11 Nut-Free School Lunch Ideas That Are Just as Easy as PB&J

• Time Commitment:25 minutes
• Why We Love It:<30 minutes, <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, no cook

These tidy little pinwheels are so loaded withdeli counter favorites(think: mild provolone and a meat of your kid’s choosing) that they won’t even notice you snuck in a little kale.

• Time Commitment:40 minutes
• Why We Love It:<10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, make ahead

The only thing better than a BLT is a packed lunch that boasts all the same mouthwatering ingredients without the soggy sandwich bread.

• Time Commitment:30 minutes
• Why We Love It:make ahead, vegetarian, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser

Potatoes combine with every kid’s favorite veggie dip in this simple twist on apicnic staple. Make a big batch on Sunday and pair it with sammies all week long.

• Time Commitment:25 minutes
• Why We Love It:beginner-friendly, <30 minutes, vegetarian

新鲜的药草,酸豆、绿洋葱和少许dijon provide plenty of palate-pleasing flavor, whilst a creamy and dreamy avocado-yogurt combo significantly cuts down the mayo content in this exciting take on a classic egg salad. The end result will fill you up without weighing you down (even when sandwiched between two hearty slices of bread).

• Time Commitment:5 minutes
• Why We Love It:<30 minutes, no cook, special occasion-worthy, <10 ingredients

It looks and tastes like something you’d pay good money for at your neighborhood’s fanciest cafe, but the whole thing takes a mere five minutes to assemble and can be customized to feature any kid’scharcuterie boardfavorites. In other words, even the pickiest member of your brood can look classy at lunchtime.

• Time Commitment:20 minutes
• Why We Love It:<10 ingredients, low carb, keto-friendly, high protein

Yourspaghettinight leftovers deserve a second life. Feel free to drizzle each slice with tomato sauce and don’t skimp on the cheese.

• Time Commitment:35 minutes
• Why We Love It:<10 ingredients, high protein, kid-friendly

The everything bagel seasoning craze is still going strong. Cook up these flavor-packed tenders for ahigh-proteinlunch that’s tasty enough to enjoy cold and you’ll be on board with it, too.

• Time Commitment:40 minutes
• Why We Love It:<10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser

Wonton wrappers are the brilliant hack behind these bite-sized and oh-so cheesy quesadillas, which get an extra nutrient and protein boost from canned refried black beans. (Yep, you don’t even have to do the refrying yourself.)

• Time Commitment:7 hours 15 minutes
• Why We Love It:slow cooker recipe, make ahead, high protein

Another Mexican-inspired recipe—this deconstructed burrito, featuring all the favorite fillings and a tangy crema topping, is a make-ahead home run that’s basically begging to be in the lunch box rotation. (Just leave out the cilantro and go easy on the lettuce if your kid turns green at the sight of anything green.)

• Time Commitment:30 minutes
• Why We Love It:no cook, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients

Because what kid doesn’t want to eat lunch off a stick? This recipe calls for sweet sun-dried tomatoes, soft mortadella and salty olives but you can basically mix and match any ingredients you like (cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls and sliced turkey would work nicely).

• Time Commitment:50 minutes
• Why We Love It:<10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, vegetarian

No, you don’t need to put an actual pig in that salty, soft pretzel dough blanket. It turns out you can tuck damn near anything in there—including theroasted carrotsyour kid snubbed at dinner time—and lunch will be a success.