Lunch Box Ideas | Slices, Biscuits, Muffins & Healthy Treats

A collection of the most popular and easy lunch box ideas, including slices, biscuits, muffins, muesli bars and healthy treats.

These kid-approved recipes are perfect for daycare, kinder, school or afternoon snacks. Made from basic ingredients, freezer-friendly and budget-friendly too!

Thinking of new and exciting lunch box ideas and after-school snacks can be downright exhausting!

And so, this collection of lunch box ideas is designed to take the stress out of school snack preparation.

With plenty of delicious cookies, muffins, slices and healthy treats such as muesli bars and bliss balls, there's plenty to choose from.

Click on the any of the titles or images below to be taken directly to the full printable recipe.

Lunch Box Slice Recipes

A homemade slice is always a welcome treat in lunchboxes, and there are so many quick & easy slice recipes to make, whether you prefer a baked slice or a no-bake one. Here's a few of my favourite lunch box ideas...

Coconut Rough Slice

A super classic! This chocolate coconut rough is always a winner. Made with basic pantry ingredients, its quick & easy, budget friendly and tastes so good!

Chocolate Chip ANZAC Slice

10 minutes prep time... basic pantry ingredients and one super delicious slice! Full of healthy oats with little bursts of chocolate chips throughout.

Easy Chocolate Slice

Just melt, mix and bake! Oh, and a good spread of chocolate icing and sprinkles over the top makes it so easy and always a winner with the kids.

Oat & Milo Slice

Just 5 minutes prep time, and ready to eat in 20 minutes. The oats and coconut give this slice a great chewy texture, and of course, Milo, adds the 'choc' flavour that kids love!

Date Slice

The natural sweetness of dates, plus the brown sugar and golden syup, combine to make this slice a popular one with the kids. Only one bowl required for this simple slice, and only 15 minutes bake time.

Apricot Oat Slice

Dried apricots and chewy oats = one extra delicious lunch box slice! I'm sure you will find this recipe a simple way to have a cheap and healthy snack right on hand.

Weet-Bix Slice

The humble box of Weet-Bix is a staple in many household pantry's. With a few other basic baking ingredients you can whip up this super simple slice. I like to jazz it up with a layer of milk chocolate and Freckles on top - irresistible!

Lemon & Coconut Slice - No-Bake

Who doesn't like a tangy lemon and coconut slice?? A simple no-bake slice made with crushed plain biscuits and condensed milk, topped with oh so creamy frosting!

Clinkers Slice - No-Bake

Just crush the Clinkers and biscuits in a food processor, then mix in the rest and chill! A simple and delicious lunch box idea.

"This by far one of the best recipes for kids I have ever come across. My kids love it and you know its good when you send a plate of it for shared lunch at school and it comes back empty" - a five star review!

Apricot & Coconut Slice - No-Bake

Recipes don't get any quicker or easier than a no-bake slice ... and this Apricot Coconut Slice is exactly that - quick, easy and so delicious. The tangy dried apricots and coconut are such a great combo for a lunchbox treat!

Caramello Slice - No-Bake

Just 6 ingredients and 10 minutes prep time for another 5 star winner! No-bake slices are the perfect lunch box idea as they're so simple, they're budget friendly and guaranteed to be loved by all!

Coconut Slice - No-Bake

A crunchy cookie crumb base and a delicious milk chocolate topping make this slice a favourite with the kids (both big & small). Crushed Butternut Snap biscuits and desiccated coconut are the secrets here!

Chocolate Hedgehog Slice - No-Bake

I'm sure everyone is familiar with a yummy no-bake chocolate hedgehog slice as it's one of the most popular no-bake slices around. Well, guess what? It's simply the easiest slice to make!

Lunch Box Biscuits & Cookies

It's nice to have the cookie tin full of lunchbox treats that those hungry after-school tummies will simply love. Here's some quick and easy biscuit recipes to try - I'm sure the whole family will enjoy them!

ANZAC Biscuits - Classic Recipe

What can I say??? Simple, cheap and totally yummy - the classic ANZAC biscuit has been an Australian icon for generations! To remain popular for that length of time just speaks for itself.

Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies

This is hands-down the BEST chocolate chip cookie recipe you'll ever make! Perfectly soft cookies with sweet little bursts of chocolate throughout... plus they'll be ready to eat in just 30 minutes.

Lemon Coconut Biscuits

Here's a super simple coconut and lemon biscuit recipe, topped with a tangy lemon icing - the kids can help here with mixing and icing. Simply melt-in-your- mouth deliciousness...... the perfect lunch box idea.

Milo Biscuits

Ready to enjoy in less than 30 minutes, and I'll bet you have all the ingredients at home already. Another super simple one bowl mix - then let the kids have fun decorating them!

