Healthy Indian Kids Lunch Box Recipes

You can also find tips on packing school lunchboxes and a list of our favorite lunch box packing tools. Great for preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school-aged kids. Hello, it’s back-to-school time. Here, I am sharing healthy, easy, kid-friendly lunches and snacks that I serve my daughter Dhwani Monday through Friday, along with a few tips and tricks here and there. I hope you find this useful for packing meals for your children. If you landed on this page, I am sure you have some naughty and playful kids at home. 🙂 We agree that for most kids, the mother is, by default, a “Lifetime Master Chef.” No wonder we Mothers constantly look for yummy breakfast ideas, lunch/dinner, or healthy snack ideas for our kids. This seems like a herculean task. So, saluting all these wonderful Mothers, I would like to share my proud collection of 75+ Healthy Indian Kids’ Lunch Box Recipes. Got a cute little toddler at home? Coming up with toddler breakfast ideas is also never an easy task. Check out Healthy Toddler Indian Breakfast Ideas. Disclaimer: I am not a nutritionist or a dietician. I am doing what is best for my kid to create a balanced and nutritious lunch.

75+ Indian Healthy Kids Lunch Box Ideas

Here are some of my daughter’s favorite healthy Lunch Box recipes I have been packing repeatedly for years. From sandwiches, parathas, rice, and noodles to pasta, these recipes offer various options for serving in a lunch box for school or at home.

