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Healthy Meal Prep Lunch Ideas

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These healthy meal prep lunch ideas are perfect for lunch at work or home. Make them ahead of time and enjoy all week long.

25 healthy meal prep lunch ideas

Hi friends!

Lots of you have been asking for meal prep lunch ideas lately so ask and you shall receive! Last week when I launched my Mastering Food Prep course, I shared a lot about my flexible food prep method for lunches. I’m a big fan of prepping 1-2 proteins, 1-2 bases and 2-3 sauces and then mixing and matching throughout the week to make different lunches. You can find an example of 4 quick and easy meal prep ideas for work in this post.

While some people enjoy packing a different lunch every day, other people are looking for one recipe they can prep ahead of time and enjoy for lunch all week long. If you want to add some variety to these ideas you can make swaps like using rice as a base instead of lettuce, putting meat in a pita one day instead of on a salad, or making half the batch vegetarian and half with meat.

If you’re looking specifically for cold lunches, check out these Easy Meal Prep Cold Lunches for Work! And here are some Breakfast Meal Prep Ideas.

Healthy Meal Prep Lunch Ideas

meal prep chicken lunch

Meal Prep Lunch Ideas with Chicken

meal prep chicken lunch ideas
vegetarian lunch meal prep

Vegetarian Meal Prep Lunch Ideas

seafood meal prep lunch ideas

Meal Prep Lunch Ideas with Seafood

  • Spicy Tuna Roll Bowls via Iowa Girl Eats – Transform a can of tuna into something flavorful and exciting.
  • Tuna Quinoa Cakes via The Lean Green Bean – These are good warm or cold and can be eaten alone or on a salad.
  • Garlic Butter Shrimp via Well Plated – Make a big batch of these and pair them with pasta or rice or serve them over a salad.
  • Grilled Salmon Cobb Salad via Delightful E Made – Packed with flavor and protein, along with heart-healthy omegas!
meal prep lunch soup

Meal Prep Lunch Soups

quick meal prep lunch ideas

Lunch Meal Prep Ideas with Ground Meat

easy meal prep lunch ideas

Quick Meal Prep Lunch Ideas

Have a few minutes to actually make lunch at lunch time? Here are 4 quick ideas that come together in 5 minutes or less!

beef meal prep lunch

Beef Meal Prep Lunch Ideas

Did you see anything that caught your eye? I hope you found some new ideas to try. Pin this post for later to remind you.

These healthy meal prep lunch ideas are perfect for lunch at work or home. Make them ahead of time and enjoy all week long.

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

The Food Prep Course You Need

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Want to learn how to meal prep? In this Mastering Food Prep course, developed by a Registered Dietitian and mom of 3, you’ll learn the five steps to meal prep, how to find your food prep focus area, tips for flexible food prep and more.

Food prep course from a Registered Dietitian and mom of 3

Hi friends!

Today I am launching my brand new e-course called Mastering Food Prep. If you’ve been around for any length of time you know I’m a huge fan of food prep. I’ve been doing it myself for the past 10 years. I have written blog posts about it and even an ebook – The Ultimate Guide to Food Prep. But in this course, I take EVERYTHING I’ve learned over the past 10 years, all my best tips and tricks and put them in a course so I can teach you how to food prep.

Buy Mastering Food Prep!

In case you’re not sure whether this course is right for you, let me highlight what we cover in a few of the modules!

First, I want to tell you about one of the most important aspects of food prep – your focus area.

When I hear about food prep sessions that fail, it’s usually because people are too ambitious. They see some food prep on Instagram and they try to dive in headfirst and replicate exactly what someone else did….or they feel like they have to prep every single meal they’re going to eat in order for it to be worth their time.

NOT TRUE.

In my Mastering Food Prep course, I teach you how to find your food prep focus area and really zone in on what time of the day you struggle most with. Wouldn’t it be great to spend your food prep time really focusing on the area that will have the most impact on the week ahead?

Breakfast Meal Prep (or Snack Meal Prep)

breakfast meal prep, snack meal prep options

Food Prep Snacks

Here’s an example:

Say you’re a stay-at-home mom with 3 young kids. They’re not in school yet so you don’t have to rush out the door in the mornings and breakfast isn’t super challenging. The kids still take a nap so in the afternoon you typically have some time to get dinner put together or started so dinner doesn’t really stress you out. But snack time is challenging. You’ve got 3 kids who play hard all morning and then suddenly need a snack IMMEDIATELY. They also wake up from their nap starving and need to eat ASAP to stave off meltdowns. As a result, you’re either trying to prep a snack with 3 kids screaming or maybe you’re turning to store-bought snacks more often while wishing you had a better balance of store-bought and homemade.

What if you took an hour on the weekend to prep with a focus on snacks? You could make some pancakes, a batch of muffins and some bags of trail mix, plus some energy bars, PBJ & smoothies for the freezer?

If I were doing this exact food prep session, here’s how I would do it:

I’d turn the oven on and preheat the griddle. While they were heating up, I would mix up the muffin batter and pancake batter. Stick the muffins in as soon as the oven is hot and then make the pancakes. Once the pancakes are done, pull out the food processor and make a batch of energy bars and stick them in the freezer. Next, make a little assembly line to spread some peanut butter and jelly on several slices of bread and freeze them in a stasher bag. And finally, dump some fruit and milk into the blender to make a big batch of smoothies. Portion into glass jars and freeze. If you still have time, portion some cereal, pumpkin seeds and raisins into baggies for some homemade trail mix.

Healthy Meal Prep Ideas For The Week

healthy meal prep ideas for the week - quick snacks

Now you have several quick snack options that can be ready in just a minute or two.

  • Microwave a few pancakes and serve with a yogurt
  • Grab a muffin and serve with a cheese stick
  • Give them a bag of trail mix plus some fruit
  • Stick a smoothie in the microwave for 1 minute and serve with a handful of goldfish or crackers.
  • Microwave a PBJ for 15 seconds
  • Grab an energy bar they can eat straight from the freezer.

Can you see how this would make your life easier?

In Mastering Food Prep course I give you some tips for finding your food prep focus area and then walk you through 4 more examples just like this one, including an exact breakdown of how I would tackle each food prep session.

Another secret to a successful food prep session is proper planning. In Mastering Food Prep, I share my 5 step process for a successful food prep session. One of those steps includes using my prep planning template.

Meal Prep Ideas

food prep course planning worksheet
caption for image

In my food prep course I’ll teach you exactly how to use this planning template:

  • How to use your focus area to plan what you’re going to prep (Hint- it doesn’t have to be just dinner)
  • How to break down your list into every single thing you’re going to prep
  • Why breaking your list down into areas of the kitchen is important
  • What you can do to help your prep go more smoothly if your list has too many items in one single area.

Imagine heading into your weekend food prep session knowing EXACTLY what you’re going to prep and what order you’re going to do it in. How much more smoothly do you think it would go? Would it be less stressful than just walking into the kitchen and winging it, hoping to get a few things done?

And finally, let’s talk about lunch. Do you struggle with lunch? Are you eating out more than you’d like because the thought of packing lunch after dinner or in the morning is overwhelming? Are you tired of packing the same thing for lunch every day just because it’s quick and easy?

Work Lunch Ideas

healthy easy meal prep

What if you had some basic options prepped in the fridge that you could combine quickly in different ways?

Say you prepped grilled chicken, ground turkey, roasted sweet potatoes and quinoa and used those along with some pre-made sauces like bbq sauce and salsa to make 4 different lunches.

Meal Prep Ideas

work lunch ideas

Quick Lunch Ideas For Work

  • Add grilled chicken and quinoa to a bag of southwest salad mix and top with bbq sauce.
  • Mix ground turkey, quinoa and sweet potatoes with salsa. Pack a separate container of shredded cheese and pack some chips. At lunchtime spread the chips on a plate, top with turkey mix and cheese and microwave for nachos.
  • Toss the chicken in bbq sauce and serve it with a side of roasted sweet potatoes and a bag of steamed broccoli.
  • Mix ground turkey with a bag of coleslaw and a bag of frozen mixed veggies. Saute 5 min and top with soy sauce and sriracha.

Do you see how having a few prepped components can be helpful for throwing together lunches quickly? You don’t have to eat the same lunch every single day!

I give a few more flexible food prep examples in my Mastering Food Prep course and also talk about my 2×2 dinner prep method where you take 2 ingredients and use them in 2 different recipes so dinner doesn’t get boring!

If this information was helpful, you’ll love my Mastering Food Prep Course. For all the details about exactly what’s included, click the button below!

Buy Mastering Food Prep!
Want to learn how to food prep? In this Mastering Food Prep course, developed by a Registered Dietitian and mom of 3, you'll learn the five steps to meal prep, how to find your food prep focus area, tips for flexible food prep and more.

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Gluten-Free Buckwheat Pancakes

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This easy gluten-free buckwheat pancakes recipe is perfect for busy mornings. Packed with protein and fiber, they’re kid-friendly and reheat well.

gluten-free buckwheat pancakes

Hi friends!

Today I wanted to share these gluten-free buckwheat pancakes with you. I am a creature of habit when it comes to breakfast and can eat the same thing every day and be completely happy. Lately, my breakfast of choice has been these pancakes. I make a batch, which is enough for breakfast for 4-5 days and eat them topped with peanut butter and jelly. You may not be super familiar with buckwheat flour so let’s talk about it!

Is buckwheat gluten-free?

Yes! Buckwheat is naturally gluten-free. It is actually not wheat at all, it’s a seed, similar to quinoa and amaranth. It’s high in fiber and also contains minerals like magnesium and iron. Buckwheat flour can be found at many grocery stores or purchased online. It is often processed at facilities that also process wheat so if you need to avoid gluten, be sure to look for a certified gluten-free variety. I buy the Arrowhead Mills brand.

