If you've ever found yourself staring blankly into the fridge, wondering what on earth to make, for your picky eater, we’ve got good news for you! There are plenty of quick and easy lunch ideas that even the fussiest kids will enjoy. In this blog, we’ve rounded up some creative and stress-free options that might just become new lunchtime favourites!

Top 7 School Lunch Ideas for Extremely Picky Eaters

Struggling to find lunch ideas your picky eater will actually eat? Here are the top 7 school lunch ideas that are both kid-approved and easy to make!

Corn Fritters

Corn fritters are incredibly versatile—you can enjoy them for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or even as a snack. They’re easy to prepare ahead of time and perfect for popping into school or work lunch boxes, or for an after-school bite. For a little heat, mix in some chopped red chilli or chilli flakes, or pair them with your favorite chutney. 

Type: Vegetarian, Kid Friendly 

Makes 16-20 Fritters

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 15 minutes 

Ingredients

1. 2 eggs
2. ½ cup milk
3. 2 fresh corn cobs, husks removed
4. 1 small red capsicum, finely chopped
5. Handful fresh coriander leaves & stalks, chopped
6. 1 cup wholemeal self-raising flour
7. 3 tablespoons olive oil

Recipe

1. Add the eggs and milk to a large bowl and whisk to combine. Stir in the fresh corn, capsicum and coriander. 
2. Add in the flour and stir gently until just combined. 
3. Heat a large frying pan over medium to high heat. Add one tablespoon of the olive oil. 
4. Add 2 tablespoons worth of batter to each fritter, flatten slightly and then fry on each side for 2-3 minutes until golden brown. 
5. Add another tablespoon of olive oil to the frying pan, and continue to cook the fritters in batches until all of the batter has been used up. 
6. Serve fritters immediately and enjoy!

 Vegan Banana Pancakes are another great option—most kids love pancakes, and these are quick and easy to whip up for lunchtime without any hassle.

Berry Frozen Yoghurt Drops

This is a yummy snack that’s easy to make in advance and keep in the freezer until it's time to enjoy. Ideal for hot days, your little ones will love it! We’ve chosen berries, but you can substitute with any seasonal fruit you like. 

Type: Vegetarian, Kid Friendly, Baby Friendly, Snacks

Makes approx. 30 

Prep Time: 5 minutes (+ 2 hours freezing time)

Cooking Time: 0 minutes 

Ingredients

1. ½ cup mixed berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries – frozen also works, just allow to defrost slightly)
2. 1 cup Greek yoghurt

Recipe

1. Prepare 2 flat baking trays by lining them with baking paper. 
2. Add the berries and the yoghurt to a small blender. Blend well until smooth.
3. Use a teaspoon to dollop spoonfuls of the yoghurt mixture onto the baking trays. Continue until all the yoghurt mixture has been used. 
4. Carefully transfer the trays into your freezer, ensuring that they are sitting flat and level. 
5. Allow to freeze for at least a couple of hours. Once frozen, remove the yoghurt drops from the trays and place into a container, then return to the freezer. 
6. Serve the yoghurt drops frozen and enjoy!

Zucchini and Corn Slice

Easy to prepare, this slice is a fantastic snack for kids to enjoy, whether at home or packed in their school lunch box.

Type: Vegetarian, Kid Friendly, Baby Friendly, Snacks

Makes 15 squares

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cooking Time: 40 minutes 

Ingredients

1. 6 eggs
2. 1 cup milk
3. 1 cup wholemeal self-raising flour
4. 2 large zucchini, grated
5. 1 cup corn kernels
6. Handful of fresh herbs e.g. coriander, mint
7. ½ cup grated cheese (optional)

Recipe

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C. 
2. Line a rectangular baking tray with baking paper.  
3. In a large bowl whisk together the eggs and the milk. Add the flour and whisk until smooth. 
4. Add in the grated zucchini, corn, herbs, and cheese (if using). Stir well to combine. 
5. Pour the batter into the baking tray. Place into the oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, until puffed up and golden. 
6. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely in the baking tray. Once cooled, cut the zucchini slice into squares and enjoy!

Banana Nut Bars

This easy snack is quick to prepare and can be stored in the fridge or freezer, ready for when hunger hits. Just be sure to cut it into individual square bars—it's hard to stop at just one!

Type: Vegetarian, Vegan, Lactose Free, Snacks

Makes 16 squares

Prep Time: 15 minutes + 3 hours refrigeration 

Cooking Time: 0 minutes

Ingredients

1. 1 ½ cups rolled oats
2. ½ cup raw cashew nuts, chopped
3. ½ cup cashew, peanut or almond butter
4. 1 banana, mashed

Recipe

1. Add 1 cup of the rolled oats to a blender and pulse a couple of times until the oats resemble flour. Pour into a large mixing bowl with the remaining rolled oats and cashew nuts.  
2. Heat the nut butter in a small saucepan over low heat (or alternatively in the microwave for 1-2 minutes) until melted and runny. Pour into the mixing bowl and add the mashed banana. Mix everything well to combine. 
3. Transfer the mixture to a rectangular baking dish. Use the back of a spoon to press the mixture firmly into the tin, ensuring it is spread evenly. Place into the fridge for at least 3 hours until firm. Slice into square bars and serve. 

