Sharing a few of my favourite lunchbox concepts for teenagers!
Hello buddies! How are you? I hope that you just’re having a beautiful morning thus far. I’ve packed this week with podcast interviews and consumer calls – right here we goooooo – as a result of the Pilot is residence and might take over homeschool duties.
For in the present day’s submit, I wished to share some lunchbox concepts for youngsters. I make the ladies’ lunches every single day, and I like placing them collectively. Liv’s faculty gives sizzling lunch, which is takeout from completely different quick meals eating places, nevertheless it’s tremendous costly (like $20 for Chick-Fil-A) and so they don’t even maintain the meals heat earlier than serving it to the children. So for high quality and value causes, I maintain making their meals right here at residence.
Final yr, I’d generally open Liv’s lunchbox to clean it, and fairly a little bit of it will nonetheless be sitting in right here.
“Why didn’t you eat lunch? Aren’t you hungry at lunchtime?”
“I’m a bit hungry however generally I don’t actually desire a bagel or a sandwich… I’d love a meal.”
“A meal? Like what do you imply?”
“Like ramen, or hen, or salad or one thing like that.”
This blew my thoughts. I used to be nonetheless type of packing her “little child lunches.” Don’t get me unsuitable, they nonetheless regarded good and had a number of tasty and wholesome elements, however she wished an precise meal as an alternative of a bagel or PB&J. It was an enormous lightbulb second for me as a result of I’d really feel the identical manner. I don’t like consuming the identical chilly issues every single day, and for lunch, I usually choose a *meal* as an alternative of a bagel or PB&J.
[And for the friends out there who might be wondering why she didn’t pack her own lunch, she was dancing 10+ hours a week last year across town and had hours of homework each night. It’s also one of those things that I’m happy to do for them – I enjoy it!]
I began asking her for lunch concepts, and taking her to Costco and Complete Meals with me to pick issues that look good to her. Now I make her *meals* for lunch which are nonetheless simply as quick as making a PB&J or bagel, however they’re extra satisfying and fulfilling.
Listed below are among the issues which are within the rotation:
Packed lunch concepts for teen
Predominant course:
Pasta salad
That is the most effective pasta salad on the planet and you can also make it upfront to take pleasure in all through the week.
Chopped salad with home made dressing
Liv loves a chopped salad and I’ll often add several types of greens, a protein (like leftover hen or sliced deli turkey), garbanzo beans, edamame, poshi artichokes or asparagus, grated cheese, olives, veggies, and a home made dressing.
Jennifer Aniston salad
All of us LOVE this salad and it’s really easy to pack for lunch with grilled hen on prime.
Egg bites
These may also be made upfront and frozen. All of us love these Mediterranean Egg Bites or these Starbucks copycat egg bites.
Ramen or Buldok
She loves ramen and doesn’t thoughts consuming it chilly/room temperature, so I’ll make it the evening earlier than and maintain it in a glass container.
Sliced grilled hen with dipping sauces and rice
I’ll usually meal prep hen or meatballs and pack these in her lunch with ranch or BBQ sauce to dip.
Ravioli with olive oil and grated cheese on prime
Pre-cook the ravioli, drizzle olive oil on prime and grated parmegiano reggiano.
Pizza
It’s really easy to wrap up and pack a few items of pizza
Leftovers
It’s humorous as a result of I used to hate leftovers as a child, however the women love them. Generally after dinner I’ll ask Liv what I can pack her for lunch and she or he’ll ask if we have now leftovers from our meal. If we do, I simply pack them as much as go. Issues like lasagna, enchiladas, papusas, chili or floor beef, and stir fries are all choices that she’s wished to pack up and take for lunch.
Greek bowls with pita bread
Rice, hen, hummus, Greek salad, grape leaves, and pita
Sides:
Do-it-yourself vitality balls
Fruit
I’ll wash, chop up, and prep a ton of fruit for the week since all of us love snacking on it. I often purchase what’s in season, so recently it’s been berries (strawberries, blackberries, raspberries), grapes, just a few varieties of melon, and a pineapple. I soak the berries in vinegar and water for 2-5 minutes and allow them to dry utterly earlier than storing in glass containers. I additionally chop the melon and pineapple and retailer in glass containers.
Jerky
Chips – Boulder, Siete, or Jackson’s are the go-tos however she additionally loves Taki’s from time to time or the Dealer Joe’s copycat Taki’s
Dried fruit or fruit strips
Poshi veggie packs
Sliced veggies with hummus
Cheese
Yogurt with fruit on prime
Do-it-yourself cookies, brownies, bars, or some chocolate for dessert
I’m making an attempt to cut back the quantity of pacakged snacks we purchase, however we nonetheless get snacky issues and pantry staples at Thrive Market < — my hyperlink saves you 40% in your first order.
So, inform me, buddies: what do your teenagers wish to eat for lunch? What’s the new lunch situtaion like at your faculty?
At Liv’s preschool in San Diego, that they had the BEST sizzling lunch choices. You might order sushi (!), acai bowls, Caesar salads, soups, sandwiches, it was ridiculous.
xo
Gina