Healthy Lunch Box Ideas for Kids and Adults

It’s easy to get stuck in a rut when packing lunches. When we can’t cook or even warm up our food, our options are somewhat limited. But the standard lunchmeat and cheese on bread with potato chips doesn’t do much for our health.

Sometimes we just need to think outside of the lunch box. With some creativity, we can pack healthy lunches for ourselves and our kids. Here are a few suggestions:

Healthy Lunch Box Ideas for Kids and Adults

Main Dish Lunch Box Ideas

* Make some pasta salad. You can find kits with everything you need in the grocery store, or you can make your own to suit your tastes. Include vegetables such as cucumbers, peppers and onions to add flavor and nutrition. For the kids, try using pasta in interesting shapes. Whole grain pasta is the best choice. You can even find gluten free corn, quinoa and other alternative pastas for variety.

* Roll up a fajita. Use leftover meat from dinner the night before, and add lettuce, tomatoes, cheese and some of your favorite dressing or sauce. These make a great change of pace for kids, too.

* Have a bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich. This is a nice change from lunch meat. Be sure to use pork from a sustainable, local organic farm.

* Toss up a grilled chicken salad. Grill some organic chicken breasts the night before, slice them up, and add them to some salad greens. Add some shredded cheese and cherry tomatoes to make a nutritious and filling dish.

* Put some homemade soup or chili in a thermos. It’s nice to have something warm for a change, especially in the winter.

* Make sandwiches with bagels instead of bread. Bagels are nutritious and filling, and they give you a break from plain old white or wheat bread.

Lunch Box Ideas: Side Dishes

* Pack some baby carrots, celery sticks or sliced cucumbers and a small container of hummus or cream cheese vegetable dip.

* Send some yogurt with fruit and homemade granola in your child’s lunch. It will provide protein, carbohydrates and vitamins that your child needs.

* Keep fresh fruit on hand. When you’re in a hurry, you can easily grab a piece and throw it in the lunchbox as a nutritious side dish.

* Whip up some fruit salad for an easy to make treat. Chop fruit and add some chopped walnuts, a little vanilla yogurt, and sliced bananas soaked in lemon juice (to keep them from turning brown).

* Make your own trail mix. Mix your favorite kinds of nuts, raisins, dried bananas and cranberries, and granola.

* Organic jerky. You can find organic beef and turkey jerky at health food grocers. Use these for a quick bit of protein with organic cheese and crackers.

Just because you eat your lunch out of a lunchbox, doesn’t mean it has to be boring and lack nutritional value. Using leftovers creatively and putting a new twist on your sandwiches will help kids and adults alike get over the packed lunch doldrums.