Buttermilk buckwheat pancakes

I’ve tested several versions of this buckwheat pancakes recipe and the key to fluffy buckwheat pancakes is buttermilk! No worries if you don’t have any on hand. It’s super easy to make- just pour your milk and add a couple of tablespoons of white vinegar and let sit for 5 minutes.

Are buckwheat pancakes healthy?

These are! They’re high in fiber thanks to the buckwheat flour and pumpkin, contain protein from the milk, eggs and hemp seeds and are low in added sugar. Perfect for a healthy, filling breakfast.

healthy, gluten-free buckwheat pancakes

Best mix-ins for buckwheat pancakes

Buckwheat has a mild flavor but I did find some batches to be a little bit dry. To fix that, I altered the recipe a bit to make them pumpkin buckwheat pancakes. The pumpkin flavor does not really shine through, it just adds necessary moisture to the recipe. Banana buckwheat pancakes would be another great option.

How to make buckwheat pancakes

You can make these pancakes the same way you make traditional pancakes. Gather your ingredients:

  • buckwheat flour
  • baking soda
  • hemp seeds
  • cinnamon
  • buttermilk
  • eggs
  • pumpkin
  • vanilla

Mix the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. In a small bowl combine the wet ingredients. Combine and stir until just mixed!

Gluten-free Buckwheat Pancakes Recipe

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Gluten-Free Buckwheat Pancakes

gluten-free buckwheat pancakes with eggs and strawberries
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These gluten-free buckwheat pancakes make a quick, healthy breakfast. They’re packed with protein and fiber, are kid-friendly and reheat well!

  • Author: Lindsay
  • Prep Time: 5 min
  • Cook Time: 10 min
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: serves 4

Ingredients

Scale

1.25 cups buckwheat flour, certified gluten-free if needed
1 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1/3 cup hemp seeds
1 tsp cinnamon
1 cup buttermilk*
1/2 cup pumpkin
2 eggs
3 Tbsp oil
1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, combine buckwheat flour, sugar, baking soda, hemp seeds and cinnamon. 
  2. Add remaining ingredients and stir until just combined. 
  3. Pour onto a greased griddle or pan and flip when bubbly. 

Notes

*To make your own buttermilk, simply add 2 Tbsp white vinegar to 1 cup of milk and let sit for 5 minutes.

These are so easy to whip up and reheat really well. I make a batch and then enjoy them for breakfast topped with peanut butter and jelly for several days during the week.

This easy gluten-free buckwheat pancakes recipe is perfect for busy mornings. Packed with protein and fiber, they're kid-friendly and reheat well.

Let me know if you try them!

Want more breakfast ideas? Try these:

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Vegan Red Lentil Curry

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This Vegan Red Lentil Curry is the perfect vegetarian dinner recipe. It’s spicy, full of flavor and easy to customize with your favorite vegetables!

two bowls of spicy vegan red lentil curry

Hi friends!

I’ve been making this spicy vegan red lentil curry recipe on repeat lately and I’m excited to share it with you! Curry is definitely one of my go-to quick meals when I don’t feel like cooking, especially vegetarian versions because they come together so quickly. I always have cooked lentils and a bag of frozen vegetables in the freezer for this Lentil Vegetable Curry. I’m also a big fan of these Shrimp Curry Noodle Bowls.

In today’s version, I use red lentils because they cook super quickly and the whole meal comes together in under 20 minutes.

Vegan Red Lentil Curry

vegan red lentil curry spicy

Let’s talk about the ingredients:

  • Garlic, ginger, onion and jalapeno – Saute these aromatics first to add depth and flavor. Minced fresh ginger is best for this recipe. For a less spicy version, leave out the jalapeno or kick it up even more with a serrano pepper instead.
  • Red curry paste, curry powder & turmeric – Adding even more flavor. I use hot curry paste but you could use mild.
  • Vegetables– a bag of frozen vegetables is the easiest option. I usually use a bag of frozen peas and carrots and then add some chopped cauliflower but you can use whatever combination of veggies you like – just make sure to chop them to a similar size.
  • Red lentils – A quick-cooking protein option
  • Broth and coconut milk – to help cook the lentils right in the pot.
  • Spinach and lime juice – to stir in at the end!

Vegan Red Lentil Curry Recipe

Here’s the exact recipe:

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Vegan Red Lentil Curry

spicy vegetarian red lentil curry
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★★★★★

5 from 1 reviews

This Vegan Red Lentil Curry recipe is the perfect vegetarian dinner. Spicy, flavorful and easy to customize with your favorite vegetables.

  • Author: Lindsay
  • Prep Time: 5 min
  • Cook Time: 15 min
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: serves 4

Ingredients

Scale

1 Tbsp oil
1/2 cup onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 jalapeno, minced (optional)
1–2 tsp minced fresh ginger (skin removed)
2 Tbsp red curry paste (i use hot but you can use mild)
1 tsp curry powder
1 tsp turmeric
3–4 cups chopped vegetables, fresh or frozen (i use 2 cups frozen peas and carrots + chopped fresh cauliflower.)
1 cup red lentils, dry
2 cups vegetable broth
1 can coconut milk
2 handfuls fresh baby spinach, optional
juice from half a lime
pinch of salt, optional

Instructions

  1. In a large pot/dutch oven, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, ginger and jalapeno and saute 1 minute.
  2. Add curry paste, curry powder, turmeric and vegetables and saute 3-5 minutes.
  3. Add red lentils, broth and coconut milk and bring to a boil.
  4. Reduce heat to simmer and simmer, stirring occasionally for 15 minutes.
  5. Stir in fresh spinach and lime juice. Taste and add a pinch of salt if desired.

Notes

Serve with rice!
Feel free to add cooked shrimp or chicken if desired.

This meal comes together quickly and the lentils will cook right in the pot!

This Vegan Red Lentil Curry is the perfect vegetarian dinner recipe. It's spicy, full of flavor and easy to customize with your favorite vegetables!

Let me know if you try this recipe!

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Top 25 Best Crockpot Recipes For Dinner

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Here are 25 of the best crockpot recipes to feed your family! Throw these slow cooker recipes together in the morning for an easy dinner on a busy night. Added bonus? Many of them can be made in the Instant Pot as well. 

Top 25 Best Crockpot Recipes

Hi friends!

It’s slow cooker season so let’s talk about some of the best crockpot meals! Although we’ve had a few spring-like days, we’re still deep into winter here in Ohio some I’m always on the hunt for some warm and cozy new recipes that don’t require a whole lot of work. We’re also a busy family of 5 with lots of after-school activities and there are many nights when healthy crockpot recipes come in handy! 

Best Healthy Crockpot Dinner Recipes

I reached out to some of my readers and asked for help gathering up some of their favorite crockpot recipes and I’ve got 25 delicious slow cooker recipes for you to check out today. Pick a few and add them to your upcoming weekly meal plans!

Best Crockpot Chicken Recipes

These are some of the chicken crockpot meals you’ll find! I’m always looking for new recipes to try with my chicken-loving family.

crockpot honey butter chicken

Honey Butter Crockpot Chicken

A simple combination of butter, honey, mustard and seasonings that turns into a magically delicious dinner in the crockpot!

Grab the recipe
slow cooker chicken shawarma

Slow Cooker Chicken Shawarma

Cook this yogurt-marinated chicken all day and then pair with veggies in a soft pita!

Grab the recipe!
slow cooker chicken enchilada casserole

Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Casserole

Cook the chicken in enchilada sauce, shred it up and layer with corn tortillas and cheese for an easy enchilada option!

Grab the recipe!
crockpot orange chicken

Crockpot Orange Chicken

For a healthy twist on this classic takeout recipe, try making orange chicken at home!

Grab the recipe
best chick thigh crockpot recipe

Best Chicken Thigh Crockpot Recipe

Everyone will love this juicy chicken recipe made with a simple sauce using honey, garlic and soy sauce!

Grab the recipe!

Best Crockpot Chili Recipes

If you’re looking for the best chili crockpot recipes, here are 5 you’ve gotta try, including a vegetarian option, a couple of chicken chilis and some classic award-winning chili recipes.

sweet potato chicken chili crockpot

Sweet Potato Chicken Chili {Instant Pot or Slow Cooker}

This Sweet Potato Chicken Chili can be made in the Instant Pot or slow cooker for an easy, healthy dinner. And the leftovers make the perfect packable lunch. 

Read more
best chili crockpot recipe

Best Chili Crockpot Recipe

A classic chili recipe that’s full of flavor and packed with protein and fiber.

Grab the recipe!
vegan chili recipe

Slow Cooker Red Lentil Chili

This vegan chili recipe is as easy as dumping everything in the crockpot and letting it cook!

Grab the recipe!
white chicken chili crockpot

White Chicken Chili

This Easy White Chicken Chili is the perfect lunch or dinner soup and a nice change from traditional tomato-based chili.

Grab the recipe!
best crockpot chili recipe - award winner

Best Crockpot Chili Recipe Winner

This chili has won multiple cook-offs so you know you’ve gotta try this award winner!

Grab the recipe!

Best Crockpot Soup Recipes

Think beyond the best crockpot chicken noodle soup recipes and try a few of these! Everything from chicken pot pie soup to lentil soup to classic potato soup.

slow cooker chicken posole

Slow Cooker Chicken Posole

This soup is packed with warm spices and has tons of flavor! Don’t skip the toppings when serving!

Grab the recipe!
chicken pot pie soup

Healthy Chicken Pot Pie Soup

All the comfort and familiarity of chicken pot pie in an easy soup version!

