Sharing some of my favorite lunchbox ideas for teens!

Hi friends! How are you? I hope that you’re having a lovely morning so far. I’ve packed this week with podcast interviews and client calls – here we goooooo – because the Pilot is home and can take over homeschool duties.

For today’s post, I wanted to share some lunchbox ideas for teenagers. I make the girls’ lunches every day, and I love putting them together. Liv’s school offers hot lunch, which is takeout from different fast food restaurants, but it’s super expensive (like $20 for Chick-Fil-A) and they don’t even keep the food warm before serving it to the kids. So for quality and cost reasons, I keep making their food here at home.

Last year, I would sometimes open Liv’s lunchbox to wash it, and quite a bit of it would still be sitting in here.

“Why didn’t you eat lunch? Aren’t you hungry at lunchtime?”

“I’m a little hungry but sometimes I don’t really want a bagel or a sandwich… I’d love a meal.”

“A meal? Like what do you mean?”

“Like ramen, or chicken, or salad or something like that.”

This blew my mind. I was still kind of packing her “little kid lunches.” Don’t get me wrong, they still looked good and had lots of tasty and healthy components, but she wanted an actual meal instead of a bagel or PB&J. It was a huge lightbulb moment for me because I’d feel the same way. I don’t like eating the same cold things every day, and for lunch, I often prefer a *meal* instead of a bagel or PB&J.

[And for the friends out there who might be wondering why she didn’t pack her own lunch, she was dancing 10+ hours a week last year across town and had hours of homework each night. It’s also one of those things that I’m happy to do for them – I enjoy it!]

I started asking her for lunch ideas, and taking her to Costco and Whole Foods with me to pick out things that look good to her. Now I make her *meals* for lunch that are still just as fast as making a PB&J or bagel, but they’re more satisfying and enjoyable.

Here are some of the things that are in the rotation:

Packed lunch ideas for teen

Main course:

Pasta salad

This is the best pasta salad in the world and you can make it in advance to enjoy throughout the week.

Chopped salad with homemade dressing

Liv loves a chopped salad and I’ll usually add different types of greens, a protein (like leftover chicken or sliced deli turkey), garbanzo beans, edamame, poshi artichokes or asparagus, grated cheese, olives, veggies, and a homemade dressing.

Jennifer Aniston salad

We all LOVE this salad and it’s so easy to pack for lunch with grilled chicken on top.

Egg bites

These can also be made in advance and frozen. We all love these

Sharing some of my go-to meal prep ideas for kids, especially as we’re in the back to school season. We’ve also made a mission to reduce packaged snacks, but I still stock up on pantry essentials and faves from Thrive Market. <— my link gets you 40% off your first order

Hi friends! How are you? I hope that you’re enjoying the week so far. We’re finding our new routine with the homeschool situation + Liv is taking a break from dance (I’m admittedly a little sad, but definitely don’t miss driving 30 minutes there and back twice a day). Now that we’re on the go and packing lunches again, there are a couple of things I’ve tried to do differently.

Meal prep for kids and reducing packaged snacks

– Meal prep a ton.

It’s so helpful to have a fridge full of healthy staples for snacks and meals.

Here are some of the things I’ve been making each week:

– Fruit prep. If there’s fruit, ready to go in the fridge, they will absolutely eat it instead of grabbing a bar or packaged treat. Melons are in season and so good right now, so lately I’ve been picking up a couple of different melons (the kids especially love Piel de Sapo and golden watermelon) and chopping them to store in glass containers. I also soak berries in water and vinegar for 2-5 minutes (1 part vinegar to 3 parts water), rinse, and let them dry completely. Then I put paper towels in the bottom of a glass container with a lid. They last so much longer this way! We usually do a mix of berries: strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries. I also soak grapes and plums in water + vinegar for about 15 minutes, dry, and store in an open glass bowl in the fridge. The kids will just grab handfuls of grapes throughout the day and I love that we’re all eating more fruit!

– Energy bites. I have quite a few different recipes here on the blog (like these!) but a favorite is equal parts cashews and pitted dates, cinnamon, a little salt, vanilla extract and a drizzle of maple syrup.

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Sharing a roundup of high volume low calorie recipes if your goal is to increase your fiber but not your total caloric intake. 

Hi friends! How are you?? I hope that you’re having an amazing week! We’re here in Spain living.the.life. I’m excited to share some of the fun in Friday Faves and I’m posting a ton on IG if you’d like to follow along.

Today, I wanted to chat a little about volume eating and share some of my favorite recipes that are high in volume and flavor, but still light and refreshing.

Ever finish a meal and feel like you barely ate? You’re not alone. When you’re trying to eat a little lighter, hunger can sneak up fast, and it’s not fun. That’s why I love high volume, low calorie recipes. You can eat generous portions that leave you feeling full and happy, without overdoing it on calories and feeling like you need a nap afterwards. Whether you’re working toward a health goal, trying to keep your calorie intake in check, or just want to eat more fruits and vegetables, these meals check all the boxes.

