Finding the perfect cold lunch that is both healthy and safe for those with nut allergies can be a challenge. Whether you’re packing lunch for school, work, or a picnic, having a variety of delicious and nutritious options at your fingertips is much needed. That’s why we’ve compiled this list of over 30 healthy nut-free cold lunch ideas. From vibrant salads and hearty wraps to creative bento boxes and refreshing bowls, there’s something here for everyone.
Nut Free Lunch Ideas
We are on a mission to empower families to feel confident in the kitchen, even when navigating food allergies and dietary preferences. While there isn’t a magic formula to make a perfect lunch, it can be helpful to have a variety of lunch recipes to build a healthy plate (or lunchbox!).
As a mom, I know it can be challenging to keep lunch healthy, fun and interesting, which is why I am excited to share this recipe collection. It caters to the wants of kids while meeting all parent expectations. From flavor to variety, you will want to keep these tree nut and peanut free lunch ideas handy!
For more easy school lunch ideas, check out 80 Non-Sandwich Lunch Ideas for Kids, Hot Lunch Ideas For School and Lunch Ideas for Picky Eaters.
Along with recipe round ups, many families find our Meal Planning Spreadsheet helpful to plan lunch ideas for kids of all ages. You can reuse them week after week by placing them into a sheet protector. Plus, hang them on the fridge with a magnetic dry-erase marker to mark things down as needed.
Healthy Nut Free Cold Lunch Ideas
Our Cucumber Sushi Rolls feature the rich flavors of canned salmon and the creamy goodness of cream cheese. This delightful twist on traditional sushi combines the ease of canned salmon paired with sushi rice and cream cheese, wrapped in cucumber rather than nori seaweed. Perfect for a light lunch, a snack, or as an impressive appetizer for your next gathering.
Our salmon sushi roll is not your ordinary sushi – they’re designed with kids in mind. We’re turning the rice inside out, making it the outer layer to create a unique and appetizing lunch or dinner. Our star ingredient? Canned salmon, packed with flavor and easy to use. Whether you’re a sushi-making novice or a seasoned pro, our step-by-step guide will help you make these delicious sushi rolls with ease.
Learn to make Tuna Sushi Rolls using canned tuna for a simple, kid-friendly meal like those from a sushi restaurant. Create sushi at home with no special equipment in easy steps. This sushi recipe is gluten-free and very customizable. Made by layering sushi rice, tuna, cucumbers, and avocado, wrap in nori (edible seaweed), and add a spicy kick with sriracha sauce.
Flatbread Pizza is the go-to option for anyone seeking a quick and enjoyable dinner recipe. These personal-sized pizzas can be effortlessly prepared in less than 10 minutes, making them the ultimate choice for a laid-back and delicious meal.
Learn how to make homemade lunchables quickly. These healthy lunchables save money and are more nutritious for your kids! It’s easy to make several in very little time to stack in the fridge for grab-and-go meals, picnics, or school lunches.
Looking for ideas to put on your toast? These four toppings for toast will spice up your breakfast (or lunch!), are quick and easy, and kids enjoy them too!
Our avocado toast is perfect for kids. We’ve included 3 different ideas that even toddlers love including avocado toast with scrambled eggs, fried eggs, avocado cheese toast, and the kid-favorite – avocado toast with bacon, lettuce, and tomato!
Oatmeal to go is DIY instant oatmeal packets that are quick and easy to make. You get full control over the flavors (along with the sugar content), and only need hot water to turn into a hot breakfast perfect for on-the-go, lunch boxes, or add milk and refrigerate for overnight oats.
Our gluten-free pasta salad is simple to make and features simple ingredients kids love. Made with an easy mayo-based dressing this pasta salad is also dairy-free.
Our salmon buddha bowl recipe uses frozen salmon baked with brown sugar and tamari glaze, which perfectly complements the rice and veggies in our kid-friendly buddha bowl.
Our gluten free crab cake recipe is the best around! Made with lump crab meat, chopped celery, and gluten-free bread crumbs, this recipe is simple to make and makes a great lunch, appetizer, or dinner meal.
Our homemade gluten free chicken nuggets will quickly become a favorite lunch. Made with ground chicken and seasonings, coated with gluten free Bisquick then baked into baked chicken nuggets just like McDonalds.
Homemade protein bars taste so much better than store-bought and they save you money too. Made with toasted coconut flakes, dates, vanilla, and chocolate these protein bars for kids will become a favorite. Wrap individually to easily pack in a lunch or grab for snack time.
Looking for a delicious summer sandwich for kids that’s bursting with flavor? Look no further than the muffuletta! This classic sandwich hails from New Orleans and features a combination of cured meats, cheese, and tangy olive salad all piled high onto bread. Perfect for a picnic or a lazy day at the beach, this sandwich is easy to make and is always a crowd-pleaser.