Grab the recipe!
crockpot detox lentil soup

Crockpot Lentil Soup

If you’re looking for a crockpot vegetarian soup, this lentil version is a winner. Packed with veggies and plant protein!

Grab the recipe!
slow cooker creamy tortellini soup

Slow Cooker Creamy Tortellini Soup

Veggies, Italian sausage and cheesy tortellini equals comfort in a bowl!

Grab the recipe!
best crockpot potato soup recipe

Best Crockpot Potato Soup Recipe

A lightened up version of potato soup that is still full of flavor!

Grab the recipe!

Best Beef Crockpot Recipes

If you’re looking for the best beef crockpot recipes you’ve gotta try these! Everything from beef sandwiches to pot roast, there’s something for everyone!

slow cooker balsamic pot roast

Slow Cooker Balsamic Pot Roast

This Slow Cooker Balsamic Pot Roast is an easy, healthy dinner option for a busy night. Beef, potatoes and carrots cook all day for a balanced meal that’s ready when you walk in the door.

Grab the recipe!
crockpot meatballs

Slow Cooker Meatballs (Or Instant Pot)

These Crockpot meatballs can be made in the slow cooker or Instant Pot for an easy, healthy dinner. Serve them over noodles, on a sub bun or enjoy them plain!

Grab the recipe!
best beef stew crockpot recipe

Best Beef Stew Crockpot Recipe

The ultimate comfort food during a cold winter – tender beef, veggies and a flavorful broth!

Grab the recipe!
crockpot italian beef sandwich

Crockpot Italian Beef

5 ingredients are all you need to make a slow cooker version of this popular sandwich!

Grab the recipe!
best roast beef crockpot recipe

Best Roast Beef Crockpot Recipe

Tender meat and veggies in a delicious gravy that just requires 15 minutes of prep time!

Grab the recipe!

Healthy Crockpot Dinner Recipes

Here are some more of the best healthy crockpot meals ever for you to try. Remember that a lot of slow cooker recipes in this roundup would also make great freezer meals!

crockpot mojo pork for tacos and nachos

Crockpot Mojo Pork with Cuban Black Beans

This pork is perfect for making tacos, nachos or burrito bowls!

Grab the recipe!
crockpot balsamic pork roast

Crockpot Balsamic Pork Roast

Cooked in honey and balsamic vinegar this pork is fall-apart tender when it’s done!

Grab the recipe!
slow cooker ravioli lasagna

Slow Cooker Ravioli Lasagna

Shortcut your lasagna making by skipping the long noodles and trying this version with ravioli!

Grab the recipe!
crockpot tuscan chicken breast

Crockpot Tuscan Chicken

Spend 10 minutes prepping this and enjoy a creamy chicken dish when it’s done! Serve over your favorite pasta! One of the best crockpot chicken breast recipes.

Grab the recipe!
best minestrone crockpot recipe

Best Minestrone Crockpot Recipe

Packed with beans and veggies, this soup will keep you full for hours.

Grab the recipe!

So there you go! Which ones will you add to your meal plan this month? You can find all the slow cooker recipes on my site here.

Here are 25 of the best crockpot recipes to feed your family! Throw these slow cooker recipes together in the morning for an easy dinner on a busy night. Added bonus? Many of them can be made in the Instant Pot as well. 

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Healthy Black Bean Brownies

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These Healthy Black Bean Brownies are kid-friendly, full of fiber and perfect for a snack or dessert!

healthy black bean brownies

Hi friends!

I’m excited to share the best black bean brownies with you guys today. To be honest, I would actually call these black bean bars since they’re not overly sweet and full of protein and fiber unlike traditional brownies, but people searching for this type of recipe want brownies, so that’s what we’ll call them! If you’re looking for healthy brownies without the beans, my Gluten-Free Sweet Potato Brownies are a longtime favorite around here.

If you’re a longtime reader, you know putting beans, lentils and veggies into baked goods is one of my specialties! Looking for some other kid-friendly snacks? Try these:

I’ve been getting requests for a muffin or bar recipe using black beans for several years now and I’ve always worried the bean taste would be stronger and more noticeable than white beans so I’ve avoided them. But I’m here to tell you that the beans are totally hidden in this recipe! If you didn’t know they were in there you would never guess. 

best black bean brownies

Baking with Beans

So what are the benefits of baking with beans? It’s an easy way to add protein and fiber! You can also use pureed beans to replace some of the butter in recipes for cookies and other baked goods. I tend to puree whole beans, lentils etc into my baked goods but you can also by things like chickpea flour and experiment with replacing up to half your wheat flour. You’ll be adding fiber, protein and other nutrient like B6, potassium, zinc and antioxidants.

Vegan Black Bean Brownies

This particular recipe uses 2 eggs. To make them vegan, try replacing the eggs with flax eggs. One flax egg = 1 Tbsp ground flax + 3 Tbsp water. Mix and let sit 5 min before using. Be aware that this may change the texture of the recipe a bit.

Gluten-free Black Bean Brownies

It’s super easy to make these black bean brownies gluten-free. The only thing you need to replace is 1/3 cup flour. I’ve had success using a 1:1 gluten-free blend like King Arthur Measure for Measure (aff link). I’ve also made this recipe by just leaving the flour out. The taste is great, they’re just a little more crumbly. 

healthy black bean brownies

Black Bean Brownies Recipe

Let’s review the ingredients you’ll need for this recipe:

  • Black beans – I’d look for no-salt-added or rinse them after draining
  • Eggs
  • Oil – I use avocado oil because of it’s mild flavor
  • Maple syrup- You could probably replace with white sugar but I’ve only tested using maple syrup
  • Vanilla extract – Adds important flavor!
  • Flour – I use white whole wheat flour. I tried making these flourless but think a little bit of flour really helps keep them from being too crumbly. 
  • Baking soda
  • Pinch of salt
  • Cocoa powder- I use Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa Powder
  • Chocolate chips – either mix throughout or sprinkle on top before baking

Here’s the official recipe:

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Healthy Black Bean Brownies

healthy black bean brownies with chocolate chips
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★★★★★

5 from 5 reviews

These Healthy Black Bean Brownies are kid-friendly, full of fiber and perfect for a snack or dessert!

  • Author: Lindsay
  • Prep Time: 5 min
  • Cook Time: 15 min
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 12 brownies 1x

Ingredients

Scale

1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained (approx 1.75 cups)
2 eggs
1/3 cup oil (I use avocado oil)
1/3 cup maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 cup flour (I use white whole wheat)
1/3 cup cocoa powder (unsweetened)
1 tsp baking soda
pinch of salt

1/3 cup chocolate chips

Instructions

  1. In a food processor, combine black beans, eggs, oil, maple syrup and vanilla and process until smooth.
  2. Add flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt and process until just combined.
  3. Pulse in chocolate chips or save to sprinkle on top.
  4. Spoon into a greased or lined 9×9 baking pan.
  5. Bake at 375 for 14-15 minutes.

Notes

If you don’t have a food processor, you should be able to use a high-powered blender!

Thanks to a food processor, these come together super quickly!

These Healthy Black Bean Brownies are kid-friendly, full of fiber and perfect for a snack or dessert!

Have you ever baked with beans? 

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

 

 

Simple Chicken Marinade for Meal Prep

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This simple chicken marinade for meal prep will quickly become a favorite. Easy and flavorful, perfect for batch-cooking chicken to enjoy all week long.

simple chicken marinade for meal prep

Hi friends!

Today I’m sharing one of my go-to food prep items. This simple chicken marinade for meal prep is one that I use weekly because it’s a quick and easy way to prep a batch of chicken that I can then use all week long.

For me, having prepped components like this chicken on hand is the easiest way for me to quickly get meals on the table for lunch and dinner. I eat this chicken in tacos, on salads, over rice, in wraps, on sandwiches etc.

I’ve been working on perfecting this for a while and I’ve found that this combination of flavors really works.

marinated meal prep chicken plated on salad with rice

Easy and Simple Chicken Marinade for Meal Prep

Here are the ingredients you need:

  • Oil – Any mild-flavored oil will work. I use avocado oil.
  • Lemon juice – freshly squeezed!
  • Cumin
  • Oregano
  • Paprika
  • Garlic powder – if you love garlic you could skip the powder and throw in a couple of cloves of freshly minced garlic instead.
  • Salt

That’s it! Just throw everything in a bag with the chicken, mix it up and let it sit in the fridge. One of the things I love about this marinade is that it uses very little liquid. It’s more like a wet spice rub.

If you’re looking for more marinade ideas, try these:

quick and healthy meal prep chicken marinade

What To Serve with Meal Prep Chicken

One of my favorite things to make along with this chicken is rice. If you’re tired of plain rice, here’s how I’ve been making mine lately:

Saute 1/2 cup red onion and 2 cloves garlic in a little oil in the instant pot. Add 1 cup brown rice and 1.25 cups water or broth. Cook 16 minutes. Quick-release. Stir in a squirt of lemon juice, 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley and a sprinkle of salt.

I also often make the topping mixture you see on the salad above – just chop some tomatoes, onion, cucumbers and red peppers and mix with feta. It would also be great with this Cucumber Tomato Salad.

How to Cook Meal Prep Chicken

Once you’ve finished marinating your chicken, the way you cook it is really up to you! It can be sauteed, baked, grilled, cooked in the air fryer etc. I typically cook mine in the air fryer because it’s quick and easy – I just throw it in at 400 for 8 min or so, until it reaches 165 degrees. But do whatever works best for you!

Here’s the recipe for the marinade:

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Simple Chicken Marinade for Meal Prep

meal prep chicken marinade
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This simple chicken marinade for meal prep will quickly become a favorite. Easy and flavorful, perfect for batch-cooking chicken to enjoy all week long.

