When it comes to packing lunches during Passover, parents can sometimes run into challenges, particularly if their kids’ go-to meals include a sandwich or pasta. Find out what some top Jewish chefs recommend for healthy (and delicious) Passover lunches and snacks.
Why Do Families Keep Kosher on Passover?
Each Jewish family observes the rules of Passover a little differently, depending on their background, preferences, and the type of teachings they follow. In a nutshell, Passover means refraining from eating leavened bread. This tradition comes from the story of Passover, where Jewish people were fleeing Egypt after being enslaved. In their haste to get away, they weren’t able to bring leavening for their bread. As such, the tradition is not to eat leavened bread for eight days to honor the struggle of the Jewish people’s exodus from Egypt. Instead, during the holiday Jewish people eat Matzo, which is unleavened bread, similar to a flour cracker. Most observant Jews also refrain from eating grains, in addition to abstaining from leavened bread, explains Debbie Kornberg, a Jewish self-taught chef, owner of SPICE + LEAF, and teacher of cooking classes through Spice It Up with Deb: A Live Cooking Experience. “The basic dietary rule for Passover is not to eat Chametz,” she explains. “This means staying away from the five main sources of grain: wheat, rye, barley, oat, and spelt.” Jewish people of various backgrounds may have even more specialized rules when it comes to what type of grains to consume, Kornberg explains. “There are adjacent foods that are traditionally not eaten on Passover if you are of Ashkenazi descent; this is called Kitniot,” she says. Kitniot foods include grains like corn, rice, and legumes, along with seeds like sesame, and spices such as mustard. “If you are Sephardic or Mizrachi, you are permitted to eat Kitniot, but different regions have their own subset of rules,” Kornberg adds.
Lunch Ideas Using Matzo
Matzo is one of the starchy, bread-like foods that you are allowed to eat on Passover. But matzo sometimes gets a bad rap with kids. On its own, it doesn’t usually satisfy a bread lover, and some kids can get bored of it easily. However, prepared right, it can be a key ingredient in your kid’s favorite Passover meal.
Matzo Pizza
Many kids go for matzo pizza, where you use matzo as the crust, place your favorite toppings on it, and bake it until the cheese melts. Eitan Bernath, Jewish chef, entertainer, and principal culinary contributor on “The Drew Barrymore Show,” says that if your kid likes matzo pizza, they will probably also love matzo lasagna. “It’s easy to add veggies (zucchini and eggplant are my favorite) into the layers, along with tomato sauce and plenty of mozzarella cheese,” Bernath shares. “It keeps really well and is perfect to slice and pack for lunch.”
Avocado Toast
Another kid favorite? Avocado matzo toast. Tova Levine, the creator of Tovla Jr., a line of kid-friendly kitchen tools, says avocado toast can be whipped up simply by mashing up some avocado to your desired consistency, adding a dash of lemon juice so the avocado doesn’t brown, and then spreading it on matzo. Top with a little salt, garlic power, and pepper to taste, and add any other veggies your kid likes (tomatoes, microgreens, etc.).
Protein-Packed Passover Lunches
It can be tough to get kids to eat their protein, especially when you aren’t pairing it with your child’s favorite bread products. But there are some yummy, protein-rich Passover-friendly meals that are easy to prepare and pack in school lunches. Levine shared her top picks. Many of these also allow you to sneak in a fair amount of veggies.
Frittata Muffins
These are super simple to make. Whisk together about four eggs with salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, oregano, or any of your other favorite spices. Pour the batter into a sprayed muffin tin and bake for 5-10 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. “You can add cheese or any veggies to the egg mixture before cooking,” Levine suggests.
Turkey Vegetable Roll Ups
To make these, all you have to do is get some sliced turkey, place your favorite veggies in the middle, and roll them up. Levine suggests adding in peppers, cucumber, and microgreens. You can also pack a dipping sauce on the side, such as kosher Passover ketchup or kosher Caesar salad dressing.
Mini Peppers Stuffed with Tuna
To make these, get a bunch of mini peppers, and prepare some tuna fish to your child’s liking. Stuff the peppers with tuna, and top with microgreens.
Passover-Friendly Snacks
Some kids have a snack time at school, and if you typically send them with a bag of pretzels or Goldfish crackers, you might feel stumped about what to pack during Passover. Kornberg shared her favorite kid-friendly snack ideas. These can be sent to school as a snack, or as part of your child’s lunch.
Baba Ghanoush
Baba ghanoush is a dip made with eggplant, tahini, and spices. Pair it with matzo crackers and veggies, and you’ve got a great on-the-go snack.
Matzo Bento Box
If you use Bento Boxes for packing lunch or snacks, Kornberg suggests putting together a Matzo Bento Box! In it, you can add some matzo, cream cheese, cucumber, and tomato. “Keeping the cream cheese on the side will prevent the matza from getting soggy,” Kornberg shares.
Hummus and Veggies
If families eat Kitniot, you can send their kid to school with hummus and veggies, or hummus and matzo, Kornberg suggests.
Salmon Bites
If you are looking for a protein-rich snack, consider salmon bites, made with Greek yogurt, garlic, dill, and fresh cucumber dip.
Guacamole
Guacamole is a kid favorite, and an awesome option for Passover. Pair the guac with homemade (or store bought) spiced matzo crackers, Kornberg recommends.
On The Sweeter Side
Sometimes sending your kid in with special treats can sweeten the deal when you’ve had to change up the type of foods they are allowed to eat. Alon Shaya, award-winning Israeli-born chef behind acclaimed restaurants Saba and Miss River, shared his favorite ideas for sweet snacks you can offer during Passover.
Matzo Fritters
“Matzo fritters with honey are a childhood favorite of mine,” Shaya shares. “It’s the food I looked forward to every Passover. I knew I was following the rules by eating matzo, but at the same time, I felt like I was breaking the rules. Since they’re fried and sweet, it was like eating a donut.” Matzo fritters are made by soaking matzo in milk, then breaking them up into smaller pieces. Mix the pieces with the used milk, along with an egg, brown sugar, and a pinch of cinnamon. Pan fry the fritters in oil or butter until golden brown. You can pop them into your kid’s lunch box along with honey or maple syrup for dipping.
Stuffed Dates
Stuffed dates are one of Shaya’s favorite snacks, and kids love them too. “With a fudgy texture on the outside plus crisp apples, creamy yogurt, and bits of chocolate, they are not only a textural mosaic but also packed with flavor, protein, fiber, and deliciousness,” he says. Shaya prefers using medjool dates, because they are large and can hold more stuffing. He suggests making an incision along one side of the date and removing the pit. He likes chopping up apples into small pieces and mixing them with Greek yogurt. You can add in a few chocolate chips if you like. Then spoon the yummy mixture inside the opening, close the date up, and you are done.
A Word From Verywell
Preparing Passover food for kids can be challenging, especially if your children are used to eating bread products on a daily basis. But remember the rewards of teaching your kids about their religion and culture can be tremendous. The truth is, with a little creativity, there are many yummy ways to keep your kids happy and satisfied with their food choices during this holiday.
