It’s that time of year again! Back to school season is upon us. Maybe you’re a college student who has already started the semester, or maybe you’re a parent eager to send your kids back to school as summer comes to a close. With the exciting (and stressful) time of getting ready for school comes the responsibility to choose healthy lunch options. It can be easy to lose track of healthy eating amid the stress of going back to school -- but don’t let lack of planning derail you and your family’s healthy diet!
We’ve compiled a list of healthy back-to-school lunch options, a mix of ones you can make in bulk ahead of time and ones that are perfect to make the morning of. Choose one of these healthy lunches when you are in a pinch.
Salad
This is a go-to lunch for us -- it’s easy to pull together quickly and there are endless varieties! You can mix and match different fruits, vegetables, beans, seeds, and nuts to appeal to virtually any palette. Try this, this, or this salad to get you started. And if you are extra ambitious, we recommend making your own dressing with one of these recipes (trust us, they are easy to make!).
Stir Fry
An easy meal to make ahead of time and and serve throughout the week, stir fry offers lots of flexibility. Try our sesame veggie stir fry recipe or experiment by adding your own favorite ingredients.
Chili
As the weather starts to cool off, chili is great lunch option. Make a batch, and you can quickly grab a portion for lunch for the rest of the week. We’ve got three delicious chili recipes you’ll want to try (here, here, and here)!
Hummus and Veggies
Making your own hummus is quick and easy. Pair it with your favorite dipping vegetables, and you’ve got an instant winner!
Veggie Burritos
To mix it up a bit, add our chili vegetable burrito to your lunch menu. You could also use the burrito filling in tacos, on a salad, or as a vegetable dip.
Almond Oat Cookies
If you are craving a little something sweet after lunch, skip the candy bar and enjoy one of these almond oat cookies.