More Indian Recipe Collections to try from my blog

★ Like this recipe? FOLLOW ME on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Youtube for more quick & easy recipes. Meal Prep Tips: You can prepare the spinach corn filling ahead of time (the previous night), refrigerate it, and then toast or grill the sandwich in the morning. Packing Tips: Let the sandwiches cool a bit (let the steam settle), and then pack them in the box. Do not pack them while they are very hot; the steam may spoil the entire sandwich and make it soggy once you close. Meal Prep Tips: I usually make uttapam from leftover idli/dosa batter. Shred the paneer, veggies the previous night and store them in the fridge. Meal Prep Tips: You can prepare the rice and shred the carrot the previous night. Packing Tips: Let the rice cool a bit before packing them in the box. Paneer Fried Rice is a quick and healthy rice recipe made with paneer and mixed vegetables. I have also added tomato ketchup to a small container. If your kid doesn’t like paneer, use crumbled paneer instead. These Little Heart Biscuits used to be one of my favorite in my childhood and my daughter loves them too. Meal Prep Tips: Chop the veggies and paneer the previous night. You can also prepare basmati rice the previous night or use leftover rice. I have used Instant Pot to make this easy tomato pasta recipe using store-bought pasta sauce. It’s quick, one pot, and no monitoring. You can add other veggies to the pasta too. Meal Prep Tips: If you are making tomato pasta using the stovetop, then you can boil the pasta the previous day and use it the next day to prepare the dish. I have made this quick quinoa pulao in the Instant Pot. It’s super easy and takes under 15 minutes to make. Meal Prep Tips: Make the plain roasted makhana or spicy masala makhana in advance and store up to a week in an airtight container. My daughter loves paneer bhurji, I usually pair it with different kinds of parathas, or make a wrap or sandwich out of it. If your kid is bored of regular paneer bhurji, try my broccoli paneer bhurji or tofu bhurji. Meal Prep Tips: Prep the dough the previous night and roll the parathas in the morning. You can also prepare paneer bhurji the previous night and store it in the refrigerator. It is a great way to sneak some greens into your kid’s diet. I always try to make vegetable purees like spinach, beetroot, carrots, and pumpkin and add them to the chapati dough for extra nutrition. For aloo jeera, I tossed the boiled potatoes with some cumin seeds (jeera), spices like turmeric, red chili powder, coriander powder, garam masala, and amchur powder. Meal Prep Tips: Prepare the dough and boil the potatoes in the instant pot the previous day. These Dal parathas are so yummy, nutritious, and always a hit at my house. You can make dal parathas with freshly cooked dal or leftover dal tadka. The best part is you can use any variety of dal. Try this today; you will thank me later. Meal Prep Tips: You can cook the dal, and prepare the dough the previous evening. Potato Spinach Pancakes are simple, and delicious breakfast recipe. You can call these cheelas an Indian version of potato hash browns. I am sure your kid will love this. Recipe: In a bowl, take 1 cup of raw shredded potatoes (squeezed), ½ cup spinach, onions, green chilies, 2-3 tablespoons besan (gram flour), turmeric, garam masala, salt, and ground black pepper. Mix well. Heat one teaspoon of oil in a shallow, non-stick, or iron pan, spread one portion of the potato mixture on the pan thinly [square or round shape], and cook, turning both sides, till crisp. Meal Prep Tips: Sprout moong beans 1-2 days ahead and store them in the fridge. Steam them before using them in salads. I like to make Vegetable paniyaram with leftover dosa batter. It really goes well with onion chutney, If your kid doesn’t like it then pair it with coconut chutney or tomato onion chutney. Meal Prep Tip: Make the onion chutney ahead as it can be refrigerated for 2 to 3 days. Chapati noodles are a great way to use leftover chapatis or rotis and are loaded with veggies. Meal Prep Tips: Prep the veggies the previous day. Roast the makhanas in advance and store them in an airtight container for up to a week. Meal Prep Tips: Chop the veggies the previous night and store them in the fridge. You can also prepare the mayonnaise veggie filling mixture the previous night and store it in the fridge for 1-2 days. Lauki is a healthy vegetable, and I always look for ideas to give it to my daughter. She loves bottle gourd paratha, it is super soft and delicious. Meal Prep Tips: Prepare the beetroot tikki mixture the previous night, shape it, and store it in the refrigerator. In the morning, either air-fry, bake, or shallow fry. Do not prepare the dough the previous day; lauki releases a lot of water, making the dough soft and runny. Makhana parathas are super easy to make and very nutritious. Great way to give it to your kids. Meal Prep Tips: You can roast the makhanas, crush them, prepare the paratha dough the previous night, and store it in the refrigerator. This spinach