5 Lunch box ideas great for adults and kids

If you are looking for some inspiration for your lunch box these ideas and recipes will help you make easy decisions for your weekly meal at work, home or at school.

Schools are opening soon and for parents looking to make healthy and nutritional lunches for their kids, these lunch box ideas are great for adults too.

Five lunch box ideas great for adults and kids

Tuna salad sandwich with melon salad bento box

Ingredients

• 2 (5-ounce) cans of tuna
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1 stalk of celery, diced
• 2 tablespoons red onion, diced
• 1-2 tablespoons chopped parsley, chives and/or other herbs
• 1/2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. Drain the liquid from the tuna cans. Then, add the tuna, mayonnaise, diced celery, diced red onion, herbs, Dijon mustard, salt and pepper to a mixing bowl.
2. Stir all of the ingredients together until well combined.
3. Enjoy the tuna salad plain out of a bowl, wrapped up in lettuce, or in a sandwich.
4. Note: If you’d like a creamier texture you can always add more mayonnaise.
5. For your lunch box you can add some easy fruit and veggie additions, this box holds cucumber slices, baked plantain chips, and a fun melon mozzarella salad.

*This recipe can be found on downshiftology.com.

Pepperoni pizza

Ingredients 

• Pitas – English muffins would also work well here.
• Pizza sauce – if you don’t have any pizza sauce on hand, regular old tomato sauce can also be used.
• Mozzarella cheese – I suggest shredding a ball of pizza mozzarella but you can also use your favourite blended variety.
• Mini pepperoni – use turkey pepperoni or swap it out for another topping of your choice.

Instructions

1. When you are ready to assemble your pizza for lunch, spread the pizza sauce on your pita bread, add the cheese, and then finish with mini pepperoni. 

*This recipe can be found on thegirlonbloor.

Ham and cheese bread boat

Ingredients

• French bread
• Softened salted butter
• Garlic
• Ham
• Provolone
• Paprika
• Parsley

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Instructions

1. Spread the butter on the french bread, layer with ham, provolone cheese (or any cheese) sprinkle seasoning. 
2. Bake at 350F (180 C) for 10 minutes then broil until golden brown. 

*This recipe can be found on Owen.han Instagram page

Japanese style hibachi chicken 

Ingredients

For the yum yum sauce:

• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 3 tbsp ketchup
• 2 tbsp sriracha
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tbsp mirin
• ½ tbsp garlic powder

For the chicken:

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp butter
• 8-10 chicken thighs, boneless, skinless diced into 1-2 inch cubes
• salt & pepper, to taste
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp hoisin sauce
• 1 tbsp mirin
• 2 tbsp minced garlic
• 1 tbsp honey

For the vegetables:

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• ½ tbsp butter
• ½ onion, sliced
• 227 grams mushrooms, quartered
• 1-2 zucchini, sliced
• 1 tbsp soy sauce

For the fried rice:

• 1 tbsp butter
• 1 tbsp minced garlic
• 3 cups cooked rice
• 2 eggs
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp oyster sauce
• 1 cup peas, frozen

ALSO READ: Recipe of the day: Vegetable chow mein

Instructions

How to make yum yum sauce:

Mix all the ingredients together and store in the fridge until ready to use.

How to make hibachi chicken:

1. In a wok or Dutch oven over high heat, add in olive oil and melt the 1 tbsp butter.
2. Once the Dutch oven is hot, add the diced chicken.
3. Season with salt and pepper and cook until no longer pink, for 5-6 minutes.
4. Add the soy sauce, hoisin sauce, mirin, garlic, and honey.
5. Stir until the chicken has been coated and the sauce as thickened to your liking. Set aside the chicken.

How to make the vegetables:

1. In the same pan (no need to clean any leftover sauce off), add the olive oil and ½ tbsp butter.
2. Once the butter has melted, add in the onions, mushrooms, and zucchini.
3. Stir fry for a minute before adding the soy sauce.
4. Continue to stir fry until the vegetables as softened to your liking.

How to cook hibachi fried rice:

1. In a wok on high heat, melt 1 tbsp butter and add in the minced garlic.
2. Sauté the garlic for half a minute and then add in the rice, soy sauce, and oyster sauce.
3. Sauté until the rice has heated through.
4. Make a well in the middle of the rice and add in the eggs. Scrambling it until it’s almost fully set.
5. Stir to combine everything before adding in the peas and stirring until the peas have been heated through.

The meal cool-down can be stored in your lunch box the next day.

*This recipe can be found on carmyy.com.

Grilled cheese

A grilled cheese sandwich doesn’t have to be served warm, they are still delicious and crispy cold and make a great option for children and adults for their lunch box.

To make the grilled cheese, add two or three slices of cheese between two slices of bread, then spread butter or mayo on the outside. Add to a hot skillet, and toast on each side for around 3 minutes. Pair with some fruit (like blueberries), cucumber slices, and a fun snack like popcorn!

*This recipe can be found on eatthis.com.