Before we talk about your lunch box, let me just ask:
Do you ever get sick of hearing me talk about eating more and more and more fruits and vegetables? I am…not even sorry. I believe in the Great Pumpkin (eating it, of course), and all the other Great Fruits and Vegetables our bodies are screaming for. I believe in this even more than I believe in eating real butter, and I believe you and I both know how misty-eyed I get over a stick of butter. Now let’s all grab a cucumber with a little homemade ranch and keep chatting, shall we?
Several of you have seen this card and thought of me. Yes, yes, and yes.
Packing a lunch can become a little boring day after day, right? A sandwich, chips, maybe carrots or an apple…ho hum. I like that combo every once in a while, but I have some exciting news for you: Packing a clementine and some sweet peppers is just as easy as packing an apple and carrots. Walk around the produce department a few minutes and just see what all you can find to liven up your lunches (whether you pack them to-go or not).
Since beginning our Make-Ahead Lunch Box series, I’ve shared 12 fun recipes.
That’s a dozen new lunch box ideas that do not involve a package of lunch meat or a carrot stick.
- Cream Cheese BLT Sandwiches
- Zucchini Carrot Bread
- Hot Chocolate Souffle
- Lazy Dogs
- Taco Quesadillas
- Bbq Beef and Cheese Hot Pockets
- Coconut Fudge Bars
- Bacon, Egg, and Avocado Salad
- Raspberry Lemon Cream Cups
- Nectarine Cream Cups
- Ham and Cheese Pasta Salad
- Whole Wheat Pizza Swirls
Now, here are 15 more recipe ideas you should look through.
These have been on my website for quite some time. All of the ideas will work great to make ahead, then pull out to pack for a lunch:
- Taco Corn Fritters
- Taco Salad
- Turkey Ranch Pinwheels
- Snowflake Quesadillas
- Salmon Patties
- Pasta Salad Bar
- Pigs in a Blanket
- Easy Cheesy Bean Dip
- Chicken Salad
- Black Bean Salsa
- Black Bean Taco Salad
- BLT Wraps
- Calzones
- Chewy Granola Bars
- Cranberry Nut Trail Mix
Don’t forget our newest challenge: Add Spinach to Everything! With many of the 27 recipes listed above, you can add spinach for extra nutrients.
Now let’s look at good fruit and veggie add-ons. I listed apples and carrots first, because those are a given. But wait till you see all the other fun options to give your lunch box some life!
- Apples
- Carrots
- Bananas
- Clementines
- Oranges
- Applesauce
- Peach Cups (100% juice)
- Grapes
- Cherry Tomatoes
- Sweet Peppers
- Side Salad
- Blueberries
- Sliced Strawberries
- Raspberries
- Blackberries
- Sliced cucumbers
- Celery
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Pears
That’s 20 yummy possiblities. I’m sure you have thought of others I didn’t mention.
This has been on my mind lately as basketball season is starting up again at our house. This means that many weekends now through March, we will be on the road. We don’t mind eating out here and there, but to save money and to pack in the nutrition, I’ve been brainstorming options for food we can pack to-go.
Hearing your ideas always inspires me – so leave comments to share how you pack a healthy lunch box. Also, fill in the blank: There is little in life that could not benefit from a little love, a little time and _____________________________. How would you finish that phrase?! :)
Emily says
Cheese and/or sour cream!
Donna says
Chocolate!!!!!!
Lana says
My husband does not want me to be creative with his lunch. He is very much a creature of old habits so I have been packing pretty much the same lunch or 36 years. I think I could do it in my sleep!
Molly says
I may have done a happy dance just now eating the first clementine of the season.
Edith says
A little love, a little time, and a LOT of chocolate. (85% cocoa, of course)
Heather @ My Overflowing Cup says
Love the card, and yes, it does remind me of you. It’s all about the butter and the cream. And, of course, the chocolate and the coffee, too. Thank you so much for all of these wonderful ideas & recipes, Laura.
Nia Hanna says
A little consideration.
Nia Hanna says
BTW, for the past few months we haven’t been able to grill. Your talk about lazy dogs reminded me that we’ve been cooking our hot dogs in the oven at 400 degrees for 20 – 30 minutes to get more of a grilled flavor. OMG are they ever good. If anyone is like my family and enjoy hot dogs/ pigs in the blanket year round, cooking the hotdogs in the oven taste so much better than boiling them.
Lana says
My Mom did this when I was growing up. She put in baked beans and then added the hot dogs to the oven later. So good!