40 Lunch Ideas

Lunch has to be the most uninspired meal at our house. All too often we're out and about, and end up picking up lunch instead of making it. Or, Stinker will make herself a PB&J (she says things "taste better" when she makes it herself), and I'll get Junior some snacks and fruit and call it good. Thus forgetting to feed myself.

Since one of my 2014 goals is to eat more lunches at home, I've compiled 40 ideas for lunches. I've divided them into Home days (with use of oven and/or stove), Lunch Box (no heating source available), On the Go (easy finger foods), and Work (use of a microwave).

You can easily add soup or hot foods into your child's lunch...simply pour boiling water into a thermos in the morning, dump it out, then add the soup or whatever you want to keep hot. If placed in an insulated lunch bag, it should keep warm for lunchtime!

What are your favorite ideas for lunches?

Home (uses oven/stove/crock pot)

1. English Muffin Pizzas

2. Pita Pizzas (Use #1, English Muffin Pizzas, replace English Muffins with Pita Bread)

3. Bagel Pizzas (Use #1, English Muffin Pizzas, replace English Muffins with Pita Bread)

4. Pesto Pasta

5. Pasta with Tomato Sauce

6.Crock Pot Baked Potatoes (Put potatoes in when you wake up, they'll be done by lunchtime!)

7. Quesadillas

8. Grilled Cheese Sandwiches with Tomato Soup

9. Homemade Macaroni and Cheese

10. Breakfast Burritos and Smoothies

11. Smoothies and Biscuits or Scones

Lunch Box (no heating source available)

12. BLT Sandwiches

13. Pasta Salad

14. BBQ Chicken Ranch Salad

15. Buffalo Chicken Salad

16. Chicken Caesar Salad Wraps

17. Pita and Hummus

18. Strawberry Balsamic Salad

19. Asian Chicken Salad

20. Tuna Sandwiches

21. Turkey, Bacon, Avocado Sandwiches

22. Pita "Pizzas" (Put pizza sauce, shredded cheese, and pepperoni in separate containers. Include a spoon to spread the sauce onto a piece of pita bread. Eat cold.)

23. Italian Sub Sandwiches

On The Go (finger foods)

24. No Bake Energy Bites, Fresh Fruit

25. Trail Mix, Yogurt (or portable yogurt tubes), Fresh Fruit

26. Peanut Butter or Almond Butter in a container, Cut Apples and Celery for Dipping, Raisins

27. Hard Boiled Eggs, Fruit, Crackers

28. Breakfast Cookies, Fresh Fruit

29. Popcorn, Fresh Fruit, Yogurt (or portable yogurt tubes)

30. Mini Sandwiches (use English Muffins or Dinner Rolls instead of bread for your sandwich)

At Work (uses microwave)

31. Bean and Cheese Burrito

32. Bean and Rice Bowl with Guacamole

33. Meatballs and Pasta (defrost a few meatballs using our Freezer Friendly Meatball Recipe!)

34. Stuffed Shells (defrost some using our Freezer Friendly Stuffed Shell recipe!)

35. Minestrone Soup (I freeze soups in one portion increments for my husband to take into work)

36. Chili and Corn Muffins

37. Chicken Noodle Soup

38. Chicken or Beef, Bean, and Rice Burritos

39. Twice Baked Potatoes (using our Freezer Friendly Twice Baked Potato recipe)

40. Quick and Easy Tortellini Soup

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