School Lunch Ideas Fourth Grade: Fun and Tasty Treats for Happy Kids!

School Lunch Ideas Fourth Grade: Fun and Tasty Treats for Happy Kids!

By Sara Taylor

School Lunch Ideas Fourth Grade: Fun and Tasty Treats for Happy Kids!

By Sara Taylor
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Updated
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Recipes

It’s understandable to keep looking into your lunchbox and wondering what to pack for your fourth grader. These ideas can be put together quickly and easily and won’t take long to prepare on other days of the week. Also, the kids will enjoy eating them at lunch. These will keep the kids full until break and will keep them going until the bell rings. Make one each day, switch them throughout the week, and consider your win secured.

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1) Turkey and Cheese Roll-Ups

turkey and cheese pinwheel roll-ups sliced to show the spiral layers, arranged in a kid's bento lunchbox with grapes, in a wide horizontal shot, bright natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

A lunch without bread that kids can easily pick up and enjoy, and is even more exciting than a typical sandwich!

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turkey and cheese pinwheel roll-ups sliced to show the spiral layers, arranged in a kid's bento lunchbox with grapes, in a wide horizontal shot, bright natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

Turkey and Cheese Roll-Ups

Spread cream cheese on soft tortillas, layer turkey and cheese, and roll them up.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings: 2 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 flour tortillas
  • 2 tbsp cream cheese softened
  • 4 slices deli turkey
  • 2 slices cheddar cheese
  • 0.5 cup baby spinach

Method
 

  1. Spread a thin layer of cream cheese over each tortilla.
  2. Layer the turkey, cheese, and a few spinach leaves on top.
  3. Roll each tortilla up tightly into a log.
  4. Slice into 1-inch pinwheels and pack into the lunchbox.

Notes

Skip the spinach if your kid is anti-green and add a little shredded carrot instead.

2) Veggie-Packed Pasta Salad

colorful veggie pasta salad with cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and shredded carrot in a small lunch container, in a wide horizontal shot, bright natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

Miraculously for a school day, here's a make ahead lunch that tastes better cold.

colorful veggie pasta salad with cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and shredded carrot in a small lunch container, in a wide horizontal shot, bright natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

Veggie-Packed Pasta Salad

Bite-sized pasta with veggies and a light Italian dressing that kids actually finish!
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups rotini pasta
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
  • 1 cucumber diced
  • 0.5 cup shredded carrots
  • 0.5 cup mozzarella balls
  • 0.33 cup Italian dressing
  • 0.25 tsp salt

Method
 

  1. Cook the pasta according to the package, then drain and rinse under cold water.
  2. Toss the cooled pasta with the tomatoes, cucumber, carrots, and mozzarella.
  3. Pour over the Italian dressing and sprinkle with salt.
  4. Stir well and chill until ready to pack.

Notes

This keeps well for 3 days, so make a big batch on Sunday.

3) Homemade Pizza Pockets

golden homemade pizza pockets, one split open to show melty cheese and pepperoni, on a plate with a small cup of marinara, in a wide horizontal shot, warm natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

All the joy in pizza day is now in a warm pocket they can eat hot or cold with their hands!

golden homemade pizza pockets, one split open to show melty cheese and pepperoni, on a plate with a small cup of marinara, in a wide horizontal shot, warm natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

Homemade Pizza Pockets

Biscuit dough filled with marinara, mozzarella, and pepperoni, then baked.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 pockets
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 can refrigerated biscuit dough
  • 0.5 cup marinara sauce
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella
  • 24 slices mini pepperoni
  • 1 egg beaten
  • 0.5 tsp Italian seasoning

Method
 

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 F and line a baking sheet with parchment.
  2. Flatten each biscuit into a circle and place marinara, mozzarella, and pepperoni in the center.
  3. Fold the dough over the filling and press the edges firmly to seal.
  4. Brush the tops with beaten egg and sprinkle with Italian seasoning.
  5. Bake for 13 to 15 minutes until golden and let cool before packing.

