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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)
Additional information for Early Years
For our 4–5 year olds, there are just a few extra things to keep in mind when preparing packed lunches. To help us meet Ofsted requirements and, most importantly, keep everyone safe, we kindly ask that all food arrives ready to eat, with any cutting or preparation done at home.
As we’re unable to carry out food preparation on camp, any items that would need cutting into smaller pieces for safety reasons may need to be sent back home with your child.
Please see more in our Early Years information guide.
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 - 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!
