Fabulous Lunch Box Pairs

When creating a healthy lunch for yourself or your child, ask yourself: “What am I getting from this meal?” Too often we may fill up on foods that are lacking quality nutrients.  Creating meals that are well balanced and nutrient rich aren’t always easy.  Here are a few kid friendly and adult pleasing ideas to help inspire your lunchbox.

Black Bean Quesadilla with Tomato, Avocado & Corn salad:  Make a quesadilla out of black beans, black bean dip or refried black beans.  Black beans are a high protein, high fiber and nutrient rich food that is flavorful and can be easily tucked into just about anything. Pairing this tasty bean with a refreshing tomato salad dressed with lemon, Extra Virgin Olive Oil and a sprinkle of sea salt will delight any appetite.

Hard Boiled Egg with Snow Peas, Carrot Sticks and Tzatiki sauce:  Eggs are an excellent source of protein. They are super easy to make and can be sliced over a piece of whole wheat bread, mashed into a salad or eaten whole.  I love pairing eggs with Dill, I find the herb to bring a refreshing boost of flavor.

Roasted Chicken and Wheat berry salad with Pesto Dip and Crunchy Apple Wedges: Try roasting up a chicken and sparing some extra for lunch.  Chopping it up and mixing it into a small serving of a grain like a chewy wheat berry will bulk up the fiber content of this meal.  Swirl in some flavorful pesto and pair with some crispy fall apples for a nutrient rich meal sure to keep you satiated for a busy afternoon.

The most important thing to keep in mind when creating your meals is to be sure that you have a veg heavy, protein and fiber rich meal.  Below I have listed a few proteins to help you establish a base to build your meal around.

Lunchbox Friendly Proteins:

Hummus

Nut Butters (peanut, almond, cashew, sunflower)

Beans (bean spreads are great too!)

Leftover roasted chicken

Lentil Patty’s

Edamame

Firm Tofu (Non GMO)

Cottage Cheese

Plain Greek Yogurt

Unsalted Tree Nuts (almonds, walnuts)

Flax Seeds, Hemp Hearts, Chia Seeds

Pumpkin Seeds

Quinoa, Buckwheat

And many, many more!!