What I Pack My Toddler for Daycare (Easy, No-Cook Ideas)

Easy, balanced lunchbox ideas you can throw together in minutes

Easy, No-Cook Lunch Ideas For Toddlers

We started sending Elio to daycare two days a week when he was about six months old, and to be honest, it was a tough transition in so many ways. I know daycare can be a bit of a heated topic, but it’s what works for our family right now.

One thing I felt both excited and slightly intimidated by in the beginning was lunch. It’s now also the thing I’m most nosy about. I want to know what other parents are packing for their children and how much they are actually eating!

We’ve also had to navigate different classrooms with different allergies, so what I send has changed over time. We’re currently in a class with no food allergies, which has made things a lot easier.

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All of the ideas below are simple, can be thrown together in the morning, and require no cooking. I also like to send things that he can easily pick up and eat with his hands.

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I always try to include at least one or two safe foods I know Elio will eat (usually cheese or fruit). There’s also something magical about daycare - he tends to eat more and try more when he’s eating with a bunch of other toddlers (they also somehow get him to nap for two hours independently… which I’m still trying to figure out).

Most days, I’ll include some leftovers from the night before, which makes things super easy.

Here are some of our current go-to lunches:

• Tuna or salmon salad (canned wild fish, no salt added) mixed with a little mayo

• Cubed baked tofu

• Cottage cheese

• Hard-boiled eggs

• Whole-fat Greek yogurt + maple syrup + chopped raspberries

• Cottage cheese + applesauce

• Mozzarella + chopped tomatoes + olive oil + balsamic glaze

• Smashed cannellini beans with olive oil. Lately I’ve been topping with mango chutney (from Trader Joe’s)

• Hummus + soft pita

• Steamed lentils (pre-cooked) + olive oil

• Avocado slices rolled in hemp seeds (they do get a little brown)

Overall, I try to make sure his meal includes a protein, fat, and carbohydrate to keep things balanced.

What are some of your favorite packed lunches? Let me know in the comments! And please forward this to anyone you think may be interested in this list.

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