Rotate through 5 simple lunch meals, for adults and kids, that are quick and easy to prepare.
I’ve always made lunches for my kids to take to school, my husband to take to work, and for me to have whether I’m at home or out and about. Following a rotation of simple lunchtime meals has made this task so much easier for me over the years!
I prep lunches the day before using portable EasyLunchBoxes which makes it easy for everyone to grab their lunch in the morning on their way out the door. Making your own lunch (ahead of time) helps you eat healthier, save money, and save time (since you don’t have to go out for lunch).
With a rotation of meal ideas to draw from, I try to keep lunch interesting with a variety of sandwiches, salads, sides, etc. But, most of the time I stick to this basic plan. The list of meals below includes a plan for adults and kids, since they are different. (Maybe someday my kids will like salad!)
Be sure to subscribe to my blog (if you haven’t already!) so you can receive a free guide to a week of lunch ideas for adults and kids. Many of these “Rotation” meals are included, along with photos, lunch packing tips, and a shopping list!
Give this lunch plan a try, tweak it to your liking, or create your own!
*Click on each day to see more details and pictures!
MONDAY ADULTS: My husband grabs a salad at work and I have a protein smoothie or a cup of soup. (I ease into the week with an easy Monday!)
MONDAY KIDS: Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich + yogurt + small bag of chips
TUESDAY ADULTS: Turkey, Cheese, Spinach, and Hummus Sandwich + fruit + nuts with chocolate chips
TUESDAY KIDS: Turkey and Cheese Sandwich + fruit + nuts with chocolate chips
WEDNESDAY ADULTS: Spinach Salad with cucumber, tomato, feta cheese, and deli meat + salad dressing + nut mix + dark chocolate
WEDNESDAY KIDS: Ham and Cheese Sandwich + fruit + cookies
THURSDAY ADULTS: Tuna Waldorf Salad (see recipe below) + crackers + chocolate
THURSDAY KIDS: Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich + fruit + cheese stick + cookies
FRIDAY ADULTS: Spinach Salad (or other lettuce blends) with fresh fruit (strawberries, pineapple, blueberries, etc.) or dried fruit (cranberries, cherries, blueberries, mulberries, etc.), celery, goat cheese, sunflower seeds, deli meat + salad dressing + crackers + dark chocolate
FRIDAY KIDS: Turkey and Cheese Sandwich + fruit + pretzels with chocolate chips
SAT/ SUN: We wing it!
*Tuna Waldorf Salad: For about 2 servings, combine one can of tuna (drained) with a chopped apple, raisins, 2 chopped celery sticks, and a small handful of chopped walnuts. Add about a 1/4 cup of mayo, or plain yogurt, to achieve desired consistency/creaminess and mix until all ingredients are combined. For variety, I like to swap out the raisins for dried cranberries or dried cherries. I’ll also swap out the walnuts for sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds or hemp seeds. I like to scoop up the tuna mixture with crackers. You could also serve this mix over a bed of lettuce or enjoy it in a wrap or as a sandwich.
*I try to be creative and vary it up occasionally. In general, I stick to this plan.
*Drinks for the kids include flavored water pouches, chocolate almond milk singles (affiliate link), and Vitamin H20 Zero. Everyone has a reusable water bottle as well.
*I also send my husband to work with a morning snack and an afternoon snack. Examples include fruit, yogurt, cottage cheese, pepper strips with hummus, celery with nut butter, a bag of chips or popcorn, trail mix, and a protein bar. (See my list of Snacks for more ideas.)
*Please see my Master Grocery List for all the ingredients needed for a week of lunches!
*Please see the Breakfast, Lunch and Snack Rotation PRINTABLE for a handy reference to a week of meals!