17/02/2025

Healthy Packed Lunch Ideas for a Fun and Active Kids Holiday Camp

Packing a nutritious and delicious lunch for a kids' holiday camp is essential for keeping them energized, focused, and happy throughout the day. Since lunches need to be homemade, easy to eat, and not require heating, careful planning ensures a balanced meal that fuels young adventurers while also making mealtime enjoyable.

At Barracudas, we offer a full day of fun, so it's important that children have a great lunch as well as handy snacks for the morning and afternoon breaks to refuel and keep energised during their fun packed day.

Just like many schools, we have a nut-free policy and don't offer refrigeration or warming facilities. We would suggest including a child-friendly ice pack to keep food cool during the hotter days at camp! A handy tip: Why not add a tub/bag of frozen fruit to their lunch box? This'll keep their food cool and provide an extra sweet treat!

We've got some great ideas for packed lunches for camp (or a day out with the family, or even school packed lunches).

What Makes a Balanced Lunch Box?

A well-balanced packed lunch should include:

• Protein: Keeps kids full and supports muscle growth (e.g., lean meats, cheese, beans, yogurt, or boiled eggs)
• Carbohydrates: Provides energy for active play (e.g., wholegrain bread, wraps, pasta, or rice)
• Fruits & Vegetables: Essential vitamins and minerals (e.g., sliced apples, carrot sticks, cucumber, or cherry tomatoes)
• Healthy Fats: Support brain function and satiety (e.g., seeds, avocado, or cheese – avoiding nuts due to camp restrictions)
• Dairy or Dairy Alternatives: Supports bone health (e.g., cheese sticks, yogurt, or plant-based alternatives)
• Hydration: Water is the best choice, but smoothies or no added sugar fruit juice can be great additions

Healthy Packed Lunch Ideas

Here are some easy, no-heat-required lunch ideas that kids will love:

Wrap It Up

• Whole wheat wrap with hummus, turkey, and grated carrot
• Cream cheese and cucumber wrap
• Chicken and avocado (or mashed peas) wrap

DIY Lunchable-Style Box

• Whole grain crackers or pita bread
• Slices of ham, turkey, or chicken
• Cheese cubes or slices
• Cherry tomatoes and cucumber slices
• Yogurt with fresh fruit

Pasta Salad Fun

• Whole wheat pasta with diced chicken, sweetcorn, and a light dressing
• Cold pesto (nut-free) pasta with grated cheese and cherry tomatoes

Sushi-Inspired Rolls

• Wholegrain tortilla rolled with cream cheese and veggies, then sliced
• Rice paper rolls with chicken, lettuce, and carrots

Protein-Packed Sandwiches

• Egg mayo sandwich on whole grain bread
• Tuna and cucumber sandwich
• Cheese and spinach sandwich

Healthy Snack Ideas for Morning and Afternoon Breaks

Keeping snacks simple, nutritious, and fun is key to maintaining kids' energy levels between meals.

Morning Snack Ideas

• Fresh fruit (grapes, apple slices, orange segments)
• Yogurt with granola (nut-free)
• Rice cakes with cream cheese
• Mini whole wheat muffins (banana or blueberry)

Afternoon Snack Ideas

• Cheese and whole grain crackers
• Veggie sticks with hummus
• Popcorn (plain or lightly salted)
• Oat bars (nut-free)

Age-Specific Tips to Get Kids Involved

Encouraging kids to help prepare their lunches can make them more excited about eating healthy food. Here’s how to get different age groups involved:

4 ½ - 6 Year Olds

• Let them choose their fruit and veggies
• Use cookie cutters to make fun sandwich shapes
• Have them help assemble wraps or stack crackers and cheese

7 - 10 Year Olds

• Allow them to spread toppings on sandwiches or wraps
• Let them pack their own snack containers
• Teach them how to safely chop softer foods like bananas

10+ Year Olds

• Involve them in meal planning for the week
• Teach them basic knife skills for slicing veggies
• Encourage them to create their own balanced lunch combinations

Important: Avoiding Nut-Based Products

Since our camp is nut-free, please ensure all packed lunches do not contain:

• Peanut butter or any nut butter
• Pesto/sauces including nuts
• Nut-based snack bars or granola bars
• Trail mixes containing nuts
• Chocolate spreads that include nuts
• Any bakery items with almond flour or nut ingredients

By planning ahead and involving your child in the lunch-making process, you can ensure they have a fun, nutritious, and delicious meal each day at camp. Happy packing!