5 Healthy Make-Ahead Lunches (For Back to School & Work)

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Tom Thumb. All opinions are 100% mine.

Need some quick, simple, and healthy lunches for back to school or work? I'm sharing 5 cold lunch box ideas that contain a good mix of protein, carbs & fats, along with fresh fruits & veggies to keep everyone full & satisfied. Make them ahead of time so lunchtime is budget-friendly and stress-free.

Since we're heading into the back to school season, many folks are wondering what to pack for lunches for their kids, themselves, and/or their significant others.

Lots of adults are working from home right now and many are also immersed in distance learning or homeschooling for their kiddos, so having to fix three square meals a day for everyone on top of work + teaching adds a lot of extra stress.

Why not simplify things and prep some quick cold lunches instead? Your wallet & brain will thank you! Literally, it's one less thing to worry about AND your brain needs plenty of fuel to juggle all those responsibilities.

So, are sandwiches or salads the answer? They're certainly easy & popular but not always kiddo-friendly depending on the ingredients.

Instead, I'd like to highlight protein boxes (I call them snack packs). I'm sure you've seen them at grocery stores, gas stations & coffee shops in the refrigerated section. They have ingredients like sliced salami or deli meat, aged or soft cheese, hard-boiled eggs, roasted nuts, dried fruit & crackers. I've been obsessed with them for the past two years.

They used to be my go-to for a convenient afternoon snack, but they've slowly turned into lazy lunches for times when I'm wrapped up in work and only many hours + several cups of coffee later do I realize my stomach is grumbling.

The problem is they're not filling enough for lunch. At least for me.

So, in order to save myself money and ensure that I'm eating enough protein, carbs & fats for lunch, I've started making my own protein box-style lunches at home, which is what I'm sharing with y'all today.


The boxes I like to make right now go beyond the typical meat, cheese & crackers theme because I want them to feel more like a mid-day meal rather than a snack or appetizer (as much as I love charcuterie boards).

But I also keep them light (i.e. not super carb-heavy or packed with sweets) so I don't feel sleepy after eating one. The key is to include plenty of protein, so I made sure all of mine had at least 20 grams.



Back to School Essentials at a Value

To save time & money, I used O Organics® products for almost all of my lunch box ingredients. The only exceptions were a few things I already had in my pantry & fridge. Having everything I need on my grocery list available from the same brand and all at one store? It's immensely convenient!

I'm a huge fan of O Organics products because they make my life easier.

I don't have to stare at the back of boxes or bottles to speed read the ingredients list, then calculate the price per ounce on my phone to see what's the better value between two brands. If I see their version on the shelf, I grab that instead.

Why? All their products are budget-friendly without compromising on quality and taste. (I'm currently snacking on their jerky as I type this. I eat a lot when I write. Brain food is important!)

They also offer high-quality, USDA-certified organic products in every aisle of the store. Their line of products is HUGE. So many options for yummy organic food at affordable prices. I love it!

Where To Find O Organics Back to School Essentials

If you're looking for high-quality USDA-certified organic back to school essentials? Shop O Organics® products available in the Dallas, Texas area exclusively at Tom Thumb stores.

TIP: Do you live in the Dallas area and don't want to go inside to shop? Tom Thumb also offers Grocery Delivery and DriveUp & Go™ for convenient ways to shop!

Note: Live outside the Dallas area? I shopped at Tom Thumb in my local area, but you can also find O Organics products at the Albertsons Companies family of stores, including exclusively at the Albertsons Companies family of stores, including Albertsons, Safeway, ACME Markets, Jewel-Osco, Vons, Randalls, Shaw’s Supermarket, and Star Market.

Ready to Make These Lunch Boxes?

Browse through my "themed" lunch box ideas below for inspiration and create a meal plan for what you'd like to make for lunches in the coming weeks. I tried to re-use some of the same ingredients throughout the boxes in order to save money & prevent food waste. You can always add more variety if you like.

While you're already meal planning, save yourself some mental bandwidth, and pick 2-3 easy breakfasts and dinners.

For breakfast, my go-to is either overnight steel cut oats, make-ahead freezer-friendly breakfast sandwiches, or banana pancakes (the egg version or using a pre-made mix).

For dinner, I recommend my crock-pot BBQ ribs (it's almost a dump & go recipe with barely any prep) or slow cooker pork shoulder, which you can shred & use in a variety of meals like tacos, burrito bowls, quesadillas, BBQ sliders, or sandwiches.

My smoked sausage, potatoes & veggies sheet pan dinner is also super budget-friendly if you don't mind turning on the oven. Or if you have some cans of tuna on hand, fix my delicious tuna patties on the stovetop in less than 30 minutes.