All of these meal ideas are loaded with whole, nourishing ingredients like lean proteins, fiber-rich veggies, and satisfying textures. Many are gluten free, simple to prep, and perfect for lunch, dinner, or meal prep.

What Makes a Meal High Volume?

Let’s chat about what makes a meal “high volume.” These types of meals usually include foods that are high in water or fiber, like leafy greens, berries, or green beans, and are lower in calories. That combo helps you eat more food (volume!) without racking up the calories.

What Are High Volume Low Calorie Foods?

High volume low calorie foods are filling, satisfying, and easy to love. Think big salads, soups, hearty veggie stir-fries, and meals that are piled high with lean protein and colorful produce.

These types of meals support healthy weight loss by keeping you full and reducing the need to snack all day. Plus, they’re a great way to get more nutrient dense foods into your diet.

Low Calorie High Volume Recipes

Egg Roll in a Bowl

This one-pan favorite is a lighter twist on a takeout classic. It’s packed with ground turkey or pork, cabbage, carrots, and a dash of garlic and ginger.

Calories per serving: ~250-300

Main ingredients: ground turkey, cabbage, carrots, garlic, coconut aminos

Gluten free and great for meal prep!

 Try this version from Skinnytaste

Sushi Roll in a Bowl

A deconstructed version of sushi that’s quick, fresh, and totally customizable. Use cauliflower rice for a low-carb option.

Calories per serving: ~350

Main ingredients: rice or cauliflower rice, cucumber, avocado, nori, shrimp or crab, coconut aminos

Sharing a roundup of meal prep ideas you can make on the cheap.

Hi friends! How are you? I hope you’re having a great day so far! I have a morning packed full of appointments and am looking forward to family dinner tonight.

Today, I wanted to chat a bit about meal prep, because it’s been savin’ my bacon lately.

Meal prepping is one of my favorite ways to stay on track with healthy eating goals but also save money at the same time. When life gets hectic (which it always does), having budget friendly meals ready to go is a total gamechanger. I feel like whether you’re feeding a family, trying to eat healthier, or just want to spend less at the grocery store, meal prep can seriously simplify your routine.

Today, I wanted to share a roundup of cheap meal prep ideas that are delicious, super easy and quick to make, and won’t break the bank. I love that meal prepping helps eliminate the “what’s for dinner?” stress and keeps us away from pricey takeout. Most of these meals use pantry staples or affordable ingredients, and they make enough for leftovers.

Cheap Meal Prep Ideas

These recipes are perfect for weekly planning, batch cooking, and making sure you always have a friendly meal ready to go.

Whether you’re new to meal planning or a seasoned pro, I hope this post gives you fresh inspiration (and saves you a few bucks! Let’s be real, groceries are a million dollars right now.)

What Is Meal Prepping

Meal prepping is the practice of preparing meals or ingredients in advance to save time and money throughout the week. It could mean chopping veggies, cooking proteins, or assembling full meals in containers. The idea is to have meals ready to eat or cook quickly, so you’re less tempted to grab something unhealthy or expensive.

Meal prepping can help reduce food waste, streamline your grocery shopping, and make your week smoother overall. Plus, it often leads to healthier choices since you’re planning meals in advance.

Is Meal Prepping Cheaper?

Absolutely! When you plan ahead and prep your meals, you can make the most of grocery sales, buy ingredients in bulk, and avoid impulse purchases or last-minute takeout. By cooking in batches, you also use your ingredients more efficiently and waste less food.

Some people think healthy eating is expensive, but meal prepping shows that you can eat well without spending a fortune.

How To Meal Prep On A Budget

Shop Your Pantry First

Before you plan your meals, take inventory of what you already have. It’s easy to overlook canned goods, grains, or frozen items that can make great foundations for a meal.

Choose Budget Friendly Proteins

Think beans, lentils, eggs, canned tuna, organic sprouted tofu, organic ground beef, and chicken thighs. These are nutritious and often cheaper than other protein sources.

Buy Seasonal Produce

Fruits and vegetables that are in season are usually cheaper and taste better. Bonus points if you can find them at local farmers m

Today I’m sharing a dairy-free and gluten-free recipe for Mediterranean egg bites. Try this as a high-protein meal prep option!

Hey hey! How’s the week going? I hope you’re having a great one so far! It’s been busy as usual – but I’m looking forward to some weekend fun with the crew. 🙂

For today’s post, I’m so excited to share a recipe that we’ve all been enjoying lately: Mediterranean egg bites. I made a batch as part of meal prep and they made amazing quick breakfast and lunchtime staples. (I also love them in a Siete almond flour tortilla!) In addition, they freeze beautifully and the kids love them, too.

(I would be happy to say that Maisey didn’t try any of these, but she might have stolen one or four from the countertop.)

When I have a savory and protein-packed breakfast, I feel more satisfied throughout the morning and don’t feel like I crave sweets or sugar as much throughout the day. In fact, this is a great meal idea for metabolic flexibility. And you could just enjoy the egg bites first before heading into fruit or oatmeal as a full breakfast.

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