32+ Healthy School Lunch Ideas | Wholefully https://wholefully.com/school-lunches/ Fresh Family Meals - Made for Everyday Life Tue, 04 Jun 2024 13:36:58 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wholefully.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/favicon-150x150.png 32+ Healthy School Lunch Ideas | Wholefully https://wholefully.com/school-lunches/ 32 32 How To Make Any Berry Smoothie At Home https://wholefully.com/berry-smoothie/ https://wholefully.com/berry-smoothie/#comments Tue, 04 Jun 2024 13:36:54 +0000 https://wholefully.com/?p=54665 A delicious mixed berries smoothie is just seconds away when you blend up these ingredients. Use frozen fruit for a frosty treat any time. It’s hard to top the classic fruity tartness of a mixed berry smoothie! This beautifully-pink smoothie is a breeze to make, and it’s packed full of wonderful flavor and nourishing antioxidants. This mixed berry smoothie is infinitely adaptable because you get to choose what frozen berries make up your smoothie! Craft your perfect combination of strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries—or take a shortcut and used a mixed frozen berries from the frozen fruit section of your supermarket. Overhead of finished smoothie with fresh berries and milk.

What do I need for your mixed berry smoothie recipe?

In all likelihood, you already have everything you need in your kitchen! You’ll need:
  • Frozen bananas. The banana will up the fruity flavor, while also adding sweetness and creaminess.
  • Frozen berries. You can use whatever frozen berries that make you happy—strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, or a mix! If you head to the frozen fruit section at your local grocery store, you’ll probably spy a few bags of mixed berries. These are my favorite for this smoothie!
  • Milk. Any kind of milk will work—cow’s milk, soy milk, coconut milk, unsweetened almond milk. Whatever you have!
  • Plain Greek yogurt. Not only does yogurt make the smoothie even creamier, but it also gives it a boost of protein, so you aren’t hungry again 30 minutes after finishing your drink.
  • Honey or maple syrup. You may or may not need this one, depending on how ripe your banana is.
Read the post »]]> https://wholefully.com/berry-smoothie/feed/ 2 Italian Pinwheels with Cream Cheese Spread https://wholefully.com/italian-pinwheels/ https://wholefully.com/italian-pinwheels/#respond Wed, 15 May 2024 19:00:03 +0000 https://wholefully.com/?p=72095 Italian Pinwheels with Cream Cheese Spread are a perfect lunchbox treat or game day appetizer. These easy roll-ups can be made in just minutes—even the kids can help! Serving platter of pinwheel appetizers stacked with one on top showing all the spiraled layers inside. These Italian pinwheels are an absolute family favorite recipe! Packed with flavorful meats and cheese, these pinwheels work just as well as a prep-ahead school lunch and they do as a dish to bring to a potluck—everyone loves pinwheels! Our Italian pinwheels are fun to look at and have tons of Italian flavor that kids and grown-ups alike love to eat. Let's get rolling! Read the post »]]> https://wholefully.com/italian-pinwheels/feed/ 0 Best Baked Chicken Meatballs Recipe https://wholefully.com/baked-chicken-meatballs-recipe/ https://wholefully.com/baked-chicken-meatballs-recipe/#comments Tue, 14 May 2024 14:21:04 +0000 https://wholefully.com/?p=63773 These baked chicken meatballs are a crowd-pleaser. Serve them up over pasta, in sandwiches, or with a dipping sauce. Close view of baked chicken meatballs on a serving board, garnished with chopped fresh herbs. Chicken meatballs are a staple in my house. They’re easy to prep, quick to make, and they go with just about anything! Seriously, you can make these chicken meatballs and turn them into any meal you want. You can eat them as an appetizer, all by themselves, stuffed in a sandwich, tossed in some spaghetti—the list of possibilities is endless! The best part is that they’re super moist and practically melt in your mouth. Read the post »]]> https://wholefully.com/baked-chicken-meatballs-recipe/feed/ 4 Best Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie Recipe https://wholefully.com/peanut-butter-banana-smoothie/ https://wholefully.com/peanut-butter-banana-smoothie/#comments Wed, 17 Apr 2024 18:00:17 +0000 https://wholefully.com/?p=54345 Give yourself a boost with this peanut butter banana smoothie, loaded with protein and healthy fats. It is the perfect breakfast or snack! Close-up of finished smoothie with peanut butter drizzle and fresh ingredients