1. Hummus, Pita Chips & Jerky

(approximately 25 grams of protein per box - varies based on measurements & brands used)

Ingredients:

• hummus with a drizzle of olive oil (for protein & fat)
• pita chips (for dipping + carbs & a bit of protein)
• celery sticks (for dipping)
• mozzarella string cheese (for protein & fat)
• beef jerky (for protein)
• seedless green grapes (juicy, crisp & sweet - nature's candy)

This would also be yummy with kalamata olives, butter crackers, cucumber slices, or cubed feta cheese!

2. Yogurt, Muffin & Nut Butter

(approximately 24.5 grams of protein per box - varies based on measurements & brands used)

Ingredients:

• plain Greek yogurt (this is thicker from extra straining so it has more protein per serving than regular yogurt)
• real maple syrup or honey (for stirring into the yogurt to give it some natural sweetness)
• fresh blueberries (for mixing into the yogurt & adding some sweetness)
• homemade muffin (pictured is my strawberry banana muffins sans the berries - this is for carbs, fat & a bit of protein)
• nut butter (for dipping veggies in or smearing over the muffin - this is for protein & healthy fat)

Not into blueberries? Try raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, kiwi fruit, mango, pineapple, or cherries (all fresh or frozen).

Not into nut butter for veggies or need a nut-free lunch for school? Substitute ranch dressing, blue cheese dressing, caesar dressing, or homemade pesto instead.

3. Tuna Salad, Apple Sauce & Cottage Cheese

(approximately 26.75 grams of protein per box - varies based on measurements & brands used)

Ingredients:

• tuna salad (I used my homemade tuna salad recipe with olive oil & lemon juice - this is a good source of protein & healthy fats)
• lettuce or spring mix (for placing under the tuna)
• unsweetened applesauce (don't knock it til you try it, but...I mix this into my cottage cheese. It's SO good!)
• full-fat cottage cheese (for protein & healthy fats)
• pita chips (for dipping in the tuna & munching on them solo - adds carbs & a bit of protein)
• cucumber slices (for dipping in the tuna - I love English or Persian cucumbers)
• carrots (for a healthy veggie with a bit of sweetness + adds a pop of color to the lunch box)

Not big on tuna? Use wild-caught canned salmon instead to make the salad. Or even canned chicken (or shredded rotisserie chicken) to make chicken salad. You have options!

4. Meat & Cheese Wraps, Hard-Boiled Egg & Banana Oatmeal Cookies

(approximately 24 grams of protein per box - varies based on measurements & brands used)

Ingredients:

• Meat & Cheese Wraps (sliced deli meat + cheese rolled into a log & secured with a toothpick - for protein & healthy fats)
• hard-boiled egg (for protein & healthy fat)
• banana oatmeal cookies (for carbs. fiber & protein + a bit of sweetness from the banana & dark chocolate chips)
• celery sticks (for a healthy & filling crunchy element)
• baby rainbow carrots (for a healthy, colorful & filling crunchy element)
• seedless green grapes (juicy, crisp & sweet - nature's candy)

I kept it super simple by using uncured ham & Colby jack cheese for theses wraps but you can get way more creative than me, especially if you're making this for adults!

Other meat & cheese wrap ideas:

• pastrami, thousand island & swiss
• ham, cheddar, mustard & pickles
• turkey, cranberry sauce & harvati cheese
• chicken, jalapeno jam & pepper jack cheese
• roast beef, onion jam & provolone cheese

So many possibilities!

5. Tortilla Roll-Ups (a.k.a. Pinwheels), Olives & Berries

(approximately 22 grams of protein per box - varies based on measurements & brands used)

Ingredients:

• Tortilla Roll-Ups a.k.a. Pinwheels (a flour tortilla spread with cream cheese, layered with deli meat, cheese & veggies, rolled into a log, then cut into 1-inch sections - a good mix of carbs, protein, fats & veggies)
• stick of cheese (I chose Colby-Jack which is soft, creamy & full of flavor - for protein & fat)
• pitted black olives (healthy fats which help to keep you full & satiated)
• baby rainbow carrots (crunchy element + adds a pop of color to the lunch box)
• fresh blueberries (tart-sweet, full of antioxidants

make ahead lunches, back to school, work, healthy, ideas, protein box, cold lunch

Main Dish

American

Yield: 5 boxes (1 serving per box)

Author: Elaina - The Rising Spoon

Print

5 Healthy Make-Ahead Lunches (For Back to School & Work)

Prep time: 20 MCook time: Total time: 20 M

Need some quick, simple, and healthy lunches for back to school or work? I'm sharing 5 lunch box ideas that contain a good mix of protein, carbs & fats, along with fresh fruits & veggies to keep everyone full & satisfied. Make them at the beginning of the week or the night before to keep lunchtime budget-friendly and fuss-free.

