Lunchbox Ideas: Fiesta Chicken with Black Bean and Corn Salsa

Another Monday in August, another packed lunch idea. This week: fiesta chicken with black bean and corn salsa. Bonus: this is good warm or chilled - lets do this, Monday!

Ingredients (makes 8 lunches):

• 4 boneless chicken breasts
• 2 cans organic black beans
• 2 cans organic corn kernels
• 1 red onion, chopped
• 2 tomatoes, chopped
• cilantro
• 4 limes
• cumin
• chili powder
• salt and pepper

Directions:

1. season chicken with salt, pepper, cumin, and chili powder and grill or bake until internal temp is 165
2. while chicken is cooking, chop onion and tomatoes, drain and rinse beans and corn, and chop cilantro
3. combine beans, corn, onion, tomatoes, cilantro, and the juice of two limes to make salsa
4. scoop salsa into container, lay sliced chicken breasts over, garnish with more cilantro and a lime wedge

Lunchbox Ideas: GF Turkey & Kale Meatballs

With school right around the corner, I am trying to get back into the habit of packing lunches. We really lucked out - one of our neighbors is the cafeteria manager at the school down the road, and throughout the summer we could just throw a coverup over our suits and walk down there for lunch when I didn't want to cook. I've done a post on our packed lunches before (click here) but have recently started packing them for my husband and I, too. It really buys us a lot of weeknight time to already have that out of the way. I still pack the night ahead for the kids so its fun and fresh every day, but my husband and I will be eating the same thing all week.

Here's this past week's meal - GF turkey kale meatballs, brown rice pasta, roast brussels sprouts, pineapple/grapes, and various organic granola bars for an afternoon pick-me-up. All ingredients (including granola, excluding spices that I had on hand) came out to less than $25 - considering that we each spend about $10-$15 every time we buy lunch out, that is a huge savings, plus this is a completely "clean" meal. 

Here's the meatball recipe:

Ingredients

• 2.5 lbs lean ground turkey
• 1 cup gluten free oats, ground. (I try to eat flour free for the most part, but this also adds extra protein to meatball)
• 1 cup kale, finely chopped
• 5 cloves garlic, minced
• small chopped onion
• 1/2 cup fresh chopped parsley
• 1 teaspoon each salt, pepper, and oregano
• 2 eggs

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients by hand, mixing very well.
2. Form into 1 1/2 inch meatballs (should end up with around 50)
3. Place on greased baking sheets, bake at 350 for 30 minutes

I have a sauce recipe that I love and keep in the fridge for pizza nights, quick pastas, etc. but you could totally use any type of pasta sauce with these, OR just eat them plain.

And here's the link for the lunch containers we use:

Happy Monday!

Summer Lunch Ideas

Lunch is such a dreaded meal for me! When the kids are in the house with me, they want something cooked, and usually by lunchtime I still haven't done breakfast dishes. In an effort to make lunch more fun a few years ago (wow, time flies) we purchased some compartment storage containers, fun cookie cutters, toothpics, etc., and after our favorite ziploc containers were discontinued, we invested in these:




During the "school year" we do lunch out on Wednesdays and Fridays, since we are already out in town for the day. We have a lot of great local restaurants, and over the years they have gotten to know the kids and I so well that unless we are doing something different, we don't even have to "place" our order, they know what we like! On the other days, we try to eat in an out of the box style. Picnics on the floor, eating at the swingset, bringing lunch to Gram's house, basically anything that keeps me from having to wash a table and cookware. On those days, and on ALL summer days, I pack a fun lunch the night before, and we are good to go to the beach, pool, park, anywhere!
Here are some of the meals we have eaten in the past few weeks, and yes, we eat it cold, and they have never complained:
Whole wheat crackers, cheese slice, salt and vinegar green beans, and a PB apple sandwich

 Leftover whole wheat pizza, fruit, tortilla chips, and homemade guacamole

2 PB and apple sandwiches, a larabar (their favorite), cheese, and greenwise crackers 

Leftover pulled chicken, a mini cornbread muffin, and veggie dippers and homemade ranch 

Whole wheat waffle PB&J, hard boiled egg, and frozen berries 

Clif granola bar, pizza roll ups (ww tortilla, sauce, cheese, microwave 10 seconds, roll, and cut), veggies, and pretzels/m&ms dessert 

Ham and cheese skewers , fruit, annies bunnies/goldfish 

Cheese, leftover whole wheat alfredo and peas, red bell pepper (one of the only veggies that doesn't require bribery to eat), ranch to dip

Hope this helps bring some fresh inspiration to some of you! I would LOVE some new ideas from all of you! I'm already in the summer rut and it has barely begun!