Quick and Easy Kid-Friendly Lunches

Courtney-

I usually make three meals a day, and if I’m being honest, I’d have to say it’s not my favourite part about the day. Don’t get me wrong, I love food and eating, but having to plan, prepare, and then clean up after three meals can get tiring–I know that lots of you can probably relate! I admire moms who make detailed and extravagant meals all day everyday, but that’s not feasible (or even enjoyable) for me at my stage of life and I know it’s okay. I have learned (and am still learning) about how to both serve my family well, but also maintain something sustainable when it comes to mealtimes in our home. 

I have found that lunch is a meal I struggle the most with. Finding something that is quick and easy, but also nutritious for my family is hard for me! I always meal plan for supper throughout the week, but lunch seems to fall through the cracks. Growing up, I always ate leftovers for lunch, but I’ve found that my kids are not too fond of that. Also, I usually don’t make enough food the evening before to cover both that meal and lunch the next day and so I usually prioritize my husband’s lunch as to where the leftovers end up. Therefore, here I am, also Pinteresting, “quick lunches” or “easy simple lunches” trying to find something that will be delicious, quick, and keep my kids filled up until their afternoon snack. 

Overtime, I have built up a list of our quick and easy go-to lunches and I want to share them with you guys–in case one of you is in the same boat as me!

Naan Bread Pizzas

This is probably one of my favourites–and even one I make for supper sometimes. I already shared in a previous post about how much my family (and I) love pizza. While the pizza dough recipe that I shared with you all is quite simple and fast, it does still require some effort and sometimes I don’t want to do that nor do I always have the time to.  And so, naan bread pizzas are a great way to forgo the dough making process and replace it with these already made “pizza doughs”. You can top it as you’d like. I try to keep my freezer stocked with pepperoni and naan breads and my fridge stocked with cheese at all times so I can make this meal. Then all the toppings depend on what else I have at the moment. If you want a lunch that’s a bit more protein packed, I encourage you to read Kim B’s protein pizza recipe. It has easy ingredients and leaves you with a simple dough that doesn’t need any extra time to rise!

Cheese and Crackers

This is a classic and for good reason. I think it’s safe to say that most kids usually like cheese and crackers. It’s also an easy “meal” to have stocked in your fridge and pantry. I try to pair these with some veggies and fruit. Garlic sausage or pickles are also a great thing to add if your kids enjoy them; it’s like a kid-friendly charcuterie board! My son always likes it when I melt the cheese on his crackers so that’s often done in our home as well.

Wraps

This one is pretty versatile. I try to have frozen breaded chicken in my freezer so I can easily whip up some protein for the wraps. Then I add mayonnaise, BBQ sauce, shredded cheese, lettuce, and any other veggies I have–and then adjust this list based on what my kids enjoy.

But you could easily change this up to what you prefer. You could do taco meat, shredded chicken, deli meat, or scrambled eggs. Then add whatever sauces and other toppings you have in your fridge or pantry. Do it cold or warm it up in the microwave. My son sometimes likes having peanut butter or honey and banana in his.

Breakfast Food

Breakfast food is probably my favourite food group (yes I just deemed this a food group). And so, this is often what I make when I need something for lunch. Our favourites are scrambled eggs, toast, pancakes, or porridge/oatmeal. All quick to make and my kids (and I) enjoy and never seem to get tired of. And yes, I’ll say this now, you can eat the same thing for breakfast and lunch. Sometimes we have scrambled eggs for breakfast and lunch because that’s what my kids want or that’s all I really have in the fridge.

I also love serving breakfast foods because I usually have all the ingredients I need to make these things in my home, so no extra shopping trip or planning needed. 

There are a few ideas for you to try when you’re looking for a quick and easy lunch to serve your families (or just yourself). Cooking doesn’t always have to be complicated. I find that simple meals make me enjoy cooking more so feel free to do what suits you best. It doesn’t have to be complex but it also can be if that’s what you enjoy!

Have a great Friday! 🙂