Is the same ol’ PB&J feeling tired?
Reaching too often for chips and yogurt tubes?
It’s probably time to up your game and revamp your kids’ bag lunch choices.
It’s not easy coming up with snazzy, tasty-yet-healthy portable lunch options day in and day out, year after year, though.
So here are some convenient, delicious, and easy-to-prepare recipes designed to keep things interesting, not to mention fresh and seasonal.
Relax, now you’ve got something you can cross off your back-to-school to-do list.
Healthier Pizza
Try this healthier version of pizza, which also looks fun and appetizing.
Potato Pizza Skewers are colorful kebabs mixing mozzarella cubes, cherry tomatoes, sliced pepperoni (or swap with ham or leftover roasted chicken chunks) and basil, oregano, and salt-coated boiled Little potatoes.
These are ideal for lunches because they’re meant to be enjoyed at room temperature, and you can prepare them in advance and store them in the fridge. Kids will love the funky presentation.
Plant-Based
It can be tough to make sure children following a plant-based diet get all the protein they need and not too much starch.
Vegan Tacos in a Bowl is a great solution.
Not only does it look great—vibrant and crunchy—it’s no-fuss. The hearty, low-fat bowl includes super foods like avocado, Little potatoes, and black beans, plus sweet corn (a kids’ fave), juicy halved cherry tomatoes, and to add flavor, sliced green onion, cumin, garlic, and chili powder.
Omit any spice for fussy eaters and either substitute white rice with brown or leave it out altogether.
This dish tastes great warm or cold and is great for non-vegans, too.
Pack it all into one Tupperware and lunch is ready to go.
The Right Chips
Nutty, crispy Homemade Potato Chips with Seeds transform a no-no fast food into a tasty, nutritious yes.
Take your favorite Little Potatoes, say Little Trios, cut into quarters, toss with canola, hemp, chia, poppy, sesame, and flax seeds, add a dash of coarse kosher salt, and roast in the oven.
You and the kids will never go back to bagged chips again.
This version is just 365 calories a serving versus 536 for the commercial variety, and a primary source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
Bread ‘N Spread
Make some of this Little Potato Flatbread on the weekend.
Freeze it, then pop it into lunches with a spread your children like, for example, cream cheese or hummus.
These gluten-free flatbreads also taste great alongside a thermos of soup—ideal for dipping.
Salad in a Jar
Children will eat salad if it’s bright and inviting looking and in an interesting format.
They also often prefer dipping, so best to put the dressing on the side in a sealed container.
Try Veggie-Loaded Summer Potato Salad Jars in a tote-able safe plastic container: a bright combo of baked yellow or Little Reds potatoes, shredded purple cabbage, spinach, diced red pepper, and fresh parsley (leave out the onion)—or use veggies your kids like; snap peas, shredded carrots, etc.
The homemade Tahini dressing is tangy, sweet, and creamy with a dash of citrus, like a healthier Ranch.
Or if you’re in a hurry, just use store-bought.
It’s all good!