Chocolate Chip Oat Cookies

The best thing about making a batch of biscuits is that it's so quick and easy, and everyone loves a 'crunch fest'.....or 'chew fest'....or both! Oh, and the smell of biscuits baking.....

White Chocolate & Cranberry Cookies

Who can resist a cookie studded with white chocolate chips? Well, even harder when they also have bursts of dried cranberries throughout too!

"OMG is all I can say! I never have any luck with cookies but these were PERFECT! Best cookies I’ve ever made by far – thank you!" - another 5 star review!

Peanut Butter & M&M Cookies

With oats, chocolate chips, M&M's and flavoured with peanut butter, I'm sure the kids will be delighted to help with making these delicious and fun cookies!

Afghans - Chocolate Cornflake Biscuits

Chocolate cookies with the crunch of cornflakes throughout, these Afghan cookies just have to be tried. Add a good dab of chocolate icing and half a walnut on top - yes please!

Chocolate Chip, Sultana Cornflake Cookies

Sweet, crunchy and chewy chocolate chip & sultana cornflake cookies... the perfect lunchbox recipe or cookie tin filler. You can have batch ready to eat in less than 30 minutes!

Hokey Pokey Biscuits - 4 Ingredients

A favourite in our house when I was a kid, these simple biscuits have a caramel honeycrunch flavour from the golden syrup and brown sugar. Only 4 ingredients, one bowl (or pot), 20 minutes, and they're ready to enjoy!

YoYo Biscuits - Classic Recipe

A batch of these Yo-Yo's take only about 10 minutes to bake, and the custard powder in the mix really does make them melt in your mouth. Such gorgeous little treats!

The Famous 100 Cookie Recipe

If you're 'time poor', or just like to be super organised, you will especially LOVE this recipe. Make a big batch of cookie dough, divide the dough up, vary the 'add-ins' (the recipe has loads of suggestions), bake some, and freeze the rest.

Lunch Box Muffins, Scrolls & Loaves

For a change from slices and biscuits, why not try some of these fruity muffins and sweet breads for lunch box ideas?

ABCD Muffins

Have these on rotation for lunch boxes, or a 'filler' for hungry after-school kids. You can freeze these muffins too, for an easy 'grab and go' snack on the run.

Strawberry, Banana & Yoghurt Muffins

These strawberry muffins stay so moist because they're packed full of banana and yoghurt. You can use fresh or frozen strawberries and whatever flavoured yoghurt you like.

Apple Crumble Muffins

A huge hit with both little and 'big' kids - these muffins are truly scrumptious! Grated apple keeps them beautifully moist, and the oat crumble on top gives the ultimate crumble crunch!

Healthy Carrrot Cake Muffins

Full of fibre and goodness, these carrot cake muffins make a great guilt-free lunchbox addition. You can easily freeze them too!

Banana & Double Chocolate Chunk Muffins

They may look decadent, but these muffins actually contain the goodness of banana, honey, greek yoghurt and coconut oil as well - plus chunks of chocolate!

Oat & Apple Muffins

Apple and rolled oats are the best combo and loved by all. These ones are made with buttermilk, and if you don't have any buttermilk, it's so easy to make your own.

Blueberry Muffins

One thing I love about muffins, is that they're incredibly easy - just one bowl, mix and bake! These blueberry muffins can be made with either fresh or frozen blueberries too. The perfect lunch box idea.

Best Basic Muffin Recipe

Just five budget friendly ingredients required for the basic muffin mix, then be as inventive as you like with variations using your favourite additions to the mix, and to the topping!

Apple & Cinnamon Scrolls

These scrolls may look complicated, but believe me, they're NOT! What they are is delicious and very kid friendly. No time needed to wait around for the dough to rise, these will be ready to eat in less than half an hour.

Strawberry and Yoghurt Loaf

If you love an easy one bowl mix, make this yummy sweet loaf when strawberries are in season - or substitute with any frozen berries that you like, anytime of the year.

Banana Bread

Our most popular banana bread recipe ever! I love the crunch of raw sugar sprinkled on top, and this is such a great way to transform those ripe banana's that have been sadly overlooked in the fruit bowl.

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

We often think of banana bread toasted for breakfast, but a couple of slices of this moist loaf goes perfectly as a lunchbox filler or after-school treat.

Fudgy Chocolate Banana Bread

Double up the chocolate level of this moist chocolate banana bread with a sprinkle of choc chips all over the top! This fudgy banana bread will surely become a lunchbox favourite.

Apple, Zucchini & Carrot Bread

A great way to smuggle some veggie goodness into a yummy lunchbox treat, this apple, zucchini and carrot bread makes a great change from the usual lunchbox sandwich.

