Are you a busy mom constantly on-the-go? Are you looking for easy lunch ideas perfect for you and your kids? Read this article to see great options for you.
With the child obesity rate being so high, many parents want to keep their kids as healthy as possible and teach positive eating habits.
If you’re a busy mom, you know how hard it can be to keep track of everything you have going on and make healthy lunches for you and your kids.
Do you need some quick and simple lunch recipes that you can use again and again?
Use some of the following easy lunch ideas to eat healthily and happy at home, at work, or at school!
Easy Breezy Lunch Ideas for You and Your Kids
If you’re constantly on the go, you need some recipes for healthy lunches that won’t take up too much time and are easy to make.
Here are a few examples of easy lunch ideas for work and for school that you can make for both you and your children.
Fun Sandwiches
This is so simple that you’ll kick yourself for not thinking of it sooner.
To do this, all you need to do is make a healthy sandwich for you and your kids and then use a cookie cutter to cut it into a fun shape.
A simple recipe for yummy sandwiches is:
- 2 slices whole-grain bread
- 1 slice reduced-fat cheddar cheese
- 2 slices of tomato
- 2 slices of low-sodium turkey meat
- 1 lettuce leaf
- 1 slice of cucumber
- 1 tbsp hummus
To make it easier on yourself, you may want to punch out the shapes in the bread, turkey, and cheese separately before assembly.
Of course, you’re allowed to keep your sandwiches in their regular sandwich shape for work (or let the kid in your shine through!)
Simple Salads
We all know that salads are not known as the most exciting thing to eat, but that’s all about to change with these simple salad recipes.
First, figure out the greens you want to use. To start, you may want to go with something easy like lettuce or spinach. Chop them up into small pieces for your child.
Second, decide on the protein you want to include. You might choose shredded chicken, salmon, hard-boiled eggs, or even fish sticks!
Third, add some cheese if your kid can eat dairy. Select whatever kind they like the most.
Fourth, add your fruits and veggies. Remember that fruit can make the salad sweeter and this might encourage your child to give it a try, so think of adding things like apples, grapes, or strawberries.
When you’re making your salads, always remember that your child’s salad doesn’t have to look just like yours and you may need to cut their salad elements into much smaller pieces.
You may also consider serving their salad deconstructed and using the dressing as a dip rather than putting it on top.
Leftover Dinner
Could it get any easier than using food that you’ve already prepared for lunch?
If you’re trying to make healthy lunches, chances are that you’re also trying to make healthy dinners. Simply use the food that you’ve made for last night’s dinner as healthy lunch options!
You don’t have to eat it exactly as it was served for dinner if you don’t want to have the same thing. Get creative with how you repurpose your recipes to turn them into something totally new.
Smoothie Bowls
Smoothie bowls are exactly what they sound like: a smoothie in a bowl. They’re fun, they are full of nutrients, and they’re easy to make.
You can easily adjust the recipes to fit your child’s preferences or nutrition needs as well, so this is a versatile option for when you need something to grab and go.
Check out these acai bowl recipes and try some of them with your kids! They are a wonderful option for a smoothie bowl and can be healthy lunches that taste great, too.
Breakfast for Lunch
A lot of breakfasts are very easy to make and will generally cook up quickly, so why limit them to only one time of the day?
Scrambled eggs are filling and a great way to get some extra protein during the day. You can add in some extra vegetables, shredded cheese, or leftover meat you already have in the fridge if you’d like, but it’s not necessary to make this a good meal.
Cook the eggs up for a few minutes and serve them with a piece of toast or a small salad.
Pantry Tips for Moms On-the-Go
When you’re busy, one of the last things you may be thinking about is what you’re going to eat every day.
That changes a bit when you have kids to think about, however, so here are a few tips that may help you plan ahead.
It’s a good idea to think about what you and your children will eat every day by creating a weekly meal plan. You’ll know for sure that you have all the ingredients if you take some time during the weekend to plan it out.
Pack all the lunches the night before if possible. This will save you from scrambling in the morning. You may even want to prep some food on the weekend if it will keep in the fridge to make it easier during busy workdays.
If you’re planning to use dinner for lunch, make sure you’re cooking a little extra.
Use the microwave to reheat instead of the stovetop as much as possible to save time and energy.
Keep your pantry stocked with “long shelf life” ingredients, like canned tuna, crackers, soup, rice, etc. These will work for a lot of different lunch ideas, and they last a long time, so you won’t have to rush to the store if you happen to need a new lunch plan last minute. The same thing goes for your freezer.
Ready to Make Some Healthy Lunches?
With these easy lunch ideas, you’ll be able to eat healthily and rest assured that your kids are, too.
Do you want to get some more helpful parenting tips or food advice? If so, check out some of the other articles on our website and learn more.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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