5 Easy and Packable Lunch Ideas for Working Moms

1. Rainbow Veggie Wraps

Ingredients:

• Whole wheat or flour tortillas
• Hummus or smashed avocado
• Sliced veggies of your choice (carrots, cucumber, peppers, onions)
• Baby spinach or leaf lettuce

Instructions:

1. Spread a generous layer of hummus or smashed avocado on the tortilla.
2. Layer up the veggies and baby spinach or lettuce.
3. Roll up the tortilla tightly.
4. Lay seam-side down in your bento box.

Tip: Add a small container of your favorite dressing or dipping sauce and additional sides of your choice.

2. Chicken Caesar Salad

Ingredients:

• Romaine lettuce, chopped
• Grilled chicken breast, sliced
• Cherry tomatoes, halved
• Parmesan cheese, shredded
• Caesar dressing
• Croutons

Instructions:

1. In your bento box, arrange a bed of romaine lettuce.
2. Top with sliced grilled chicken, cherry tomatoes, and Parmesan cheese.
3. Pack the Caesar dressing in a small container and the croutons in a separate compartment to keep them crunchy.

Tip: Use a divided bento box to keep ingredients separate and fresh until you're ready to eat.

3. Turkey and Cheese Roll-Ups

Ingredients:

• Sliced turkey breast (or lunchmeat of your choice)
• Cheese slices (cheddar or Swiss)
• Whole grain crackers
• Baby carrots
• Grapes

Instructions:

1. Roll up slices of turkey and cheese together.
2. Pack the roll-ups in one compartment of your bento box.
3. In other compartments, add whole grain crackers, baby carrots, and a handful of grapes.

Tip: For an extra touch, add a small container of mustard or mayo for dipping the roll-ups.

4. Quinoa and Black Bean Salad

Ingredients:

• Cooked quinoa (or any leftover grain you might have on-hand)
• Black beans, drained and rinsed
• Corn kernels
• Diced red bell pepper
• Chopped cilantro
• Lime wedges
• Olive oil and vinegar dressing

Instructions:

1. Combine the cooked quinoa, black beans, corn, diced red bell pepper, and chopped cilantro in a mixing bowl.
2. Pack the salad into your bento box.
3. Include lime wedges and a small container of olive oil and vinegar dressing.

Tip: Mix the dressing into the salad just before eating to keep it from becoming soggy.

5. Fruit and Nut Energy Box

Ingredients:

• Mixed nuts (almonds, cashews, walnuts)
• Hard boiled egg, peeled
• Apple slices
• Greek yogurt
• Honey
• Cheese cubes
• Dark chocolate squares

Instructions:

1. In one compartment of your bento box, pack a mix of your favorite nuts.
2. Add apple slices and cheese to another compartment, then the egg to another.
3. Pack a small container of Greek yogurt drizzled with honey.
4. Include a few squares of dark chocolate as a sweet treat.

Tip: Squeeze a little lemon juice on your apples to prevent them from browning. Add a little extra flavor by sprinkling them with cinnamon.

The beauty of these lunch ideas is that they can be easily modified! Don’t like that veggie? Swap it with something you love. No chicken thawed? Dip into last night’s leftovers instead.