For a time-saving lunch option, try making Tahini Nut Bars. They're simple to prepare and can be stored in a sealed container for weeks.

Tomato and Basil Risoni

Risoni is a fantastic pasta choice for kids—it's quick to cook and small enough to be easily chewed. Plus, it’s a one-pot meal, making it a breeze to prepare for the whole family in no time.

Type: Vegetarian, Kid Friendly, Baby Friendly

Serves 4-6

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cooking Time: 30 minutes 

Ingredients

1. 2 tablespoons olive oil
2. 5 Roma tomatoes, chopped
3. 1 red onion, finely chopped
4. 1 clove garlic, crushed
5. 1 cup risoni pasta
6. 3 cups vegetable stock (replace with water if you are cooking this recipe for your baby, to remove any added salt)
7. 2 tablespoons tomato paste
8. 1 cup frozen peas
9. Handful fresh basil leaves, plus extra to serve
10. ½ cup cherry bocconcini, halved, to serve

Recipe

1. Heat a large saucepan over medium to high heat. Add in 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. 
2. Fry the tomatoes for 4-5 minutes until softened. Remove from the pan and set aside. 
3. Return the saucepan to the heat. Add in the remaining tablespoon of olive oil. 
4. Add in the onion, then the garlic. Cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring often, until the onions are softened. 
5. Add in the risoni, followed by the stock. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat to low. Place a lid on and allow the risoni to simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. 
6. Once most of the liquid has been absorbed, stir in the tomato paste and then the frozen peas. Add the cooked tomatoes back into the pot, and cook for a further 5-10 minutes until heated through. 
7. Turn off the heat and stir the basil leaves through the risoni. 
8. Serve the risoni topped with extra fresh basil leaves if desired, and the bocconcini. Allow to cool slightly before serving to children. Enjoy!

Kid-Friendly Tortellini Pasta

When you need a fast and easy meal, this recipe using packaged tortellini pasta is your go-to. It’s perfect for a weeknight dinner and can be made ahead of time to enjoy throughout the week. Simple yet delicious, it’s sure to be a hit with the kids. 

Type: Vegetarian, Kid Friendly

Serves 6

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cooking Time: 15 minutes 

Ingredients

1. 1x 600g packet spinach and cheese tortellini
2. 2 tablespoons olive oil
3. 1 punnet baby Roma tomatoes, halved
4. 1 red capsicum, chopped
5. 1x 400g tin butter beans, drained and rinsed
6. 200g cherry bocconcini, quartered
7. ½ cup fresh basil leaves

Recipe

1. Heat a large saucepan of water over high heat until boiling, then cook the tortellini according to the packet directions. Ensure that you cook the tortellini to ‘al dente’, so that it is still slightly firm to the bite. 
2. Once the tortellini is cooked, drain and rinse lightly with cold water. Return the tortellini to the saucepan. 
3. Add in the olive oil, tomatoes, capsicum, butter beans, bocconcini, and basil. Stir to combine. 
4. Serve and enjoy!

Savoury Zucchini Muffins

Muffins are perfect for when hunger hits—they’re easy to make and can be kept in the freezer for weeks. These savoury muffins are light and flavorful. Feel free to swap the zucchini and ricotta for other fillings like tomato and basil, corn and sundried tomatoes, or zucchini and feta.

Type: Vegetarian, Snacks

Makes 12 muffins

Prep Time: 5 minutes 

Cooking Time: 15-20 minutes

Ingredients

1. 1 egg
2. 150ml milk
3. 5 tablespoons olive oil
4. 1 ¼ cups wholemeal self-raising flour
5. ½ teaspoon baking powder
6. ½ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
7. Sprinkle of fennel seeds
8. Sprinkle of cumin
9. Sprinkle of salt and pepper
10. 1 large zucchini, grated
11. ½ cup reduced fat ricotta cheese 

Recipe

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C.
2. Add the egg, milk and olive oil to a jug and whisk well to combine. 
3. In a large mixing bowl add the self-raising flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, fennel seeds, cumin, salt and pepper. Stir to combine. 
4. Add the whisked egg and milk mixture into the bowl with the dry ingredients. Add in the zucchini and ricotta cheese.
5. Stir all ingredients gently until just combined. Do not overmix, as this will lead to tough textured muffins. 
6. Pour the batter into a non-stick muffin tray. 
7. Place muffins into the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, until slightly golden on top and firm to the touch.
8. Allow muffins to cool slightly before removing from the tray. Enjoy!

To brighten up lunchtime for your kids, try making Hot Cross Bun Muffins.

Closing Thoughts

Dealing with extremely picky eaters at lunchtime doesn’t have to be a chore! With a touch of creativity and a keen eye on your child’s likes and dislikes, you can prepare meals that are both tasty and nutritious. 

The trick is to make food fun and appealing, so lunchtime becomes something your little one looks forward to. Experiment with different recipes and keep trying—patience will pay off. The goal is to turn mealtime into a positive experience that encourages healthy eating habits for life. Happy lunch packing!

For more delicious ideas, head over to our Recipes section.