Notes

Pack a little extra marinara in a small container for dipping.

4) Fruit Kabobs with Yogurt Dip

colorful fruit kabobs with strawberries, grapes, pineapple, and melon beside a small cup of creamy yogurt dip, on a bright plate, in a wide horizontal shot, natural daylight, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

Using some kid logic and just sticking fruit onto a skewer will make it super exciting!

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colorful fruit kabobs with strawberries, grapes, pineapple, and melon beside a small cup of creamy yogurt dip, on a bright plate, in a wide horizontal shot, natural daylight, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

Fruit Kabobs with Yogurt Dip

Vibrant skewers with fresh fruit and a honey vanilla yogurt dip.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings: 4 kabobs
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup strawberries halved
  • 1 cup green grapes
  • 1 cup pineapple chunks
  • 1 cup cantaloupe cubed
  • 0.75 cup vanilla yogurt
  • 1 tbsp honey

Method
 

  1. Thread the strawberries, grapes, pineapple, and cantaloupe onto short skewers.
  2. Stir the honey into the vanilla yogurt for the dip.
  3. Pack the kabobs in the lunchbox and the dip in a small sealed cup.
  4. Use blunt-tip skewers or remove the sharp ends for younger kids.

Notes

For little ones, slide the fruit off into a container and skip the sticks at school.

5) Bento Box with Hummus and Pita

a colorful bento lunchbox with a scoop of hummus, golden pita wedges, baby carrots, cucumber, and pepper strips neatly arranged in compartments, in a wide horizontal shot, bright natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

A do-it-yourself snack-style lunch gives them the option to graze, which is pretty much how fourth graders like to eat.

a colorful bento lunchbox with a scoop of hummus, golden pita wedges, baby carrots, cucumber, and pepper strips neatly arranged in compartments, in a wide horizontal shot, bright natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

Bento Box with Hummus and Pita

A bright bento box featuring smooth hummus, soft pita wedges, and crunchy veggies for dipping.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings: 1 bento box
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 0.33 cup hummus
  • 1 pita bread cut into wedges
  • 0.5 cup baby carrots
  • 0.5 cup cucumber sliced
  • 0.5 cup bell pepper strips
  • 0.25 cup cherry tomatoes

Method
 

  1. Spoon the hummus into the largest compartment of the bento box.
  2. Arrange the pita wedges in one section.
  3. Fill the remaining compartments with carrots, cucumber, bell pepper, and tomatoes.
  4. Snap the lid on and chill until packing.

6) Chicken and Avocado Wrap

a chicken and avocado wrap sliced in half to show the green avocado and shredded chicken filling, on a plate beside apple slices, in a wide horizontal shot, bright natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

The creamy avocado adds a treat-like experience to the wrap while secretly packing in all the goodness.

a chicken and avocado wrap sliced in half to show the green avocado and shredded chicken filling, on a plate beside apple slices, in a wide horizontal shot, bright natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

Chicken and Avocado Wrap

A flour tortilla with soft chicken, avocado, and a nice crunch of lettuce.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings: 1 wrap
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 flour tortilla
  • 0.5 cup cooked chicken shredded
  • 0.5 avocado sliced
  • 0.25 cup shredded lettuce
  • 2 tbsp ranch dressing
  • 2 tbsp shredded cheddar

Method
 

  1. Lay the tortilla flat and spread the ranch dressing across the center.
  2. Layer on the chicken, avocado, lettuce, and cheddar.
  3. Fold in the sides and roll the wrap up tightly.
  4. Slice in half and pack snugly so it holds together.

Notes

A squeeze of lime on the avocado keeps it from browning.