around it. A peanut butter banana smoothie is a classic combo that you must have in your smoothie-making repertoire—especially if you have kids in the house! Kids love the sweet and nutty flavor of a peanut butter banana smoothie. It’s a must-have in every parent’s kitchen toolbox! The great thing about this smoothie for kids and grown-ups alike is that it is packed with so much protein, healthy fats, and other nutrients that you don’t need to worry about tossing in extra protein powder to make a nourishing, satisfying smoothie! Let’s get blending. Read the post »]]> https://wholefully.com/peanut-butter-banana-smoothie/feed/ 2 How to Make Instant Pot Coconut Yogurt https://wholefully.com/instant-pot-coconut-yogurt/ https://wholefully.com/instant-pot-coconut-yogurt/#comments Tue, 16 Apr 2024 17:42:13 +0000 https://wholefully.com/?p=32857 The very first time I dabbled with the dairy-free lifestyle was back in 2014. When my daughter was born, she was pretty quickly diagnosed with a Milk and Soy Protein Intolerance (MSPI, for short), meaning that even the slightest bit of cheese or tofu eaten by me would come through my breastmilk and cause her incredible stomach upset. Thankfully, most babies grow out of MSPI relatively quickly—Juni was done with it by her six-month mark—and go on to happily eat grilled cheese sandwiches. But that six months sans dairy really helped teach me something about my own body—it really functions better when I'm off the cow juice. Ever since I stopped eating dairy for Juni's sake, I've been very careful to limit my own intake—and that meant I started experimenting with dairy-free alternatives to my favorite dairy products. That's how I discovered the amazing versatility of cashew cream. And that's why I started making my own dairy-free coconut milk yogurt in my Instant Pot. Side angle shot of wooden spoon scooping coconut yogurt from an Instant Pot Making yogurt in the Instant Pot (dairy-free or otherwise) is so incredibly fool-proof. If you've ever been intimidated by making your own yogurt before, the Instant Pot is your answer. It makes it so hands off and so simple—it's honestly almost easier than just going to the store to buy premade coconut milk yogurt. And my gosh, can you save some serious cash by making your own yogurt at home—especially the dairy-free stuff. At our local grocery store, a five-ounce cup of coconut milk yogurt runs about $1.99. You can make an entire quart—32 ounces worth—of coconut milk yogurt in the Instant Pot for less than $4. It’d cost you $12.74 to buy that much pre-made! And when you go through as much yogurt as we do, that adds up fast. Another (huge) added benefit: you can control everything about your yogurt—the thickness, the tanginess, and most importantly to me, the probiotic levels. Most store-bought yogurts are barely fermented at all—some sources say that yogurt from the store can be fermented for as little as one hour! One hour does not get you much healthy bacteria, but you know what does? Using your Instant Pot to ferment for 24 hours or more. Yogurt that is fermented for 24 hours has more healthy probiotics per cup than any over-the-counter probiotic pill—we're talking billions of good guys helping to keep your gut happy! And it's way more delicious than popping a pill. Read the post »]]> https://wholefully.com/instant-pot-coconut-yogurt/feed/ 338 Strawberry Muffins Recipe https://wholefully.com/strawberry-muffins/ https://wholefully.com/strawberry-muffins/#respond Wed, 10 Apr 2024 17:01:01 +0000 https://wholefully.com/?p=74358 Bursting with juicy flavor, these Strawberry Muffins are perfect for lunch boxes or snack time. Try them with this easy-to-follow recipe!
A tea towel-lined bowl is filled with strawberry muffins and fresh berries.
These fluffy, bakery-style muffins are bursting with the flavor of Spring—ripe, red strawberries! This strawberry muffin recipe is a perfect way to use up some of the amazing in-season strawberries in your area. Strawberry muffins are a perfect on-the-go breakfast or snack. These muffins freeze beautifully—meaning you can bake up a huge batch of them and keep them on hand for those mornings when you are rushing out the door. Let's get baking! Read the post »]]> https://wholefully.com/strawberry-muffins/feed/ 0 English Muffin Pizzas https://wholefully.com/english-muffin-pizza/ https://wholefully.com/english-muffin-pizza/#respond Mon, 01 Apr 2024 06:17:00 +0000 https://wholefully.com/?p=77280 English muffin pizza is a kid-favorite school lunch & great make-ahead meal. You'll love these mini pizzas for their easy prep!
