Protein-Packed Lunch Ideas for Kids
It’s that time again: The summer haze is fading away, everything is snapping back into focus and school is nearly back in session. With it comes the return of the good old lunchbox—and this year, we’re thinking beyond the standard sandwich. (No offense, sandwiches, we still love you!) These universally appealing lunch recipes make use of nutritious tuna, salmon and crab to dial up the lean protein in clever and delicious ways—so that kids’ energy levels stay steady through the whole school day.
MAPLE SMOKEHOUSE SALMON SOUTHWEST TORTILLA WRAP
This Southwestern wrap is a major kid pleaser: A protein power trio of salmon, beans and cheddar, plus sweet corn, ripe tomatoes and chopped lettuce. Best of all, we’ve done the hard work for you by infusing rich maple smokehouse flavor into our wild-caught salmon, so all you have to do is open a packet and wrap everything up. Leave the jalapeños out of this recipe for younger eaters with sensitive palates, and add in avocado if you have guacamole lovers in the house.
TUNA MEATBALLS WITH TZATZIKI
Garlicky, savory little tuna meatballs are a match made in heaven for tzatziki, the classic, herby Greek yogurt sauce—and if there’s anything kids love as much as a good meatball, it’s a good dip. Buy your tzatziki premade or throw it together yourself with a little mint, olive oil, grated cucumber and thick Greek yogurt (bonus, it’s another great source of protein and calcium). Tuck a few slices of lemon into the lunchbox for a finishing zing right before eating.
SALMON MAC ‘N CHEESE
This classic American kid food gets a gourmet, protein-rich makeover thanks to wild-caught Alaskan salmon, peppery arugula, and a Parmesan-y breadcrumb topping. If you want to bulk up the vegetable content in a kid-friendly way, mix in defrosted petite peas before baking—their sweet, mild flavor is a perfect fit with this pasta.
DILL TUNA SALAD CRISPY RICE CRACKER CAKES
This recipe comes together in mere minutes, and combines the satisfying crunch of rice crackers and cucumbers with creamy smashed avocado and herb-infused tuna. You can also package the components separately from one another—the dill-inflected tuna salad is already prepped and comes in its own easy on-the-go packet, so kids can assemble each cracker exactly to their liking at lunchtime.
MARYLAND STYLE CRAB CAKES
Packed full of morsels of tender lump crabmeat, these pan-fried Maryland favorites are the best sort of finger food—and trust us, they’ll disappear fast. For a dip, we like to whip up a quick and simple tartar sauce with mayonnaise, sweet pickle relish, lemon and a dash of Dijon mustard. Round out the lunchbox with a creamy, tangy coleslaw of cabbage and carrots, a little potato salad, or some simply boiled corn on the cob.
SWEET & SPICY TUNA SEACUTERIE BENTO
Few things beat a beautifully assembled bento box brimming with colors, textures, and flavors—and for older kiddos with more adventurous taste buds, our tuna in Thai sweet red chili sauce perfectly complements a variety of crudités. (Our sweet chili tuna comes ready-made in its own portable packet, and we keep the spice dialed to the perfect level). Our favorite bento box trick is to add in unexpected vegetable varieties—purple cauliflower, for example, or multicolored carrots—so kids can explore the whole (healthy!) rainbow.
WHERE TO BUY
Use our product locator to find the perfect salmon, tuna, crab or other seafood products from Chicken of the Sea.
