Lunch

Back to School Lunch Ideas and Tips

August 1, 2021 by Danielle 30 Comments

Ever start thinking of school lunches and wonder what the heck you’re going to pack? Well here are some great back to school lunch ideas and a few tips that might help you out!

My son isn’t quite ready for kindergarten yet but will be there next year and we’ve already exhausted a few great ideas for toddler lunches at home. So I’m trying to gather a bunch of ideas and tips so that when I am packing his lunch I can pack something that he’ll enjoy and actually eat. Good thing I have a whole year to figure this stuff out, right?

Ok, I’m not going to spend the whole year working on this. But I did start practicing by packing lunches for us to take with us on his days off preschool. When we’re heading out to the zoo, playing at the park, or heading to the beach, I’ve been able to pack lunches for him and his sister that they both enjoy. And here’s what I found… (some of the links included are affiliate links to Amazon) [Read more…]

Filed Under: Health & Wellness, In the Kitchen, Kids Health, Lunch Tagged With: Back to School, Lunch, toddler lunches

Healthy Mediterranean Tuna Salad Pinwheels

March 31, 2017 by Danielle 18 Comments

With spring arriving and the change in weather, I try to turn to some of my favorite light, healthy lunch recipes. One of my favorite recipes is this healthy Mediterranean tuna salad.

By cutting out the mayo and subbing olive oil instead, this tuna salad is not only light and refreshing, it also has fewer calories in it as well! The best part is how versatile it is! Don’t have basil? Try another herb you do have. Don’t like onions? Try another flavor!

To spruce it up for the kids I decided to make these healthy Mediterranean tuna salad pinwheels. I simply wrapped up the tuna salad in some whole grain tortillas, layered some greens and fresh tomatoes from my garden, and piled on the tuna salad.

The results? Delicious! And I’m fairly certain the star of this recipe is the tuna.

Healthy Mediterranean Tuna Salad Pinwheels

1 can tuna (flaked)
1 tablespoon fresh basil (chopped)
1 tablespoon fresh chives (minced)
1/2 stalk celery (diced)
1/4 red onion (diced)
drizzle of olive oil
salt and pepper
juice of 1/2 a lemon
1 tomato (sliced)
2 pieces red leaf lettuce
2 whole grain tortillas

Mix together the first six ingredients in a small bowl. Set aside. Grab the two tortillas and layer a piece of lettuce onto each one. Then add a few slices of tomatoes (about three on each tortilla).
Spread a bit of the tuna salad onto the middle of the tortilla. Roll up the tortilla tightly. Secure with toothpicks and cut into rounds, using extra toothpicks in each individual pinwheel.
Serve and enjoy!

Not only is this a fabulous lunch for the family, it’s also a great appetizer for any parties coming up. Simple and easy to make, guests are sure to love the fresh, delicious flavor of these pinwheels.

What’s your go-to healthy lunch recipe?

Love this recipe? Try a few more:

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Filed Under: Appetizers & Sides, Health & Wellness, In the Kitchen, Lunch, Recipes, Uncategorized Tagged With: Canned Tuna, Healthy Lunch, Healthy Tuna Recipes, Skipjack Tuna, Tuna, Tuna Recipes

Low Carb Egg Drop Soup to Soothe the Soul

February 6, 2017 by Danielle 1 Comment

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of the happy egg co.. All opinions are 100% mine.

Looking for the perfect winter meal to warm you up and make you feel better when you’re sick? This low carb egg drop soup is keto friendly and makes you feel better with tons of wholesome goodness all in one bowl.

We’re a huge egg loving family. From scrambled eggs with bacon in the morning to delectable baked goods made with eggs, we love eggs. So much so that two years ago for my birthday, the kids and my husband got me 2 egg-laying chickens for our backyard. And having chickens has been SO much fun. But also a lot of work. And when winter rolls around, the egg laying slows down and even stops. Right now we’re left with no eggs and that is no bueno for this family. So we depend on the next best thing!

