{"id":1975,"date":"2025-09-26T11:37:21","date_gmt":"2025-09-26T15:37:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/forsyth\/?p=1975"},"modified":"2025-12-23T12:24:43","modified_gmt":"2025-12-23T17:24:43","slug":"healthy-packed-lunch-ideas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/forsyth\/healthy-packed-lunch-ideas\/","title":{"rendered":"HEALTHY PACKED LUNCH IDEAS"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Guest author Gwen Hawn, FACS Agent, UGA Extension Hall County<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The new school year is in full swing.&nbsp; Have you found yourself in a rut sending the same packed lunches day after day?&nbsp;&nbsp; Figuring out creative, healthy ideas to pack for lunch can be challenging.&nbsp; We can get into a routine of sandwiches, chips and some fruit.&nbsp; A turkey sandwich, baked potato chips, and some apple slices is a great stand-by but can get a bit monotonous day after day.&nbsp; Here are some ideas to add some pizzazz to lunch time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pizza Please!&nbsp; <\/strong>(You can either send the uncooked ingredients and let your child make their own pizza or assemble and toast before packing and let your child eat it chilled.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whole Wheat English Muffin&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>2 Tbsp pizza sauce<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>2 Tbsp mozzarella cheese<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>4 turkey pepperoni slices<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Slice the English muffin in half.&nbsp; Put half the ingredients on each half.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Taco about a party for lunch!<\/strong>&nbsp; (Pre-cook meat either the night or weekend before)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 2 whole wheat tortillas or 15-20 tortillas chips<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; \u00bc cup shredded cheese<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; \u00bd cup shredded lettuce<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; \u00bd cup diced tomatoes<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; \u00bd cup cooked, crumbled ground turkey or chicken,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>seasoned when cooked with \u00bd tsp mild chili powder<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 2 Tbsp light sour cream or guacamole (optional)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wrap the tortillas in tin foil.&nbsp; Pack all other items separately or in a container that has multiple sections such as a bento box.&nbsp; Let your child assemble the tacos at lunch.&nbsp; All items can be eaten cold.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meet Me in the Mediterranean<\/strong> (great way to use leftover chicken)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1 Mulitgrain or Whole Wheat Pita<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00bc cup grilled or baked chicken (pre-cook either the night or weekend before)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00bc cup Julienned cucumbers<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00bc cup Julienned red bell peppers<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00bc cup Julienned carrots<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A handful of Spinach<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>2 Tbsp Feta cheese crumbles or a cheese of your choice<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1 Tbsp Green Goddess or Ranch Salad Dressing<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Cut the pita in half and fill each half with half of the ingredients.&nbsp; (Julienned means to cut in long, thin strips).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"245\" height=\"176\" src=\"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/forsyth\/files\/2025\/09\/image.jpeg\" alt=\"An adult man chopping carrots\" class=\"wp-image-1976\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Tasty Thursday Pasta Twirls Salad (one serving)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1 cup cooked rotini pasta<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>3 Tbsp canned black beans, drained<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>2 Tbsp diced carrots<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>2 Tbsp diced cucumbers<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1 Tbsp diced red bell pepper<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>2 Tbsp canned corn, uncooked<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00bd Tbsp extra virgin olive oil<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>2 tsp lemon juice<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00bd tsp salt<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Peanut Butter, Banana Wrap up the week!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 2 Tbsp smooth no-sugar added peanut butter or sunflower seed butter<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1 Tsp honey<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1 8-inch whole wheat flour tortilla<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1 medium banana, peeled<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Combine nut butter and honey and spread evenly over the tortilla.&nbsp; Place the banana on one edge of the tortilla, roll tightly and slice into rings.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With any of these lunches a tasty and nutritious side dish is \u00bd-1cup of fruit.&nbsp; Just like the main dishes choose a variety including strawberries, blueberries, cherries, raspberries, peaches, pears, orange slices, grapes, mango or papaya slices.&nbsp; To complete the lunch, add a good source of dairy such as 4 oz low-fat yogurt, 4 oz low-fat pudding, 4 oz cottage cheese or a 1 oz string cheese stick.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Investing in some reuseable containers is both great for cutting back on waste for our environment as well as being useful storage to protect the food you send for a meal.&nbsp; Be sure to pack the lunch with the proper freezer packs to keep food at safe temperatures to promote food safety.&nbsp; Foods need to stay below 40 degrees to stay outside the danger zone for spoilage and bacterial growth.&nbsp; With just a little planning you can send fun, healthy lunches with kids to school each day.&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The new school year is in full swing.\u00a0 Have you found yourself in a rut sending the same packed lunches day after day?\u00a0\u00a0 Figuring out creative, healthy ideas to pack for lunch can be challenging.\u00a0 We can get into a routine of sandwiches, chips and some fruit.\u00a0 A turkey sandwich, baked potato chips, and some apple slices is a great stand-by but can get a bit monotonous day after day.\u00a0 Here are some ideas to add some pizzaz to lunch time.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":452,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[406,407],"class_list":["post-1975","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-facs","tag-healthy-lunches","tag-pack-a-healthy-lunch"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/forsyth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1975","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/forsyth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/forsyth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/forsyth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/452"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/forsyth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1975"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/forsyth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1975\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2406,"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/forsyth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1975\/revisions\/2406"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/forsyth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1975"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/forsyth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1975"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/forsyth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1975"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}