Guest post by Tanya K.
It can sometimes get a little bit arduous, making the same lunches day in day out, so that your children can eat healthily at school. Thing is, with a little inspiration, you can create some fantastic alternatives to the trusty sandwich, which not only will be super healthy but will also taste great.
Rather than scouring the shelves of the supermarket to find the perfect ingredients for your imaginative lunchbox treats, take a look at the ideas below for inspiration and head for the web. Online groceries shopping can be incredibly convenient and hassle-free, as well as saving you time and money. Buy the bits you need, arrange for their delivery as part of your weekly shop and get started on preparing your children some fantastic lunchtime treats.
Tuna and Sweetcorn Pancakes
Source: lunchboxworld.co.uk via R.E.A.L Samantha Rentz on Pinterest
Such an easy dish but offers a little variation from the humble sandwich.
Search the online store for a tin of tuna, a tin of sweetcorn and some cream cheese. Mix them all together and season.
Use the ingredients in your cupboard, or buy some readymade pancake mix, to make the pancakes, fill with the mixture, and wrap them up! Easy!
Philly Salad Pitta Pockets
Source: kraftrecipes.com via Annie on Pinterest
Purchase some Philadelphia cream cheese, some pitta bread and some salad ingredients, such as pepper, tomato and lettuce, slice the pitta bread to make a pocket and stuff with the yummy components.
It’s such a simple meal but full of healthy greens and perfect as an alternative for a school or work lunchbox.
Mini Cheesy Sticks
Source: sargento.com via Annie on Pinterest
If you’re stuck for a healthy treat, mini cheese sticks are an ideal addition to a lunchbox. With many schools adding restrictions to lunchbox treats, such as sugary snacks and nut products, parents are having to find alternative options to keep their kids fuelled.
Mini cheesy sticks are simple to make, and you can make a batch at the same time. Buy some ready roll pastry, for convenience, and some of your favourite cheese, such as mild cheddar or red Leicester. Roll out the pastry, scatter with cheese, fold in half, roll and repeat. Do that four times, cut into strips and twist them before baking for 12 minutes. Simple, cheap and scrumptious.
Macadamia Snack Bars
Source: recipes.sparkpeople.com via Annie on Pinterest
Add a selection of your favourite dried fruit products, such as raisins, apricots and figs, to your online basket, along with some macadamia nuts, sunflower seeds, wholemeal flour and porridge oats. Add some honey and apple juice to the list, too.
Place all the dried fruit into a blender, stir in everything else and blend some more. Bake for 20 minutes, leave to cool and slice into bars.
It makes a delicious addition to a lunchbox that is oozing with health and superfood goodness. Not only that, but your children will love them – snacks don’t have to include chocolate to be a hit with youngsters.
With plenty of options for healthy and alternative lunchbox delights to choose from, the preparation doesn’t have to be a chore again. Use the online groceries shopping facilities to select all of the ingredients and enjoy creating some yummy delights.
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
What excellent ideas! I don’t pack lunch for my kids (since they are homeschooled) but this would be great alternative to our normal lunch.
Pinning!
Thanks for this!
My little ones eat lunch/dinner at school so it is not a problem for me on normal days – I am in trouble when we are off to somewhere or travelling (we do that a LOT since we have 2 houses in 2 different countries). I love the idea with cheesy sticks as it looks like something I would devour in 10 secs, too!
Thanks for sharing, Annie!
Thanks for the ideas! We’ll be trying some of these soon!
Thanks for sharing these! I never would’ve thought to pair tuna and corn. I’ll have to try it.
the Philly Salad Pitta Pockets sounds good
Yum, thanks for the ideas!!
The Philly Salad Pita Pockets look delicious. I think I may have to try those out for packed lunches.
the philly salad pita pockets sounds great! theres so many good ways to fix a pita but Ive never thought about do it this way..the cream cheese sounds amazing
These are great ideas to shake up the typical lunch! thanks
I am always looking for new lunch ideas. Thanks for sharing!
Great ideas. I feel like I make the same thing over and over for my kids lunches. I desperately need some new ideas for lunches. Thank you.
My grandson would love the Macadamia Snack Bars! Looks delicious!
Those snack bars look yummy and easy. I’m always looking for healthy snack options to send with my son for school.
The Tuna and Sweetcorn Pancakes look delish!!
The Philly Salad Pitta Pockets look yummy and so easy to make.
Peanut butter and marshmallow creme on saltine crackers makes a nice lunchbox treat too.
The philly salad pita pocket looks delicious!
I *love* these ideas – thank you!!