  • Author: Lindsay
  • Prep Time: 2 min
  • Total Time: 2 minutes
  • Yield: serves 4

Ingredients

Scale

1 – 1.5 pounds chicken breasts (I buy thin-sliced or cut thicker breasts in half)
2 Tbsp avocado oil
2 Tbsp lemon juice, freshly squeezed
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp salt

Instructions

  1. Place chicken in a ziploc bag.
  2. Add oil and lemon juice.
  3. In a ramekin, add spices and stir to combine. Pour spice mixture into the bag.
  4. Toss and shake well, moving the chicken around with your hands to ensure the spices coat the chicken.
  5. Marinate at least 4 hours or overnight.
  6. Cook chicken as desired.

This simple chicken marinade for meal prep is sure to become your new favorite! Meal prep is one of the easiest ways to help prepare for a busy week. I share more tips, strategies and recipe ideas in my course Mastering Food Prep.

This simple chicken marinade for meal prep will quickly become a favorite. Easy and flavorful, perfect for batch-cooking chicken to enjoy all week long.

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Cheesy BBQ Meatballs

by 5 Comments

These Cheesy BBQ meatballs are ready in 20 minutes for a quick weeknight dinner that’s full of flavor. They’re kid-friendly and perfect for food prep.

cheesy bbq meatballs

Hi friends!

I’m excited to share this Cheesy BBQ Meatballs recipe with you guys. If you’ve been around awhile, you know we’re big fans of meatballs. Looking for some other options? 

Try these:

Meatballs in BBQ Sauce

These new meatballs with bbq sauce are sure to be a hit, especially with the kiddos! And they’re so easy to make. They even have carrots in them! I’ve found that carrots are the perfect addition to meatballs especially when you shred and then finely chop them. They blend in nicely and aren’t super noticeable especially when there’s a sauce.

These meatballs can also easily be gluten-free if you use gluten-free breadcrumbs. I use gluten-free panko breadcrumbs most recently but you can also use crushed rice chex, crushed GF crackers (Simple Mills works well!) etc. 

As far as which bbq sauce to use, that’s up to you! For a lower sugar option I love Stubb’s, but I’m a KC girl so KC Masterpiece always has my heart. 

cheesy bbq meatballs with oranges and broccoli

Cheesy Barbecue Meatballs Recipe

Let’s talk about the ingredients:

  • Garlic
  • Egg
  • Shredded carrots – I shred mine by hand and then finely chop the shreds
  • Breadcrumbs- I prefer panko-style, regular or gluten-free
  • Bbq sauce- choose your favorite!
  • Shredded cheese- I use colby jack but cheddar would also work
  • Ground turkey- You could also use ground beef or chicken

how to make barbecue meatballs

Once you mix all the ingredients in a bowl, simply use a cookie scoop to form 20-22 equal-sized balls, brush with bbq sauce and bake. I like to flip mine over halfway through and add a little more sauce.

If you’re not a fan of reheated meat, simply form into balls and stick the pan in the fridge so all you have to do is bake them when you get home.

Here are more detailed directions:

Print

Cheesy BBQ Meatballs

meatballs in bbq sauce
Print Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 2 reviews

These Cheesy BBQ meatballs are ready in 20 minutes for a quick weeknight dinner that’s full of flavor. They’re kid-friendly and perfect for food prep.

  • Author: Lindsay
  • Prep Time: 5 min
  • Cook Time: 20 min
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: serves 4

Ingredients

Scale

1 pound ground turkey
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 egg
1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs (regular or gluten-free)
1/2 cup shredded carrot, finely chopped
2/3 cup shredded cheese (colby jack or cheddar)
1 cup bbq sauce, divided
pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
  2. Place turkey, garlic, egg, breadcrumbs, carrots, cheese, salt and 1/3 cup bbq sauce in a bowl and mix until well combined.
  3. Use a cookie scoop to form into 20-22 equally sized balls and place on a cookie sheet (I line mine with aluminum foil and spray with oil or use a Silpat.)
  4. Brush lightly with half the remaining bbq sauce and bake 9 minutes. Flip over and brush with remaining bbq sauce.
  5. Bake an additional 7-9 minutes or until internal temp reaches 165 degrees F.
  6. Optional – sprinkle additional cheese on top just before serving.

Notes

To make these gluten-free use GF breadcrumbs and BBQ sauce.

You can sub any ground meat for the turkey.

This recipe can be easily doubled.

So there you go!

Cheesy BBQ Meatballs

These Cheesy BBQ meatballs are ready in 20 minutes for a quick weeknight dinner that's full of flavor. They're kid-friendly and perfect for food prep.

Be sure to let me know if you try these!

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Gluten-Free Chicken Ramen Noodles

by 2 Comments

These Gluten-Free Chicken Ramen Noodles are perfect for a quick and easy weeknight dinner. Transform leftover chicken into a flavor-packed soup everyone will love!

gluten-free chicken ramen noodles

Hi friends!

If you’ve been around a while, you know I’m a big fan of food prep. I often prep lots of different components and then mix and match them during the week for easy meals. One of the things I cook almost every weekend is a batch of chicken. I most often use it for quick salads and rice bowls, but now that the weather is getting colder, I’ve started craving soup.

These gluten-free chicken ramen noodles have become my favorite way to repurpose leftover chicken into a new meal. It comes together quickly on the stovetop, has lots of flavor and a lot of the ingredients are pantry staples. The only one I need to make a special effort to buy is baby bok choy. While it’s a veggie I really enjoy, it’s not one I buy every week. So I try to make an effort to toss it in the cart every few weeks just so I can make this. 

Gluten-Free Ramen Noodles with Chicken

Let’s talk about the ingredients:

  • Cooked chicken- I use leftover chicken for this recipe to make it quick but you could also cook the chicken right before making the soup
  • Baby bok choy – you can sub spinach
  • Carrots – in this batch i sliced them thinly but you can also grate or spiralize them into noodles to help them cook more quickly.
  • Ginger – You can either use grated fresh ginger or a ginger paste from Gourmet Gardens (easy to keep in the fridge so you always have it on hand)
  • Garlic- for flavor!
  • Tamari – I use tamari to keep it gluten-free. You may sub soy sauce if you don’t need it to be gluten-free
  • Eggs – these are optional but if you like soft-boiled eggs you can boil them right in the same pot as the noodles.
  • Ramen noodles- my favorite gluten-free option is Lotus Foods Brown Rice ramen
  • Hot sauce – I love the jalapeno condiment from Yellowbird.

gluten-free ramen noodles with chicken

More recipes ideas:

If you like the sounds of this recipe, here are a few more you could try:

How to Make Gluten-Free Ramen

The key things to note about this recipe that make it gluten-free are the tamari and the noodles. Tamari is a gluten-free sub for soy sauce which is commonly used in ramen recipes and not all ramen noodles are gluten-free so just make sure to check if you use a brand besides Lotus foods. Also, check to make sure your broth is gluten-free.

Here’s how you make it:

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Gluten-Free Chicken Ramen Noodles

easy weeknight ramen 3
Print Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 1 reviews

These Gluten-Free Chicken Ramen Noodles are perfect for a quick and easy weeknight dinner. Transform leftover chicken into a flavor-packed soup everyone will love!

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 Tbsp oil
  • 1 Tbps grated fresh ginger
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 cups baby bok choy, chopped (approx 1 bunch)
  • 2 cups thinly sliced carrots (or spiralized)
  • 3 cups cooked chicken, diced
  • 1 quart chicken broth
  • 1/4 cup tamari (sub soy sauce if not gluten-free)
  • 3 blocks Lotus Foods Brown Rice ramen
  • 1/4 cup sliced green onions
  • 4 eggs, optional
  • hot sauce and salt to taste

Instructions

  1. In a Dutch oven or pot, heat oil over medium heat.
  2. Add garlic, ginger and carrots and saute 5 minutes.
  3. Add bok choy, chicken, broth and tamari and bring to boil.
  4. Reduce heat to simmer.
  5. Meanwhile, heat water for ramen in a separate pot. Bring to a boil.
  6. Add ramen and eggs if you want soft boiled eggs.
  7. Cook six minutes, then move eggs to ice bath and drain water from ramen.
  8. Taste broth and add hot sauce and salt as needed. Peel eggs.
  9. Put noodles into bowls, add broth mixture. Top with a soft boiled egg and green onions.

Notes

Can sub spinach for bok choy – just don’t add until the very end. You can also throw in some peas if you want.

If you don’t need gluten-free, use regular soy sauce and whatever ramen noodles you want.

This quick and easy meal is definitely a favorite in our weeknight rotation.

These Gluten-Free Chicken Ramen Noodles are perfect for a quick and easy weeknight dinner. Transform leftover chicken into a flavor-packed soup everyone will love!

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Turkey and Cheese Roll-ups

by 3 Comments

These Turkey and Cheese Roll-ups are made with crescent roll dough and are a super easy dinner. They’re kid-friendly and the leftovers can be packed for lunch!

warm turkey and cheese roll-ups with grapes and carrots

Hi friends!

Lately, I’ve been making these Turkey and Cheese Roll-ups several times a month for dinner, especially on the nights my oldest has swimming. They’re quick, easy and kid-friendly and I can prep them ahead of time so my husband can just stick them in the oven when I’m on my way home from dance class with my daughter. Then they can be eaten in the 15 minutes we have before it’s off to the next sports practice!

As an added bonus, my oldest doesn’t mind eating these cold, so I can pack the extras in his lunchbox the next day.

An Elevated Turkey and Cheese Sandwich

These roll-ups are basically just a next-level turkey sandwich. Instead of bread, it uses crescent roll dough, which everyone loves! Then you just need your favorite turkey and cheese to go on the inside. They cook quickly, they come out nice and warm with melty cheese and the whole tray disappears without much effort on our part!

