Check out some of our nutritious family lunch ideas for you and your little ones!
We know it can be difficult to find quick lunch ideas so we have pulled together some of our favourite tried and tested family lunch idea that we love here at Early Start Nutrition.
Sandwiches and Wraps
Sandwiches and wraps are a great way to get children involved as they can choose their own fillings. You will also have lots of options to vary the breads that you choose. When planning your sandwich/wrap try to include a vegetable/fruit, protein and dairy food (filling or alongside).
Here are some of our favourite fillings!
- Egg, cucumber, tomato
- Peanut butter and banana
- Hummus, carrot, rocket
- Tuna, sweetcorn, cheese
- Falafel, hummus, peppers
Here are some ideas for your choice of bread (choice a variety of white and wholemeal (opens in new tab)):
- Check out our Chicken, pepper and avocado wrap recipe here (PDF, 345KB)
- Check out our Avocado and Tuna Quesadilla recipe here (PDF, 1MB)
Savoury Pancakes
Pancakes are a great lunch option! Your little ones can help with making the mixture and you can all choose your favourite toppings. All our pancake can be adapted to include vegetables that are in season. You can even top with yoghurt or keep some grated cheese to the side and use as a topping.
Here are some of our favourite recipes!
- Check out our Carrot and Sultana Spiced Pancakes Recipe (PDF, 70KB) or See the YouTube recipe video here (opens in new tab)
- Check out our Cheesy Courgette and Sweetcorn Pancake (PDF, 61KB) or See the YouTube recipe video here (opens in new tab)
Spiced Carrot and Lentil Soup
There’s nothing better than a bowl of steaming hot soup on a cold winter’s day! This spiced carrot and lentil soup is absolutely delicious and really simple to make. While it’s not a recipe to make during your lunch break, it’s a great one to make the night before. You could even freeze a couple of the portions for lunch the following week. Simply serve with bread or pitta.
Click out our Spiced Carrot and Lentil Soup recipe card here (PDF, 597KB) or click here for the full Youtube (opens in new tab) Video
Egg Recipes
Eggs are a good choice as part of a healthy, balanced diet. As well as being a source of protein, they also contain vitamins and minerals. Infants, children, pregnant women and older people should only have raw or lightly cooked hen eggs if they’re produced in the UK and approved by 1 of 2 recognised food safety assurance schemes. You can find more information on the NHS website (opens in new tab)
- Cheesy Mushroom Omlette (opens in new tab)
- Masala Frittata with avocado and tomato salsa (PDF, 536KB)
Tuna and Pea Pasta
This is the prefect recipe to fuel your afternoon. We love this recipe as it’s perfect hot or cold. Like all our recipes, it’s really quick to make and uses staples from your cupboard and freezer.
Click here for the Tuna and Pea Pasta recipe card (PDF, 466KB)
Vegetable Pastry Roll
We love this recipe as it’s perfect for using up any left over veggies. It is so adaptable as you can easily add your favourite fillings. We popped some salmon in ours but you could also add lentils. It is perfect for the whole family for a quick lunch. Just cut it into manageable fingers for your little ones.
Click here for the Vegetable Pastry Roll recipe card (PDF, 2MB)
More recipes coming soon!
In the meantime, visit our Youtube (opens in new tab) channel for more recipes and step-by-step video guides.