When our two aren’t laying, we pick up a carton or two of the happy egg co. eggs.The happy egg co.takes the consumer confusion out of the egg aisle – their delicious, brown-shelled eggs are produced by free to roam hens raised on family run free range farms. For this brand, raising their hens humanely isn’t simply a marketing tactic or a misleading mantra. The happy egg co. offers both Free Range on Pasture and Organic Free Range on Pasture eggs.

So when I fell sick last week and needed something to soothe me but still stick to my low carb high fat diet, I decided to make my version of egg drop soup. Using the ingredients I had at home, including the happy egg co. eggs, I came up with a recipe that was full of flavor without being too much when you’re sick.

The happy egg co. eggs have such a wonderful bright, golden yolk, don’t you think? I added a few not-so-typical ingredients to our version. The radish cooked in the broth tasted almost like potatoes and the parsley gave it an earthy flavor. Chives for the onion flavor I love so much and a little pinch of cumin added some smokiness to the bowl. Overall I will be trying this again and again when I need to warm up. It may be my new go-to instead of chicken soup.

Low Carb Egg Drop Soup

1 cup chicken broth
1 radish (julienned)
1 teaspoon cumin
1 happy egg co. egg (whisked)
1 tablespoon fresh parsley
1 tablespoon fresh chives
salt and pepper to taste

Heat broth in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Add radish and cumin and whisk to combine. Let cook 1 minute then add egg and whisk into pan for 30 seconds. Add parsley, chives, and salt and pepper and cook one more minute. Serve and enjoy!

Serving 1 | 81 cal 2g carbs 5g fat 7g protein
Suggestion: Add 1 tablespoon of butter if you’re short on fat macros for the day!

Filed Under: In the Kitchen, LCHF, Lunch, Recipes, Soups & Salads Tagged With: egg, egg drop soup, Eggs, LCHF, Low Carb, low carb high fat, Low Carb Recipes, Soup, the happy egg co.

Grilled Steak Sandwich with Garlic Aioli Recipe

September 10, 2016 by Danielle 4 Comments

It still very much feel like summer here. And that means I do not feel like cooking. So this weekend as we watched a little football we grilled up some steak sandwiches to munch on. Since I didn’t want just a plain steak sandwich I decided to make a delicious roasted garlic aioli to give the sandwich more flavor.

While the barbecue was heating up to 400 degrees I put some garlic heads in some foil (bottom sliced off) with a good amount of olive oil. I sealed the foil and added it to the barbecue.

The garlic roasted while the steaks cooked and continued cooking while the steaks rested and took about 20 minutes to cook. Everything else went quickly after the garlic was ready. And everything was done on the grill! Well… except the salad. But you can always grill your salad next time.

Grilled Steak Sandwich with Garlic Aioli Recipe

Grilled Steak Sandwiches with Garlic Aioli

Prep time: 10 mins

Cook time: 30 mins

Total time: 40 mins

Serves: 4-6

Ingredients

2 steaks
1 pack sliced provolone cheese
1 pack french rolls or hamburger buns
garlic aioli (see below for recipe)

Instructions

Preheat grill. Season steaks with salt and pepper. Cook steaks on grill until medium (slightly pink throughout inside).
Set steaks aside to rest. Add rolls to grill to toast up. Take off once they have grill marks.
Cut steak against the grain in thin strips. Slather each roll with a bit of aioli and add a good pile of steak on top. Top with provalone. Add to the top rack of the grill (or not directly over the coals if using a charcoal grill) and close the lid. Cook just long enough for cheese to melt.
Serve with a tasty salad and enjoy!

