The bell has rung — yes, school’s out for summer — and the kids who were previously occupied for the hours of approximately 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. are now at home clamoring for attention, desperately seeking entertainment, and seemingly always hungry. Who coined the phrase “the lazy days of summer?” Someone without kids at home, no doubt. 

We combed through our recipes to find some easy-but-elevated summer lunch ideas for kids to add a light breeziness to your sunny days. 

Quick and Easy Summer Lunch Ideas to Make for Kids

The Classic Pairing, Upgraded: Homemade Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese and Pear

This combo was born during World War II, served to military personnel and school kids when Campbell’s soup, pre-sliced bread, and sliced cheese became widely available. We’ve come a long way since then. If you haven’t yet tried making your own tomato soup, take our word for it: it is sublime and well worth the effort. Pairing it with this creamy and subtly sweet sandwich is the stuff of comfort food dreams. 

On a Roll: Hot Dog Roll-Ups

This is a fun recipe to make with older kids as they will love the theater of it all. Start in the morning, as it takes some time for the dough to rise — which is always a wonder, as is kneading the sticky mixture. You could even invite their friends to come and roll their own dogs. If you prefer less theatrics and more ease, crescent roll dough is a perfect swap in. 

One for Mom (or Dad): High Protein Chicken Salad with Greek Yogurt

Having a big container of chicken salad in the fridge is akin to the oxygen mask on a plane. You can deal with the kids’ lunch prep — or whatever comes at you — when you have a nutrient-dense, sweet-and-savory salad at the ready. You can even grab a fork and eat right out of the bowl, we won’t tell. 

Leftover’s Delight: Chicken and Orzo Soup

While there’s a bit of chopping involved here, using orzo, which cooks right in the broth, and leftover (or rotisserie) chicken, means this soup comes together pretty quickly. If your little ones are averse to “green things,” you can always skip the arugula — or add that in after you’ve ladled bowls for them. 

Go Fishing: Fancy Fish Sticks

Getting kids to eat fish is always a win. This recipe is user-friendly; it just requires a bit of planning as it uses cooked salmon, which is available in many grocery stores’ prepared food cases. You can even make a big batch as fish sticks freeze well. Pair the crunchy treat with cut cantaloupe or — even easier — red grapes.

Lunch on the Go: Turkey and Granny Smith Apple Sandwich or White Bean Tuna Salad Wraps

We chose this recipe as it brings in the sweetness that kids love. Perhaps it will inspire you to add sliced fruit to other sandwiches? Some options include Virginia ham with peaches or pineapple on a Hawaiian roll; peanut butter with strawberries, apples, or bananas on wheat bread; or chicken salad with red grapes on mini croissants.

This wrap is great as it ups the protein with both white beans and tuna, it’s easy to hold, and it packs well in your cooler for a day at the pool. If you — or your kids — don’t like onion, skip it; there’s still plenty of tanginess from the lemon juice. And if you prefer tuna in water, that works as well. 

Fun to Make Together: Homemade Hot Pockets

This lunch is a twofer as it solves your what-to-eat dilemma and doubles as a fun kids-in-the-kitchen activity, making it great for a rainy day. Many groceries sell refrigerated dough — or you could also make this into a three-fer by adding in a road trip to a pizzeria to buy their dough. You can always call your local pizza shop, buying dough balls is not an uncommon ask. 

Get on the Stick: Caprese Kebabs 

Kids love novelty — and what’s more unique than eating lunch off of a stick? Depending on their ages, kids can help thread the tomatoes, mozzarella, and ham onto the skewers. As this recipe has dipping sauce, add your child’s favorite cut veggies as a side. A word from someone who’s been there: be sure to take the sticks before the kids start using them as mini swords — or maybe just after?

Story by Lauri Gravina

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