Heart-shaped sandwiches, strawberries cut into hearts, and red-and-yellow accents make an easy Valentine’s lunch for kids.
Looking for ideas for lunch on Valentine’s Day? Here are a few heart-themed lunch ideas the toddlers and preschoolers in my care love.
Please excuse the quality of a couple of the photos — they were taken years ago.
These Valentine’s lunch ideas are quick to assemble and kid-friendly. Only one requires a little advance prep: the jello recipe.
Also see the heart-shaped French toast idea included below.
If you have concerns about the nutritional value of this lunch, please remember this is a once-a-year treat for the kids.
Throughout the year we serve homemade soups, sauces, meat and potatoes, casseroles, homemade breads, whole grains and more. Convenience foods are not our usual routine, so we appreciate being allowed this little Valentine’s indulgence.
Now, here are the ideas:
Bite-size heart-shaped peanut butter and jam sandwiches
A bite-size, heart-shaped PB&J is simple and adorable. Make a peanut butter and jam sandwich, then cut out hearts using a cookie cutter. Save the crusts and enjoy them yourself so nothing goes to waste.
Heart-shaped fresh strawberries
These are easy and charming. Trim the stem by cutting straight across the top, make a small V-shaped notch at the top of the berry, then slice the strawberry in half to reveal a heart shape. The little V-shaped scraps are a tasty bonus.
If you want a special treat, chocolate-dipped strawberries are also delicious — the kids can help dip them.
Jello with ice-cream hearts
Prepare jello in small bowls. Just before serving, press softened ice cream into a heart-shaped cookie cutter, smooth with the back of a spoon, and gently transfer the ice cream heart onto the jello. It’s a simple, celebratory finish to the dish.
And one more idea that was just created in the freezer as I wrote this:
Frozen yogurt hearts
For frozen yogurt hearts, spoon yogurt into a heart-shaped cutter lined with plastic wrap, freeze until solid, and unmold for a cool, tangy treat. These are easy to make ahead and are a refreshing option for little ones.
For more Valentine’s lunch ideas and crafts, browse the collection of Valentine-themed activities and recipes from the same source.
More lunch ideas for kids:
- 30+ Fun and Easy Lunch Ideas For Kids
- 50+ Kid Lunch Ideas That Are Not Sandwiches
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