Whole30 Lunches for Kids (and Grownup!) On-the-Go

With school back in session, I’m sure there are quite a few of you parents our there who are getting back in the not-always-so-fun routine of making school lunches. I mean, I know some parents are bento box wizards who make panda bear sandwiches and flowers our of carrots and polenta, but for the rest of us, making lunches is just one of those tasks that has to get done. Every day. For the entire school year. It’s a necessary evil and it’s a lot. 9 times out of 10, all you wanna do is just make a PB&J and call it a day.

The struggle is real and even though my kids aren’t in school yet (“home school” – I use this term very loosely – is starting next month for Fern next month, but that’s a post for a different day…send wine…) I still make lunches often. We are always headed out to run errands or to the zoo or a park and I pack lunches so we can eat on-the-go. I also pack a lunch for my husband every day, because it’s the trade off for him making me coffee every day (a good deal if you ask me). It’s a lot of lunch-making is what I’m saying. And the worst part is that when I’m done with making everyone else’s lunches I often completely forget slash lack the initiative to make one for myself. I cannot tell you how many times we are out somewhere and my kids are eating their well-balanced lunches and I’m just sitting there watching with a rumbling stomach. If I’m lucky, they’ll save me some sandwich crusts and of course their leftover veggies (because apparently all vegetables are poison), but child leftovers are just no way to live.

Recently though, I decided that I was going to turn over a new leaf and start packing my own lunch too when we go out places. When you’re eating Whole30, there aren’t many options for things to grab on-the-run, so more forethought is required so I don’t end up subsisting on just Larabars for the rest of my life. I realized that the trick to making this happen was to pack my lunch in my own special container just like the kids and make it an off-shoot of whatever they happen to be eating, because ain’t nobody got time for chopping up extra food.Whole30 Lunches for Kids (and Grownup!) On-the-GoI’ve been on a big kale salad kick lately thanks to Tessemae’s dressings, so it’s become my go-to lunch these days. I would like to say that before Tessemae’s I was a kale hater (also sort of just most vegetables in general). Unless it was chopped up in teeeeeeeeensy pieces and wilted beyond recognition in an extra creamy soup, I wouldn’t touch it. I’m not even kidding you…I have always thought kale tasted like tree bark and sadness. But, Tessemae’s dressings have made me a convert. We’ve been going through 4 bunches of kale a week over here! I’m obsessed. The only problem with loving kale salad is that I don’t want to tote a heavy, glass bottle of salad dressing with me when I’m out and if I have to put if in a separate container I’m totally just going to give up, because it’s another dish. I. Just. Cannot.Whole30 Lunches for Kids (and Grownup!) On-the-GoThankfully Tessemae’s will be offering dressing in pouch form very very soon, which makes my life way easier. Whole30 Lazy Girl Style 4-Eva.
Whole30 Lunches for Kids (and Grownup!) On-the-GoSo basically I pack myself a salad with kale and carrots (because I was already chopping them up for the kids – 2 birds: 1 stone) and bring along a pouch of dressing and I’m golden. OK, and I also bring a Larabar, because old habits die hard. I just can’t quit you cherry pie Larabars. You could totally add more veggies (or leftover chicken, steak, etc.), but like I said, I’m not the biggest veggie fan and we didn’t have any leftover meat on hand, so I feel good about just kale and carrots. Don’t judge.

For my kids I start with a Whole30 base and add in some dairy and grains when it makes sense. I mean, I’m not saying they don’t ever eat PB&J sammies, because of course they do, but I try to change things up and give them more balanced options whenever I can.Whole30 Lunches for Kids (and Grownup!) On-the-GoThis particular lunch included:

*pastrami + cheese

*ants on a log (they just at the raisins and licked the almond butter, but whatevs)

*”trail mix” (cashews + a few dark chocolate chips, because it’s what I had on hand)

*carrots + beet hummus for dipping (Fern only eats it because it’s pink. I’ll take it.)

*clementine oranges and grapes

I ended up eating their leftover celery (#momlife), but they actually ate the carrots and poached some of my kale salad too , because the dressing is that good. I could care less that they were only using the kale as a vehicle for the dressing. Whatever it takes. I’m calling it a lunch time success!Whole30 Lunches for Kids (and Grownup!) On-the-Go{In case you’re curious, about our lunch containers and utensils you can find them here: bus bento tray, utensil set, insulated lunch container}

Do you have any lunch on-the-go tricks up your sleeve? I’d love to hear them!

(Also, don’t forget, Tessemae’s offering a promo code for my readers that is good through September 30th. Get 10% off any order using the code: lHARTTESSE)

xo

Lauren

 

*Note: This post was created in partnership with Tessemae’s. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the companies and products that we love.

 

 

Comments

  1. I need some details on beet hummus. Where do you get it or do you make it? We just found a recipe for chocolate chip hummus last week and my daughter cannot stop eating it with apples – very little sugar in it and just enough chocolate chips to make her feel like it is a treat. She has no clue she is eating fruit, veggies, and protein!

  2. Any idea when the travel packets of Tessemae’s will be coming out?? I know “very very soon” but this is going to be a game changer for me (day 7 whole30) !! 🙂 Love reading your stuff!

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