals (you can locate them here –> affiliate link ). What I appreciate about them being glass is that my food remains fresh and I don’t have to concern myself about chemical exposure. On the downside, they are a tad heavier to carry in your work bag, and they are slightly more challenging to fit in the dishwasher.
20. No-cook Mason Jar Chicken Taco Salad
This easily accessible Mason Jar Chicken Taco Salad is the ultimate, hassle-free, nourishing, portable, and Weight Watchers friendly meal that everyone in your family will adore! It clocks in at a mere 2 Weight Watchers points on my regimen. The most appealing aspect is its usage of canned chicken breast, eliminating the need for COOKING! You’ll be astounded by its incredible flavor, and it’ll be our secret that it’s made with canned chicken. It’s essentially a chicken taco encapsulated in a jar!
Given the demands of my profession, I often find myself consuming my midday meal on the move, in my vehicle, or at my work station. Thus, I require meal options that are suitable for these scenarios, and identifying such recipes can be quite the task. This Weight Watchers-friendly chicken salad ticks all the right boxes! Mason jar meals are speedy, handy, ready-to-eat, and perfect for on-the-go consumption virtually anywhere. They can also be prepared ahead of time, positioning them as a fantastic lunch alternative! Plus, this chicken taco salad packed in a mason jar has the added perk of sparing you the task of pre-cooking chicken breasts.
19. Tangy Broccoli Apple Salad with Greek Yogurt Dressing (no mayo)
This nutritious salad blending broccoli, carrots, raisins, apples, and cheese is truly delightful. It’s dressed with a creamy concoction of Greek yogurt that’s low in fat and does not include mayo, making this homemade salad recipe a mix of tangy, crunchy, fresh, and sweet sensations in every mouthful.
Feel free to personalize it by tossing in nuts, bacon, sunflower seeds, or poppy seeds. Not only does this easy-to-make broccoli salad serve as an excellent side dish, but it can also stand as a comprehensive vegetarian lunch alternative.
My favored make-ahead salad is this broccoli mix adorned with a Greek yogurt dressing. While it’s delicious immediately after being tossed together, its flavors actually intensify if left to chill in the fridge for about an hour before serving.
Because of this, it’s the ideal salad to bring to picnics, potlucks, gatherings, and BBQs when you’re after a dish that can be prepared in advance. This fresh broccoli and cheddar blend even stands up well as a leftover, unlike many other salads.
18. Zucchini and Bean Salad With Bulgur
Serving up a delectable vegetarian dish, regardless of the day of the week, has never appeared more appealing. The salad comprised of zucchini and beans, with bulgur, offers a protein punch from kidney beans and toasted almonds, complemented by fresh veggies, herbs, and creamy goat’s cheese. The solitary element requiring actual cooking is the whole-wheat bulgur, an excellent source of fiber with minimal fat. Though any grain of your family’s liking can be an alternative, bulgur’s small grains, typically found in tabbouleh, offer a pleasant foundation for this easy-to-assemble salad. It’s filling as a standalone meal and pairs perfectly with a cup of soup or a piece of rustic bread.
17. Simple Egg Salad
When you find yourself with an abundance of extra hard-cooked eggs, concoct this scrumptious egg blend. The foundation of this recipe, that requires no heat preparation for lunch, is a creamy ranch sauce. It is harmonized with the tartness of mustard and the fresh, crispy texture of cucumber.
16. Chickpea & Roasted Red Pepper Lettuce Wraps with Tahini Dressing
A zesty, rich sesame paste sauce binds together elements such as tinned garbanzo beans and charred crimson peppers to create these simple meal-prep greens envelopes. Prepare these envelopes in advance to have a ready-to-eat lunch or dinner. Supplement the meal with a couple of segments of heated flatbread for the ultimate touch.
15. Tomato & Avocado Sandwiches
As someone who follows a plant-based diet, I’ve found a delectable, rapid, and nutritious midday meal that I wouldn’t mind consuming at all times. We’ve coined a fun acronym for these sandwiches at my place, TAGS: tahini chickpea spread, avocado, tomato, and small onions. These are components that are almost always present in my pantry.