- Products
- Choose Your Product
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- Packet Up! White Tuna Salad Kit
- Packet Up! Pink Salmon Salad Kit
- Mix it Up! Cheesy Tuna Casserole Kit
- Wild Caught Light Tuna in Spring Water Packet
- Wild Caught Light Tuna Packet, Dill Tuna Salad
- Wild Caught Light Tuna Packet, Lemon Garlic
- Wild Caught Light Tuna Packet, Sweet & Spicy
- Wild Caught Albacore Tuna in Spring Water Packet
- Wild Caught Alaskan Pink Salmon in Spring Water Packet
- Wild Caught Alaskan Pink Salmon in Spring Water Packet, Low Sodium
- Wild Caught Alaskan Pink Salmon Packet, Everything Bagel Seasoning
- Wild Caught Alaskan Pink Salmon Packet, Lemon Pepper
- Wild Caught Smoked Alaskan Pink Salmon Packet, Natural Wood Smoke
- Wild Caught Smoked Alaskan Pink Salmon Packet, Maple Smokehouse Flavor
- Wild Caught Sardines in Water
- Wild Caught Sardines in Olive Oil
- Wild Caught Sardines in Oil, Lightly Smoked
- Wild Caught Sardines, Mediterranean Style
- Wild Caught Chunk Light Tuna in Water
- Wild Caught Chunk Light Tuna in Water, 25% Less Sodium
- Wild Caught Chunk Light Tuna in Oil
- Wild Caught Solid White Pure Tuna, No Drain
- Wild Caught Solid White Pure Tuna, No Drain, Low Sodium
- Wild Caught Solid White Premium Albacore Tuna in Water
- Wild Caught Solid White Premium Albacore Tuna in Water, Low Sodium
- Wild Caught Solid White Premium Albacore Tuna in Water, No Salt Added
- Wild Caught Solid White Premium Albacore Tuna in Oil
- Wild Caught Chunk White Albacore Tuna in Water
- Wild Caught Chunk White Albacore Tuna in Water, Low Sodium
- Wild Caught Solid Yellowfin Pure Tuna, No Drain
- Wild Caught Chunk Yellowfin Tuna in Vegetable Oil
- Wild Caught Alaskan Pink Salmon, Skinless & Boneless
- Wild Caught Alaskan Pink Salmon, 25% Less Sodium
- Wild Caught Alaskan Pink Salmon, Traditional Style
- Wild Caught Alaskan Sockeye Red Salmon, Traditional Style
- Wild Caught White Crabmeat
- Wild Caught Lump Crabmeat
- Imitation Crabmeat in Brine Packet
- Wild Caught Chopped Clams
- Whole Baby Clams
- Smoked Baby Clams in Oil Packet
- Wild Caught Chub Mackerel in Brine
- Wild Caught Mackerel Fillet in Oil Packet
- Wild Caught Mackerel in Oil Packet
- Whole Oysters
- Fancy Smoked Oysters in Oil
- Smoked Oysters in Oil Packet
- Wild Caught Sardines in Lemon Sauce
- Wild Caught Sardines in Mustard Sauce
- Wild Caught Sardines in Louisiana Hot Sauce
- Wild Caught Sardines in Louisiana Hot Sauce Packet
- Wild Caught Sardines in Oil with Natural Smoke Flavor Packet
- Perfectly Crisp Shrimp
- Crispy Stuffed Shrimp – Creamy Garlic & Spinach
- Crispy Stuffed Shrimp – Creamy Jalapeno
- Crispy Stuffed Shrimp – Creamy Wonton
- Infusions Basil Tuna
- Infusions Lemon & Thyme Tuna
- Infusions Thai Chili Tuna
- Infusions Garlic & Herb Tuna
- Infusions Cracked Black Pepper Tuna
- Wild Caught Pink Salmon with Lemon & Chive
- To-Go Cups – Chunk Light Tuna in Water
- Crab Cakes
- Blue Swimming Crab – Lump
- Blue Swimming Crab – Super Lump
- Blue Swimming Crab – Jumbo Lump
- Blue Swimming Crab – Backfin
- Blue Swimming Crab – Colossal
- Blue Swimming Crab – Claw
- Blue Swimming Crab – Special
- Raw Peeled & Deveined Tail-On Shrimp
- Raw Peeled & Deveined Tail-Off Shrimp
- Raw Shell On, Easy to Peel Shrimp
- Easy Grillers Uncooked Shrimp
- Cooked Peeled & Deveined Tail-On Shrimp
- Cooked Peeled & Deveined Tail-Off Shrimp
