Blessedfamily Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 DH has just gone on another dreaded journey to the grocery in search of healthy food for lunch. News flash to myself- homeschooling= no school lunches. I'm glad in a way, but I'm fresh out of ideas. Really, it's part of our larger struggle to find healthy food locally. Breakfast we have covered (except maple syrup, but let's not start that again:001_smile:). In the dinner category we have problems finding side dish ideas that are not processed and full of preservatives and worse. But lunch??? What else can you fix for lunch besides lunch meat and peanut butter? We buy lunch meat w/out nitrates, but I still don't like to eat too much. I even asked one of the supermoms on my street. She said lunch is her least favorite meal and she is stumped so she serves the same thing almost daily. Is there anything else that's healthy but not too time-consuming? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keptwoman Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 We tend to be bread and peanut butter most of the time but other options: Simple vegetable soups Omelettes Mac n Cheese Corn on the cob Toasted sandwiches with cheese and tomato Eggs on toast Baked Beans Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 (edited) I make a lot of vegetable soups with pulses/grains. I make the soup the night before, while I'm making supper. Also whole grain pitta with salad and tuna stuffed inside. Lentils are good, as are leftovers. Laura Edited November 6, 2008 by Laura in China Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NicksMama-Zack's Mama Too Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 I keep refried beans, tortillas, shredded cheese, salsa and leftover meat in the fridge for quick lunches. My kids don't seem to tire of them. hth K Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacqui in mo Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 Yogurt, honey, & fresh fruit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs. Readsalot Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 In other words I make up lunch ahead of time. Some of my son's favorites are Homemade Vegetable Soup Lasgne Manwich Bean Cassarole Tacos (I only make the meat in advance) A Roast in the slow cooker Chili Refried Bean Dip Fried Rice with chicken Anything that can be heated quickly and reheats well is great for lunch If we run out at the end of the week my other quick luch ideas are Mini pizza on English Muffins steak-um sandwiches (probably not super healthy though) Apple and Cheese slices served with Apple Cider YUM! Pita Pockets (Kids love these) with feta cheese and ham cubes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom31257 Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 My kids eat fresh fruits and vegetables much better than cooked, so every lunch has some for the sides. Here's some of what I do besides sandwiches: Grilled Cheese & tomato soup(we only eat whole grain bread) Quessadillas (whole grain tortillas, sometimes just cheese, sometimes chicken & cheese) We like this with salsa and quacamole. They are very quick to make. Supper Leftovers I do usually let them pick one processed thing a week that they like (frozen pizza, Spaghetti O's, etc.). Breakfast for lunch (different than they had for breakfast that day) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MyThreeSons Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 tostadas baked potatoes with goodies tuna melts salads fried rice smoothies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitestavern Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 We do a lot of what's been posted, but here are two more: cottage cheese and fruit or veggies, hummus and pita. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TraceyS/FL Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 I hate lunch time. Mine feed themselves most of the time - PB&J or Honey, chicken nuggets or something. If i feel like cooking "twice" in a day - i'll make Mac & CHeese (took them a few months off of Easy Mac to like and ask for homemade though) or something else. I bought some containers to freeze beans in - maybe i'll try freezing refried beans and see how that goes. They love burritos! (i make torts - that is easy and I don't mind doing that at lunch really). But really, i hate lunch time. Oh, and I have great intents on making my own chicken nuggets - i need to find a breading mix they like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TammyinTN Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 Our favorite lunch is chef salads. I prep everything that morning and open the containers up at lunch time and you make your own salad. I also keep lots of boiled eggs, nuts, dried cranberries, croutons, sunflower seeds to make it more filling. Soups w/ grilled cheese When I make a large dinner then the next days lunch is left overs. Grilled chicken the night before makes great grilled chicken sandwiches or chicken salad the next day. Baked potatoes with chili and cheese. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsdash Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 A typical lunch for my girls might be a small fresh fruit salad (apple slices,a strawberry, a prune, a fig, a date,sliced banana,cranberries, almonds) with some natural peanut butter on the side, a small "plop" of yogurt, some baby carrots and brocolli with a toasted pita and hummus. or A toasted english muffin half with tuna, a tomato and melted cheese or A baked sweet potatoe, a small salad and some yogurt w.agave and walnuts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joannqn Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 I bought some containers to freeze beans in - maybe i'll try freezing refried beans and see how that goes. They love burritos! (i make torts - that is easy and I don't mind doing that at lunch really). Refried beans freeze just fine. Just bring back to room temp and reheat. I cook up 3 pounds of pinto beans at a time. If I expect to use them up the same week, I refrigerate them unmashed. Then I refry just the amount I need throughout the week. If I don't expect to use them up that week, I mash and fry them for freezing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TraceyS/FL Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 