My kids have moved on to university, so the morning routine of packing lunches is now in the rearview mirror. That being said, the art of preparedness is still top in mind, and I’m happy to pass on a few nuggets of wisdom to those who are toiling under the weight of simultaneously dealing with unfinished homework, missing socks, and a cranky attitude towards whatever is being place in the lunchbox or bag.
Keep in mind that simplicity is key. Anything you can pull together quickly – or the night before – while providing a tasty and healthy meal has always worked for me. Here are a few kid-friendly options from our store that will have yours out the door in plenty of time for the bus.
Sandwiches are a staple
I was one of those kids who always preferred sandwiches to leftovers, not because I didn’t enjoy my mom’s cooking, but because it was never quite as good the next day. And lugging around utensils is a pain. Sandwiches, on the other hand, are easy-peasy: unwrap, consume, you’re done!
At Vince’s we have a variety of sandwiches on the bread of your choice, like tuna or egg salad on sliced, as well as ham & cheese on a bun or croissant, or cream cheese & smoked salmon on a bagel. Or if your kids have an even more discerning palate, how about artisan sundried tomato turkey or prosciutto & bocconcini on ciabatta, or artisan pepper jelly brie & black forest ham – also on ciabatta?
If you’re more of a do-it-yourself parent, grab a separate tub of popular sandwich fillings like tuna and egg salad, or for something a little different, try seafood salad or cranberry-almond chicken salad.
Individual “snack packs” are popular, and we have our own with a variety of hand-picked ingredients. Some of our most popular are Vince’s Own veggies & cheese snack, fruit & cheese snack, falafels & tzatziki, or our protein snack that contains a hard-boiled egg, cheese, almonds, crackers and dried fruit.
Single-serve salads
Personal-sized salads are also a delicious and healthy option, and include varieties like tabouleh, Cobb salad, Caesar and chicken Caesar.
Or for something you can share with the entire family, open a jar of Vince’s Own “homestyle” soups and chillis. Just heat and then pour into a wide-mouth thermos.
Your kids may like to wrap up lunch with a dessert, and aside from the usual standbys like cookies and muffins, how about trying rice pudding with fruit, chia pudding parfait, or yogurt parfait – with a separate pack of granola to keep it crunchy.
We have you covered!
So while enduring the mayhem that comes with back-to-school, keep in mind that better times are ahead. These lunch ideas should help ease the kid chaos, and keep everybody a bit more relaxed – and well fed.
How about sending us some of your favourite grab-and-go meals?
— Neil
