Lunch Box Combo Ideas For Kids
Packing lunch boxes for your kids can be a daunting task especially if you have a picky eater. As a parent, you want to pack a lunch box that is loaded with nutrition as well as there is variety – both in terms of taste and nutrition. So, here goes our top five easy and healthy school lunch box combo ideas. When you are running out of the idea, do try these.
1. Semiya Upma, Boondi Raita and a Fruit of Choice
We love this combo! It has a nice mix of tastes, textures and of course loaded with nutrition. You can also cook it in a jiffy.
Recipe for Semiya Upma
Ingredients
- Vermicelli – 200 gram
- Roasted peanuts – ¼ cup
- Ginger – 1 tablespoon, finely chopped
- Onion – 1 medium, finely sliced
- Lemon juice – 1 tablespoon
- Curry leaves – 5 or 6 leaves
- Coriander leaves – 1 tablespoon, finely chopped
- Turmeric powder – ¼ teaspoon
- Mustard seeds – a pinch for tempering
- Bengal gram – 1 tablespoon
- Urad dal – 1 tablespoon
- Asafoetida — 1 pinch
- Mesmara groundnut Oil – 2 tablespoons
- Salt to taste
Method of Preparation: Boil the vermicelli until soft. Strain the water and keep it aside. Now take a skillet, heat oil and temper with mustard seeds and curry leaves. When the seeds start to splutter, add the lentils. Add the onion and sauté for a minute. Now add peanuts and the rest of the ingredients along with the vermicelli. Stir well for a minute. Add salt and mix. Add lemon juice and turn off the heat. Garnish with coriander leaves.
Box assembly: Use a 3-compartment tiffin box and fill the bigger compartment with semiya upma. Use the side compartment for boondi raita or chutney as an accompaniment. Use the last compartment for a serving of fruit. We love it with pomegranate.
2. French Toast and Mixed Salad
Ingredients for French toast
- Eggs – 2, whisked with salt
- Milk bread – 2 slices, cut into your desired shape
- Capsicum and onion – 1 cup, finely diced
- Mesmara extra virgin olive oil – ½ cup
Method of Preparation: Take a bowl and whisk the eggs with salt, capsicum, and onion. Mix well and keep aside. Now take a skillet and add oil. Heat it. Dip the bread slices in the egg mix and shallow fry it until it turns golden.
Ingredients for mixed salad:
- Cucumber – 1/4th cup, finely chopped
- Tomato – 1/4th cup, finely chopped
- Onion – 1/4th cup, finely chopped
- Sprouted beans – 1/4th cup, finely chopped
- A pinch of salt and a dash of lemon.
Method of Preparation: Mix all the ingredients well. You can get creative and try out different combinations. Add a pinch of salt and lemon juice or sprinkle some chaat masala. The choice is yours.
Box assembly
Take a 2-compartment tiffin box. Include the French toast in one and the salad in the other compartment. Include a sachet of ketchup to accompany the French toast!
3. Tomato and Basil Bruschetta and Sprouts
Kids love to have a variety in their lunch boxes and if you’re in a mood to cook something exotic for your little one, try out these amazingly healthy tomato and basil bruschetta with an extra virgin olive oil dressing. Don’t worry about the recipe, we have got you covered. Check out the recipe of Tomato and Basil Bruschetta here.
4. Roti and Dry Bhindi Sabji
You can also go desi and pack ghee roti/stuffed paratha/plain paratha with a dry sabzi and a serving of fruit or raita. An all-time hit with kids is roti and bhindi sabji. A choice of rice and raita is also easy to cook and eat.
5. Peas Pulao and Mix Veg Salad
If your child loves to eat rice, then you have a lot of choices to pack in her/his lunch box. Peas pulao and vegetable fried rice are always loved by kids. Pulao goes very well with Raita made up of finely chopped onions and tomatoes mixed with curd and salt. This a combo is a favourite for kids who love rice varieties in their lunch box.
Here are some more meal ideas for your kids. See what you like and make a combo of your own!