No one likes opening their lunch box only to see the same bland sandwich, bag of chips, and apple that you packed for yourself yesterday. But can you blame yourself? How are we supposed to be creative enough at 7am to put together a new and exciting lunch? If you have felt this way before, its time to try something new.
Meal prepping is a widely trendy, health-promoting way to keep your lunches well-rounded and your wallet happy. This list is a great place to start if you want to make your lunch nutritious, exciting to open, and easy to put together. It is full of snacks that can easily be made ahead of time, and quickly stuffed in a bag when you’re running a little late.
Use these snacks to start a new habit of eating something home-made and different every day. Not only will it make mornings easier, it will make lunch time as fun and delicious as it was in Elementary school.
1. Turmeric Roasted Chickpeas
These flavor-packed chickpeas can be stored in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to a week. With the added health benefits of turmeric, they make a perfect grab-and-go snack that will fill you up and curve your salt craving. Make a big batch on Sunday to enjoy all week.
2. Trail Mix
Making your own trail mix is a great way to avoid the expensive, sodium-rich, and secretly chocolatey mixes you can find at the store. It will save you money, and allow you to put together the perfect trail mix for you. Buy your ingredients in bulk and mix up individual packages of different combinations.
3. Zucchini Chips
Tempted by the potato chips in the vending machine? Try making these baked zucchini chips instead. They are salty and crunchy, and a great way to add an extra veggie boost to your meal. You can also try this recipe with beets or sweet potato to keep things interesting.
4. Peanut Butter Banana Cookies
These 3-ingredient wonders are cheap and simple to put together. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing home-made cookies when you open your lunch box, so bake a batch of these to make your hectic week something to look forward to.
5. Veggies and Hummus
This snack may sound like it takes some work, but if you do a little work in advance, veggies and hummus can be super easy to put together. Just cut up your favorite dipping vegetables and stuff them in a tupperware in the fridge. They will last all week, and can easily be packed in a lunch.
6. Steamed Sweet Potato
Stock up on a few sweet potatoes for the next time you are craving something slightly sweet and super comforting. Top it with black beans and cheese for lunch, or cinnamon and brown sugar for dessert. This versatile veggie only requires a microwave and a few minutes of you time.
7. Dark Chocolate Bark
Dark chocolate is full of antioxidants and iron and makes a perfectly satisfying end to any meal. Top a big batch of chocolate bark with your favorite energy-boosting ingredients like hemp seeds, almond butter, or dried blueberries! Chop it up into small pieces, and stick some in your lunch for a guilt-free treat.
Its time to make lunch time your favorite part of the day again. Take some time to prep a few of these snacks on Sunday and you are sure to enjoy a week of simple and filling lunch-box meals.