They’re also a great size for feeding a crowd – similar to turkey and cheese sliders- so they make a great party appetizer!

What Cheese Goes with Turkey

You really can’t go wrong with any cheese here. My kids usually prefer mozzarella or colby jack. I personally like meunster. Swiss would also be good. You can use shredded cheese or cheese slices, whichever you prefer. 

turkey and cheese roll-ups side view

Variations

There are lots of ways to add variety to these:

  • Swap ham, or even roast beef for turkey.
  • Use pepperoni instead of turkey, brush with garlic butter and dip in marinara.
  • Thinly slice leftover roasted turkey, instead of lunch meat, and add some leftover cranberry sauce after Thanksgiving!

how to make turkey and cheese roll-ups

How To Make Turkey and Cheese Wraps

A few tips for assembly:

  • Buy the plain crescent roll dough. I just find it easier to work with a solid sheet vs the kind that’s already perforated for crescent rolls.
  • I usually cut the sheet in half. 
  • Layer your turkey and cheese slightly to one side and start rolling from that side. I’ve found that having the empty dough at the end of the roll-up helps it stick together!
  • Once you’ve rolled into a log, slice into the desired size and bake!

Print

Turkey and Cheese Roll-ups

turkey rollups 2
Print Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 1 reviews

These Turkey and Cheese Roll-ups are made with crescent roll dough and are a super easy dinner. They’re kid-friendly and the leftovers can be packed for lunch!

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6–8 slices of turkey
  • 1 cup shredded cheese (or 4 slices)
  • 1 tube crescent roll dough (solid sheet)

Instructions

  1. Unroll dough and cut in half.
  2. Layer turkey and cheese slightly to one side of the dough.
  3. Roll up starting at the side closer to the fillings.
  4. Slice and transfer to baking sheet.
  5. Bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes.

Notes

I sometimes add pepperoni with the turkey or just do pepperoni by itself. Ham would also work!

See what I mean by easy?! Let me know if you try these!

These Turkey and Cheese Roll-ups are made with crescent roll dough and are a super easy dinner. They're kid-friendly and the leftovers can be packed for lunch!

Need more easy kid-friendly dinners?

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

35+ Sweet Potato Dinner Recipes

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Need sweet potato dinner recipes? Here are 35+ recipes by category including slow cooker, with chicken or beef, vegetarian and more!

Sweet Potato Dinner Recipe Ideas

Hi friends!

Let’s chat sweet potato dinner recipes. Sweet potatoes are one of the most versatile veggies.

What are the Benefits of Sweet Potatoes?

So what are the health benefits of sweet potatoes? They’re technically a vegetable, but they’re also starchy so they are a source of carbohydrates as well. Sweet potatoes are a great source of Vitamin A and C so they’re great for your visium, immune system and more. They’re also high in antioxidants which help protect your cells!

As for the benefits of sweet potato skins, they’re high in fiber which is great for gut health. Adding fiber to your meals will help you feel full and satisfied for longer periods of time. Sweet potatoes contain both soluble and insoluble fiber.

How to cook sweet potatoes

If you need one quickly, you can just stab it all over with a knife and microwave for 5-6 minutes for a microwave baked potato. Or you can use a counter top appliance:

These can be used as a base for chili, shredded meats and more!

Sweet Potato Dinner Recipes

Sweet potatoes can also be spiralized and used as noodles. They hold their shape well and don’t get quite as mushy as zucchini noodles. But good old fashioned diced sweet potatoes are great in dinner recipes as well. If you’re looking to include them in your meals, here are some easy sweet potato recipes:

slow cooker sweet potato recipes

Crockpot Sweet Potato Recipes (or Instant Pot)

chicken and sweet potato dinner recipes

Chicken and Sweet Potato Recipes

beef and sweet potato recipes

Ground Beef and Sweet Potato Recipes (or turkey)

black bean sweet potato dinner recipes

Black Bean Sweet Potato Recipe

lentil sweet potato recipes

Lentil sweet potato recipes (or vegetarian)

easy sweet potato recipes

Easy Sweet Potato Recipes

If you saw anything that caught your eye, be sure to pin this post for later!

Need sweet potato dinner recipes? Here are 35+ recipes by category including slow cooker, with chicken or beef, vegetarian and more!

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Sweet Potato Chicken Chili {Instant Pot or Slow Cooker}

by 48 Comments

This Sweet Potato Chicken Chili can be made in the Instant Pot or slow cooker for an easy, healthy dinner. And the leftovers make the perfect packable lunch. 

sweet potato chili real simple

Originally published Jan 2018. Updated Oct 2021.

Hi friends!

Soup season is here! As the weather starts to get colder, I always crave soup and this Sweet Potato Chicken Chili is a forever favorite. I’m not a huge ground beef fan so traditional chili isn’t my favorite but I love this twist because it incorporates some of my favorites. I also love it because like a lot of soups, it gets better as it sits, so making a huge batch on Sunday and eating it for lunch or dinner all week long works out well. If you’re not a fan of red chili, try my White Chicken Chili!

Chicken Chili with Sweet Potato

Here are the ingredients:

  • Onion – White or yellow work best
  • Black beans – Look for a low-sodium can or give them a good rinse after draining
  • Sweet Potato – Leave the peels on! You won’t even notice them. And make sure to dice into evenly-sized chunks.
  • Corn – I usually use frozen corn but fresh or canned would also work
  • Diced canned tomatoes – I prefer the no-salt-added variety so I can salt the whole soup to taste
  • Spice – paprika, chili powder and cayenne can all be adjusted to your taste preferences
  • Chicken – chicken breasts or thighs work for this recipe
  • Broth – Use chicken or vegetable broth
  • Toppings – I top mine with avocado, cheese and tortilla chips

Chicken Sweet Potato Chili Slow Cooker

This is a great soup for pulling out your slow cooker. Just throw everything but the toppings in and give it a good stir. Then cook on low for about 6 hours, shred the chicken and serve with toppings

Chicken Sweet Potato Chili Instant Pot

If you’d prefer to make it in the Instant pot, cook time will depend on the thickness of your chicken. Start with 15 minutes and then check to see if the chicken shreds easily. If not, restart for a few more minutes.

 

Sweet Potato Chicken Chili

chicken sweet potato chili soup

I actually made this soup on a whim. Turns out it was so good that I immediately made a second batch to photograph and share with you guys. I’ve made it both in the Instant Pot and the slow cooker and it turns out great either way. The great thing about chili is that it’s pretty hard to screw up. Like most soups, you basically just throw what you have on hand in a pot, add some seasonings and serve. Plus you can easily adjust this recipe to make it fit your dietary preferences.

Turkey Sweet Potato Chili

In this sweet potato chili turkey or beef (ground) can be substituted for the chicken, however, I would cook the ground meat first before adding to the slow cooker or instant pot and reduce the cooking time in the Instant Pot to about 10 minutes.

No Bean Sweet Potato Chili (Quinoa and Sweet Potato Chili)

Not a fan of beans, no problem! You can still enjoy this chili. Just swap the black beans for cooked quinoa or farro! They’re both a great source of nutrients that will add protein and fiber just like beans do but may reduce the intestinal discomfort beans can cause some people.

Sweet Potato Chili Recipe Vegetarian

Another option would be to leave the beans and swap chicken for cooked quinoa or tempeh for an easy sweet potato chili recipe vegetarians will love.

Chicken Sweet Potato Chili

bean and sweet potato chili with chicken

Recipe for Sweet Potato Chili with Chicken

Print

Sweet Potato Chicken Chili

This Sweet Potato Chicken Chili can be made in the Instant Pot or slow cooker for an easy, healthy dinner. And the leftovers make the perfect packable lunch. 
Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.6 from 5 reviews

This Sweet Potato Chicken Chili can be made in the Instant Pot or slow cooker for an easy, healthy dinner. And the leftovers make the perfect packable lunch. 

  • Author: Lindsay
  • Prep Time: 10 min
  • Cook Time: 12 min
  • Total Time: 22 minutes
  • Yield: serves 4

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1/2 cup diced onion
  • 1.5 cups black beans (or one can drained)
  • 2 cups diced sweet potato
  • 1 cup frozen corn
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1 (14.5 oz) can no-salt-added diced tomatoes
  • 2 Tbsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp cayenne pepper, optional
  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • optional toppings: chips, cheese, avocado

Instructions

Combine all ingredients (except optional toppings) in the instant pot or slow cooker.

Option 1: Use the manual button on the instant pot to cook for 12-15 minutes depending on how thick your chicken breasts are. I usually let the pressure release naturally but if you’re in a hurry you can do manual release. If the chicken doesn’t shred easily, cook a few minutes more.

Option 2: Cook in the slow cooker for about 6 hours on low or until the chicken shreds easily.

Add toppings and serve!

Pretty easy right? Want more soup? Try:

This Sweet Potato Chicken Chili can be made in the Instant Pot or slow cooker for an easy, healthy dinner. And the leftovers make the perfect packable lunch. 

 

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

100+ Chapter Book Series for Kids {Kindergarten/1st Grade}

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Looking for the best chapter books for kids? Here are 100+ chapter book series perfect for preschool, kindergarten and first graders. Perfect for family read alouds or for beginning readers to try on their own.

chapter book series for kids

Hi friends!

I’ve been working so hard to put together the ultimate list of chapter books for kids! In the past year, we’ve started reading more kids chapter books with my older two (starting around the time they were 4 & 6) and I wanted to put together a list with a bunch of suggestions all in one place so we could work our way through all of them.