pasta is loaded with spinach and super tasty. The sauce can also be made with a mix of spinach and basil. To increase the protein content, you can blend spinach with cottage cheese, paneer, or tofu. I have tried it, its super delicious. Meal Prep Tips: Boil the pasta and prepare the spinach puree the previous night and store it in the fridge. You can also prep caramel makhana ahead of time and store it for up to a week in an airtight container. Spinach Coin Dosa is a healthy, delicious, and simple way to make your kids eat veggies and greens. Coin Dosa are bite sized dosa and easy for your kids to eat and mess free. I have added ½ cup of blanched spinach puree to 1 cup of dosa batter. Meal Prep Tips: Prep the dosa batter one day before and keep it for fermentation, or use leftover idli/dosa batter. You can also prepare the peanut chutney one day before, it stays good for 1-2 days when refrigerated. This is an easy, one-pot Instant Pot Mac and cheese recipe, which takes less than 20 minutes to make. Meal Prep Tips: You can prep mint makhana ahead of time and store it for up to a week in an airtight container. Meal Prep Tips: Clean and chop the methi leaves. Prepare the paratha dough the previous night and store it in the refrigerator. Also, you can sprout moong beans 1-2 days ahead and store them in the fridge. Meal Prep Tips: Chop the cabbage, and refrigerate the previous day. Zucchini and carrot paratha are delicious and can be eaten with raita or curry. If you don’t have zucchini, replace it with lauki or beetroot. For extra protein, you may add some cooked dal or shredded paneer. Meal Prep Tips: Shred the carrots and store them. Do not prepare the dough the previous day; zucchini releases a lot of water, making the dough soft and runny. Meal Prep Tips: Prep the veggies, Boil the penne pasta, cool it down, and refrigerate. If you are using homemade hummus, you can prepare it 1-2 days ahead and use it. Meal Prep Tips: Prep the peanut chutney the night before. You can also puree the spinach and store it in the fridge. Prepare the idli batter and keep it for fermentation a day before. Meal Prep Tip: Prepare the dough and the broccoli paneer filling the previous day and store it in the refrigerator. Mayonnaise Veg Pasta is a delicious pasta recipe that includes veggies, mayonnaise, and cheese. It is quick and easy to make, and you can use any type of pasta, such as macaroni or penne. Meal Prep Tips: Prep the veggies. Boil the pasta, cool it down, and refrigerate the previous day. Kids love poori, and adding spinach puree to the regular poori makes it not only nutritious but also tasty. You can also make it with beetroot puree. Meal Prep Tips: You can prepare the paneer capsicum stir fry the previous night. You can also prepare the poori dough the previous night. Make sure it’s soft and tight. Else the poori will not puff up and soak up more oil. Meal Prep Tips: Cook the basmati rice, cool it down, and store it in the refrigerator. You can also use leftover rice. This pineapple fried rice recipe is one of my favorites for busy days! Super easy, healthy, and yummy. Plus, it’s SO colorful! Meal Prep Tips: Prepare the veggies and pineapple. Cook the rice, cool it down, and refrigerate the night before. Vermicelli Upma is a Kids friendly recipe. It makes for a good tiffin or a lunch box for both kids and adults. Kids love it because they think it’s kind of pasta or noodles. Vermicelli is made from either rice or wheat. I usually use wheat semiya of either Bambino or MTR Brand. For rice semiya please follow the packet instruction to cook the dish. Peanut Sundal is a South Indian recipe ideal for festivals like Navaratri. Boiled Peanuts are stir-fried with red chilies, curry leaves, grated coconut, and a few spices, giving them an amazing aroma and flavor. Meal Prep Tips: You can finely chop the veggies, boil the peanuts a day before, and store them in the refrigerator. Avocado paratha was one of the first foods we introduced to my daughter when she was a toddler. She loves it and asks me to pack them for her lunch box. They are soft, tasty and healthy. If your kid doesn’t eat avocadoes, now you know how to serve them. Meal Prep Tips: You can prep the beetroot curry the previous night. However, I do not recommend making the dough the previous day, as the avocados can brown it. Tomato rice is another family favorite dish. I used coconut milk in this recipe. But feel free to omit and use water instead. It goes well with any kind of raita. Carrot Raita - simple raita made with grated carrot, cumin (jeera) powder, salt, pepper. My daughter loves the combination of Jeera rice with chana masala. You can also pair it with paneer butter masala or dal fry. Meal Prep Tips: You can prepare the chickpea curry the previous night and reheat it before packing. Spinach corn rice is a healthy and perfect lunch for your kid and family. You can also try my other Spinach rice variety without pureeing the spinach. Sometimes, it’s good to treat kids with cakes or brownies. I packed store-bought brownies. Meal Prep Tips: You can clean the spinach, grapes