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I’ve already talked a little bit about how Mr. Suburble has made a New Year’s pledge to brown-bag his lunches.
It’s an important one, because eating out multiple times a week isn’t good for anyone. It’s not good for your body (Hiya Sodium…) and it’s not good for you when your wife is adding up the lunch receipts.
I swear I’m not a nag. Just a bit of a nanny-goat at times.
When I got the chance to showcase some great on-the-go meals in a #CollectiveBias post- meals that Mr. Suburble would be happy to eat – I immediately thought about variety.
Mr. Suburble is not the type of guy who could eat a ham and cheese sandwich every day and still feel excited about his lunch. Let’s face it – not many of us could.
I went through this phase where I packed him cold cuts and crackers nearly every day. I thought I was in the running for an Awesomest Wife award. Look at how I’m cutting up these little sausage-thingies. And little slices of cheese! Isn’t this so cute? He must love these!
Nope. Even sausage-thingies get old. Especially after a week of non-stop garlic sausage and Ritz crackers.
What was I thinking?
I’ve learned that a bit of variety goes a long way in making a brown-bagged lunch more appealing than the take out.
The girls and I headed to Superstore to pick up some Blue Menu products; we got straight to work, whipping up some lunchy-loveliness.
First up: the Turkey Cranberry Roll-up.
- 1 pkg Blue Menu sliced turkey breast
- 1 pkg Blue Menu Whole Grain Tortillas
- Blue Menu Plain Cream Cheese
- Dried Sweetened Cranberries
- Spread cream cheese over a tortilla
- Cover tortilla with turkey slices
- Sprinkle cranberries over turkey
- Starting at one side, roll up tortilla very tightly until it is a cylinder
- Cut the roll into four or five pieces
- Put into lunch container and send off with love!
I paired these roll-ups with a salad. I think they balance each other quite nicely!
Mr. Suburble and I are both huge tzatziki fans. Tzatziki is probably my favourite dip because it’s low-calorie (less than hummus… which was my go-to for a long time), and you can dip so many things in it!
And sometimes, I like to take some time when preparing our on-the-go snacks.
Especially when I’m packing them for the kids.
And are my kids picky when it comes to food?
Pretzels shaped like the alphabet!!!
I know. I had to spell SOMETHING! The nerd in me needed to make pretzel-art.
You can find these bad boys in the chips and pretzel aisle of Superstore. Just look for the Blue Menu label.
A few silicone muffin cups divide the container into a bright and colourful spread. Everything is neat and tidy… and I feel like the kids really like the presentation.
And so does Mr. Suburble. This is actually HIS snack; it’s not for the kids.
I’m doing my best to keep things happenin’ in the lunch kit.
How do you jazz up your bagged lunch? I’d love to hear your ideas!
27 comments
Jo-Anna
What a great looking lunch…Mr. Suburble is a lucky man! Love the recipe for the turkey wraps…doing this one for my kids!
Tara
Let me know how they like them. I know that I was a huge fan (may have sampled the wares while I was cheffing them up!)
Alex
My kids are the pickiest eaters on the face of planet and rarely agree on the same food. So packing lunches is like an Olympic sport. I’ve found that doing small finger food portions really helps. And I love the Blue Line Menu!
Tara
I don’t know. We could probably compare our kids and find that they’re pretty much the same people. 😉
Virginia Fynes
The silicon cups are a genius idea!! YOur lunch ideas look super yummy and healthy to me!
Tara
Thanks, Virginia! I love using those little muffin liners – they make everything so tidy!
Adrianne
It’s so true that variety is key! Time it takes is also huge. These are great quick ideas. And I have never seen alphabet pretzels before, I really really really hope it’s not just a Canadian thing, we need them!!
Tara
I agree – time is huge. If I know that I can whip something up in a short amount of time, I’ll do it.
Tara
My kids love those pretzels, actually they love all the Blue Menu pretzels (waffle and honey braids are a hit with them too). These look like great lunches! I have some healthy eating goals too like finding great ideas for the kids lunches and finding fun ways to get them to eat more fruit and veggies!
Tara
Oh, we’ve never tried the honey braids. I’ll keep my eye out for them next time we’re in the store.
Kimber
I love those little pretzels! They would be great fun for my toddler lunches and maybe even the hubby too!
Tara
Aren’t they so cute? I think I love the little letter pretzels more than the girls do!
Holly @ The Inspired Home
yum! I’m with Mr S, I’m a huge fan of tzaik sauce too (can NEVER spell that right!)
Tara
Oh, me neither. I almost always have to look it up! (But tzatziki is our go-to dip in the house!)
malia
OH my gosh… the pretzels are a must have! I am with Mr. Subrurble on bown bagging. I make my hubby’s lunch every day! Hope you got my letter. Just remembered. Have a great weekend!
Dani @ lifeovereasy
You are a really good wife. And mother! I have been making lunches for 1,000,000 years and I am kind of over it. My kid gets what she gets. If she’s lucky. Or else she gets her own lunch while I read the paper and complain about having to drive her to school. Just kidding! (Kind of! ) She is old enough to fend for herself, so no danger of starvation. But I do feel a little guilty sometime!
Tara
Hey, I get you. Sometimes I’m over it, and it’s only Wednesday. Mr. Suburble sometimes packs his own lunch, but the girls are too little to handle their own snacks. I’ve found that using the little silcone cups forces me to add some variety to their meals.
But yeah, when they’re old enough, they’re making their own snacks. It’s a life skill (or well, pretty close to one!)
Christine
Way to go on the lunch presentations Tara!!! Everything looks soooo yummy and FUN!!! I LOVE Blue Menu products, I always buy them. Soooo delicious!
Tara
Oh, thank you Christine! It’s nice when lunch has a bit of pizazz to it – even the big kid (the hubster) likes it when his lunch has some “Extra love in it.
Marilyn
My youngest brown bags it every day and I must admit, I am stuck in a routine when packing his lunch….but NO MORE!!!! You’ve inspired me to give his lunch some variety..thanks lady!
Tara
It’s so hard to avoid the rut, isn’t it? I’ve been trying to mix things up and so far, it’s been working.
Megan @ Lush to Blush
This is so cute. I want those pretzels!! I wrote a similar post here: http://www.lushtoblush.com/mason-jar-lunch-recipe/ , but instead of a brown bag, it’s a mason jar! 🙂
xo Megan, Lush to Blush
Tara
Aren’t those pretzels so cute? They’re a huge hit in our house!
Cyn
This all sounds so incredibly tasty! I love the ideas you’ve shared here. #client
Tara
Thank you so much, Cyn! Mr. Suburble was quite pleased with his lunch (especially the pretzels – everyone loves those pretzels!)
Bronwyn MayB
Those do look good! I need to be better at making lunches . I find a cup of cooked quinoa, some steamed spinach, and a Tb of Italian dressing is good for a quick throw-in-the-mike lunch meal.