Roasted Garlic Aioli

Prep time: 5 mins

Cook time: 25 mins

Total time: 30 mins

Ingredients

1 whole head of garlic
Extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 cup mayonnaise
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan
1/2 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Dash Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons parsley, chopped

Instructions

Preheat grill to 400 degrees. Slice off bottom of garlic head and put on a square piece of foil. Add olive oil to foil and wrap closed. Put garlic on grill and let roast 20 minutes.
Let garlic cool. While garlic is cooling, mix all other ingredients together and set aside.
Once garlic has cooled, squeeze garlic from the skin and place in a small bowl. Using a fork, mash the garlic up into smaller pieces and add to the mayo mixture. Stir well.
Use to top the steak sandwiches (recipe above). Store in the refrigerator in an air tight container.

What’s your favorite tailgating meal?

Filed Under: In the Kitchen, Lunch, Recipes, Uncategorized Tagged With: barbecue, bbq, grilling, grilling recipes, sandwiches, sauces, spreads, steak

10 Quick and Easy Lunch Ideas for Toddlers

April 18, 2016 by Danielle 2 Comments

If you have a toddler, you know how tricky lunchtime can be. With children’s ever changing tastes and food preferences, finding the perfect meal can be a challenge. We have tried to take some of the stress away from mealtime with these 10 quick and easy lunch ideas for toddlers below, perfect for filling your child up so they can be well fueled for the rest of the day!

Each week as I plan meals for dinner, I also try and make a list of items we’ll need for lunches as well so we can kill two birds with one stone. Then when we head back home from the store on our weekly shopping trip, I prep both dinners and lunches so it’s quicker to throw together during the week. I also make sure to keep some easy frozen or pantry options on hand as well for those times that we just don’t have prep-time.

If you are looking for lunches you can make in a jiffy that are sure to be enjoyed, give these suggestions a glance!

10 Quick and Easy Lunch Ideas for Toddlers

1.Mac and Cheese Shells with Veggies and Dip

Mac and Cheese Shells (in the box) with a side of fresh veggies and salad dressing for dipping makes the perfect meal! You will love the ease of a boxed mac and cheese, and they will love dipping their carrots and celery in dressing!

2. Walking Taco

Fill a bowl with tortilla chips and add some shredded cheese, shredded lettuce, and chopped tomato if you think your child will eat them. You can also add a touch of sour cream or even diced avocado for the perfect walking taco.

Tip: Put all of the toppings out on the table and let your child choose what they put on their chips! You’d be surprised at what they choose to try.

3. Yogurt Parfait

Try whipping up this easy yogurt parfait for a simple lunchtime treat. Layer plain yogurt and cereal or granola to create a sweet parfait that kiddos are sure to love. You can even top with fresh fruit if you wish!

4. Pizza Dippers

Try this easy hands on lunch that kids are sure to love. Bake some mini frozen pizza bagels and serve with some warmed pasta sauce for dipping. Kids will love dipping their bagel bites and feeding themselves.

5. Fruit Skewers

Kids love creating and eating this sweet treat! Give children a variety of cut fruit chunks and let them make their own fruit skewers. You can give them yogurt for dipping, or even add some cottage cheese on the side.

6. Breakfast Bites

Who says you can’t have breakfast for lunch? Try making some refrigerated cinnamon rolls and serve with fresh fruit, yogurt, or a protein side such as bacon or sausage links. Kids will love the variety and having breakfast for lunch.

7. Baked Potato Bar

Let kiddos build their own baked potato from a baked potato bar. Warm a potato and serve with cheese, bacon bits, veggies, and other toppings you think they will enjoy. Let them build their own potato to their liking.

8. Tasty Peanut Butter Roll Ups

Try spreading peanut butter and jelly onto a tortilla shell. Roll it up and cut into wheels. Kids will love this creative way of enjoying peanut butter and jelly. Sometimes we call it PB&J sushi to make it more fun.

My kid loves ham or turkey and cheddar roll ups too! I use a toothpick to keep them together when I’m prepping them but take it out when I serve it to her.

