Lunchbox inspiration

It’s January and along with the New Years Resolutions, many of us will be thinking of how we can get in shape or save money.

A popular resolution at Woolly HQ is to have more exciting or healthier packed lunches, rather than relying on supermarket sandwiches or soup.

So we found some healthy packed lunch ideas to help inspire you (and us) to keep to our new lunch plans.

Asian Noodle Salad Jar

This is like an extremely posh Pot Noodle from Foxes Loves Lemons. The trick is to keep the salad dressing at the bottom of the jar, so this keeps all the vegetables nice and crunchy. Great idea!

Image and recipe:
http://foxeslovelemons.com/asian-noodle-salad-jars/

Spicy Tuna Cakes

A great alternative to a floppy tuna sandwich and a packet of crisps. These savoury cakes are lovely cold or great with a big salad or coleslaw.

Image and recipe:
http://nomnompaleo.com/post/95254921458/paleo-lunchboxes-2014-part-2 

Sesame Peanut Noodles

This recipe from Nigella, uses the quick egg noodles and some fresh vegetables for a hearty lunch.

Image and recipe:
http://www.nigella.com/recipes/view/sesame-peanut-noodles-83

Savoury Muffins

The kids will love these in their lunch box. They have courgette, carrot and cheese so make a lovely change from the normal sweet muffins. You can add ham and bacon as well, if you want to make them a bit meaty.

Image and recipe:
http://mylovelylittlelunchbox.com/2015/02/05/savoury-muffins/ 

Chicken Pesto Noodles

Snixy Kitchen makes this for her child with a spiralizer, but if you don’t have one you can always use a vegetable peeler of julienne cutter. Then just add pesto and chicken.

Image and recipe:
http://www.snixykitchen.com/2014/07/07/chicken-pesto-zucchini-noodles-introducing-omiebox/ 

Cauliflower Nuggets

Jamie Oliver would be proud! These nuggets from Sweet As Honey have a great crunch and are much better for you than any chicken nugget you’ve eaten. Made with cauliflower, broccoli, they’re diary free too. 

Image and recipe:
http://www.sweetashoney.co.nz/cauliflower-tots/ 

Lentil, Spinach and Walnut Salad

This salad looks lovely and fresh and uses yoghurt, rather than a fattening mayonnaise to bring it altogether. You can make the salad the night before and then mix in the yoghurt al desco. 

Image and recipe:
http://food52.com/recipes/27751-peter-miller-s-lentils-folded-into-yogurt-spinach-and-basil

Spring Rolls

These are brilliant for pack lunches as will stay fresh when refrigerated. You can add prawn, salmon or even beef to Spring Rolls but we’ve chosen these ones from Minimalist Baker with quinoa and cashew dipping sauce. You won’t be falling asleep in the afternoon with these light, but filling bites.

Image and recipe:
http://minimalistbaker.com/quinoa-spring-rolls-with-cashew-dipping-sauce/

Miso, Sweet Potato and Broccoli Bowl

This takes a bit more commitment than some, but easy to make a larger patch and eat over a few days or have the night before with a nice tuna steak and save some for the next day. 

Image and recipe:
http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2013/10/miso-sweet-potato-and-broccoli-bowl/