Our homemade gluten-free spaghetti O’s recipe is the next best thing for kids! They don’t have to miss out on this kid favorite dish as all the flavors have been transformed into a gluten-free version that is just as tasty.
This Tuna Pasta Salad pulls together pasta, tuna and delicious summer vegetables with a creamy dressing. This salad is great for school or work lunches for a filling non sandwich lunch idea. It’s even great as a quick and simple weeknight meal. My pasta salad recipe is packed with flavour and deliciously seasoned with a creamy lemon mustard dressing.
Delicious vegan Mexican chopped salad with avocado dressing makes the perfect lunch salad or an easy side dish to any Mexican feast. This gluten free salad is packed with fresh veggies, dietary fiber and plant based protein.
Fresh, filling and ridiculously delicious – these Chicken Avocado & Mango Summer Rolls are clean eating goals! Juicy mango, lush avocado, shredded chicken, crunchy veggies, and fresh herbs wrapped and sealed off in a sheet of rice paper. Turn nut free by swapping our coconut peanut dipping sauce for your family's favorite!
An Apple Sandwich without bread is a fun and healthy lunch idea, especially for kids. A tasty option whether someone took the last slice, you are looking for an easy gluten free sandwich, or want something different. And it’s so easy you don’t even really need a recipe. Just go breadless with a classic combination when you make Turkey, Ham and Cheese Apple Sandwiches.
This white bean and veggie salad recipe is a protein packed recipe for fresh garden tomatoes and cucumbers! Easy no cook summer lunch.
This delicious Zucchini Slice is a firm family favourite. It’s a quick and easy no-fuss weeknight dinner or protein packed lunch. It’s fantastic warm or cold and makes a delicious non sandwich lunchbox idea. This slice is made from simple ingredients including zucchini, bacon, eggs, ricotta and cheddar cheese.
Mini Caprese Skewers (Tomato, Basil and Mozzarella Appetizers)
Caprese skewers are a great appetizer for the summer, but are also a hit for Christmas parties. When I make any type of Caprese salad, I prefer the authentic flavors of the original dish: only tomato, basil, mozzarella, salt and olive oil.
Pinwheel sandwiches are perfect for packed lunches, picnics and parties, and they’re so easy to make! Why buy them, when they’re better tasting, and less expensive to make at home?
Try these carrot broccoli and cheese pinwheels for a healthy snack, lunch box idea or appetizer your kids will love! They’re loaded with yummy veggies to nourish your whole family.
Veggie Garbanzo Beans Salad is easy and quick to make. It is a plant based salad with basic ingredients.
This flank steak salad with chimichurri dressing is marinated, grilled on the stovetop until juicy and tender, and then served on a bed of lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, and sweet corn. It's refreshing and satisfying, making the perfect summer salad!
This easy vegan poke bowl recipe is a perfect no-cook dinner or work-from-home lunch. Unlike most vegan poke bowls, we made this one without tofu. Instead, we used marinated roasted beets, added lots of veggies like carrots and avocados, and topped it off with vegan sriracha mayonnaise.
Crispy fresh lettuce filled with delicious Chinese pork mince... this San Choy Bow recipe is a firm favorite here! Simple ingredients and ready in under 20 minutes, this is a starter, lunch, or dinner everyone will love!
Try this Caprese Pasta Salad recipe for a hearty and satisfying twist on the classic. Whole-grain bow-tie pasta is combined with cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella pearls, and basil leaves to make a healthy side dish. With the addition of tangy balsamic dressing, it’s the perfect option for backyard barbecues, potlucks, and more!
Enjoy this chicken salad without mayo as a tasty summer lunch, BBQ side dish or to take to a potluck! Quick and easy to make in less than 30 minutes, this dairy free chicken salad is packed with tasty vegetables, herbs and has a lightly spiced olive oil based dressing that's so delicious!
Tuna potato salad is a delicious combination of tender baby potatoes, tuna, green beans, capers, and red onion. A lemony Dijon dressing adds loads of flavor and this protein packed salad is perfect for lunch or dinner.
Roasted sweet potato quinoa salad is a nutritious and flavorful dish the whole family will love. This delicious salad has it all; protein-rich quinoa and chickpeas, nutritious veggies and greens, plus sunflower seeds for healthy fats and even more protein.
Veggie Tuna Salad is a classic New York bagel store and deli traditional recipe. The creamy salad is loaded with crispy and chopped vegetables. This veggie tuna can be enjoyed on a bagel, bialy, wrap, or on a bed of greens.
Make this delicious vegan wrap recipe and eat the rainbow! This effortless hummus veggie wrap takes just minutes to make, is bright, fresh, and tasty, and packed with fiber, plant protein, and other essential nutrients.
If you enjoyed any of the recipes make sure to leave a comment below! Then follow me on social media and tag #createkidsclub if you make the recipe. I love seeing what you come up with!
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