the previous night. Packing Tips: Add a few teaspoons of milk to yogurt, especially in summer, to prevent it from turning sour by lunchtime. Meal Prep Tips: Prep the dough the prior day. Also, chop the veggies like cauliflower ahead. Meal Prep Tips: Chop the bell peppers the night before. Leftover rice works well. Meal Prep Tips: Prepare the dough and the chana filling the night before and roll the parathas in the morning. Packing Tips: To prevent the apple from browning, immerse it in cold water with a teaspoon of lemon juice for 10 minutes. Coconut rice is a quick and easy lunch box recipe for busy mornings. You can use fresh or frozen coconut. For a nut-free recipe, skip the cashews. You can also use leftover rice for its recipe. Meal Prep Tips: If using fresh coconut, shred the coconut the previous night. This beetroot pulao is a one-pot recipe that can be easily made in the pressure cooker in under 20 minutes. Colorful and delicious. I have packed dates and nut ladoo; for a nut-free option, skip it. Meal Prep Tips: Shred or chop the beetroot the previous night. Many moms like me are constantly looking for healthy lunch box ideas for their kids. Here is one easy recipe with flax seeds, which are high in omega-3 fatty acids. I just mixed some flaxseed meal while kneading the chapati/roti dough. If you don’t have a flaxseed meal, don’t worry; dry roast the flax seeds on a pan on low flame for 2-3 minutes, cool them and grind them to a smooth powder. Store them in the freezer as they turn rancid very soon. Meal Prep Tips: You can boil the chickpeas in an Instant Pot, grate the beetroot, and prep the roti/chapati dough the previous night. I made this one-pot easy pressure cooker mushroom biryani recipe for her lunch box. You can adjust the spices according to your kids’ taste. I mixed beetroot stir fry, steamed basmati rice, homemade ghee, into bite-sized balls. So it’s easier for the kids to eat without any mess. You can do a similar way for rice and sambar. My friend Shwetha Hullur shared this idea. Packing Tips: Use fresh, soft, hot rice to make this beetroot rice ball. When rice is hot, mash it a bit so that when mixed with beetroot sabji, it can be made into a ball and does not break. If the rice is dry, then you can’t make a ball. I generally don’t pack curd rice for school, but when my daughter asks for simple food for her box during hot summers, I pack curd rice loaded with veggies like carrots or beetroot and fruits like pomegranate or grapes. Cut the fruits and veggies into different shapes, the kids will be super excited to see them. I prepared fresh basmati rice in the morning and used the leftover rajma to pack for the lunch box. Easy and healthy. Meal Prep Tips: Boil the pasta and butternut squash the previous night and make the pasta in the morning. Flax seeds have a number of health benefits, so I like to include them in our diet. In this paratha recipe, I have mixed flax seeds powder (or flax seed meal) with whole wheat flour while kneading the dough. How to make flax seed powder: Dry roast the flax seeds in a pan on low flame for 2-3 minutes, cool them, and grind them to a smooth powder. Store them in the freezer, as they will turn rancid very soon. Meal Prep Tips: You can prep the dough and the rajma curry the previous night. Meal Prep Tips: You can shred beets and carrots and prepare the sandwich filling the night before. You can also make peri peri makhana ahead as they can be stored for up to 1 week in an airtight container. Meal Prep Tips: Prep the veggies. You can also prepare idli the previous night or use leftover idli. These sweet potato parathas are so tasty, with a hint of spiciness and sweetness. Do give this recipe a try, I am sure your kid will love it. Meal Prep Tips: Boil the sweet potatoes and prepare the paratha dough the night before. This masala pasta is a one-pot recipe made in the Instant Pot. It’s quick and easy to make under 15 minutes when you are running out of time during busy mornings. Meal Prep Tips: Prep the veggies, and refrigerate. These alu masala poori are so flavorful that they can be eaten on their own. My daughter loves these poori’s, they are filling and tasty. Meal Prep Tips: Boil the potatoes and store them in the fridge the night before. You can make aamras the previous day and store them in the fridge for 1-2 days. Veg Hakka Noodles – I have prepared these Hakka noodles in the Instant Pot pressure cooker, and also shared the stovetop method. Meal Prep Tips: You can chop the veggies and cook the noodles the previous night. Packing Tips: Squeeze some extra lemon juice on the guacamole to prevent it from browning. Meal Prep Tips: Prepare the dough the previous evening and roll the parathas in the morning. Meal Prep Tips: Prepare the dough the previous night and roll the parathas in the morning. Meal Prep Tips: Chop the vegetables, cook the basmati rice, cool it down, and refrigerate. This noodle is a one-pot instant pot recipe, easy and quick to prepare. For nut-free schools, skip this. Meal Prep Tips: You can prep the veggies the previous night. This green pea pulao