NBC10Boston The HubToday Show - Quick & Easy, Nutritious Back-to-School, No-cook Lunch Ideas

Sue-Ellen Anderson-Haynes of 360Girls&Women® at NBC10 Boston, The Hub Today with Hannah and Kwani. Nutritious 'No-Cook" Lunches for Back-to-School

If you are a mom like me, you are always pressed for time with lots to do including making school lunches! I was happy to meet with the NBC10Boston, The Hub Today family a few days ago to demonstrate exactly how to combine foods that pack a great nutrient punch in no time!

Take a peek at these three lunch ideas below (with recipes) and watch the full TV segment here.

360Girls&Women®  at NBC10 Boston The Hub Today Show - Back to School Quick and Nutritious No-Cook Lunch Ideas

360Girls&Women®  Chickpea Caesar Wrap - taken from our  E.A.T. B.etter series™ eBook

All you need is

• 1-12 ounce container of no added salt chickpeas (BPA free can, box or glass), rinse and drain

• 1 small hess avocado - diced

• 1/3 cup croutons

• 1/2 cup finely chopped lettuce

• 3 tbsp vegan caesar salad dressing

• 1 pack of 6'' Whole grain tortilla (quinoa, corn, etc)

  
  

Directions

• In a bowl add the chickpeas, croutons, avocado and caesar salad dressing and mix well. Then add ~1/2 cup of this mixture to the tortilla, wrap it and place in fridge for overnight or directly in lunch box. Makes ~ 4 wraps.

  
  

More details

This lunch provides fiber, a type of carbohydrate, from the whole grain wrap, chickpea and avocado. It also provides fat from the avocado and dressing. Lastly, most of the protein comes from the chickpeas.

Add a serving of fruit and veggies to the lunch. I used finger foods like tangerines, sliced cucumbers and hummus for dip. I typically recommend fruit and plant-based milk for snack. I recommend soy milk (USDA Organic) as it is has a similar protein and carb profile to cow's milk. This lunch box is balanced in nutrients for the entire body!

360Girls&Women®  Chickpea Caesar Wrap -  Taken from our E.A.T. B.etter series™ eBook

Next, our 360Girls&Women®  TLT - Tofu, Lettuce and Tomato (better than a BLT and better for you) - taken from our E.A.T. B.etter series™ eBook

For this recipe you will need:

• 1 pack precooked and pre-seasoned organic tofu (found in the produce section of the grocery store)

• 1-2 leaf pieces of romaine or butter lettuce or any leafy greens

• 2 round slices of tomato

• 2 slices sourdough bread

• optional (vegan dressing of choice)

  
  

Directions

• Lay your bread out on a cutting board, on one slice place lettuce, tomato, sliced tofu then close the sandwich with the other bread. Cut in half and place directly in the lunch box and that's it! Makes one serving.

  
  

  Additional details:

  Tofu is a complete protein providing all 9 essential amino acids, in addition to plant nutrients like isoflavones. Tofu also contains healthy fat. Sourdough bread has gut health prebiotics and provides fiber, a carbohydrate. Make sure to add a fruit and veggie and a plant-based milk source and something fun like tortilla (whole grain) chips.

  
  
  
  

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  360Girls&Women TLT - taken from or E.A.T. B.etter Series™ eBook.

  Finally our 360Girls&Women® Almond Butter and Jelly ( Strawberry Preserves) Roll ups with carob taken from our E.A.T.B.etter Series™ eBook

  All you need is:

  • 2 slices whole grain bread of choice

  • 1 tbsp almond butter (no added salt or sugar) or a seed butter

  • 2 tsp strawberry preserves (no added sugar)

  • 1 tbsp of carob chips (similar to chocolate chips but it has no caffeine)

  • Rolling pin, knife

    
    

  Directions

  • On the counter or the cutting board place the two slices of bread apart. Cut the edges off. Roll them flat with a jar or rolling pin. Add the almond butter followed by the strawberry preserves. Sprinkle carob chips inside. Then roll the sandwich closed as pictured.

    Makes 1 serving.

    
    

    Additional Details:

    To boost protein content in the meal I added edamame. Vegetables also provide a small amount of protein, in addition to the almond butter. Fiber is found in the fruits, vegetables, nut butter and bread. Of course our fat is mainly provided by the nut butter - almonds which has 2-3x more vitamin E compared with peanut butter, a nutrients to support brain health.

    
    

    ****if your child's school has a nut allergy you can replace nut butters with sunflower seed butters, pumpkin seed butter or any seed butter - they also provide fat, fiber and protein.

    
    

    Let us know if you will give these lunch meals a try!

    
    

    

    360Girls&Women® Almond Butter and Jelly ( Strawberry Preserves) Roll ups with carob taken from our E.A.T. B.etter Series ™ eBook.

    
    

    

    360Girls&Women® quick and nutritious back-to-school lunch meals taken from our E.A.T. B.etter Series ™ eBook.

    
    

    
    

    
    

    Schedule a Discovery Call with 360Girls&Women® today and take the first step toward lifelong health! 

    Sue-Ellen Anderson Haynes, MS, RDN, CDCES, LDN, NASM-CPT, founder of 360Girls&Women® Award Winning and Nationally recognized nutrition and food expert and leading global expert in Gestational Diabetes. "What makes us different?"

    
    

    360 represents completion. At 360 G+W we provide personalized insight to help girls and women dramatically improve their wellbeing.​Our mission is to provide evidence-based information and services to help maximize a woman's complete health through the complete life-cycle - preventing, managing, and reversing certain reproductive and chronic illnesses- using nutrition as the foundation along with other innovative holistic practices. Read more.