These simple lunch ideas are perfect for family lockdown lunches. One of the most monotonous, but essential things about parenting is the constant feeding and adding lunches to the menu means it has become even more of a challenge.
I am not going to lie, I have a love-hate relationship with feeding my family. Food is my love language so I do get great pleasure out of providing meals that they enjoy, however, it can be a monotonous slog at the best of times. Add in a lockdown and remote learning and it is just something else that I have to add to my growing list of responsibilities.
Over the years I have found that my boys are a lot like dogs, they need praise, exercise and a lot of food to keep them agreeable to live with. When they are at school they get a warm school dinner, so I am just dealing with breakfasts and an evening meal, but leaving lunches to them during lockdown is a nightmare. They take things that I have planned to use for dinners, eat the first thing that comes to hand or the easier things. This makes for empty cupboards and lots of snacking!
So I put a shout out to Instagram for simple lunch ideas that are filling, wholesome (mainly) and fast.
Let’ talk Leftovers
Firstly – let’s talk leftovers, which are great for incorporating into next days lunches. My boys are not keen on eating the same thing the following day, but you can use the ingredients to rustle up something delicious and tasty. Raman can be made with leftover cooked meat from Roasts, Quesadillas from leftover fajitas and pies and pasties from pretty much anything!
- Quesadillas – perfect for using any leftovers from Fajitas
- Fried rice – We love Nasi Goreng – Indonesian Fried Rice
- Rice Salad – This Mexican rice and bean salad would be a great way to use leftover rice.
- Pasties – this is why I always have puff pastry in the fridge
- Raman – this pork Raman would be the perfect way to use leftover pork from a Sunday dinner
- Fritiats or Omelettes are a great way to use leftovers, like this Wild Alaska Salmon, Potato and Leek Frittata and a great plus is these can be served hot or cold.
- Yorkshire Pudding Wraps – are a great way to use up leftover meat.
- Cod and Pea Fritters are an ace way to use up any leftover mash potato (you could easily swap out the cod for any tinned fish to make it cupboard friendly) we serve these in buns for a simple lunch.
- Bubble and Squeak Soup – this is my go-to to use up any Chicken Dinner leftovers
- Leftover Curry Puffs – These tempting parcels are a cinch to make, and a great change-up to your usual leftovers. The parcels can be stored in the fridge for 2 days and reheated when it’s convenient, for lunch
Simple Lunch Ideas
- New potato, spring onion & cheddar quiche
- Slow cooker Jacket Potatoes
- Basil and tomato baked eggs – cooking with kids
- Sausage, Cheese and Bean Melt Recipe
- Mini Pizza Bites
- Hot dogs in Buns
- Croque Monsieur
- Meatball baguettes
- Falafel burgers
- Bubble and Squeak
- Mac n Cheese
- Two-minute turmeric noodles – Healthier and tastier than pot noodles
- Gnocchi
- Sausage Sandwiches
- Homemade Pitta Bread
- 15-minute chicken & halloumi burgers
- Hashbrowns
- Scampi Po’Boy
- Roasted Veg and Flatbreads
- Veggie Taco Bowls – these are simple to make and delicious, but you could always just fill with a salad or veggie batons
- Tuna Melt
- Beans or spaghetti on toast
- Burrito Bowls
- Filled bagels or even these lovely pizza bagels
- Tuna melt pizza baguettes
- Wraps – basically anything you could put in a sandwich you can pop in a wrap for a change.
- Veggie pizza Pockets
- Cheese, Marmite & spinach pinwheels
- Soup
- Savoury Scones
- Pasta
- Savoury Cornbread Muffins with spring onions and Cheese
- Dippy Eggs
- Creamy pesto & kale pasta
- Toasties
- Asian Rice Salad
- Fishfinger Sandwiches
- Spanish Tuna Salad with Roasted Red Peppers
- Cheese Toasties
- Ham, potato & cheese stuffed loaf
- Sausage rolls – I am going to make these tortilla sausage rolls by My Fussy Eater
- Easy French Dip Sandwich
- Potatoe Waffles
- Bacon and Egg Bites
- Quick Easy Veggie Lentil Soup
- Burgers in a Bun
- Carrot and Sweetcorn Fritters
- Bacon & mushroom pasta
- Halimi Burgers
- Cheezy Roasted Vegetable Quinoa
- Poached Eggs on English Muffins
- No-cook veggie fajitas
- Sushi
- 5 Minutes BLT Salad
- Sweetcorn Fritters
- Pulled pork sloppy joe dogs
- Quick pitta pizzas
- French Dip Sandwich
such a great post and thank you for sharing – we will definitely make some of the leftovers dishes for sure!