Quick, easy and healthy lunch ideas for homeschoolers (or anyone)

I was obviously looking for something healthy, easy, delicious, kid-friendly and quick. Was I asking for too much? Not really. I was inspired to put this together and share what I collected. So, I take no credit, just happy to get such great ideas and pass along.

I hope this helps and inspires you as much as it did me!

I wanted an easy way to keep the ideas together, but have a big glance (to know what is repeated a lot and to keep other ideas to try visible). At first, I thought of making the post-it notes (cut in half) and put the week’s lunches on my desk calendar (hanging on my fridge), but they would take up a lot of room, as our calendar days get pretty filled up.

So, I thought of putting them in a folder (see picture above). Then I thought of labeling them (like my recipe box).

I came up with these categories:

1. Beef

2. Chicken & Eggs

3. Pork

4. Fish

5. Pasta & Processed

6. Vegan & Vegetarian*

*Please don’t be insulted that I used both together. I could say “Meatless,” I guess.

 

As you can see, the categories are color-coated.

I wrote about 8-10 ideas under each category.

As I come up with more ideas, I can add them or switch them out every once in a while or with every season. For example, during summer, we might have more salads and smoothies and during the winter, we might have more soups and homemade breads.

What I’ll do is that, whenever I use an idea, I turn it upside down. I hope it works out well.

Some ideas take 15 minutes or less to prepare, but others require preparation ahead of time (so just thawing and heating is required). I will make a point at remembering to double recipes for stuff that can be used for these lunches.

 

Sides were not always included, but they can be:

Fruit

Veggies

Yogurt

Bread/toast/naan

Crackers

Cheese sticks

Homemade applesauce

Blob of pb

Cottage cheese

Quinoa

Beans

Rice

Soup

Rice cake

Pretzels

Avocado slices

Etc

 

Here are some of the ideas I collected:

1. Beef

Nachos

Burgers

Hawaiian buns for mini burgers

Chili

Beef and veggie soup

Leftovers

Tacos

Roast beef, bagel sandwiches

Cheesesteak eggrolls (from allrecipes.com)

Meatloaf

 

 

2. Chicken & Eggs

Eggs and toast

Chicken noodle soup

Hard-boiled eggs and bagels with cream cheese

Organic chicken nuggets

Sliders with chicken salad

Leftovers

Tacos

Chicken parmesan sandwich (made with organic chicken nuggets -allrecipes.com)

Breakfast casserole (hash browns, eggs, bell peppers, ham is optional, etc)

 

 

3. Pork

Fried rice

Leftovers

Grass-fed hotdogs

Chopped hotdogs in scrambled eggs

Eggs and bacon

Pulled pork leftovers

 

 

4. Fish

Fish sticks

Tuna salad and toast

Fish cakes (allrecipes.com)

Fish chowder (allrecipes.com)

 

 

5. Pasta & Processed

Organic mac & cheese (obviously)

Sandwich with grass-fed ham and cheese

Sandwich with grass-fed turkey meat

Sandwich with salami? (Maybe…I never use this)

Quesadillas with deli meat

Spaghetti

Buttered noodles

Pasta soup

Lunch meat cheese rollups

Stackers (crackers, pepperoni or deli meat squares, cheese squares)

 

 

6. Meatless

Rice cakes, pb&j, fruit

Hummus, crackers, celery sticks, carrot sticks, cucumber sticks

Smoothie

Pancakes, fruit, yogurt

Rice and beans

Veggie dip and pita bread

Grilled cheese sandwich and veggie broth or tomato soup

Bagels, cream cheese, fruit

Oatmeal casserole

Cheese pizza with veggies

Gluten-free breakfast cereal, almond milk, fruit

Potato salad sandwich

 

What do you think?

Do you have any must-haves in your home?

Is there anything your kids ask for regularly?

Feel free to share your ideas! I’d love to include them!