20 Christmas Lunch Ideas For Kids

Introduction

Bring the spirit of the holidays right to the lunch table with these 20 Christmas Lunch Ideas for Kids! Full of color, creativity, and festive charm, these dishes are designed to delight children and make mealtime a merry part of the celebration. From playful wraps to decorative sandwiches and healthy bites, this collection is sure to keep young taste buds happy and parents stress-free during the hustle and bustle of the season.

Festive and Fun Christmas Lunches

These lunch ideas turn an ordinary meal into a magical Christmas experience, combining simple prep with big flavor and plenty of kid-appeal. Whether you’re hosting a school lunch party or packing something special for a classroom celebration, these recipes will have everyone eagerly anticipating lunchtime.

Make-Ahead Magic: Easy Christmas Lunches for Busy Days

Most lunch ideas on this list can be prepped the night before or in the morning, meaning more time for family fun and less last-minute kitchen chaos. With options ranging from nutritious finger foods to sweet treats, you’ll find festive recipes perfect for picky eaters and food adventurers alike.

20 Christmas Lunch Ideas for Kids

1. **Santa Hat Sandwiches** – Cut sandwiches into triangles and use strawberries and mini marshmallows for Santa’s hat details.
2. **Snowman Wraps** – Roll up deli meat and cheese in tortillas, add olive “buttons” and a carrot “nose.”
3. **Christmas Tree Quesadillas** – Use a tree-shaped cookie cutter, decorate with peppers and cheese as ornaments.
4. **Reindeer Celery Sticks** – Fill celery sticks with nut butter, then use pretzel antlers and raisin eyes.
5. **Holiday Grilled Cheese** – Cut bread into star or stocking shapes before grilling.
6. **Elf Pinwheels** – Spread cream cheese on spinach wraps, roll with turkey and slice into pinwheels.
7. **Veggie Rudolph Cups** – Fill small cups with hummus and top with carrot and cucumber “antlers.”
8. **Candy Cane Caprese Skewers** – Alternate cherry tomatoes and mozzarella balls on skewers in a “candy cane” pattern.
9. **Peppermint Fruit Parfaits** – Layer vanilla yogurt with strawberries and bananas for peppermint stripes.
10. **Jingle Bell Mini Pizzas** – Use English muffins, pizza sauce, and fun toppings for decorative “jingle bell” mini pizzas.
11. **Gingerbread-Shaped Cheese Toasties** – Use gingerbread man cutters on bread and cheese before toasting.
12. **Snowflake Pasta Salad** – Use snowflake-shaped pasta with veggies and Italian dressing.
13. **Christmas Ornament Rice Cakes** – Spread nut butter or cream cheese on rice cakes and decorate with fruit slices and sprinkles.
14. **Frosty the Snowman Eggs** – Hard boil eggs, stack for a snowman body, and use veggies for hats and scarves.
15. **Holiday Pita Trees** – Cut pita into triangles, add guac for “pine” and red pepper pieces for ornaments.
16. **North Pole Noodle Cups** – Toss cooked noodles with pesto and top with cherry tomato “ornaments.”
17. **Nutcracker Ham and Cheese Sandwiches** – Use a nutcracker cookie cutter and decorate with veggie faces.
18. **Ho Ho Ho Hummus & Crackers** – Serve hummus with red and green veggie sticks and whole wheat crackers.
19. **Merry Meatball Subs** – Mini buns, meatballs, sauce, and a sprinkle of cheese—easy to pack and eat!
20. **Polar Bear Fruit Cups** – Fill cups with mixed berries and banana slices, top with whipped cream and chocolate chip “eyes.”

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this roundup to quickly create an organized, sectioned shopping list. No more searching for forgotten ingredients—and perfect for a stress-free holiday meal plan!

Instructions

1. Choose one or several recipes from the list above based on your child’s preferences.
2. Use cookie cutters and colorful fruits and veggies to make each lunch visually festive.
3. Prep sandwiches, wraps, and salads a day ahead for easy assembly.
4. Pack cold items separately to maintain crispness until serving.
5. Add small holiday-themed picks, napkins, or lunch notes for an extra festive touch.

Weekly Meal Planning

Batch prepping Christmas-themed lunches can save time and add extra cheer to your week! Save this set of recipes and assign them to different days in your week. CookifyAI then generates a combined shopping list, sorts ingredients, and helps reduce food waste by tracking amounts needed for overlapping components.

Planning Benefits:
– Organizes your grocery shopping for all 20 lunch ideas
– Calculates ingredient quantities so you buy just what you need
– Prevents overshopping and last-minute store runs
– Simplifies packing creative lunches every day

Pro tip: Schedule lunch recipes for each day—CookifyAI will consolidate shared ingredients (like cheese sticks or cherry tomatoes) for the week, optimizing your shopping and helping you stay organized all holiday season long!

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 10-20 minutes per recipe
Cook Time: Varies per recipe, average 5-15 minutes
Total Time: About 15-30 minutes per lunch box, or batch prep lunches for the week in under 2 hours

These 20 Christmas Lunch Ideas for Kids are sure to make lunchtime a joyful part of your family’s holiday celebration—easy to make, even easier to love, and sure to fill little bellies with holiday cheer!