Okay...so we are back in the thick of it...lunches being made for three different folks everyday! I have been experimenting with some great go-tos* and would like to share a couple of them....now these are not groundbreaking recipes, they are just good ole lunchbox favourites that you may or may not have in your lunch repertoire. I know as a busy mom, I sometimes forget about how easy this can be!
*Recipes get "go-to" status when they meet all my needs - yummy, easy, fast, healthy!
First off.....kid friendly recipes/lunch inspiration.
Let's face it, kids come first in the lunch lineup - I have the luxury of popping into a local cafe for my lunch...lol.
Roll ups
Can't get easier than this. Take a wrap/tortilla of your choice. Add some kind of spread (cream cheese, peanut or sun butter, guacamole, hummus). Spread it all around to the edges of the wrap. Add a veggie or two. Roll it up in a tube-like fashion. Done.
Here are a few combos that both my kids like:
- cream cheese and diced cucumber and/or red pepper
- nut butter and banana (a wrap the banana whole)
- hummus and diced red pepper
- guacamole and diced cherry tomatoes
Pesto Pasta Salad
I like it because I just make some extra noodles the night before as part of dinner and then add some pesto and veggies and yer done! Our fave veggies are roasted zucchini and peppers and fresh tomatoes. But you can add whatever is lurking at the bottom of that veggie drawer in the fridge!
Rice balls ~ Japanese Style
My husband used to eat these a lot growing up. Basically make a lot of rice for dinner. Set some aside and drizzle with rice vinegar (optional:use if going authentic Japanese) and pop into fridge. When you are done dinner and ready to make lunches, the rice should be cool enough. Wet your hands...(biggest secret revealed!!) grab about 1/3 cup of rice in palm of hand. Push in a tasty tidbit into the middle (we like salmon the absolute best) - you can put in things like tuna, avocado, pickled radish, carrot-whatever your kid likes with rice. Then roll into a ball or shape into a triangle. You can roll in sesame seeds and add some nori if you are doing the Japanese lunch thing.
Chickpeas
Can't get easier than this. Open a can of chickpeas - rinse - serve.
I accompany them with some veggie sticks and dip and pita bread triangles.
For a more varied palate ~
Now we can get a bit fancier...but not too much...still want this doable.
Quinoa Salad
Make lots of quinoa for dinner. Set some aside to cool. Add chopped cucumber, tomatoes, and parsley to taste. Crumble in some feta. Sprinkle with lemon juice.
Avocado, Tomato and Cream Cheese Sandwiches
hmmm...if you need more explanation than the title, then you need more help than I can offer :)
Curried Tuna and Apples on Pita
Add powdered curry to taste to a tuna/mayo mix. Throw in some diced granny smith apples and serve open face on pita or stuffed into a pita pocket.
