Healthy Lunches on the Go: 3 Quick Recipes for Busy School Days

The school year’s just starting – but next thing you know, you have math and english projects due tomorrow, as well as a club meeting after school. The last thing you want to do is worry about what you’re having for lunch. Here are three quick and easy lunches you can prepare for those busy school days.

1. Egg Mayo Sandwich

Sandwiches are a classic school lunch - and there’s a reason why. They’re quick to make, and easy to transport! This is a classic recipe to get you started: the egg mayo sandwich.

Estimated time to make: 20 minutes.

Ingredients:

• 2 slices of bread (of your choice)
• 1-2 tbsp of mayonnaise (adjust to taste - but be sure to add in moderation!)
• 2 large eggs
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Optional additions: Dijon mustard, chopped onions, herbs (i.e. parsley)

Instructions:

1. Place eggs in a saucepan. Cover them in cold water, and then bring them to a boil over medium heat.
2. Once at the boil, turn off the heat, and leave in water for 10-12 minutes.
3. When the time is up, drain the eggs and cover them with cold water for 5 minutes (tip: the longer you leave the eggs in cold water, the easier they’ll be to peel).
4. Peel the eggs and place them into a bowl.
5. Mash the eggs together with a wooden spatula or other mixer.
6. Mix in the mayonnaise with the mixer (add in the mustard, onions, and herbs here as well, if using)
7. Spread the mixture across one slice of bread, topping the sandwich with the other.
8. Cut the sandwich in half, then wrap it up or place it in a container in the fridge. You’re all set!

Image Credit: Pixabay from Pexels

2. Tuna Tortilla Wrap

Sandwiches are great - but having one everyday can get boring. When making a wrap, you can add some variation to your diet by including many kinds of delicious ingredients.

Estimated time to make: 10 minutes.

Ingredients:

• 1 tortilla (of your choice - remember though, whole wheat is healthier!)
• 3 pieces of lettuce
• 3 cherry tomatoes
• ¼ of a cucumber
• ½ can of tuna
• 57g sweet corn
• ¼ cup of yogurt
• Pinch of salt (or to taste)

Instructions:

1. Dice lettuce into small pieces using a kitchen knife.
2. Slice cucumber (tip: you can peel your cucumber to help remove pesticides!)
3. Slice cherry tomatoes into quarters.
4. Place the yogurt in a bowl, then add the salt and mix together.
5. Spread the yogurt out across your tortilla.
6. Lay out your ingredients in the center of the tortilla (start with the lettuce, followed by the tuna, then the cucumber, tomatoes, and sweet corn).
7. Fold up your tortilla. Then wrap it up, or place it in a container and put it in the fridge.

Image Credit: Kamila Bairam from Pexels

3. Cheese Quesadilla

Some days, after a few blocks of long, hard school work, you’re looking forward to an especially tasty lunch. This cheese quesadilla recipe was made for those days.

Estimated time to make: 10 minutes.

Ingredients:

• 1 tortilla (of your choice)
• ⅓ cup of cheese (of your choice - you can use different kinds!)
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• ¼ cup of fresh spinach (or to taste)
• ¼ cup of black beans
• Optional healthy additions (all to taste): diced bell peppers, diced onions, salsa, Greek yogurt

Instructions:

1. Place a pan over medium heat.
2. Brush/spray olive oil on one side of the tortilla, and place it in the pan on the same side.
3. Sprinkle the cheese over the tortilla.
4. Add spinach and black beans (and if using, bell peppers and onions) onto one half of the tortilla (this will make it easier to fold).
5. Fold the side of the tortilla without toppings onto the side of the tortilla with toppings, forming a half-moon shape.
6. Wait until the bottom half of the tortilla is crispy and the cheese is beginning to melt, then flip it and cook the other side.
7. Once the second second is crispy or turning brown, remove the quesadilla from the pan.
8. Cut it in half, and place it in a container.
9. In separate parts of the container, put salsa and/or Greek yogurt.

Image Credit: Fernando Andrade from Pexels

These three quick recipes are not only easy to make, they'll also keep you satisfied and give you the energy for a day of school. Now go ahead and try them out!