Creative school lunch box Ideas to satisfy picky eaters

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PICTURE: PEXELS/ LUNCH BOXES

The new school year is here and if you dread the daily lunch trade-off during break time at school, Johandre Grobler, Executive Chef, at ANEW Hotels & Resorts, has fabulous alternatives to bland sandwiches.

His five unique, no-reheating-required meals are simple to prep, budget-friendly and guaranteed to satisfy even the pickiest of palates.

Sushi-inspired tortilla wraps

  • What you’ll need: Tortilla wraps, cream cheese, thinly sliced cucumber, shredded carrots, and smoked chicken or tuna.
  • How to make it: Spread cream cheese on the tortilla, layer with veg and protein, roll it up sushi-style, and slice into bite-sized rounds.
  • Why this is a great option: It is fun to eat, easy to customise and keeps fresh in a lunchbox.

Build-your-own mini tacos

  • What you’ll need: Hard taco shells (the mini ones), shredded cheese, diced tomatoes, and cooked shredded chicken or beef (perfect if left over from your dinner the night before).
  • How to make it: Keep ingredients separate in little containers, letting kids assemble their own tacos during their lunch break.
  • Why this is a great option: It’s like a party in your lunchbox.

Savoury veggie pancakes

  • What you’ll need: Grated courgettes, carrots, cheese, a bit of flour, an egg, and seasoning.
  • How to make it: Mix everything into a batter, pan-fry into mini pancakes, and allow to cool before packing.
  • Why this is a great option: Packed with veggies, easy to grab and munch, and they’re just as good cold as they are warm.

Cold pasta salad jars

  • What you’ll need: Spiral pasta, cherry tomatoes, cubed cheese, diced ham, and a simple olive oil and lemon dressing.
  • How to make it: Layer everything in a plastic cylinder jar, for easy transportation and mess-free eating.
  • Why this is a great option: A refreshing twist on plain pasta that feels gourmet without the price tag and loaded with energy-fulling carbohydrates.

Sweet and savoury pinwheels

  • What you’ll need: Puff pastry, Nutella, banana slices for the sweet option, or pesto, grated cheese and ham for the savoury.
  • How to make it: Spread your filling of choice on the rolled-out puff pastry, roll it up, slice it into pinwheels and air-fry or oven-bake until golden and crisp.
  • Why this is a great option: These freeze well, so you can make a batch and defrost as needed.

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Compiled by: Maegan-Leigh Jacobs

First published by Food & Home

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