With the help of my friend Paige at Food 4 Tots, we came up with over 100 series for you to check out. HUGE thank you to Paige for all her help! For this list, we focused on series (at least 3 books) rather than individual books. These lists are more for read-aloud chapter books versus categorizing by reading level. 

I’m always looking for early chapter books to read to my kids so I wanted to put together a list that I could work my way through. If you’re looking for a printable version of this list, scroll all the way to the end!

Kid’s Chapter Books

preschool chapter books for kids

Preschool Kids Chapter Books (Series )

These children’s chapter books have larger print, not a ton of words and still have a fair amount of pictures. They’d be a great next step after picture books but should still hold the attention of a preschooler. They’re also great for beginning readers to read themselves! An asterisk (*) denotes diverse characters.

  • Narwhal and Jelly 
  • The Adventures of Sophie Mouse 
  • Frog and Toad
  • Wallace and Grace 
  • Poppleton 
  • Charlie & Mouse 
  • Sydney & Taylor 
  • Haggis and Tank 
  • Scaredy Squirrel 
  • Diary of a Pug 
  • Owl Diaries 
  • The Last Firehawk 
  • Owly 
  • A Friend For Dragon 
  • Princess in Black 
  • Billie B. Brown 
  • The Kingdom of Wrenly 
  • Yasmin* 
  • Mia Mayhem* 
  • Anna Hibiscus* 
  • Mr. Putter & Tabby 
  • Henry and Mudge 
  • Monster and Boy 
  • Billy and the Mini Monsters 
  • Mercy Watson 
  • The Critter Club 
  • King & Kayla* 
  • Dragon Masters
  • Amelia Bedelia 
  • Kung Pow Chicken 
  • Boris 
  • Little Bear

Beginner Chapter Books for Kids

kindergarten chapter books for kids

Kindergarten Kids Chapter Books (Series)

These kid’s chapter books are a little bit longer, still have some photos and most have bigger text and short chapters.  Great for read alouds and also for maybe 1st/2nd grade readers to read themselves. This is not an all-inclusive list. I’m sure I’ve forgotten some great ones. There also may be some on this list you’re not comfortable with for your kids. As always, do your own research! An asterisk (*) denotes diverse characters.

  • The Bad Guys 
  • Press Start 
  • Dr. Kitty Kat 
  • Isadora Moon 
  • Geronimo Stilton 
  • Ellray Jakes* 
  • Nancy Clancy 
  • Hey Jack 
  • Stink 
  • Ivy + Bean 
  • Zapato Power* 
  • Captain Awesome 
  • Magic School Bus Chapter books 
  • A to Z mysteries
  • Dory Fantasmagory 
  • Eerie Elementary 
  • Magic Tree House 
  • The Questioneers 
  • Zoey and Sassafrass* 
  • Notebook of Doom 
  • The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian* 
  • Ruby and the Booker Boys*  
  • Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol* 
  • Keena Ford* 
  • Alvin Ho* 
  • Tales from Deckawoo Dr 
  • Lighthouse Family 
  • Piper Green and the Fairy Tree 
  • Jasmine Toguchi* 
  • The Infamous Ratsos 
  • Teddy Mars 
  • Jigsaw Jones* 
  • Mindy Kim
  • Cam Jansen 
  • Nate the Great 
  • Heidi Heckelbeck
  • Jada Jones 
  • Kitty
  • Dog Man 
  • Captain Underpants 
  • Junie B. Jones 
  • My Weird School 
  • Flat Stanley 
  • Kitty 
  • Juana and Lucas*
  • Polly Diamond*

Chapter Books for First Graders

longer chapter books for kids

Longer Chapter Books For Kids

These books are a bit longer, have longer chapters and are mostly text. 

  • Hank the Cowdog 
  • Heartwood Hotel 
  • Tanglewood Animal Park 
  • Moomin
  • Judy Moody
  • Ramona Quimby
  • The Carver Chronicles* 
  • The Magnificent Makers *
  • Boxcar Children 
  • Henry Huggins
  • Gooney Bird Greene 
  • Mrs. Piggle Wiggle 
  • Whatever After
  • Pippi Longstocking 
  • Hotel Flamingo 
  • The Last Kids on Earth 
  • Toys Go Out 
  • The Mouse and the Motorcycle 
  • Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys
  • Little House on the Prairie

I hope this list was helpful! A few other notes:

kid's chapter books

I encourage you check your local library to borrow these books or to shop local/independent bookstores if you want to buy them! Check out bookshop.org to find one! If you’d like to find them on Amazon, I’ve put the first book in each series in my Amazon shop. Click the link below to shop my affiliate links!

Kid’s Chapter Books Amazon Shop

chapter books for kids printable list

If you’d like a printable list so you can keep track of the series as you try them, I’ve made one for you! Click the link below:

Chapter Books For Kids Printable List

If you want to see the inside of a book, check out the “look inside” feature on Amazon or search the name on google books for a preview. I’m also starting a chapter book highlight on IG where I do a quick flip-thru of the books on this list as I check them out from the library so you can look there too!

If you found this post helpful, please pin it for later!

Looking for the best chapter books for kids? Here are 100+ chapter book series perfect for preschool, kindergarten and first graders. Perfect for family read alouds or for beginning readers to try on their own.

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Kid Gift Ideas
{ages 4-7}

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Need kid gift ideas for ages 4-7? Here are toy ideas for everything from arts and crafts, building and educational toys to pretend play and outdoor toys. 

kid gift ideas ages 4-7

Hi friend!

I’ve been blogging for 10+ years now and have done my share of gift guides. I wasn’t planning to create any more but then I realized that in the kid gift department, I kinda left off at the toddler stage. Now that I have 2/3 of my kids out of toddlerhood, I thought I should put together a new kids gift guide for our current stage of life. So, here are some things my older two (who are about to turn 5 and 7) have been into the past couple of years!

If you need more ideas, check out my past gift guides:

As always, you know who you’re buying for. Some of these could be used by kids younger or older than this age group. This is also kind of a tricky age group because there are often two versions of things and a 4-year-old could do the “junior” version while a 7-year-old could do the regular version so be sure to consider that!

Remember that I’ve tried to provide links but there are often several similar versions of each idea out there so do some research if needed to find the best one for you! I also encourage you to shop from small businesses whenever possible. I’d love to see you take an idea from this post and purchase it from a small or local business! Or check FB Marketplace or your local selling groups and find one secondhand. Kids don’t need all brand new toys all the time!!

Most of the links below are Amazon affiliate links. That means that I make a small commission if you purchase through my link, at no additional cost to you. Thanks for supporting The Lean Green Bean.

arts and crafts for kids ages 4-7

Arts & Crafts for Kids

Let them express their creativity with all sorts of projects.

art supplies for kids

Art Supplies for Kids

Build a robust art station and let them create with anything that is out and available!

building toys for kids

Building Toys for Kids

These building toys for kids give them a chance to let their creativity shine!

games and puzzles

Games and Puzzles for kids

Games that are easy enough for kids but still fun for adults to play, plus puzzles!

educational for kids

Educational Toys for Kids

Let them research and learn, experiment and build! Plus you can never have too many books.

subscriptions for kids

Subscription Boxes for Kids

Monthly subscription boxes for kids- everything from cooking to magazines to coding and clothes.

active and outdoor toys for kids

Active and Outdoor Toys for Kids

Get them up and moving. There are so many options out there for some of these that you’ll have to do your own research to find a good one. But here are some general ideas, some with links, some without

imagination toys for kids

Imagination Toys for Kids

Look for all this stuff secondhand! I scored a great deal on a dollhouse in perfect condition plus a huge bunch of barbies. Around and after Halloween is a great time to look for dress up clothes.

Whew! There you go. Hope that helps give you some ideas. Would love to hear your favs in the comments.

Need kid gift ideas for ages 4-7? Here are toy ideas for everything from arts and crafts, building and educational toys to pretend play and outdoor toys. 

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

 

Best Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins with Flax

by 6 Comments

This Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins recipe with flax are lightly sweetened and packed with fiber. They make a great addition to breakfast, lunch or snack time for kids and adults!

Chocolate chip banana muffins recipe with ground flaxseed

Hi friends!

These are the BEST Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins with Flax. They are my latest muffin creation and they’ve been a big hit around here. You guys know that my Lentil Banana Muffins are my go-to, but I wanted to create an alternative for those times when you don’t have any lentils on hand or just don’t feel like getting out the food processor. In some banana chocolate chip muffins coconut oil adds a nice flavor. I have this Coconut Oil Banana Muffins recipe that made for years but I just rarely have coconut oil on hand anymore.

So here is my latest and greatest version, made with simple ingredients that you likely already have on hand:

  • Bananas – I usually use 2 medium-large ones, the riper the better to help sweeten the muffins.
  • Milk – Dairy or plant-based milk will work.
  • Oil – I use avocado oil because of its mild flavor.
  • Sugar – The recipe calls for only 1/4 cup. If your bananas are super ripe, you can easily leave it out.
  • Eggs
  • Vanilla and cinnamon – For flavor.
  • White whole wheat flour – In these banana chocolate chip muffins whole wheat flour (white whole wheat is preferable to regular whole wheat) adds fiber.
  • Ground flaxseed – Adds a dose of heart-healthy omegas 3 fatty acids and fiber.
  • Baking soda
  • Chocolate chips

Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins Recipe

banana chocolate chip muffins recipe with flax

Let’s talk about some possible varieties:

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins Vegan (Substitutes for eggs in muffins)

We don’t have any egg allergies but if you need to replace the eggs, flax eggs work well. Just combine 1 Tbsp ground flax with 3 Tbsp water, mix well and let sit a few minutes to thicken. You could easily use these in this recipe in addition to the ground flax you mix in. 