14. Mediterranean Hummus Toast with Za’atar
Mediterranean Hummus Toast with Za’atar is a savory, healthy want to start your day or a great afternoon pick-me-up. Hummus is spread on toast and topped with fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, herbs and feta and a sprinkling of za’atar.
Check it here.
13.
Strawberry lassi is refreshing, light, protein-rich, and yogurt-based summer drink. Using 4 ingredients it gets ready in just 10 minutes. It is a delicious strawberry-yogurt drink that is just another variation to Indian Mango Lassi.
Check it here.
12.
Healthy Greek yogurt fruit salad where fresh summer fruits are served with vanilla-flavored Greek yogurt that is mildly sweetened with monk fruit.
Check it here.
11. Tomato Peach Caprese Salad
Tomato Peach Caprese Salad is a delicious summertime salad full of vibrant flavors and refreshing taste. This classic Italian salad recipe is so easy to make at home.
Check it here.
10. Quinoa Salad
This bright and refreshing quinoa salad is full of herby savory flavors. Simple wholesome ingredients and just 15 minutes to make it!
Check it here.
9.
These Mini Veggie Cups are a perfect no-mess appetizer or snack for everything including baby showers, toddler birthday parties and after school snacks. They are fun, healthy, fresh and super simple to prep.
Check it here.
8. Vegan Chickpea Tuna Salad
If you’re looking for a plant-based replacement for tuna salad, look no further! This healthy Vegan Chickpea Tuna Salad is a delicious alternative that tastes like the real thing.
Check it here.
7. Ham Salad
Tasty deviled ham salad is perfect for adding to a sandwich or using as a spread on crackers. Similar to egg salad or tuna salad, this easy recipe is a great way to use up leftover ham.
Check it here.
6.
This simple Healthy Tuna Salad is perfect for spreading on raw veggies, crackers or toast. Made with greek yoghurt, it is a lighter alternative to the mayo-loaded classic version.
Check it here.
5. Whole30 Chicken Salad
This Whole30 Chicken Salad has become my go to lunch. It is incredibly easy, and so good every single time. I make it for my Whole30 meal prep weekly, even when I’m not doing Whole30.
Check it here.
4.
It is perfect for school lunches, brunches and when you are out and about. Suitable for people following vegan and gluten-free diets. Post includes Weight Watchers points.
Check it here.
3.
Your kids will love this project – it’s so much fun to create edible art! No-bake veggie pizzas are a fresh, exciting lunch or snack! You can even pack all the ingredients in their lunch boxes, bento-box-style – a much healthier take on Lunchables!
Check it here.
2.
Veggies and dip? An absolute must-have at every party and summer picnic! But these easy Rainbow Veggie Kabobs are so much more fun than a plain-old veggie tray! Just like your fave fruit kabobs … but with garden-fresh veggies! A great summer project for the kiddos, too – they’ll scarf down that farm market bounty in no time!
Check it here.
1. Cucumber Hummus Bites
Cucumber Hummus Bites make the perfect finger food and appetizer for your next party or get together. Crisp cucumbers slices are topped with roasted red pepper hummus, tomatoes, feta cheese and fresh parsley.
Check it here.
20+ No Cook Cold Lunches For Kids
Discover 21 cold no-cook lunch ideas for daycare kids. Keep little ones satisfied with tasty and hassle-free meals.
Ingredients
- Mediterranean Hummus Toast With Za’atar
- Single Serve Strawberry Lassi
- Cold Cucumber Soup With Greek Yogurt
- Healthy Greek Yogurt Fruit Salad
Instructions
- Choose any Cold No Cook Lunch Ideas For Daycare Kids from the post that you like
- Click on the link below the photo to get the full recipes and instructions.
- Try the best Cold No Cook Lunch Ideas For Daycare Kids and share your photo under my pin on Pinterest!
I’m Anastasia and I’m a full-time blogger, online entrepreneur, and Pinterest marketing strategist. I help digital entrepreneurs and bloggers drive targeted traffic from Pinterest either through my online courses or through Pinterest consultancy.