9. Banana Boats

Place a peeled banana into a dish and let children top it with shredded coconut, fruit, peanuts, sunflower seeds, and other fun toppings of their choice. They will love crafting their own banana boat and will love eating it even more.

10. Pasta Bar

If your child loves pasta, try making a pasta bar. Boil some pasta for them and let them choose the toppings. You can have cheese, pasta sauce, veggies, pepperoni, shredded cheeses, chicken cubes, and other toppings to make it unique.

See how fun and easy lunchtime can be? Give these 10 quick and easy lunch ideas for toddlers a try and see what fun you can have! They are sure to make lunchtime more enjoyable for all.

What’s your toddler’s favorite meal for lunch?

Filed Under: In the Kitchen, Lunch, Recipes, Uncategorized Tagged With: Lunch, lunch for kids, Lunch Ideas, toddler, Toddler Food, toddler lunches, toddler meals

Keto Friendly Cheesy Broccoli and Cauliflower Soup

December 14, 2015 by Danielle 1 Comment

We’re whipping up more LCHF goodness over at Low Carb San Diego! You can find this deliciously easy low carb broccoli and cauliflower cheese soup recipe posted today. Not only is it minimal ingredients, it takes less than half an hour to make. Plus you can double the batch to heat up later and enjoy all week. Talk about an easy meal plan!

You can find the full recipe here.

Filed Under: Dinner, In the Kitchen, Lunch, Recipes, Soups & Salads, Uncategorized

Simple Holiday Bento Box Ideas

November 2, 2015 by Danielle 2 Comments

My kids have fallen in love with bento boxes (affiliate link). I started making them when I started packing my lunch (even though I work from home) and they look forward to seeing what I’m going to pack them next. Gone are the days of wanting the same thing for lunch every.single.day like before.

Now I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t do elaborate bento boxes for my kids lunches. Instead, I choose one thing to make special or cut up and then the rest just goes with the theme of the bento I’m doing. And I always include foods my kids will actually eat. Because even if the baby eats seaweed, the big kids refuse it.

Luckily coming up with simple holiday bento box ideas isn’t difficult. And when you really get down to basics like I do, you can turn just about any classic lunch into a cute bento idea. Just grab a protein, a snack, some fruit and a few veggies and you’re on your way to an awesome bento lunch for your kids.

You can find these simple ideas featured today on Bentgo’s blog.

How do you add a little holiday cheer to your bento box?

Filed Under: Health & Wellness, Holidays, In the Kitchen, Kids Health, Lunch, Thanksgiving, Uncategorized Tagged With: Bentgo, bento box, bento box ideas, kids lunches, Lunch, lunch for kids, Lunch Ideas, Thanksgiving, Turkey

Finding Time For Lunch: Useful Tips for Keurig Users

October 20, 2015 by Danielle 2 Comments

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Campbell Soup Company for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

Whether I am working outside the home in an office or inside the home as I am now, one time of day that I almost always forget about is lunchtime. Because of work that has to get done, another customer reaching out for help, or a child sleeping on me, lunchtime hasn’t been a priority for me even though it should be. Luckily with the new Campbell’s® Fresh-Brewed Soup® Broth and Noodle Mix, I can brew up a delicious snack within a minute or so and eat on the go or at my laptop. And with the small noodles and diced veggies, I can also feed my daughter at the same time. Win-win!

Campbell’s new products are almost effortless to use. Simply pour the package of noodle and vegetable mix into a mug, add in a seasoned chicken broth mix k-cup to the Keurig, and brew! Let the soup sit for 1-2 minutes until the noodles are soft and enjoy a nice hot cup of soup. and just in case you were worried, the soup does NOT taste like coffee and their coffee will NOT taste like soup.

Looking to turn this snack into a little more at lunchtime? Consider doctoring up your Noodle and Vegetable soup with a few additions.