is super delicious and easy to make. It’s a one-pot pressure cooker recipe that can be made in under 15 minutes with very few ingredients. You can also pair it with the curry of the kids’ choice. Lemon rice is one of the easiest rice recipes to pack for a lunch box when you have some leftover rice. It can be made in under 10 minutes. Skip peanuts for a nut-free option. You can also make one pot lemon rice in the Instant Pot. Meal Prep Ideas: You can prepare the rice the previous night. This simple vegetable pulao can be made in under 15 minutes and is perfect for busy mornings. Meal Prep Tips: Chop the veggies the previous day. Meal Prep Tips: Prep the peanut butter makhana 1-2 days ahead. Prep the veggies for paddu. I create mini round pooris or other shaped puris to make them look attractive to my daughter. I first made a large chapati, cut it into a round shape using a cutter, and deep-fried it. She always gets thrilled whenever I include them in her lunch box. I served it with Potato Curry. Puris also goes well with vegetable kurma or veg sagu. Meal Prep Tips: You can prepare the poori dough the previous night. Make sure the dough is smooth and tight else the pooris will not puff. I prefer preparing mini idlis (also known as cocktail idly) for lunch boxes as they are appealing and bite-sized. Pair them with chutney. Meal Prep Tips: Prepare the idli batter the previous day and keep it for fermentation. We love Veggie Burger at home. Our favorite and go-to veggie patties are from Trader Joe’s. Toast the burger bun and frozen veggie patty on both sides on a Tawa. Place a slice of toasted burger bun, smear some mayo+ ketchup mixture (or sriracha mayo), add lettuce, and top it with a veggie pattie, cheese slice, and bun. Lettuce helps to prevent burgers from turning soggy. This is a perfect lunch idea for busy mornings. Packing Tips: Squeeze some extra lemon/lime juice on the guac to prevent it from browning. My daughter loves chickpeas in any form, so this one-pot easy chickpeas rice is always a hit. You can also use canned chickpeas or boiled black chickpeas for this recipe. Meal Prep Tips: I soaked and boiled the chickpeas in an Instant Pot the previous night. Meal Prep Tips: Prep the veggies, cook the rice, cool it down, and refrigerate. These butternut squash parathas boast a delightful blend of spicy and sweet flavors. If you dont have butternut squash, use pumpkin puree to make the dough. Meal Prep Tips: Prepare the dough the night before, and roll the parathas in the morning. Recipe for Zucchini Paneer Cheela (Zucchini Paneer Chickpea Flour Pancake) In a bowl, add 1 cup shredded zucchini, ¼ cup shredded Paneer (cottage cheese), ½ cup besan/gram flour (or chickpea flour), 2 tablespoons coriander leaves, ½ teaspoon cumin seeds, ¼ teaspoon turmeric, ½ teaspoon red chili powder, ¼ cup water or as needed. Mix everything to get pancake consistency, and cook on the Tawa with some ghee or oil. Meal Prep Tips: Prepare the dough, and paneer filling the night before, and roll the parathas in the morning. Meal Prep Tips: Soak the rice in water the night before. The next day, grind it and make dosas. Meal Prep Tips: Prepare the dough. Boil the potatoes and prepare the aloo paratha filling a day before. My daughter loves pav bhaji. This is an easy one-pot pav bhaji recipe made in the Instant Pot. I usually prepare it for dinner and pack it for school the next day. Meal Prep Tips: Make spicy masala makhana ahead of time and store it for up to a week in an airtight container. My daughter loves this avocado sandwich, consistently making its way into the lunch box rotation. You can substitute coriander mint chutney with pesto too. You may use sour dough bread too. Meal Prep Tips: Make the green chutney the night before. Meal Prep Tips: Prepare the dough, chop the cabbage and paneer, and store it in the refrigerator a day before.

Lunch Box: bento-style stainless steel tiffin box called Lunchbots, which is Eco-Friendly, Dishwasher Safe, and BPA-free. Thermos: retains the temperature of hot or cold meals. Great for soup, pasta, or a cold snack. Insulated thermal bags: help to keep the food warm or cold. Small Dip Containers: great for packing snacks, desserts, dips, sauces, and yogurt/raita. Silicone Muffin Liners: These are ideal as snack holders to keep food separate in your divided container. LunchBots Silicone Bento Cups Set: Keeps liquids from seeping into other sections, so your snacks, like cookies, and crackers, stay crisp. Small Cutters: these are great for cutting out fruits, vegetables, and cheese, into different shapes. Sandwich Shape Cutters: help to turn any sandwich into a fun shape, bringing joy to your children. Ice Pack: helps to keep the lunches cold. Water Bottle: to send water cold or warm for lunch.

My other Favorite Kitchen Gadgets

Instant Pot: electric pressure cooker used for cooking rice, lentils, pasta, soups, and steamed veggies. Air Fryer: used for roasting veggies, cookies, and more. Panini Press: used for grilling sandwiches, burgers, etc.

Do not use plastic lunch boxes for your kids. They are toxic.