Inventing new homemade lunches for yourself or your kids that are both healthy AND interesting can get tiresome – here are a few ideas that fit a
broad spectrum of categories you and your little lunch munchkins will likely
fall into at least one of.
For the refrigerator impaired
Whether your office is in pre-start up mode sans mini-fridge or your kids are going to a 12 hour summer day camp (god bless those coffee-guzzling counselors), packing a lunch that has to last for hours off-ice can be a challenge.
For healthy snack lunch options that require zero refrigeration
try:
- Whole grain cold pasta salad with diced tomatoes, asparagus, hard-boiled eggs, and cold previously
sautéed mushrooms/zucchini or personal vegetable preference. Spritz lemon zest and favorite herbs on top before throwing in that Tupperware!
- PB, Banana, and honey drizzle sandwich squares. (sub in almond or cashew butter for those with peanut-allergies)
For the health nut
High in fiber, iron, and not a total Zzz-fest? Try:
- Cold quinoa salad with a paradise twist: add diced pineapple, apples, pine nuts, chopped basil, and diced
bell peppers tossed with an oil based vinaigrette (bonus: this can also be left out of the fridge for our fridge-less-fortunate audience members).
For the growing boys and & mid-day feasters
- Chicken parm. salad wrap. The key here: don’t let the lunch box be your barrier. The dinner and lunch meals kids (and you) love at home can easily be transported for leftovers at school or made into a wrap. Is your pre-teen son a fan of Mom’s famous chicken parm? Throw this diced cold into a spinach or whole wheat wrap with some spinach or leaf lettuce for a quick, easy, and new twist on the dish and a much more satisfying lunch than a bologna and American cheese sandwich.
For the leftover lovers
You’ve heard of the popular breakfast for dinner phenomenon, how about breakfast for lunch? Kids love French toast and pancakes at home and are big fans “dipping” (into Ketchup,
into syrup, your expensive new watch into their finger paint) – so next time you are cooking up a batch of something good for Sunday brunch throw a few extras on the pan to put in the lunchbox for a cold daytime rendition. Sub in jam preserves instead of syrup on the side to make the favorite breakfast dish a healthier lunch-time treat.
Tips: make whole wheat or flaxseed fruit pancakes
(blueberry or banana are great mix ins). For growing teens put a bit of peanut butter as a side for smearing
instead of sugary syrup and cholesterol-laden butter.
For more info visit wildernutrition.com
broad spectrum of categories you and your little lunch munchkins will likely
fall into at least one of.
For the refrigerator impaired
Whether your office is in pre-start up mode sans mini-fridge or your kids are going to a 12 hour summer day camp (god bless those coffee-guzzling counselors), packing a lunch that has to last for hours off-ice can be a challenge.
For healthy snack lunch options that require zero refrigeration
try:
- Whole grain cold pasta salad with diced tomatoes, asparagus, hard-boiled eggs, and cold previously
sautéed mushrooms/zucchini or personal vegetable preference. Spritz lemon zest and favorite herbs on top before throwing in that Tupperware!
- PB, Banana, and honey drizzle sandwich squares. (sub in almond or cashew butter for those with peanut-allergies)
For the health nut
High in fiber, iron, and not a total Zzz-fest? Try:
- Cold quinoa salad with a paradise twist: add diced pineapple, apples, pine nuts, chopped basil, and diced
bell peppers tossed with an oil based vinaigrette (bonus: this can also be left out of the fridge for our fridge-less-fortunate audience members).
For the growing boys and & mid-day feasters
- Chicken parm. salad wrap. The key here: don’t let the lunch box be your barrier. The dinner and lunch meals kids (and you) love at home can easily be transported for leftovers at school or made into a wrap. Is your pre-teen son a fan of Mom’s famous chicken parm? Throw this diced cold into a spinach or whole wheat wrap with some spinach or leaf lettuce for a quick, easy, and new twist on the dish and a much more satisfying lunch than a bologna and American cheese sandwich.
For the leftover lovers
You’ve heard of the popular breakfast for dinner phenomenon, how about breakfast for lunch? Kids love French toast and pancakes at home and are big fans “dipping” (into Ketchup,
into syrup, your expensive new watch into their finger paint) – so next time you are cooking up a batch of something good for Sunday brunch throw a few extras on the pan to put in the lunchbox for a cold daytime rendition. Sub in jam preserves instead of syrup on the side to make the favorite breakfast dish a healthier lunch-time treat.
Tips: make whole wheat or flaxseed fruit pancakes
(blueberry or banana are great mix ins). For growing teens put a bit of peanut butter as a side for smearing
instead of sugary syrup and cholesterol-laden butter.
For more info visit wildernutrition.com