At nearly every age there are many situations that packing meals becomes necessary. The problem is that sometimes the most convenient things to pack are not the healthiest (bags of chips, individual dessert packages, etc.). Through experimenting with packing my own meals, I have a few go to foods that are healthier and also convenient for packing!
First, fruits are definitely something I always tend to pack. Apples, bananas, oranges, etc. are all easy to throw in a lunch bag or backpack and can provide a nutritious snack or lunch component. Second, nuts are something I love to pack as well. Any kind of nut is easy to pour into a bag or small container and I especially like the fact that they are dense with protein that will keep you full so they also help minimize the amount of food you need to pack! I also eat roasted chickpeas a lot. This is a middle eastern snack but can be found in common grocery stores. Similar to nuts, they also are pretty dense with protein and provide a hardy snack. Another go-to for me is dried cereals, such as cheerios, grape nuts, shredded wheat, or bran bits. If you have access to a refrigerator, Greek yogurt and hummus can be good sides to bring along as well. I always pack some kind of veggies as well. Baby carrots or snap peas are usually the most convenient but cutting up bell peppers or cucumbers if you have time are great as well!
For the main course I'm definitely a sandwich lover. Using hardy whole grain or rye bread, lean lunch meats and cheeses, and loading with lettuce and tomatoes! If I use tomatoes I often pack them separately to avoid making the bread soggy. Also the sandwich can be varied each day with different meats, cheeses, breads, and sauces (greek yogurt, hummus, and all types of mustards are my usuals). I also often pack tuna sandwiches, but for these I pack the tuna separately to avoid soggy bread and usually make it a tuna salad (mix greek yogurt, sliced grapes, and tuna), or an avocado/tuna mixture. Another variation can be made by using a tortilla wrap instead of bread some days!
Finally a few other filling things that work well to pack every once in a while are hard boiled eggs, and sweet potatoes. For the sweet potato, I usually boil it the night before and store it in the refrigerator over night, then I eat it at room temperature with my lunch but if you have access to a microwave it reheats well. I mix it with some steamed veggies as well if I can!
These are some things that I pack most often, I like the variety and ability to mix things up, but I do not have anything against packing the same lunch throughout the week, as long as it is well balanced!
First, fruits are definitely something I always tend to pack. Apples, bananas, oranges, etc. are all easy to throw in a lunch bag or backpack and can provide a nutritious snack or lunch component. Second, nuts are something I love to pack as well. Any kind of nut is easy to pour into a bag or small container and I especially like the fact that they are dense with protein that will keep you full so they also help minimize the amount of food you need to pack! I also eat roasted chickpeas a lot. This is a middle eastern snack but can be found in common grocery stores. Similar to nuts, they also are pretty dense with protein and provide a hardy snack. Another go-to for me is dried cereals, such as cheerios, grape nuts, shredded wheat, or bran bits. If you have access to a refrigerator, Greek yogurt and hummus can be good sides to bring along as well. I always pack some kind of veggies as well. Baby carrots or snap peas are usually the most convenient but cutting up bell peppers or cucumbers if you have time are great as well!
For the main course I'm definitely a sandwich lover. Using hardy whole grain or rye bread, lean lunch meats and cheeses, and loading with lettuce and tomatoes! If I use tomatoes I often pack them separately to avoid making the bread soggy. Also the sandwich can be varied each day with different meats, cheeses, breads, and sauces (greek yogurt, hummus, and all types of mustards are my usuals). I also often pack tuna sandwiches, but for these I pack the tuna separately to avoid soggy bread and usually make it a tuna salad (mix greek yogurt, sliced grapes, and tuna), or an avocado/tuna mixture. Another variation can be made by using a tortilla wrap instead of bread some days!
Finally a few other filling things that work well to pack every once in a while are hard boiled eggs, and sweet potatoes. For the sweet potato, I usually boil it the night before and store it in the refrigerator over night, then I eat it at room temperature with my lunch but if you have access to a microwave it reheats well. I mix it with some steamed veggies as well if I can!
These are some things that I pack most often, I like the variety and ability to mix things up, but I do not have anything against packing the same lunch throughout the week, as long as it is well balanced!