Banana Bread Nut Muffins

If you prefer nuts over chocolate, you could easily swap chopped pecans or walnuts for the chocolate chips in these muffins! Added bonus is that they will pair well with the ground flaxseed to add even more heart-healthy omega 3’s!

Recipe for healthy banana muffins

This recipe is great if you’re looking for a recipe for healthy banana muffins. It’s low in added sugar already but if you have bananas that are nice and ripe you could leave the sugar out. You could also swap chocolate chips for dried fruit like raisins to lessen the added sugar, or nuts to less the sugar overall. 

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins Gluten-free

Want to make these gluten-free? Use a 1:1 swap like King Arthur Measure for Measure gluten-free baking mix for the flour and make sure to get ground flaxseed that’s designated as gluten-free.

Here’s how you make them:

How To Make Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

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Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins with Flax

Healthy Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
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★★★★★

5 from 5 reviews

This Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins recipe with flax are lightly sweetened and packed with fiber. They make a great addition to breakfast, lunch or snack time for kids and adults!

  • Author: Lindsay
  • Yield: 12 large muffins 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup mashed bananas (approx 2 medium large bananas)
  • 2/3 cup milk (dairy or plant-based)
  • 1/3 cup oil (I use avocado oil)
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/4 cup sugar (can omit if bananas are extra ripe to reduce sugar)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1.5 cups white whole wheat flour
  • 1/2 cup ground flaxseed
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • pinch of salt
  • 1/3 cup chocolate chips

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl combine mashed bananas, milk, oil, eggs, sugar, vanilla and cinnamon and mix well.
  2. Add flour, flax, baking soda, salt and chocolate chips and stir until just combined.
  3. Spoon into greased or lined muffin tins. Recipe makes 12 large muffins (or 14-16 smaller muffins)
  4. Bake at 375 for 18-20 minutes.

Easy right?! Let me know if you try them!

And if you need more banana baking recipes try these:

Want more variations?

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins with Applesauce

You can swap applesauce for the oil in this recipe.

Recipe for Banana Chocolate Chip Bread

I haven’t tried it myself, but you should be able to bake this recipe in a regular loaf pan! It will probably take about 40 minutes to bake but I would start checking on it around 30.

This Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins recipe with flax are lightly sweetened and packed with fiber. They make a great addition to breakfast, lunch or snack time for kids and adults!

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Easy Pumpkin Bread with Chocolate Chips

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This Easy Pumpkin Bread will become your go-to quick bread recipe for fall. Just one bowl, a handful of ingredients and the perfect loaf every time. Customize with your favorite mix-ins or try baking two mini loaves and giving one for a friend!

Easy Pumpkin Bread - two mini loaves, on with chocolate chips

*Originally published Oct 2014. Photos updated Oct 2018*

Hi Friends!

Everyone needs a pumpkin bread recipe easy enough to make quickly in one bowl. I first created this recipe when I was almost 41 weeks pregnant with my son because believe me, if there’s ever a time you need easy recipes, that is it.

This recipe uses basic ingredients and comes out great every time. You need:

  • Melted butter – You can experiment with swapping some of the butter for oil or Greek yogurt.
  • Pumpkin puree – Be sure to use 100% pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling
  • Eggs
  • Brown sugar – White sugar would also work
  • Cinnamon and vanilla – for flavor! You can also add some ground ginger if you like the taste.
  • White Whole Wheat Flour – you can sub a 1:1 gluten-free blend if needed

I personally like making mini loaves because they’re just so much more fun to eat. You can also give the second one away to a friend or stick it in the freezer!

Easy Pumpkin Bread with Chocolate Chips

Two loaves of easy pumpkin bread with a cup of coffee

 

Chocolate chips are always a great mix-in option but if you want to change things up, you could try fresh cranberries! Or if you’re looking for a fall recipe that’s a bit more unique, be sure to try my Pumpkin Gingerbread Muffins!

But let’s get back to this bread shall we? Whip up a batch today and enjoy some with your morning coffee all week!

Here’s how you make it:

Pumpkin Bread Healthy Recipe

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Easy Pumpkin Bread with Chocolate Chips

Easy Pumpkin Bread
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★★★★★

5 from 7 reviews

This Easy Pumpkin Bread requires just one bowl and a few simple ingredients. It will quickly become your go-to fall recipe.

  • Author: Author: Lindsay L
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 45 minutes
  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 1 loaf or 2 mini loaves 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 Tbsp butter, melted
  • 1 cup pumpkin puree
  • 2 eggs
  • 2/3 cup brown sugar (I often use 1/2 cup)
  • 1.5 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1.5 cups white whole wheat flour
  • 3/4 tsp ground ginger (optional)
  • 1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional)

Instructions

  1. Combine butter, pumpkin, eggs and sugar in a large bowl and mix well.
  2. Add remaining ingredients and stir until just combined.
  3. Pour into greased loaf pan (or two mini pans) and bake at 350 degrees F for 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. (If using mini loaves, you may want to check on them sooner).

So there you have it, pumpkin bread quick and easy? One bowl, minimal effort, delicious result! Now let’s talk about some variations:

Pumpkin Bread Cream Cheese

The pumpkin bread cream cheese pairing seems to be very popular. While I haven’t tried this myself, I’d imagine this is the perfect recipe to add a cream cheese swirl to! Just take a packaged of room temperature cream cheese and beat until smooth, then add 1/2 cup powdered sugar and beat again. Swirl into loaf before baking. Or try these Pumpkin Cream Cheese Swirl Muffins from The Novice Chef.

Pumpkin Bread Vegan

This is likely not the best recipe to try to make vegan. If you really wanted to try, you could swap the butter for oil  or an oil/applesuace combo and use flax eggs but I think it would make it much denser. If you’re looking for a pumpkin bread vegan recipe, I would try this Vegan Pumpkin Bread from Well Plated.

Pumpkin Bread Gluten Free

You could easily make this recipe gluten-free by swapping King Arthur’s Measure for Measure Gluten-Free mix for the white whole wheat flour. I’ve done it myself and it’s great! OR you could try my other favorite pumpkin bread recipe: Gluten-Free Pumpkin Bean Bread or make these Gluten-Free Pumpkin Yogurt Bars.

Pumpkin Bread Healthy

This may not be the very best pumpkin bread healthy recipe you can find, it’s certainly not the worst. When I make it, I reduce the sugar from 2/3 cup to 1/2 cup. You can also experiment with replacing some of the butter with oil or Greek yogurt. I also always use white whole wheat flour vs regular white flour.

Pumpkin Bread Dairy Free

I don’t have a dairy-free pumpkin bread recipe for you but I do have these Dairy-Free Pumpkin Bars!

Recipe for Pumpkin Bread Pudding

I don’t have a recipe for pumpkin bread pudding specifically, but I do have this Instant Pot Gingerbread Bread Pudding (with an oven option) and you could easily add some pumpkin and take away the molasses and ginger!

This Easy Pumpkin Bread will become your go-to quick bread recipe for fall. Just one bowl, a handful of ingredients and the perfect loaf every time. Customize with your favorite mix-ins or try baking two mini loaves and giving one for a friend!

Now, who wants a slice?

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Easy Lunch Box Ideas For Kids

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Need easy lunch box ideas for kids? Here’s exactly what a Registered Dietitian mom packed her son for the first month of elementary school, with real life photos.

easy lunch box ideas for kids with photos

Hi friends!

A couple of months ago I was asked to share healthy lunch box ideas for kids so I put together a guide – A Month of Packed Lunches for Kids. It’s been a huge hit and given lots of parents quick and easy lunch box ideas for kids. The thing I’ve heard most frequently is that the pictures are SO helpful. A lot of you are visual people! In the packed lunch guide, there are 24 lunch ideas with photos. But I wanted to add more! So, since the first day of school, I’ve been photographing the lunches that I pack for my first grader. I wanted to share some of the real life lunch boxes examples.

How To Pack Easy Lunch Box Ideas For Kids

At first I was alternating between the Bentgo Fresh lunch box and a Lunch Bots lunch box (aff links) but I now use just the Bentgo. While I like that the Lunch Bots one is stainless steel, it’s not completely leakproof even with the silicone cup inserts and my son found it a little hard to get open.

I pack the Bentgo box every evening and store in the fridge. In the morning, I put it inside this Arctic Zone insulated lunch bag and add an ice pack. My son eats all of the foods I send cold/room temperature. Even things like quesadillas and tortellini that he’s used to eating warm at home. So far it hasn’t been an issue at all for him but some kids don’t like changes in temperature. In that case you could invest in a thermos or practice eating things at different temperatures at home so they get used to it. 

