Whether it’s Back to School or just back to a more structured fall schedule, use these tips to streamline lunch prep, create meals y’all will love and avoid that morning rush!
- Turn Leftovers into a frittata or Egg Muffins!
If you’ve got a fridge full of expiring produce, gather your broccoli, peppers, mushrooms and spinach and whip up an easy egg dish. The egg muffins pack well for lunch, and the pre-made fritatta will save time and score nutrition points in the morning!
*I linked my fav frittata & egg muffin recipes above!
Pre-made egg tacos you can re-heat as needed are great as well!! We prep extra egg & bacon tacos on Sunday AM for use on Monday meals all the time!! Simply package in foil and re-heat in the toaster oven for a crispy, fresh taste! - Pack Lunch Right After Dinner:
As you are cleaning up left overs from dinner you can easily consider what can be used for lunch the next day & portion items accordingly. You are already packing up anyway. This way you only have to clean up once! I love using Pyrex dishes. They come in a variety of sizes perfect for portioning your pasta, salad or left over roasted veggies and they can be re-heated in the microwave or toaster oven so easily! - Create a couple lunch templates that work and stick to it!
For me lunch = salad with a varying form of protein. Think left over shredded chicken, hard boiled egg, wild salmon, tuna or chick peas.
For Zia & Zander it’s one protein (turkey & cheese), one fruit (berries or apples), one veggie (cucumber, celery or carrots) and one fun food like a marshmallow.
Make a list of well loved foods with your child that fit the categories of your lunch template and hang them near the pantry or fridge for fresh ideas! - Prepare Sandwiches on Sunday night for a couple days:
No need to make the same nut butter or turkey sandwich every single day. Set up your sandwich station Sunday night and plan to have sandwiches a couple days in a row. No need to eat the same exact sandwich every day!!! While everything is out–get creative and mix it up. Here are some of our favorite sandwich ideas:
**Avo, Cucumber & Pickled Onion open faced sandwich on Sweet Potato Toast
**Sun butter, Apple & Honey Sandwich on Birch Benders Paleo Waffles
**Ham or turkey, pickles & mustard wrapped in Romaine
**Chocolate Sunbutter + Banana on gluten free bread
**Chicken breast, turkey bacon, sliced tomato & Olive tapenade
**BLT in Romaine Leaf
**Egg Salad, Tuna Salad or Salmon Salad!
**Smoked Salmon, DF Kite Hill Cream Cheese, Chives & Cucumber - Pack Salads The Right Way:
Say goodbye to soggy salads!!! Enter Mason Jars! Place the protein and dressing on the bottom, followed by crunchy veggies & layer the lettuce last!! Ready to eat? Shake up your mason jar then flip it into a bowl!
This method is portable & easily avoids saggy, sad greens! - Brands that make an easy & delicious paleo lunch
Keep these stocked in your freezer for when there is just no time to prep or think about what’s on the lunch menu!
Primal Kitchen Frozen Bowls & Skillet Meals (Freezer at WF!)
Sakara Plant Based Meals (Meal Delivery Service)
Kevin’s Natural Foods. Max eats the lemongrass chicken at least once per week! Order online or find at HEB & WF.
Hope these ideas help y’all get a healthy lunch prepped or packed this week!
