Lunch is quite possibly the hardest meal of the day for teachers.
Chances are, you’re not sitting down for a leisurely 45-minute quiet time for yourself or heading out to a local deli for lunch with colleagues. Your downtime is at a premium, and that’s even if you get ANY downtime on a given day.
So, we here at the NJ Teachers’ Lounge thought it might be nice to think of some ways to make that little bit of time a little more exciting. Variety is the spice of life, and what you bring for lunch is something that teachers still get to decide. Take a look at this curated list of delicious options, take control and get some new, fun lunches queued up for yourself in the new year. Step away from the ham sandwich and mix it up!
As a teacher, you don’t have much time to meal plan and certainly don’t have time in the morning to cook. These recipes are great because you can make them ahead of time or throw them together quickly when you are in a rush.
Turkey and Guacamole Club Sandwich
Select your choice of roll and layer turkey, a cheese of your choice, tomato, and a nice scoop of guacamole onto it. Adding a slice of bacon is a delicious addition, but there is no need for mayo or mustard with this sandwich. The guacamole packs a punch of flavor and adds even more tasty protein.
All you need for this delicious box of goodness is one hardboiled egg (halved or not), sliced turkey, cubed cheese of your choice, cherry tomatoes, crackers, and almonds. It’s so easy and so yummy. This is a great option for finger food to pick at as you work, and is a quick and healthy lunch option.
A new take on an old favorite. What you need for this recipe is one can of tuna, two tablespoons of mayonnaise, one teaspoon of soy sauce, two teaspoons of sriracha sauce, two wraps, 2/3 cup of matchstick carrots, half an avocado, and half of a cucumber, peeled and sliced. Mix the tuna, mayo, and sauces together and spread it onto the open wraps, layer your veggies on top and fold to make a roll. Put your wrap into a sandwich bag and you are ready to go!
You can make this as simple or as complicated as you would like. To create this dish, you need half a cup of cooked rice, corn (canned or frozen), ground turkey breast with taco seasoning, and a generous scoop of fresh salsa (store-bought is great!). This works great as is, but is also delicious when thrown on a bed of lettuce and topped with a spicy ranch dressing.
The recipe calls for seven hard-boiled eggs (peeled and chopped), half a cup of mayonnaise, one teaspoon ground mustard, one chopped celery stalk, salt and pepper to taste, and three chopped scallions. Egg salad is a yummy and healthy lunch option, especially if you put it over a salad or add lettuce and tomato to your sandwich. Make a sandwich or salad or simply eat it with crackers and veggies.
To make this you need one pound of cooked and diced chicken, one cup of chopped celery, one cup of halved red grapes, half a cup of craisins or dried cherries, half a cup of plain or yummy, store-bought sweetened pecans, one cup of mayonnaise, and salt and pepper to taste. This is so delicious over a salad, and no dressing is needed. Pack along some crackers for extra munching.
To make this delicious pasta salad, you’ll need cooked tricolor rotini pasta, cooked diced chicken, diced peppers and tomatoes, chopped spinach, and Italian dressing. Simply combine all the ingredients and lightly coat with dressing. This is great in a bowl or mason jar.
These are so easy, and so delicious. All you need for this is nonstick cooking spray, six eggs, six egg whites, salt and pepper to taste, four slices of finely chopped ham, two ounces of reduced fat Swiss cheese, half a cup of finely chopped red bell pepper, and you can add scallions too! You’ll start by heating your oven to 350 degrees and spraying your muffin tin with nonstick spray. Next, whisk the eggs in a bowl and then add the remaining ingredients. Mix well and add half a cup of the mixture to each muffin cup. Bake for 20-25 minutes and allow to cool and refrigerate.
Fruit and Yogurt Parfait with Hard Boiled Egg & Fruit Salad
This meal is so easy, especially with a Bento box. All you need is a big scoop of your favorite fruit (berries are best), ¾ cup of granola, one halved hard-boiled egg, and a cup of yogurt. This is an absolutely delicious lunch that is sure to fill you up and satisfy you until dinnertime.
A few tips to keep in mind when preparing lunches for the week:
- Prep a day ahead, if possible.
- Hard boil or purchase eggs in advance.
- Have fruit sliced, washed and ready to go.
- Bento Boxes are awesome, and you really should try them!
Have any good lunch ideas? Let us know in the comments!
-Jenna Garvin
