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Healthy nut free packed lunch ideas for a three year old

5 replies

Newstart3 · 01/09/2026 22:17

Ok so probably a boring thread (or maybe not) but what do you put into school packed lunches for a young child?. My ds has just turned 3 is starting school nursery and needs a packed lunch. I am specifically looking for healthy, nutritional items preferably homemade but not totally against store bought. also needs to be nut free due to rules at school. He likes most foods. Any ideas from other parents would be really welcome! Please share your ideas 💡

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Needmorelego · 01/09/2026 22:21

What does he have for lunch at home?
At that age my daughter would have eaten a sandwich, fruit/veggie sticks and cheese.
Yogurt too but unless he can open it by himself then that's no good.

Newstart3 · 01/09/2026 22:35

He currently goes to a private nursery and they arrange all lunches in house and it's varied and healthy so I am hoping to keep that going. Hr always seems.to eat it all. At the weekends he usually has alot at breakfast time and then very little for lunch as he just doesn't seem hungry and then dinner he has the same as us. Although he generally will eat most things at the moment he doesn't seem to be eating a whole lot when at home!

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FindAMeetingPlace · 01/09/2026 22:40

Tortilla

Crudites with hummus or yoghurt dip

’ rainbow wraps’ (tortilla spread thinly with hummus then scatter raw spinach, thinly sliced peppers, carrots, spring onions, red cabbage and roll tightly and cut into wheels)

Pasta salad (tuna or chicken, raw veg and yoghurt dressing)

couscous with roasted veg mixed in

leftover homemade pizza

For puddings I tended to put a layer of frozen fruit in a sistema pot and layer with Greek yoghurt. Doubles up as a cool block and the fruit defrosts by lunchtime

homemade cake or biscuit sometimes

As DD got older her packed lunches did attract comment from peers so that’s something to be aware of if your DC isn’t thick skinned. I did occasionally offer to DD to send her with sandwich, crisps, chocolate bar to fit in more but she chose to stick with the varied lunches.

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maggisimpson · 01/09/2026 22:42

Pasta salad, sandwich, quesadillas, cheese & crackers, omelette/frittata strips, homemade sausage rolls or other pastries like pizza twists.
Pot of chopped fruit, berries travel best.
Pot of veg like quartered cherry tomatoes, baby cucumber, sweetcorn.
Greek yoghurt, cheese strings, babybels, malt loaf, rice cakes, mini breadsticks, pot of hummus or cream cheese if they like a dip.

Newstart3 · 01/09/2026 22:48

@FindAMeetingPlace thanks so much for this! Just the ideas I was looking for!

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