Peanut free lunches might sound daunting but fortunately, there is a huge variety of delicious lunchbox options out there. I’ve found that being simple and easy is key to getting my kids to eat well at school or at home.
Add a little fun to the regular old sandwich routine with a ham and cheese or turkey and cheese roll up. It packs a ton of protein power plus it helps when you run out of bread and don’t want to run to the store. Another fun sandwich idea is the BLAT (bacon, lettuce, avocado and tomato). It always gets a laugh when you say it out loud too.
Another easy lunch is a cheese and corn tortilla quesadilla. These can be whipped up quickly the night before or the morning of and they can be eaten hot or cold. You can add in mashed black bean for extra protein power. Add a side of salsa and tortilla chips and you have a full meal.
One of my personal favorites is chicken salad. You can make your own or use a simple store bought salad (Aldi’s is my family’s favorite store bought brand). Add in some crackers or apple slices and you have a nice, crisp, filling meal. Cold pasta, Italian dressing, chopped salami and sliced tomatoes is another quick and filling lunch option. This can be made in bulk ahead of time and used throughout the week.
If you are looking for more of a sit down meal, chicken fried rice with veggies and egg is a kid friendly favorite. It can be made for dinner and makes a great leftover lunch the next day. If you are looking for a speedy pre-made option, Trader Joe’s has an excellent fried rice mix that is easy to whip up.
For the colder months, one of my favorites is a baked potato with bacon bits, butter and sour cream. It stays warmer even in a regular lunch box and makes you feel cozy and full.
For sides, fruit is ALWAYS a winner. I keep pears, apples, plum, oranges, bananas, berries or grapes on hand to load up the lunchbox with something sweet without the junk food. Fruit is the best fast food because you generally don’t have to prepare it much. Just wash and go!
I like to add in a vegetable of some sort as often as possible. Cold peas are a favorite around here and require very little prep. Sugar snap peas, carrots or cucumbers are perfect for dipping into hummus or ranch dip or for eating solo. My daughter loves little sweet cherry tomatoes and my older kids love those same tomatoes marinated with mozzarella cheese and Italian dressing.
For protein heavy snacks, I like a hard-boiled egg, cheese cubes, or cucumber slices and cream cheese. My kids always beg for berry muffins, banana or zucchini bread slices, or a yogurt and granola parfait so I try to do those a couple times a week as a little treat.
Mix and match according to what works for your family but don’t fret about peanut free lunches because there are lots of easy, simple options for you and your children.
