1.  Black Bean and Cheese Quesadilla

2.  Cheese Platter

3. Peanut butter and jelly sandwich 

Jennifer Lester, MS, RD, CSP, LDN, CNSC, mom of 5-year-old Aleah and 3-year-old Thaxton

Jen packs lunch for her 2 kids who attend daycare while she and her husband work. One of her go-to’s is: 

• Peanut butter and jelly sandwich (or sun butter and jelly for a peanut-free option) 
• Strawberries
• Cheese stick
• And Stoneyfield Organic Yogurt (pouch or cup)

My daughter finally got into PB&J! It’s such a quick and delicious option. Choose whole wheat bread most often. To cut back on added sugar, look for peanut butter with no added sugar (only peanuts).  I also look for a jelly that has less added sugar (like Trader Joe’s Organic Fruit Spead or Smucker’s Reduced Sugar Strawberry Preserves). To cut back on the added sugar even further (like for those under 2 years), try peanut butter and diced or smashed raspberries, sliced strawberries, or sliced banana. You can mix it up with different kinds of nut butter, as well, like almond butter.

4.  Applegate Naturals^® Chicken Nuggets with Simply Heinz Ketchup 

Another one of Jen’s go-to’s is: 

• Applegate Naturals^® Chicken Nuggets with Simply Heinz Ketchup 
• Strawberries 
• Cheese cubes 
• Whole grain crackers or goldfish
• Carrot sticks and ranch dip 

Jen’s child care center will heat food up for the kids, which is really nice! If your daycare doesn’t offer to heat food up, grab an OmieBox bento box to keep your kid’s food warm or cold. They are awesome!

5. Brunch for Lunch

Marlene Rafferty, RD, LDN, mom of 2-year-old Andrew

Who says breakfast has to be in the morning? Marlene says, “Brunch for lunch is one of my 2-year-old’s favorite meals. My aim for meals is to get 3 out of 5 food groups. That way, I know he will feel satisfied getting a mix of protein, fat, and fiber.” 

Brunch Idea #1 

• Scrambled egg with cheddar cheese
• Whole wheat toast, ½ slice 
• Sliced avocado 
• Chopped cherry tomatoes 

Brunch Idea #2

• Whole wheat pancakes (few silver dollars) 
• Yogurt, 4oz  
• Berries

I am definitely with Marlene and a fan of breakfast for any meal!  Here’s one of my daughter’s breakfast-for-lunch plates below including a scrambled egg with cheese, whole wheat waffle with a buttery spread, diced peaches, and avocado.  

6. Naan Pizza

Alicia Aronovich, RD, CSP, LDN, mom of 4-year-old Ethan and 1-year-old Elliot

Alicia says Naan pizzas are super easy to make and she is right! I just made them today, and we loved them! Look for Naan (a type of flatbread) in the bread aisle.  I can find whole wheat Naan in my grocery stores, but it’s okay if you can’t.  Aim to make half of all grains whole grains. Spread some pasta sauce on it and top with shredded cheese and toppings of choice (like veggies or meat). Bake in the oven until the cheese melts, and it’s ready!  This makes a quick dinner as well, and then leftover Naan pizza is even easier for lunch the next day! Alicia will serve this with a side of fruit. 

For more detailed guidance on how to make Naan Pizza plus ideas for toppings, check out this recipe from A Couple Cooks.  You could even combine Marlene’s brunch with Alicia’s Naan Pizza and make a breakfast Naan Pizza! So fun! 

Whole wheat Naan, marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese, Applegate turkey pepperoni, fresh torn basil

Paired with sliced black olives and leftover roasted broccoli

7. English Muffin Pizzas

This was one of my mom’s go-tos for me as a kid, and now I make them, too! Same idea as above with the Naan pizza, but on a whole wheat English muffin.  They can be made in the oven or microwave.  Toasting the English muffin first will help so it isn’t so soggy.

If you are really short on time, place a little marinara sauce on a toasted English muffin (I love Rao’s brand), top with shredded mozzarella, and microwave just until cheese is melted.  You could top it with fresh basil, sliced olives, sauteed veggies, or cooked meat of choice, as well.

If you have a little more time, they are better in the oven. Check out this recipe from Well Plated.

English muffin pizzas with chopped plum and vegetable salad

8. Grilled Cheese

Grilled cheese is a classic that everyone enjoys, and it’s definitely one of my go-to’s.  

When I make grilled cheese,  I like to use whole wheat bread, cheddar or provolone cheese, and Earth’s Balance buttery spread or just olive oil for both sides of the bread to get it nicely browned and crispy. 

I also like to add a few slices of avocado in the middle or just serve it on the side along with fruit such as mandarin orange slices. Other yummy additions you could try include a slice of tomato, bacon, or pickle in the middle. For something crunchy, I might add plantain chips (we love Trader Joe’s or Goya brand) or Crunchmaster baked crackers.  

I’ve also used my waffle maker to make this Healthy Grilled Cheese Wafflewich by Super Healthy Kids.   

9. A Mediterranean Inspired Plate

A quick, refreshing, vegetarian option is a Mediterranean-inspired plate.  Some things I include are:

• Whole wheat pita bread 
• Hummus and/or chickpeas (from can and rinsed)
• Olives (halved)
• Quinoa (quick microwaveable bag), rice or couscous 
• Feta crumbles 
• Cucumber  
• Chopped grape or cherry tomatoes

For non-vegetarians, you could also add some chicken, salmon, or shrimp from dinner the night before!

10. Easy Egg and Avocado Salad

This is a spin on classic egg salad and very customizable! It can be as simple as chopped hard-boiled egg smashed together with avocado.  Or you can add to it – like chopped onion,  tomatoes, dijon mustard, relish, and/or fresh herbs.  You can put it on a sandwich or wrap, smear it on toast or dip crackers in it (like Triscuit Thin Crisps). Pair this with fresh fruit and cheese.

Avocado egg salad on whole wheat bread, Trader Joe’s Soycutash, and string cheese