Turning Your Campbell’s® Fresh-Brewed Soup® Broth and Noodle Mix Into A Meal

Shred some roast chicken (or other protein) and stir in
Add in some fresh spinach
Add hot sauce or sriracha
Top with sliced green onions
Enjoy!

There are many different combos to add to your @campbells soup to create the perfect lunchtime solution for your busy life.

I love the convinience of having A delicious line of soups made at the touch of a button with your Keurig® brewer. Perfect to enjoy anytime as a satisfying snack! Not only does it save me time, but it’s also easy to prepare even if I only have one hand free.

Need more lunchtime inspiration? Check out these delicious Campbell’s recipes.

What are your quick fix meals for lunchtime?

Filed Under: In the Kitchen, Lunch, Uncategorized

Easy Weekend Lunch Ideas

September 25, 2015 by Danielle Leave a Comment

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Campbell’s Soup Company . All opinions are 100% mine.

Weekend meals can be tricky. While the kid aren’t heading to school, there are a ton of different activities planned over the weekends. Some planned and some spur of the moment. I like to have a great list of lunch ideas handy so that lunch time on the weekends is easy and simple. Luckily, Campbell’s makes that easier for me with their delicious soups.

Now that the kids are older, I’ve simply expanded on our quick toddler lunches to include additional items like Campbell’s Organic soups and fuits or veggies to create the perfect lunch time meal. And most times all I have to do is set out the ingredients and let the kids make their own plates up. Then I serve them the soup when they have everything else on their plate. This is even more helpful when we have last minute guests, like when the kids cousins come over to play.

Campbell’s® Organic Soups are crafted from certified organic ingredients and no preservatives. These soups are perfect for a heart-warming, healthy lunch or dinner. Plus there are nine delicious varieties. My daughter’s favorite? The Frozen noodles. She goes crazy over the fun Frozen-themed shapes and will actually eat her soup (instead of just the noodles) when I serve it up. The boy cousins eat it begrudgingly because they enjoy the soup. Their request? A minecraft version!

Easy Weekend Lunch Ideas

Quesadillas + Soup

Quesadillas are awesome. You can put just about anything in them and by taking the flavors of the kids favorite Cambell’s soups, we can make complimentary quesadillas. My daughter opts for the classic cheese quesadilla but will add a little grilled chicken when enjoying chicken noodle soup. Plus it’s the perfect cold weather meal with the warm soup and quesadilla.

Sandwiches + Soup

What’s great about sandwiches are they’re so versatile. You can serve them hot in cold weather and cold in warm weather. We always keep some lunch meat on hand along with a few cheeses for the kids to fix up their own perfect sandwich creation. Then we’ll make paninis if the kids request it.

Wraps and Roll Ups

Grab tortillas, pitas, or other flat wraps and grab the same ingredients you’d put in a sandwich or quesadilla! By just changing how the kids eat their food, they can get quite experimental with what they put inside. Add a hummus spread or some avocado to give a little added flavor to your child’s wrap.

Soup + Salad

Don’t knock a good salad bar when you’re serving kids. You’d be surprised at how many kids will choose to eat salad when given the option to make their own. Just put together a good list of toppings and a few different dressings and be amazed at the kids who will start munching on their greens.

Don’t forget to check out these Delicious Campbell recipes for more great ideas on what to enjoy at lunch time with @Campbells.

What easy weekend lunch ideas does your family serve up?

Filed Under: In the Kitchen, Lunch, Uncategorized Tagged With: Campbell's, Campbell's Organic Kids Soup, Campbell's soup, Healthy Lunch, Lunch, Lunch Ideas

Easy Lunch Ideas for Busy Moms

July 28, 2015 by Danielle 4 Comments

We’re featuring easy lunch ideas for busy moms in partnership with Social Moms and Foster Farms. Read on for great lunch ideas to prep ahead and grab on the go!

