Quick and easy is definitely something I want when it comes to meals when we go out.Ā If I don’t have anything with us it’s a sure thing that we buy lunch which is not great on the budget.Ā Here are 7 go to on the go quick and easy lunch ideas that we love.Ā Ā
Food that can be packed and doesn’t require ice can really make life easier. Healthy and natural foods that don’t cost an arm and a leg make it even better.
Quick and Easy Lunch
Foods rich in fiber fills you up and keeps your body regular. If you are looking for the highest-fiber choices check out this chart from the Mayo clinic [1]. Or if you want to use this list from Healthline of 22 fiber-rich foods you should eat [2].
You want lots of fruits and veggies in your diet to keep you safe from obesity, heart disease and diabetes [1].
Fiber helps with weight loss too. An added benefit for all of us [3]. Just remember to avoid white food like white bread, white pasta, and white rice.
Whole Grain Pasta
Pasta can be made ahead of time.Ā You can add a bunch of veggies and/or meat.Ā We love spiral whole wheat noodles and whole-wheat egg noodles.Ā You can try anything with high fiber and have a great lunch.Ā
There are plenty of vegan and vegetarian options with beans that don’t require any refrigeration.
One of my favorites is black beans, 3 to 5 types chopped veggies and Italian dressing. Aiden loves carrots and broccoli with cubes of cheese.
Sandwiches
Sandwiches can come in many varieties.Ā From cheese to meats or your favorite nut butter. Sandwiches are a traditional lunch item. With so many choices you can make sandwiches every day and still not get bored.
You have lots of options for bread too. You can look whole wheat or whole grain for fiber. Bread, burritos, or flatbread there are lots of choices.
PB&J comes along often. So do cheese sandwiches or burritos. Another one that is in the rotation is tuna salad.
Cheese and Crackers
Cheese and crackers are probably the easiest options. You can get pre-sliced cheese. Although if you’re looking for cheap definitely look for the block of cheese and cut it yourself.
We love wheat thins, Ritz crackers, and Gram crackers. Lots other great crackers options like Triscuit or Club crackers. Always look for the high fiber crackers.
Yogurt and Fruit
Calcium is an important part of bone growth and density. Getting calcium every day necessary for kids and adults. Add some yogurt into your day and get your daily dose. Stick to plainer yogurts so you can avoid the sugar. Add fruit to make it sweet and healthier.
Granola or Oat-based Cookies
If it’s a favorite and healthy you can’t lose. Granola is filling and often has less sugar than other types of packaged food.
Cookies can be healthy. If you make them yourself or you pick ones that are mainly whole grain oats. We love to make an oat and peanut butter cookie with chocolate chips.
Related post: HOMEMADE PEANUT BUTTER CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
Nuts, Seeds, and Dried Fruit
It feels like a snack but it’s perfect for an easy lunch. Obviously, we don’t want to pick one that is an allergen for your family. We don’t have a nut allergy so anything goes.
Peanuts, cashews, and almonds are our favorites. I’ll through in some cranberries, apricots and sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds in a zip lock bag and we’re good until dinner.
Related post: BACK TO SCHOOL HOMESCHOOL EDITION
Veggie Sticks and Dip
Chop up a few different veggies and pick a dip. You can grab your favorite hummus from the store. Or if it’s your thing make your own hummus. Then there’s your favorite nut butter. Greek yogurt. Whatever you like for dip.
Quick and Easy Lunch Ideas
Whether you’re on the go or packing school lunches keep it simple with these quick and easy lunch ideas. What do you like to pack in your lunch? Do you try to keep it the same for your whole house or is it a little different for everyone? Let me know in the comments below and don’t forget to pin this one for later.
References
- [1] Chart of high-fiber foods, Mayo Clinic
- [2] 22 High-fiber Food You Should Eat, Healthline
- [3] High-Fiber Food, Help Guide
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Loved all the healthy ideas! I kind of want cheese and crackers myself š great post!
When I went to school, my lunch box was filled with the same lunch EVERYDAY! So I make it an effort to make a different lunch box for my daughter every day.
I admit something as simple as cheese and crackers can be delicious and a simple meal to put together for lunch. And a sandwich is always great as well.
Love quick, easy and healthy indeed. These are all great ideas, we are huge lovers of cheese and crackers
These are all great ideas! I am hoping that I can shake up my kids lunch boxes this year!
In this heat, I’m all about quick and easy meals. I’m going to have to try these because my kitchen gets so hot with the oven on. I live alone and work from home so I won’t be using these on the go but I sure will fix them for here.
These are great ideas for me to prepare healthy lunch for the kid.Most importantly,these ideas are quick and easy.I want to add more healthy nuts for his meal…
I love myself some bread, biscuits and carrots so I’ll definitely follow some of these! Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for sharing these lunch ideas. My kids will love these!!
This is wonderful! We revert to sandwiches way too often… I need more variety in their lunchboxes!
These are great ideas for anyone! We love having greek yogurt and berries for breakfast.
Some great ideas here, Isaac is excired that he can go to a canteen at his new school and choose what he wants to eat
Love all of these ideas! I think dips make veggies so much more fun to snack on, I personally love hummus!
Now that school opens very soon ideas like this can be very helpful. Easy, quick and budget-friendly what can we ask for?
These ideas are great! I love the simplicity of cheese and crackers.
Wow that looks so delicious! I could eat the whole thing by myself lol will make this during the weekend and see how the kids enjoy it
School year sure does get hectic for me. Looking for different school lunch ideas are always on my radar.
Things get hectic during the school year so we are always looking for new ideas for lunch! These are great.
Having something to eat in the middle of the day is so important. My kids are all teenagers now and getting them to take anything to eat at school is hard. I wish they would take any one of your lovely ideas instead of going without and raiding the fridge when they get home starving.
I love being able to get creative with foods since I have started a new lifestyle. All of these options sounds yummy.
These are great ideas as they are very healthy and natural food and non-processed. Whole food is the key for kids growing.
Iām always looking for quick lunch ideas. Most of these we do and just add some fruit snacks and a yogurt or applesauce pouch! But I definitely forgot about pasta salad!
Angel | Mommy-ing Differently
Yum! I love yogurt and granola. If I’m really feeling creative I make my own granola too. Thanks for the ideas!
These are great lunch ideas. I love pasta because it’s so filling and easy to make ahead of time.
Can’t go wrong with sandwiches!! You can make ahead of time and freeze them too! Take them out in the morning and they are defrosted by lunch time š