Over the summer I’ve been stockpiling my freezer with creative foods for lunches so I can grab them instead of resorting to making the same old sandwiches every day. It’s not only great for the kids, but also for my husband who needs quick and healthy lunches to bring to work.
Here are some of the lunch foods that will be filling my freezer this year.
Macaroni, Cheese and Spinach Muffins by Emily Bites
It’s portable mac and cheese! How great is that? Cole wasn’t crazy about the spinach part, but Bennett gobbled them up.
Egg, Cheese and Broccoli Cups
Use one egg per cup (so if you’re doing 12 then use 12 eggs), beat the eggs together with a little salt and pepper. Pour evenly into well-greased muffin tins. Add a spoonful of cooked broccoli florets to each cup and sprinkle the tops with a spoonful of shredded cheddar cheese. Bake at 350F for about 20 minutes.
They freeze well, and the boys didn’t mind eating them cold or room temperature, so I think these will work fine for their lunches. I found them a little soggy when cold though, so I prefer them hot. You can heat them and store them in a thermos for lunch, or enjoy them as a quick hot breakfast before school.
Pizza Pinwheels
Use whatever fillings you want, like ham and cheddar, chicken and spinach, or tomato sauce and mozzarella (Cole’s favourite).
Quesadillas:
Try the Black Bean and Pepper Quesadillas pictured here, or make cheese and chicken quesadillas using deli chicken and shredded cheddar cheese. They’re so easy!
Baked Chicken Nuggets with Quinoa
These nuggets are made with ground chicken and cooked quinoa for added nutrition. It’s easy to make them into fun shapes your kids will love.
Zucchini and Yam Fritters
Veggie and cheese fritters make perfect finger food for busy kids on the move.
Waffled Falafels
Healthy chickpea patties in fun waffle shapes would make a tasty lunch served in a mini pita pocket.
Fruity Granola Bars
This is my all-time favourite granola bar recipe and can easily be adapted to suit your tastes. They’re low in sugar, and they’re nut-free.
Fruit-filled Bars
Whole grain bars filled with fruit and dates are a healthy snack choice for lunches. Also try Fruit-Filled Mini Cereal Bars and Fruit Filled Mini Cereal Bars, Revisted
Banana Blueberry Muffins
Muffins are always a good idea in lunch-boxes because they’re portable and can be enjoyed as either a snack or the main event. I like pairing them with cheese and grapes for a satisfying lunch. I’m not sure why that is; maybe my mom used to do it. These banana, blueberry and oatmeal muffins are one of my favourites.
So what will you be packing in school lunches next month?
If you like packing fruit snacks, my family tried Mott’s Fruitsations + Veggie Fruit Snacks, and I think they’re a nice treat for kids’ lunches that you can feel good about packing.
My kids love having fruit snacks as a treat, but usually I avoid them because so many of them have no nutritional value whatsoever. I like that these fruit snacks are made with real fruit and vegetable juices, and that one pouch contains 100% of the recommended daily intake of vitamin C…but the boys don’t really care about that, they just like that they taste really good.
I tried making my own nutritious gummies once, and well…I think I’ll just leave it up to the experts at Mott’s from now on.
Visit the Life Made Delicious Facebook Page to enter to win three $500 gift cards until September 8th, 2013. That would sure come in handy with back-to-school shopping! While you’re on the facebook page, grab a coupon for $0.50 off Mott’s Fruitsations + Veggie Fruit Snacks (while quantities last).
Disclosure – I am participating in the Mott’s Fruitsations & Veggie fruit snacks Blogger Campaign by Mom Central Canada. I received compensation as a thank you for participating and for sharing my honest opinion. The opinions on this blog are my own.