Of all the things I struggle with as a work at home mom, actually finding the time to eat lunch is at the top of the list. I don’t know what it is about making sure I am covered come lunch time but if I don’t pack a lunch like I would if I were working outside of the home, I just don’t eat lunch. It may be the fact that my littlest always decides to take her nap on me when I realize I haven’t eaten in a while…

So I’ve started to pack my lunch in my Bentgo lunch box and am getting a little creative in what I put together. No sandwiches day after day. Though there’s nothing wrong with a good sandwich! I’ve stepped outside the box and have come up with 4 delicious lunch ideas that are easily prepared the night before for a delicious lunch. I’ve even been sharing them on Instagram each day and hope to continue sharing!

In addition to mixing up my lunches with leftovers, I also use my new favorite lunch meat. Foster Farms All Natural Lunchmeat is unique in that it uses high pressure pasteurization to eliminate bacteria and seal in PURE flavor INSTEAD of using natural preservatives like vinegar as an antimicrobial, which often results in a sour aftertaste. And it’s nitrate free with no hormones or steriods OR preservatives. Perfect for the whole family!

Easy Lunch Ideas for Busy Moms

Turkey and Havarti Wraps

Includes:

Foster Farms Honey Roasted & Smoked Turkey Breast
Havarti cheese
dill pickle slices
baby carrots
1/2 of a fuji apple
1 tablespoon peanut butter

Chicken Ceaser Salad

Includes:

Foster Farms Simply Seasoned Mediterranean Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts, cooked and diced
cherry tomatoes
1/2 an avocado
1-2 cups romaine leaves
parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons ceaser dressing

Turkey Wraps

Includes:

For the wrap

1 small tortilla
1 tablespoon tomato basil hummus
Foster Farms Honey Roasted & Smoked Turkey Breast
spinach leaves

Sides

handful of spinach
sliced cucumbers
1 tablespoon tomato basil hummus (for dipping cucumbers and to be used as dressing for spinach)
handful of blueberries

Chicken and Broccoli

Includes:

Foster Farms Simply Seasoned Mediterranean Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts, cooked and sliced
1/2 cup broccoli, steamed
1 bunch grapes
probiotic drink

Now that I’ve started preparing my lunches the night before, I haven’t forgotten to eat once in the past week. And I’m not as grumpy. Imagine that! While most of these meals are simple, they’re also a way tp guarantee that at least one meal a day is full of healthy choices.

Interested in trying Foster Farms Honey Roasted & Smoked Turkey Breast? Save up to a $1 now by downloading the coupon found here.

What is your go-to lunch on a busy day?

Disclosure: This blog post is part of a paid SocialMoms and Foster Farms blogging program. The opinions and ideas expressed here are my own.

Filed Under: In the Kitchen, Lunch, Recipes, Uncategorized Tagged With: Healthy Lunch, Lunch, lunch box ideas, lunch recipes, Lunch Time

Healthy Mediterranean Tuna Salad Pinwheels

What’s your go-to healthy lunch recipe?

Low Carb Egg Drop Soup

Grilled Steak Sandwich with Garlic Aioli Recipe

Grilled Steak Sandwiches with Garlic Aioli

Roasted Garlic Aioli

What’s your favorite tailgating meal?

10 Quick and Easy Lunch Ideas for Toddlers

1.Mac and Cheese Shells with Veggies and Dip

2. Walking Taco

3. Yogurt Parfait

4. Pizza Dippers

5. Fruit Skewers

6. Breakfast Bites

7. Baked Potato Bar

8. Tasty Peanut Butter Roll Ups

9. Banana Boats

10. Pasta Bar

What’s your toddler’s favorite meal for lunch?

How do you add a little holiday cheer to your bento box?

Turning Your Campbell’s® Fresh-Brewed Soup® Broth and Noodle Mix Into A Meal

What are your quick fix meals for lunchtime?

Easy Weekend Lunch Ideas

What easy weekend lunch ideas does your family serve up?

Easy Lunch Ideas for Busy Moms

What is your go-to lunch on a busy day?

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