Recipe Roundup: 20+ Ideas for a Healthy Packed Lunch

September 27, 2016

recipe roundup by: Laura Mierzwa, Registered Holistic Nutritionist and Culinary Nutrition Expert

written by: Elysia Arseneau, Ontario Certified Teacher and NutriChem staff writer

September is drawing to a close, which means that students (and their parents) have almost completed the first month of school! Congratulations, you’ve completed 10% of the school year! (But who’s counting, right?)

For many, this time can bring a culinary challenge: it can be difficult to think of healthy school lunch and snack ideas that won’t come home again, especially for all 5 days of the week! That’s why we wanted to provide you with some fun and healthy ideas to help you pack your children’s lunch boxes. Enjoy!

Make-ahead-then-pack Snack Ideas

(Click the image to access the recipe)

Luxurious Chocolate Dip + apple slices

DIY Probiotic Coconut Yogurt + berries and sunflower seeds

Spicy Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding

Sunflower Seed Butter + apple slices

(Could also use store-bought sunflower seed butter)

Spicy Black Bean Dip + cucumbers

Blueberry Vanilla Yogurt Cups

Smart Snacking Energy Balls

Grab-and-go Snack Ideas

(Note that these are protein + a fruit/veggie)

(Also note that there is no need for linked recipes!)

Sunflower Kitchen Hummus + veggies

Hard Boiled Egg + orange slices

Handful of Pumpkin Seeds + grapes

Quick and Easy Lunch Ideas

Baked Citrus Salmon with avocado cubes and roasted carrots

Roasted Butternut Squash and Pear Soup (in a Thermos) with a side of cubed turkey breast

On-the-Go Egg Muffins put into a brown rice wrap with hummus or avocado

Dairy-Free Chicken Caesar Sandwich with cucumbers

DIY Lunch Bowls

Let kids make their own lunch bowls!

Directions: Allow your child to choose one from each category, and assemble in a glass container!

Choose a base	Choose the toppings
brown rice	sliced chicken breast, roasted veggies and pumpkin seeds
sweet potato	black beans, tomatoes, broccoli and hemp seeds
leafy greens	chickpeas, cauliflower and avocado
quinoa	turkey, avocado, beets and sunflower seeds
millet	ground beef, sautéed mushrooms and peppers