7) Mini bagel with cream cheese and cucumber

mini bagels spread with cream cheese and topped with cucumber rounds, arranged in a lunchbox with a handful of berries, in a wide horizontal shot, soft natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

A cute little lunch that feels like a fancy snack, and can be put together in 2 minutes or less.

mini bagels spread with cream cheese and topped with cucumber rounds, arranged in a lunchbox with a handful of berries, in a wide horizontal shot, soft natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

Mini bagel with cream cheese and cucumber

Cream cheese and mini bagels topped with fresh slices of cucumber.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings: 2 bagels
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 mini bagels split
  • 3 tbsp cream cheese softened
  • 0.5 cucumber thinly sliced
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1 tsp fresh dill optional

Method
 

  1. Split the mini bagels and spread cream cheese on each half.
  2. Layer the cucumber slices over the cream cheese.
  3. Sprinkle with a tiny pinch of salt and a little dill if using.
  4. Pack open-faced or sandwich the halves together.

Notes

Pat the cucumber dry so the bagel doesn't get soggy by lunchtime.

8) Quinoa Salad with Cherry Tomatoes

a fresh quinoa salad with halved cherry tomatoes and diced cucumber in a small lunch container, in a wide horizontal shot, bright natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

This salad is protein-packed and can be put into lunchboxes even for multiple days because it tastes good straight from the container.

a fresh quinoa salad with halved cherry tomatoes and diced cucumber in a small lunch container, in a wide horizontal shot, bright natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

Quinoa Salad with Cherry Tomatoes

Quinoa mixed with cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and lemon dressing.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup quinoa rinsed
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
  • 1 cucumber diced
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 0.25 tsp salt

Method
 

  1. Bring the quinoa and water to a boil, then cover and simmer for 15 minutes until fluffy.
  2. Let the quinoa cool, then fluff with a fork.
  3. Stir in the cherry tomatoes and cucumber.
  4. Whisk the olive oil, lemon juice, and salt and toss it through the salad.

9) DIY Taco Salad with Ground Turkey

a build-your-own taco salad lunchbox with seasoned ground turkey, shredded lettuce, cheese, black beans, and tortilla chips in separate compartments, in a wide horizontal shot, bright natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

An exciting part about the lunch is that it is a build your own lunch style meal!

a build-your-own taco salad lunchbox with seasoned ground turkey, shredded lettuce, cheese, black beans, and tortilla chips in separate compartments, in a wide horizontal shot, bright natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

DIY Taco Salad with Ground Turkey

This meal kit includes seasoned ground turkey, lettuce, cheese, and chips, which are all packaged separately so you can have fun building your own taco salad!
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 22 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb ground turkey
  • 1 tbsp taco seasoning
  • 2 cups romaine lettuce chopped
  • 0.5 cup shredded cheddar
  • 0.5 cup black beans rinsed
  • 1 cup tortilla chips
  • 0.33 cup mild salsa

Method
 

  1. Brown the ground turkey in a skillet over medium heat until cooked through.
  2. Stir in the taco seasoning and a splash of water and simmer for 2 minutes.
  3. Let the turkey cool, then pack it in its own container.
  4. Pack the lettuce, cheese, beans, chips, and salsa in separate compartments for assembling at lunch.

Notes

Pack the chips separately so they stay crunchy.

10) Apple Slices with Almond Butter

crisp apple slices fanned beside a small cup of creamy almond butter dusted with cinnamon, in a lunchbox compartment, in a wide horizontal shot, soft natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

The easiest sweet treat that won't let you down on a busy morning.

crisp apple slices fanned beside a small cup of creamy almond butter dusted with cinnamon, in a lunchbox compartment, in a wide horizontal shot, soft natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

Apple Slices with Almond Butter

Crispy apple slices with almond butter and a touch of cinnamon for dipping.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings: 2 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 apples cored and sliced
  • 1 tsp lemon juice
  • 0.33 cup almond butter
  • 0.25 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tbsp mini chocolate chips optional

Method
 

  1. Slice the apples and toss them with lemon juice to keep them from browning.
  2. Spoon the almond butter into a small dipping container.
  3. Sprinkle the almond butter with cinnamon and chocolate chips if using.
  4. Pack the apples alongside the dip.

Notes

Swap in sunflower seed butter for nut-free classrooms.
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