Healthy Treats - Muesli Bars, Protein & Bliss Balls

Homemade healthy treats are not only much cheaper than store bought, they're also much healthier as you know exactly what's in them, and homemade is ALWAYS the BEST! These lunch box ideas make great energy boosters too...

The Very Best Homemade Muesli Bars

With just the right amount of chewiness and crunchiness, these homemade muesli bars are a perfect lunch box energy boost or post workout snack. One of my most popular recipes!

"Yum yum yum, love them! Made these today and they were a huge hit, making another batch tomorrow!" - another 5 star review!

Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

Just half an hour to stock up the lunch box 'stash' - these chocolate chip muesli bars are always on high rotation in my house. Nut free, (and can be dairy free too), there's plenty of variations possible. Great for a quick and easy snack!

Nut Free Muesli Bars

By making your own muesli bars, you know exactly what's in them, and they're super budget friendly too! Perfectly nut-free for school lunch boxes, or to satisfy those hungry after-school tummies.

Healthy Apricot, Coconut & Chia Balls

Seriously simple, and sweetened with rice malt syrup (or honey), these little treats are not only healthy, but also a hit with those fussy little eaters.....

Healthy Chocolate Mint Balls

Yes, you read right....healthy & chocolate in the same sentence...these little bliss balls are made with medjool dates, cashews, rolled oats and cacao (or cocoa) to give you a smash hit lunch box or after school treat.

Healthy Weet-Bix Balls

Nut free, freezer friendly and so, so yummy! Naturally sweetened by the dates and honey. Who would have thought the humble Weet-Bix could be transformed so simply into a great little healthy lunch box addition?

Peanut Butter Protein Balls

The yummy combo of dates, peanut butter and raw almonds make an ultimate healthy, energy boosting snack for kids on-the-go! They freeze well too, and will be thawed by lunchtime.

Healthy Lemon & Coconut Protein Balls

Another 10 minute wonder to have these little bites on hand! Lemon and coconut just go together so well, don't they? So simple to grab a couple out of the freezer and pop into lunch boxes too.

Double Chocolate Protein Balls

Similar to my peanut butter protein balls, the peanut butter flavour is exchanged for cocoa (or cacao powder) and cacao nibs in these bliss balls. I like to have these, as well as healthy apricot, coconut and chia balls, on rotation for healthy, fibre rich and energy boosting snacks.

Nutella Protein Balls

These 'Nutella' flavoured protein balls really are the perfect non-naughty treat. Just a couple of minutes to 'blitz' in a food processor or Thermomix, roll, and then you have a delicious little snack. Freeze some for 'grab-and-go' lunchbox treats.

Nutty Date & Oat Energy Balls

Almonds, dates, honey and oats, make a caramel-like flavoured energy ball full of goodness in just 10 minutes. Once you try a batch of protein balls you will be totally hooked, and they're SO much cheaper and healthier than store bought 'healthy' treats!

Salted Caramel Protein Balls - Nut-Free

Another quick and healthy lunch-box addition. Medjool dates offer natural sweetness and are high in dietary fibre, and combined with coconut and oats, make an impressive nut-free treat. Great for us mums, too, as a post workout boost or afternoon pick-me-up.

Kid-Friendly Rum Balls

Everyone loves these... not just the school kids! Budget friendly, quick and easy. Simply crush, mix, roll and coat! Keep some in the freezer - they'll be thawed by lunchtime.

Milo Balls

Yumm! Again, like so many bliss balls or protein balls, these Milo balls take virtually only minutes to crush, mix, roll and coat, and little fingers love to be involved in the mixing and 'tasting' process too!

Healthy 'Lamington' Bliss Balls

With a food processor or Thermomix you can 'blitz' these delightful 'lamington' flavoured energy balls in 5 minutes. Pop a bag of them into the freezer for an easy 'grab and go' lunchbox snack.

Lunch Box Cupcakes

Chocolate Chip Cupcakes

Cupcakes aren't just for parties and special celebrations, you can make school days a special occasion too with one of these simple chocolate chip cupcakes topped with the yummiest frosting!

Vanilla Cup Cakes

A fool-proof recipe using basic baking ingredients that I'm sure you will already have on hand. These cupcakes freeze well, and can be topped with a delicious buttercream or simple icing on top, in simply no time.

Chocolate Cupcakes

A classic lunch box idea that the kids will absolutely love. You can't beat these simple chocolate cupcakes, and a sprinkle of colour on top makes them super special!

Lunch Box Ideas Cookbooks

Need more lunch box ideas? Our Thermomix Lunch Box Cookbooks are just what you need!

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