Refried beans freeze just fine. Just bring back to room temp and reheat. I cook up 3 pounds of pinto beans at a time. If I expect to use them up the same week, I refrigerate them unmashed. Then I refry just the amount I need throughout the week. If I don't expect to use them up that week, I mash and fry them for freezing. Thanks! I just put 2 pounds on the stove to quick soak. Now if i could find a recipe for refried beans that matched my favorite restaurant in CA (that just closed - no reason to go back now! LOL!!!) i'd be a happy camper :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Florida Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 When I make dinners that he especially likes, I make extra and put it away for lunches. So, last night I made spaghetti (probably his very favorite meal). I made an extra-big batch of sauce and extra pasta. Both are now sitting in the fridge, and he will heat up some for lunch later. I do the same thing with mashed potatoes, curry-flavored couscous and anything else he likes. If there are no appealing left-overs, he often just has something simple like crackers and fruit. He is also competent enough in the kitchen these days to cook his own couscous, which he likes to eat in a pita with a little bit of hummus. And, in the name of full disclosre, I'll admit that I do keep frozen vegetable samosas around, because he likes to have those for lunch sometimes, too. And, even worse, there are usually frozen french fries in there for him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TraceyS/FL Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 I eat the leftovers around here! LOL! But my kids really don't ever want it, the oldest has one thing she will eat as leftovers and that is it. But you just reminded me to go throw the spag sauce on to cook. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizzie in Ma Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 Occasionally PB&J on wheat bread. In fact, we like leftovers and soups for breakfast too. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kewb Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 Lunch around here consists of what is in the house. Right now we have been so busy I have not gone to the market and we are using pantry items. Lunch can be any of the following (prepared by the children) Leftovers Mac & cheese Eggs Sandwich vegetables and dip cheese and crackers Soup & grilled cheese Pancakes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoyfulMama Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 I use whatever I have to combine for : 1) protein (egg, nuts, meat, beans) 2) vegetable 3) fruit 4) grain Whether that be leftovers or something made special, such as a quiche/strata, or some soup (usually frozen from a previous meal), or sandwiches (rather than processed lunchmeat, we often used leftover meat), we tend to use what's leftover, and fill in with what's available. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blessedfamily Posted November 6, 2008 Author Share Posted November 6, 2008 We should start a social group for lunch ideas and call it "Well-trained tummies" or "Well-fed tummies" :001_smile: Just a few questions about the responses if anyone can answer. In the grilled cheese and tomato sand. do you cook the tomato first? For quesadillas I can't find a good tortilla that doesn't have hydrogenated oil. Can you recommed a good one? For those who do soups, do you make it from scratch(I try to avoid canned stuff)? If so, is this involved. I'm looking for a crockpot now but uhhhhh...it's going to take a while to find a safe one. Thanks again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawn in OH Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 I think lunch is fun and easy. We usually have a platter of a variety things on the table and everyone helps themselves. They children are reminded to get something from each food group and told if they haven't eaten enough from a group. The platter varies but may contain: preservative free lunch meat cubed cheeses (American, mozzarella, cheddar, Gouda) carrot sticks celery sticks sliced cucumber hard boiled egg black olives cherry/grape tomatoes grapes apples or pears homemade bread wheat crackers tuna salad egg salad chicken salad other seasonal fruits hummus Sometimes we will do ham pinwheels, or quesadillas, bean and cheese burritos, grilled cheese, a salad and baked potato. Often times in the winter we'll have soup, bread and salad. Sometimes I make personal pizzas on homemade flatbread. We all love peanut butter here, so usually the day after I make the wheat bread we have peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyNellen Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 We do a lot of whole wheat past w/ butter and cheese at lunch. Also, I like to have soup around to be reheated whenever we need it. Soups can be very healthy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 I've been doing homemade soups lately, when we don't have leftovers. Most of them can be made pretty quickly, then just give them up to an hour to cook and blend the flavors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
runamuk Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 One of my kid's favorite lunches is what they call a Finger Lunch. It's easy to make, uses up leftovers and doesn't require any silverware. I include some of the following: artisan bread or bagel with goat cheese or cream cheese leftover biscuit or cornbread with butter sliced apples or pears a banana mandarin or regular orange slices melon slices grapes or berries hard-boiled eggs leftover chicken, roast pork or beef cut into strips or chuncks carrot sticks broccoli florets cherry tomatoes cauliflower celery with peanut butter olives chunks of different cheese They love it and are guaranteed to clean their plates. We also make mini-pizzas. I buy refridgerated biscuit dough, let Elle roll it out and then offer different toppings for them to put on their pizzas. I'm always surprised at the amount of veggies they will eat on a pizza. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissel Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 We should start a social group for lunch ideas and call it "Well-trained tummies" or "Well-fed tummies" :001_smile: Just a few questions about the responses if anyone can answer. In the grilled cheese and tomato sand. do you cook the tomato first? I don't. I slice the tomato thinly and just make it like a regular grilled cheese sandwich, or I make it open-faced in the toaster oven. Or I just make grilled cheese and serve tomatoes in a olive oil and a dash of salt on the side. For quesadillas I can't find a good tortilla that doesn't have hydrogenated oil. Can you recommed a good one? I've only been able to get healthy ones at Trader Joe's or Whole Foods. It's very frustrating. I also have a recipe for making your own, if you care to give it a shot. It's fun, but a bit labor intensive unless you have a tortilla press. For those who do soups, do you make it from scratch(I try to avoid canned stuff)? If so, is this involved. I make a big pot at a time and we eat from it for 3 days, so not too involved. I'm looking for a crockpot now but uhhhhh...it's going to take a while to find a safe one. I THINK Hamilton Beach ones are safe (that's why I bought mine, but it was awhile ago. Someone said there's also one with a glass insert that should be fine. But frankly, I never use mine. No one ever likes anything I cook in it! Thanks again! My responses are in blue :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 For those who do soups, do you make it from scratch(I try to avoid canned stuff)? If so, is this involved. Saute an onion and some smashed garlic (to taste) in olive oil. Add whatever vegetables you have around, sliced (celery, turnip, carrot, leek......). Add a grain or pulse plus water to cover. If you are using most lentils/quinoa/pearl barley then they don't need soaking. Others (most dried beans) need soaking according to the packet directions. Add water and simmer until soft, keeping an eye so that the soup doesn't get too dry. At this point, add pepper and whatever herbs you like - mixed herbs/Italian seasoning work fine. If using pulses, wait until they start to soften before adding salt/stock cube. Variations: leek and potato, where the potato takes the place of the pulses; sauteing a little bacon at the beginning to add extra flavour; adding tomato paste for a richer taste.... As I say, I often make these at the same time as supper, so I don't have two cooking sessions in the day. Then I just reheat for lunch. Have fun! Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NevadaRabbit Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 Vary the presentation to break the monotony - a seasonally decorated paper plate makes the standard PB&J look better. :) OH and toothpicks or chopsticks instead of utensils - we're nuts, maybe, but cut a sandwich into little squares and eat it with toothpicks - makes it fun. For lunch we do: raw veggies and ranch dip pb and honey stirred together in a small ramekin with a spreader for applying to crackers and apple slices cheese quesadillas mac and cheese (Kraft, right outta the box! GACK!) wraps (pick yer stuffin' and roll it up in a tortilla) top crackers with slices of deli meat and a dollop of cottage cheese or cream cheese nuke some Lean Pockets or Hot Pockets hot dogs scrambled eggs (super yummo wrapped in a tortilla with cheese and salsa) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NevadaRabbit Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 One more thing - packaged crescent rolls with small amt of meat/cheese inside, bake as directed - OR refrig pie crust - cut into fourths and fill with small amt of meat/cheese, fold over and use a fork to press edges together and bake as directed. Good way to perk up lastnight's leftovers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jami Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 along with those things mentioned, my kids really like to have breakfast for lunch. I'm not good at doing bigger breakfasts in the morning. But they love to have pancakes, french toast, oatmeal, etc. for lunch. I often throw in blueberries or serve a smoothie on the side for fruit. :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissel Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 along with those things mentioned, my kids really like to have breakfast for lunch. I'm not good at doing bigger breakfasts in the morning. But they love to have pancakes, french toast, oatmeal, etc. for lunch. I often throw in blueberries or serve a smoothie on the side for fruit. :-) Sometimes when I make pancakes for breakfast, I'll stick a little PB&J or CC&J inside of a couple extras to make "sandwiches" for lunch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragons in the flower bed Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 I gave up on lunch. We just eat leftovers now. If I can't stomach the leftovers, I make myself a salad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom31257 Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 Quesadillas: I buy La Banderita brand (it doesn't have hydrogenated oil). They have whole wheat, multi-grain, and low-carb that's made with whole wheat and several fibers. I get them at Wal-Mart Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joannqn Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 Thanks! I just put 2 pounds on the stove to quick soak. Now if i could find a recipe for refried beans that matched my favorite restaurant in CA (that just closed - no reason to go back now! LOL!!!) i'd be a happy camper :D Try these. They are my recipe and taste a lot like those you get at Mexican restaurants. Manteca is one of the most important ingredients to getting them to taste right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blessedfamily Posted November 7, 2008 Author Share Posted November 7, 2008 I am overwhelmed. This is so helpful. THANK YOU ALL! :hurray: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TraceyS/FL Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 Try these. They are my recipe and taste a lot like those you get at Mexican restaurants. Manteca is one of the most important ingredients to getting them to taste right. Thanks - i'll give it a go. I grew up eating Manteca in my torts that mom made, so i'm not afraid of it :D My mom was going to have my grandma try to get the recipe from the restaurant for me - the owner was in Korea with my grandpa. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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