Coming up with ideas for lunch every day can be a challenge, especially when you’re trying to keep meals healthy, affordable and interesting for the whole family.
Whether you’re making lunch at home, preparing a packed lunch or looking for something quick to use up leftovers, a little planning can make things much easier.
At Good Food West Northants, we love sharing practical ideas that help people eat well without spending a fortune. So, with some inspiration from Cooking Good, we’ve put together some simple midday meal ideas to try.
Make the most of your leftovers
One of the easiest ways to create a quick lunch is to make a little extra at dinner time.
Leftover roast chicken can be added to a wrap, salad or sandwich, while roasted vegetables can be mixed with couscous, rice or salad leaves to create a filling lunch.
You could also turn leftover pasta dishes into an easy next-day meal. Cooking Good suggests dishes such as creamy chicken pesto pasta and tuna pasta bake, which can make convenient lunches with very little preparation.
Planning your meals before doing the weekly shop can also help you make the most of what you already have and avoid buying ingredients you don’t need.
Keep store cupboard staples handy
A well-stocked cupboard can be a real lunchtime lifesaver.
Tinned tuna and sweetcorn are a simple combination that can be mixed with mayonnaise and served in a jacket potato, wholemeal wrap or sandwich alongside some salad.
Eggs are another useful ingredient. They’re filling, versatile and can be used in everything from mini omelettes to frittatas.
Cooking Good’s mini omelettes are also a great option for picnics or lunchboxes, while a vegetable frittata can be made in advance and shared with the whole family.
Make lunch colourful
Adding a variety of colourful vegetables is an easy way to make lunchtime more appealing.
Try filling a wholemeal wrap with grated carrot, lettuce, tomato, cucumber and peppers. You could then add boiled egg, cheese, ham or leftover chicken for extra protein.
Getting children involved in choosing and preparing their own fillings can also make them more interested in trying different foods.
Why not make lunch a little more fun with a rainbow wrap, or try Cooking Good’s fun bagel snake, where each section can have a different filling?
Get creative with simple ingredients
Lunch doesn’t have to be complicated.
A warm ham and cheese wrap served with some salad makes a quick meal, while chicken goujons can be reheated and added to a wrap with salad and homemade coleslaw.
If everyone is at home, a sharing sub can be a simple way to bring everyone together around the table.
You could also try stuffed peppers for a colourful lunch, or make lunchtime feel like a weekend treat with a family brunch. Pancakes, scrambled eggs, mushrooms and hash browns can all make an enjoyable late breakfast or early lunch.
For something a little different, Cooking Good’s Hulk Pancakes are a fun way to add extra goodness to a family favourite.
Don’t forget the snacks
If you’re finding that everyone is hungry again shortly after breakfast, preparing a simple snack box can help.
Try keeping a few easy options ready to grab, such as:
- Carrot sticks with hummus
- Cucumber and a small piece of cheese
- Banana and oat cookies
- Apple slices with nut butter, where suitable
- Rice cakes with ham and tomato
- Banana and blueberry wholemeal muffins
- Carrot cake cookies
You could even get creative and make a fun vegetable “train” using carrot pieces and soft cheese.
A little planning can go a long way
Healthy lunches don’t need to be expensive or complicated. Making the most of leftovers, choosing versatile ingredients and getting the family involved can all help make mealtimes easier.
Next time you’re planning your weekly shop, think about how one meal could become another. A little extra chicken, a few more roasted vegetables or some leftover rice could save you time and money the following day.
For even more ideas, take a look at Cooking Good’s Midday Munches, which inspired many of the ideas in this article. Cooking Good is a community cooking project led by Community Health-Works UK CIC, sharing practical ideas to help people cook, eat and enjoy good food.
At Good Food West Northants, we’re passionate about making good food accessible to everyone across West Northamptonshire. From eating well for less and reducing food waste to growing, cooking and sharing food, small changes can make a big difference.
Why not try one of these lunchtime ideas this week?