Ingredients:

Box #1: Hummus, Pita Chips & Jerky

• 1/4 cup of hummus, drizzled with extra virgin olive oil (I used roasted red pepper hummus)
• 1 oz (about 9-10 chips) of pita chips (I used Open Nature multigrain garden vegetable pita chips)
• 2 stalks of celery, chopped & halved
• 1 oz of beef jerky (I used O Organics original beef jerky)
• 1 (1 oz) stick of string cheese (I used O Organics mozzarella string cheese)
• 2 1/2 oz of seedless grapes (I used O Organics seedless green grapes)

Box #2: Yogurt, Muffin & Nut Butter

• 1/2 cup of plain Greek yogurt (I used O Organics Greek plain yogurt)
• 1/2-1 teaspoon of honey or maple syrup (omit if using flavored yogurt)
• 10 fresh blueberries (about 1/2 an oz), for topping yogurt
• 1 homemade muffin (likestrawberry banana muffins, blueberry muffins, peach muffins, or pumpkin-apple muffins)
• 2 tablespoons of peanut butter, almond butter, ranch dressing, or blue cheese dressing, for dipping (I used Open Nature creamy almond butter)
• 2 1/2 oz of baby carrots (I used O Organics baby rainbow carrots)
• 6 slices of English cucumber (about 2 1/2 oz)
• 1 stalk of celery, chopped & halved
• 2 1/2 oz of grape tomatoes

Box #3: Tuna Salad, Applesauce & Cottage Cheese

• 1 (4 oz) container of unsweetened applesauce (I used O Organics unsweetened applesauce cups)
• 1/4 cup of full-fat cottage cheese, for mixing with applesauce or eating separately
• 1/2 oz of spring mix or chopped lettuce
• 1/2 cup (about 3 1/2 oz) of homemade tuna salad
• 1 oz (about 9-10 chips) of pita chips (I used Open Nature multigrain garden vegetable pita chips)
• 6 slices of English cucumber (about 2 1/2 oz)
• 2 1/2 oz of baby carrots (I used O Organics baby rainbow carrots)

Box #4: Meat & Cheese Wraps, Hard-Boiled Egg + Banana Oatmeal Cookies

• 1 hard-boiled egg, cut in half & sprinkled with salt & pepper (I used O Organics Hard-Cooked Peeled Eggs)
• 3 slices (2 oz) of deli meat (like ham, turkey, or chicken)
• 1 slice of your favorite cheese (3/4 oz), cut into thirds (I used O Organics Colby Jack slices)
• 2 banana oatmeal breakfast cookies
• 2 1/2 oz of seedless grapes (I used O Organics seedless green grapes)
• 1 stalk of celery, chopped & halved
• 2 1/2 oz of baby carrots (I used O Organics baby rainbow carrots)

Box #5: Tortilla Roll-Ups (Pinwheels), Olives & Berries

• 1 (8 1/2-inch) flour tortilla (or your favorite soft wrap)
• 1 tablespoon of cream cheese (for the roll-ups)
• 3 slices (2 oz) of deli meat (for the roll-ups)
• 1/2 oz of spring mix or chopped lettuce (for the roll-ups)
• 1 oz of grape tomatoes, quartered (for the roll-ups)
• 3 slices of English cucumber, quartered (for the roll-ups)
• 1 (1 oz) stick of cheese (I used O Organics Colby Jack stick cheese)
• 8 pitted black olives, drained
• 1 1/2 oz of fresh blueberries (or your favorite fruit)
• 1 1/2 oz of baby carrots (I used O Organics baby rainbow carrots)

Instructions:

1. Pick the foods you'll include in your lunch boxes (use one of the themes above or mix & match ingredients) and make the homemade elements at least 30 minutes beforehand (muffins, tuna salad, banana oatmeal cookies, ranch dressing).
2. For the meat & cheese wraps: Place the cheese on top of each slice of meat and roll into a thin log. Secure each wrap with a toothpick and repeat with the remaining ingredients.
3. For the tortilla roll-ups (a.k.a. pinwheels): Spread the cream cheese evenly across the tortilla. Lay the meat slices across the tortilla, followed by the lettuce, tomato & cucumber. Roll in a thin log and cut into 1-inch pieces.
4. Portion dips & any runny ingredients (yogurt, hummus, ranch, cottage cheese, applesauce) in 4 oz or smaller containers (make sure they fit in your box with the lid closed first) and place loose ingredients such as olives, jerky, nut butter, or berries in cupcake liners to keep them separated.
5. Assemble the ingredients in lunch boxes with tight-fitting lids (I used 3.5 cup plastic lunch boxes with locking lids) and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Notes:

For school or day trips with no access to a fridge, place each lunch in a bag with several frozen ice packs to keep the proteins (meat, cheese, egg, yogurt, cottage cheese) cold until mealtime. For kiddos or adults who aren't huge fans of raw veggies, pack a small container of ranch dressing or hummus dip in each box that contains veggies so they're more likely to eat them. For the freshest tasting muffins, store them in the freezer within a few hours of baking, and only pull out what you need for each lunch box the same day you plan to eat it (they come to room temp quickly).

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