When time is scarce, it’s good to know that you can come up with healthy lunch ideas make ahead. Make Ahead lunches are really an ally when you’re running out of work at lunch time and want to stay at home instead of going out. A homemade lunch is a great reward for being flexible – and there’s no better reward for you than that!
Healthy Lunch Ideas Make Ahead
I know that making lunch for us parents and the kids can seem like a daunting task. But it doesn’t have to be. Don’t stress about making lunches. These make-ahead lunch ideas can be prepped in advance for easy lunches all week long!
Mornings are hectic which is why I’ve always been a pack-lunch-the-night-before kind of mom. I’m less likely to forget to pack my boys’ favorites and am sure to hit all the major food groups.
While I can’t make every school lunch ahead of time, my boys do crave a PB&J from time to time after all, having a few make-ahead ideas up my sleeve makes packing lunches less of a chore overall.
Some of our favorite go-tos for make-ahead lunches include:
- Pasta salads – Whole grain pasta, veggies, protein and an easy dressing are all that’s needed!
- Tuna or chicken salad – For easy sandwiches or to pair with crackers.
- Soups – Perfect for chilly days here in PA and easy to pack in a Thermos.
- Recipes you can make in a muffin tin – Muffins, quiche bites, mac n cheese, wonton taco cups. Most hold for several days in the fridge and can be freezer-friendly. Plus, it’s just fun to eat mini-versions of your favorite foods.
All these make ahead lunch ideas are great for the kids. Since you can make them ahead of time, have the kids help on actually packing their lunchboxes. When kids are involved in the process of making lunches, they are more likely to eat what’s inside.
Don’t forget to meal-prep your own lunch! These are all delicious, easy and nutritious meal ideas, so that means us parents can enjoy them too.
Make-Ahead Lunch Ideas
Make mornings easier with these make-ahead lunch ideas.
Chinese Mandarin Pasta Salad
Chinese chicken salad goes plant-based with this delicious vegan recipe packed with fruits and veggies
Black Bean Empanadas
These easy vegetarian black bean empanadas are perfect for throwing into a lunchbox with your kids’ favorite sides.
BBQ Chicken Chopped Salad
A bagged salad, leftover rotisserie chicken and a few other simple ingredients make for an easy salad.
Cheesy Taco Pasta
This Cheesy Taco Pasta is ready in just 20 minutes for either an easy weeknight dinner or quick lunchbox idea for the whole week.
Wonton Taco Cups
Whether you’re celebrating Taco Tuesday or just need a fun lunchbox idea that kids can help make, these wonton taco cups are perfect!
Kale and Chicken Pot Pie
The classic Chicken Pot Pie gets a healthy makeover with this easy recipe prepped in 15 minutes!
Pizza Pasta Salad Lunchbox
All your favorite pizza toppings, but in a fun make-ahead pasta salad that’s perfect for lunchboxes!
Alphabet Vegetable Soup
Keep your little ones warm in the winter time with this healthy and hearty Alphabet Soup.
BBQ Chicken Taquitos Lunchbox
Turn leftover shredded chicken into a fun appetizer or lunch idea with these taquitos!
One-Pot Cheeseburger Mac
Busy families often rely on the convenience of boxed hamburger meals, but you can get the same delicious meal in a much healthier way with this one-pot cheeseburger mac
Savory Chicken & Rice Muffins
Turn a chicken & rice dinner into these lunchbox-friendly muffins! Make a big batch at the start of the week for easy snacks and lunchbox packing
Veggie Caesar Pasta Salad
When you know you’ll be in a time crunch with lunchboxes during the week ahead, make a big batch of this Veggie Caesar Pasta Salad to last all week!
Southwest Quiche Muffins Bento Box
These Southwest quiche muffins are a great meal prep recipe packed full of protein and veggies. Make a batch for easy breakfasts all week, or these fun breakfast theme bento boxes!
Mac n Cheese Muffins
These Mac n’ Cheese Muffins are a healthy spin on a kid-favorite. Since they’re fun to eat and packed with flavor, kids won’t even know they’re filled with veggies!
Freezable Pizza Pockets
These homemade pizza pockets are perfect for kids’ lunchboxes! They’re freezer-friendly and can go from freezer to lunchbox without any extra steps.
Twenty delicious make-ahead hot and cold lunch ideas for work that are packed with nutrition to give you energy all afternoon long.