Top view of two mini pizzas in a bento-style lunch container with clementines and snap pea crisps.
Tired of the same old boring school lunches or after-school snacks? Look no further than English muffin pizza! This quick and easy lunch (or snack!) is a great way to get your pizza fix without all the effort. Plus, they are so easy to make that the kids can make them themselves (with some oven supervision). Read the post »]]> https://wholefully.com/english-muffin-pizza/feed/ 0 Iced Oatmeal Cookies https://wholefully.com/iced-oatmeal-cookies/ https://wholefully.com/iced-oatmeal-cookies/#respond Mon, 25 Mar 2024 06:57:00 +0000 https://wholefully.com/?p=77064 These Iced Oatmeal Cookies are a delightful bite of nostalgia! With cinnamon, vanilla, and molasses, these soft, chewy cookies are sure to be a new favorite.
Chewy iced cookies stacked high on a tray.
Iced oatmeal cookies are the ultimate treat that perfectly blend convenience, flavor, and nostalgia. The hearty texture of oats combined with a hint of spice creates a delicious combination of flavors that instantly evoke memories of home. With their chewy bite and comforting sweetness, these cookies make a fantastic addition to school lunch boxes or as an after-school snack, satisfying both kids and adults alike. What's more, they're a breeze to whip up, making them an ideal baking project to enjoy with the little ones, fostering quality family time in the kitchen. Whether you're relishing them solo or sharing with loved ones, these lightly iced oatmeal cookies are a timeless classic that never fail to delight taste buds and warm hearts. Read the post »]]> https://wholefully.com/iced-oatmeal-cookies/feed/ 0 Almond Flour Banana Bread https://wholefully.com/almond-flour-banana-bread-paleo/ https://wholefully.com/almond-flour-banana-bread-paleo/#comments Tue, 19 Mar 2024 10:00:32 +0000 https://wholefully.com/?p=49665 Never in the history of my grocery shopping trips have I ever purchased the correct number of bananas to get through a week. It doesn’t matter if I buy four bananas or forty, it always seems that at the end of the week we have exactly three speckled brown bananas left over, just asking to be made into banana bread. That’s all to say that I’ve made a lot of banana bread in my life! I’d say I make close to 30-40 loaves per year, and all that banana bread baking has made me into quite the banana bread connoisseur. To me, perfect banana bread must be: (A) super, incredibly moist (B) dense as all get out—this is not the time for a light and fluffy texture, and (C) intensely banana-flavored. So when I set out to make a grain-free, dairy-free, paleo banana bread recipe, it had an incredibly high standard to live up to! A hand lifts a slice of banana bread from a stack of slices. Luckily, dense quick breads like banana bread are the perfect introduction to paleo baking. The grain-free flours like the almond flour we use here lend themselves to dense, moist breads and are easy to find at most major supermarkets. Getting fluffy, grain-free sandwich bread is an experiment in more advanced paleo baking, but getting perfect paleo banana bread? That’s easy as can be!

How do you make banana bread paleo?

Making banana bread paleo is as simple as swapping out a few key ingredients. In place of the typical all-purpose flour (or whole wheat flour, in the case of our One Bowl Whole Wheat Banana Bread), we use grain-free and gluten-free almond flour and tapioca flour. In place of butter, we use melted coconut oil. And that’s it! Magically, your banana bread has become paleo and gluten-free. Read the post »]]> https://wholefully.com/almond-flour-banana-bread-paleo/feed/ 8 Pasta e Fagioli https://wholefully.com/pasta-e-fagioli/ https://wholefully.com/pasta-e-fagioli/#comments Wed, 13 Mar 2024 19:59:09 +0000 http://backtoherroots.com/?p=20209 Love the Pasta e Fagioli soup at Olive Garden? Now you can make a delicious copycat version at home with this easy recipe! Perfect for a cozy night in. Pasta e FaglioliPasta e Fagioli, translated from Italian as "pasta and beans," is a soup known for its hearty and comforting nature. It has been popularized in the United States thanks to the soup, salad, and breadsticks combo at Olive Garden—and now, we're going to show you how to make it at home! Get the recipe »]]> https://wholefully.com/pasta-e-fagioli/feed/ 14