Tired of sandwiches? Lunches are probably the hardest meal to be creative with, and it is so easy to open a can of Spaghetti-Os. Let Menus 4 Moms list of lunch ideas motivate you to get back to a healthier mealtime.
Every couple of weeks I make a big batch of bread and one loaf is designated for French toast. This is the time when we use the other fresh loaf (the other loaves go into the freezer) for sandwiches, which are always better on fresh baked bread.
Here are some lunch ideas that have been contributed by moms from TheHomeSchoolMom in the Kitchen and Menus 4 Moms. Items suitable for packing in an insulated lunchbox or thermos are noted with an asterisks.
- Leftovers
- Lunch meat with cheese and crackers*
- Quesadillas with nachos
- Sandwiches* (remember to cut off the crust and cut into triangles - it is much more likely to be eaten that way; don't forget to change breads to keep it interesting)
- PB&J
- PB and banana
- Nutella and marshmallow creme
- Lunch meat and cheese
- Grilled cheese
- Tuna salad
- Egg salad
- Chicken salad
- Cucumbers and cream cheese
- Bacon and cheese (with lettuce, tomato, or onions if they like them)
- Tortilla roll ups or pita sandwiches*
- PB&J
- Lunch meat and cheese
- Tuna salad
- Egg salad
- Veggies (julienned) with peanut sauce
- Chicken salad
- Stir fry leftovers
- Cucumber (julienned) and cream cheese
- Hummus with julienned veggies
- Homemade soup* (start it in the morning before the kids get up)
- Pizza on English muffins or bagels
- Pizza or stromboli
- Mexican pizza on tortillas
- Tuna melt
- Relish tray of fruit or veggies with dip and cheese*
- Baguettes with cheese and grapes (makes an easy picnic, too)*
- Apples spread with peanut butter*
- Macaroni and cheese
- Impossible cheeseburger pie (easy when you have onions and beef already cooked in the freezer!)
- Fried rice
- Cubed anything with toothpicks*
- Baked potatoes (they cook in 6 minutes in the microwave) - coat them in olive oil and coarse salt and pepper and prick with a fork before cooking
- Pasta salad with meat and/or veggies added*
- Beanie weenies*
- Quesadillas
- Taco salad
- Nachos with chili & beans
- Individually frozen cooked hamburger patties
- Octopus hot dogs - cut the wiener lengthwise about 2/3 of the way down to make tentacles then boil or microwave then make eyes with dots of mustard or canned cheese* (put hot dog in boiling water in a Thermos and it will be cooked by lunch time)
- Homemade soup of any kind (freeze extra in lunch serving size portions)*
- Reubens
- Pancakes or waffles with fruit
- Bacon, egg, and cheese English muffins (or sourdough bread sandwiches)
- Rice and beans (the little packets are good)*
- Pinto beans and cornbread (soak your pinto beans the day before and cook them overnight in the slow cooker)
- Ants on a log (celery with peanut butter spread on it and raisins on top)