Sundays are meal prep days in our house. My husband typically grocery shops on Sundays so that we can spend later in the next day in the kitchen cooking, singing and dancing.
Jacob recently started doing this new dance move where he bobs his head from left to right, from one shoulder to the other, to the beat of the music. It’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen and the reason I am always grooving and blasting music..I want to see his moves.
One of my biggest time savers and healthy eating strategies is that I take time out on the weekends to plan out what we are having for breakfast and lunch throughout the week. People often talk about weekly meal plans for dinner but around here the first two meals of the day are often the most hectic since I’m usually out numbered by frantic, starving toddlers.
Whether you’re home with little one, sitting at your desk or eating from the car on the go, I’ve put together a list of healthy and delicious make-ahead lunch ideas to get you through your week. Not only are they more exciting than turkey on wheat but they are packed with nutrients to give you long lasting energy to get you through your day.
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Healthy Easy Lunch Ideas – 21 Healthy Packable Make-Ahead Lunches
lunch recipes that are super delicious and very easy to make. Bon appétit!”As our lives are increasingly busy, eating a healthy lunch is not always a priority, but making time for a filling and nutritious meal can pay off both physically and mentally.
Eating in the middle of the workday provides your body with essential fuel and keeps you refreshed, energized and ready to tackle the rest of your day.
Now, if you’re ready to give up the quick but unbalanced on-the-go lunches at work, you might be looking for healthy easy lunch ideas. You’ve come to the right place!
I know how time-consuming finding ideas for healthy make-ahead lunches can be, so I thought I would share some of my favorite recipes with you.
Here is a compilation of 21 healthy packable lunches that are delicious, quick to make, and easier on the wallet than eating out all the time.
Bon appétite
Healthy Lunch Bowls
Spicy Chicken Meal-Prep Bowls By ‘Primavera Kitchen‘
lunch recipes that are super delicious and very easy to make. Bon appétit!” data-jpibfi-post-url=”https://www.thehealthycuisine.com/healthy-lunch-ideas/” data-jpibfi-post-title=”Healthy Easy Lunch Ideas – 21 Healthy Packable Make-Ahead Lunches” data-jpibfi-src=”https://thesuperhealthyfood.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Spicy-Chicken-Meal-Prep-Bowls-Primavera-Kitchen.jpg” />Quick overview
Whole30, paleo-friendly, gluten-free hot and spicy roasted chicken with low-carb roasted vegetables.
Why we love it
It’s a flavorful dish that’s quick and easy to make. The original recipe uses low-carb veggies such as broccoli and cauliflower, making it the perfect keto meal. If you’re not doing keto, you can use whatever vegetables you like to reach your nutrition/macro goals.
Get the recipe
Firecracker Chicken Meal Prep Bowls By ‘Sweet Peas & Saffron‘
lunch recipes that are super delicious and very easy to make. Bon appétit!”Quick overview
A healthy version of the Chinese takeout staple Firecracker Chicken with rice, edamame, and zucchini.
Why we love it
The sweet and sour chicken tastes absolutely amazing and just like the real thing! Although originally served with zucchini and edamame, it’s a versatile dish that can be easily turned into a low-carb, paleo, or vegan meal with just a few simple swaps.
Get the recipe
Fish Taco Bowls By ‘The Live-In Kitchen‘
lunch recipes that are super delicious and very easy to make. Bon appétit!” data-jpibfi-post-url=”https://www.thehealthycuisine.com/healthy-lunch-ideas/” data-jpibfi-post-title=”Healthy Easy Lunch Ideas – 21 Healthy Packable Make-Ahead Lunches” data-jpibfi-src=”https://thesuperhealthyfood.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Fish-Taco-Bowls-the-live-in-kitchen.jpg” />Quick overview
A gluten-free dinner or lunch bowl with spicy fish, avocado, fresh bell peppers, and brown rice.
Meal Prep Burrito Bowls By ‘Free Your Fork‘
lunch recipes that are super delicious and very easy to make. Bon appétit!” data-jpibfi-post-url=”https://www.thehealthycuisine.com/healthy-lunch-ideas/” data-jpibfi-post-title=”Healthy Easy Lunch Ideas – 21 Healthy Packable Make-Ahead Lunches” data-jpibfi-src=”https://thesuperhealthyfood.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/MEAL-PREP-BURRITO-BOWLS.jpg” data-jpibfi-indexer=”2″ />