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Protein-Packed Lunch Ideas for Kids

These kids’ lunch recipes are easy, delicious & full of healthy lean protein to keep their energy up & running all day long.

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. 

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