Need summer camp lunch ideas for kids or healthy snacks for Bento Boxes for summer lunches for kids at home?
These easy bento box ideas include no-fuss snacks and healthy food options for summer when you don’t want to cook a lot on hot summer days.
14 Days of Summer Camp Lunch Ideas For Kids’ Bento Box or Summer Snacks
These lunch recipes are simple and nutritious food ideas and fun summer snacks for kids to grab and go and easy to pack into bento boxes or lunch box compartments.
Great for kid travel snacks, too!
Easy Veggie Hummus Wrap Bento Lunch
- Veggie wrap (hummus, cucumbers, baby carrots, bell pepper strips in a tortilla)
- Dipping sauce of choice (like Ranch)
- Peeled orange segments
Whenever I’m short on time (or energy) this is my go-to lunch box recipe.
I always keep the ingredients for this in the refrigerator in the summer when I need a healthy summer snack or grab-and-go lunch.
You don’t even have to make it as a wrap. You can make tortilla or pita triangles and put the hummus and vegetables in separate sections in the lunchbox for a veggie dipper lunch.
Apple Pizza Lunch
I like to slice the apples (instead of cutting them into wedges) and call them “apple pizzas.”
Then, they get to spread the peanut butter and then put a few other items on top like a pizza topping.
- Apple slices (sliced flat)
- Peanut butter (or a nut butter substitute)
- Raisins
- Any other “toppings”
In the lunch box for them to make their “pizza toppings” like coconut (for “cheese”), mini chocolate chips, raisins, and more.
LUNCH TIP: Be sure to include a spoon “spreader” for spreading the peanut butter on the apple.
Grilled Chicken Bento Lunch
- Grilled chicken strips
- Brown rice
- Steamed broccoli
- Apple slices
I like to make this whenever we have leftover rotisserie chicken or to repurpose fried chicken or chicken nuggets from fast food. (No shame here!)
I also keep the pre-cooked grilled chicken strips like this in the freezer and microwave them right before putting them in the lunch.
Taco Salad Lunch
- Leftover taco salad
- Tortilla Chips
- Salsa cup
I like to make this lunch box recipe the day after we have taco salad because taco salad is good cold, too!
(Get the taco salad recipe here.)
Pickle Dog Skewers Lunch
Whenever we’ve made these, kids have LOVED them.
If you don’t want to make them as skewers, leave them off the skewers for finger food bites.
You’ll need:
- Pickle corndogs recipe
- Mustard & ketchup dipping sauces
- Fruit salad
Falafel Bento Lunch
- Falafel (I buy the boxed mix like this and think it’s good!)
- Pita bread triangles
- Cherry tomatoes
- Cucumber slices
- Small container of tzatziki dipping sauce or a Ranch cup
I think kids love falafel because they’re round foods you get to dip and (for some reason) that’s always fun for kids.
SUMMER LUNCH TIP: I just buy the big containers of dipping sauces or dips and portion them into resusable cups with lids like this. It saves money!
Taco Roll-Ups Lunch
My daughter has loved these fiesta roll-ups since she was really young, so I’ve made plenty of Bento-style lunches that included these easy finger foods.
For the lunch:
- Fiesta taco roll-ups recipe
- Carrot and celery sticks
- Ranch dip cup
Summer Lunch Tip: Make and roll them the night before and then slice them right before you put them in the lunchbox.
Cold Peanut Noodles
- Cold peanut noodles
- Carrot sticks
- Celery sticks
Meatball & Veggie Bento
- Mini meatballs like this
- Whole grain pasta noodles
- Steamed peas or green beans
- Strawberries
Egg Salad & Crackers Lunch
- Egg salad
- Whole grain crackers
- Grape tomatoes
- Apple slices
GET AN EASY EGG SALAD RECIPE HERE
Veggie Burger Bento
- Mini veggie burger patties
- Whole wheat bun (cut)
- Carrot sticks
- Blueberries
Greek Pasta Salad Lunch
- Greek pasta salad recipe
- Cherry tomatoes
- Cucumbers
- Olives
- Grapes
This is a good pasta salad to add any grilled chicken that you have from leftovers!
Cheesy Mini Pigs In A Blanket
- Mini pigs in a blanket recipe
- Mustard and ketchup dipping sauces
- Celery sticks
- Strawberries
Don’t worry about these not being hot enough for a lunchtime.
Lunch Tip: I make them ahead of time and keep them in the refrigerator. Heat them up before packing the lunch and they’ll still be good (even at room temperature) for later.
Macaroni & Tomatoes Lunch Box Recipe
This is another of my daughter’s favorite recipes. She could eat this every day!
I love that this is a simple pasta salad that is good at room temperature or cold, so it makes it perfect for children’s lunch boxes.
LUNCH TIP: Make this recipe ahead of time and keep it in the refrigerator for lunch day.
MORE EASY SNACKS FOR CHILDREN: 57+ Fun Beach Snacks For Kids
I hope you enjoy these easy summer camp lunch ideas and summer snacks for kids!
