Lunch Box Ideas from Bless This Mess Please

Boiled Egg Lunch Box

• Boiled eggs
• Seeded crackers
• Veggies (tomatoes, carrots, cucumber, broccoli)
• Almonds + chocolate chips
• Grapes

Pancake “Sandwich” Lunch Box

• Mini pancakes with nut butter + banana slices inside to make a sandwich
• Cucumbers
• Fresh berries
• Almonds + chocolate chips (sunflower seeds, etc) 
• Mandarin orange

Burrito Bowl Lunch Box

• Rice + black beans + roasted sweet potatoes + fresh salsa (opt. ranch dressing, sour cream)
• Almonds + chocolate chips
• Grapes 

Easy Pesto Pasta Salad Lunch Box

• Cooked pasta + pesto + chopped tomato
• Chocolate chips + almonds
• Blueberries

Apple Sandwich Lunch Box

• Apple sandwiches
• Oranges
• No-bake oatmeal bites + almonds
• Veggies like peppers, broccoli
• 
  

Recipe for Oatmeal balls

• 1 cup dry oats (I like 1/2 old fashioned oatmeal and 1/2 quick cooking)
• 1/4 cup peanut butter (hw:cashew,sunbutter...)
• 1/4 cup honey (HW: or maple syrup) 
• 1/4 cup dry roasted peanuts (HW: any seed or nut or omit)
• 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
• dash of salt
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, optional
• In a medium bowl, add all of the ingredients and stir to combine well. The mixture should be a bit sticky. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
• Use a spoon to scoop about a tablespoon of the cookie ball mixture into your hand. Roll into a ball. Repeat with remaining mixture. This should make about 12 oatmeal energy balls.
• Store the balls covered in the fridge for up to a week, or in the freezer for much longer.

Yogurt Parfait Lunch Box

• Yogurt (store bought or homemade)
• Mixed berries
• Strawberries + almonds
• Granola (store bought or homemade)

DIY Pizza Kit Lunch Box

• Pita (HW: or slice of pizza) 
• Tomatoes  + bell peppers (HW: any toppings you like)
• Pizza sauce
• Mozzarella cheese 
• Dried pineapple + grapes  (HW:fresh or frozen pineapple) 

Banana “Sushi” Lunch Box

• Banana Sushi
• Carrots + tomatoes + cucumber + cauliflower and/or broccoli
• Chocolate chips + almonds

To make banana sushi, simply spread nut butter on a tortilla, place a banana on one edge and roll it up. Slice it with a sharp knife into rolls or “sushi” pieces.

Other sushi ideas: chicken salad and cucumber roll, add some raisins to the banana sushi. 

Hummus Lunch Box

• Hummus
• Curry roasted chickpeas
• Pita (Hw: or crackers, rice, buckwheat, rice cakes...)
• Veggies such as peppers, tomatoes, carrots, broccoli, and/or cauliflower
•  pineapple

Roasted chickpeas: 

Can place on fridge and use as needed. 

• 1 can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), 15-ounces
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons of seasonings/herbs of your choosing (combo ideas in notes)
• 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Drain the chickpeas and then give them a good rinse with cold water. Place them on a layer of paper towel and use another paper towel to blot of some of the extra water.
2. Place the chickpeas in a small bowl and add the olive oil. Give the chickpeas a stir so that the oil coats them well. Add your seasonings and salt and stir again to combine.
3. Place the seasoned chickpeas on a baking sheet and bake for 20-30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes, until the outside is crispy and darkened and the inside is creamy. Remove from the oven and enjoy hot. Serve over salads or with roasted veggies over quinoa.

Favorite flavor combos:
TACO – 1/2 teaspoon each – chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika
OR
CURRY – 1 teaspoon yellow curry powder + 1/2 teaspoon cumin
OR
RANCH – 1 teaspoon dill + 1/4 teaspoon onion AND garlic powder
The possibilities are endless! Experiment to find what you like.

Breakfast for Lunch Box

• Mini whole wheat pancakes (Hw: or gluten free , oatmeal pancakes...)
• Maple syrup (Hw: this could get messy if packing -the yogurt would make a good dip) 
• Blackberries + raspberries + blueberries
• Yogurt (store bought or homemade)