Photos of Easy Lunch Box Ideas For Kids

So here are some of the actual lunch boxes I packed. I snapped a photo every day and then just used Pixlr to remove the countertop in the background and make them prettier to look at. A few things to note-

  • Our school is not nut-free. 
  • Reminder that even if you kids prefer a similar lunch every day, there are ways you can add variety – try prezel sticks one day and twists the next. Try a peanut butter and jelly on bread one day, then on a sandwich thin or pita the next, etc!
  • There’s nothing wrong with hard-boiled egg yolks, my kids just don’t like them.

kids lunch box with applesauce, carrots, cheese stick, hard boiled egg and pretzels

#1 Quick Kids Lunch Box with hard-boiled eggs

  • Motts Applesauce
  • Carrots
  • Cheese stick
  • Hard-boiled eggs
  • Pretzels

kids lunch with granola bar, turkey sandwich, grapes and ants on a log

#2 Simple Kids Lunch Box with turkey sandwich

  • Quaker Reduced Sugar Granola Bar
  • Grapes
  • Turkey & Cheese on Brownberry Sandwich Thin
  • Ants on a log

kids lunchable with wheat thins, turkey, pepperoni, yogurt and cookie

#3 Easy Lunch Box Idea for Kids – Homemade Lunchable

  • Wheat Thins
  • GF Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie
  • Applegate pepperoni
  • Dietz and Watson Originals Organic Turkey
  • Roasted sweet potatoes
  • Chobani less sugar yogurt

lunch box with muffin, chicken sausage, strawberries, cottage cheese and crackers

#4 Nutritious Lunch for Kids with Chicken Sausage

  • Zucchini Apple Muffin
  • Simple Mills Almond crackers
  • Buttered Corn
  • Al Fresco Chicken Sausage
  • Strawberries
  • Cottage Cheese

kids lunch with banana bread, egg wrap, carrots with ranch, sun chips and grapes

#5 Quick and easy lunch box idea for kids with Pepperoni Egg Wrap

  • Simple Mills Banana Bread
  • Grapes
  • Sun Chips
  • Pepperoni and Cheese Egg Wrap
  • Carrots with ranch

lunch box for kids with baked beans, turkey cheese roll up, trail mix and dried pears

#6 Good lunch box idea for kids with turkey roll-up

  • Crinkle carrot, carrot ribbon, mini pepper
  • Wheat Thins
  • Dried pears (i get them at Costco)
  • Bush’s Baked beans
  • Turkey wrapped mozzarella cheese stick
  • Trail Mix with pepitas, Cheerios, raisins and mini marshmallows

 

kids lunch box idea - chicken nuggets, yogurt tube, cheese and crackers and fruit

#7 Lunch box idea for kids with chicken nuggets

  • Cheese and Triscuit thins
  • Canned pineapple
  • Kidfresh Foods Chicken Nuggets with ketchup
  • Stonyfield yogurt tube

easy kids lunch - quesadilla, chips and guacamole, hard boiled egg, clementine and fruit snacks

#8 Simple lunch box ideas for kids – Quesadilla

  • Tortilla chips with Good Foods avocado mash
  • Cheese quesadilla
  • Hard-boiled egg
  • Reduced sugar fruit snacks
  • Clementine

kids lunch box with peanut butter and jelly bagel, fruit salad, banana bread and cookie

#9 Good lunch box ideas for kids – PBJ Mini bagel

  • Peanut butter and jelly mini bagel
  • Cookie
  • Chomps beef stick + cheese stick + cherry tomatoes
  • Fruit salad
  • Banana bread

elementary lunch box with lentil banana muffin, turkey roll up, dates with peanut butter and graham crackers

#10 Quick lunch idea for kids turkey pickle wrap

  • Lentil Banana Muffin
  • Graham cracker
  • Turkey pepperoni pickle roll-up
  • Roasted broccoli
  • Dates with peanut butter

breakfast for lunch box with pancakes, egg waffle, banana carrot muffin and strawberries

#11 – Healthy lunch box ideas for kids – egg waffle and mini pancakes

grade school lunch box with pizza, ants on a log, wheat thins and kiwi

#12- Easy lunch box ideas for kids – mini pizza

So there you go – There are 12 of the first 30 lunch boxes I packed for my son. Want to see the other 18? Check out my Month of Packed Lunches for Kids guide!

A month of packed lunch ideas for kids, including 24 lunch box photos, tips for adding variety and nut-free ideas!

HERE’S WHAT’S IN YOUR PACKED LUNCH IDEAS FOR KIDS PDF:

  • Product recommendations – I share my favorite lunch boxes.
  • Prep ahead tips – A few tips for things you can prep ahead of time in the fridge and freezer to make lunch packing easier.
  • Lunch Packing Cheat Sheet – lunch ideas divided into protein, carbs, vegetables, fruits and snacks so you can mix and match from each category to pack a balanced lunch quickly.
  • 24 lunch box photos – full-color photos of bento-style lunch boxes showcasing different lunch item ideas
  • Nut-free product recommendations – If your school is nut-free, here are some peanut/tree nut-free snacks you can pack for your kiddos.
  • BONUS REAL-LIFE LUNCH BOXES PDF! (Where I share the other 18 real-life lunch boxes!

–> GRAB YOUR COPY OF THE PACKED LUNCH IDEAS FOR KIDS PDF <–

Need easy lunch box ideas for kids? Here's exactly what a Registered Dietitian mom packed her son for the first month of elementary school, with real life photos.

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Pumpkin Yogurt Dip

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This recipe for Pumpkin Yogurt Dip is made with just a few simple ingredients and is the perfect afternoon snack! Try it paired with cinnamon and sugar tortilla chips or graham crackers. 

Pumpkin Yogurt Dip with Cinnamon Sugar tortilla chips

*Originally published 9/2015. Photos updated 10/2018*

Hi Friends!

Pumpkin season is here again and lately we’ve been loving this Pumpkin Yogurt Dip, especially for an afternoon snack. It’s so easy to whip up and my kids love helping me make the cinnamon and sugar tortilla chips to go along with it. This may be evident by the heavy-handed amount of cinnamon on some of the chips 🙂

Recipe for Pumpkin Yogurt Dip

Pumpkin Yogurt Dip with homemade cinnamon sugar tortilla chips

Easy Pumpkin with Yogurt Idea

This Pumpkin Yogurt Dip recipe is SUPER easy! But if you’re pressed for time, you can make it even easier by pretty much just combining vanilla yogurt and pumpkin puree, topping with a little cinnamon and serve it with graham crackers.

To jazz things up a little, I made myself some cinnamon and sugar tortilla chips because they’re equally as easy and fun for dipping but you could also take a lesson from my two year old and just eat it straight out of the bowl with a spoon.

Here’s how you make it:

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Pumpkin Yogurt Dip

Easy Pumpkin Yogurt Dip
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★★★★★

5 from 1 reviews

This Pumpkin Yogurt Dip is made with just a few simple ingredients and is the perfect afternoon snack! Try it paired with cinnamon and sugar tortilla chips or graham crackers. 

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup plain yogurt (Greek or regular)
  • 3/4 cup pumpkin puree
  • 1/2 – 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/4 – 1/2 tsp ginger (ground,dried)
  • 1 – 2 Tbsp maple syrup

Instructions

  1. Combine ingredients in a small bowl.
  2. Stir to combine.
  3. Taste and adjust spices and sweetener if needed.

Notes

To make the Cinnamon and Sugar tortilla chips, cut whole wheat tortillas into triangles. Spray with oil or brush lightly with oil or melted butter. Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar and bake at 350 for 12 min, flipping once.

To make this even easier, start with vanilla yogurt and skip the vanilla extract and maple syrup.

Be sure to use two baking sheets if necessary for the chips so you don’t crowd the pan. I only put the cinnamon and sugar on one side but you could certainly repeat the process once you flip them over if desired.

Looking for more pumpkin recipes?

Pumpkin Bread with yogurt

Pumpkin Bread with Yogurt

If you’re looking for a great pumpkin bread recipe, try my Easy Pumpkin Bread. To make it pumpkin yogurt bread, try replacing half the butter with yogurt. 

Or if you want gluten-free pumpkin bread, try my Gluten-Free Pumpkin Bean Bread.
Gluten-free pumpkin yogurt muffins (or bars!) with peanut butter and hemp seeds

Pumpkin Yogurt Muffins

While I don’t have a recipe for pumpkin muffins with yogurt, I do have these Gluten-Free Pumpkin Yogurt Bars which are one of my absolute favs. You could probably try them as muffins if you wanted!

I also love these Pumpkin Gingerbread Muffins. The perfect transition from Fall to Winter.

 

This Pumpkin Yogurt Dip is made with just a few simple ingredients and is the perfect afternoon snack! Try it paired with cinnamon and sugar tortilla chips or graham crackers. 

And way back when I first wrote this post, I teamed up with some food blogger friends who also created some pumpkin recipes you should check out:

 

6 Healthy Ways To Eat Pumpkin from breakfast to dessert!

Paleo Pumpkin Pie
via Julia @ The Roasted Root

No Bake Pumpkin Pie Protein Bites
via Alexis @ Hummusapien

3 Minute Pumpkin English Muffin
via Arman @ The Big Man’s World

Pumpkin Breakfast Cookies
via Sarah @ Making Thyme For Health

Pumpkin Pancakes for One
via Kylie @ Yeah Imma Eat That

Go make them all right now!!!

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

The Ultimate List of Blueberry Muffin Recipes

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Looking for blueberry muffins recipes? Check out this list to find your new favorite, whether it’s paleo, gluten-free, vegan, cornbread or streusel-topped!

From scratch blueberry muffins

 

 

First here are some of my favs:

best blue berry muffins

Best Blue Berry Muffins

blueberry muffin recipes

Blueberry Muffin Recipes

Some of the best traditional blueberry muffins to try!

paleo blueberry muffins

Paleo Blueberry Muffins

Paleo options that are gluten-free and grain-free:

gluten-free blueberry muffins

Gluten-Free Blueberry Muffins

For those who follow a gluten-free diet. I personally love the King Arthur ones!

vegan blueberry muffins

Vegan Blueberry Muffins

Made without eggs or traditional dairy products. Reminder you can also sub flax eggs in many non-vegan egg recipes!

blueberry cornbread muffins

Cornbread Blueberry Muffins (Blueberry Cornmeal Muffins)

Some blueberry cornmeal muffin options:

blueberry streusel muffins

Streusel for Blueberry Muffins

Nothing better than a streusel topping on your favorite muffin!

See anything that caught your eye?

Looking for blueberry muffins recipes? Check out this list to find your new favorite, whether it's paleo, gluten-free, vegan, cornbread or streusel-topped!

Enjoy!

–Lindsay–

How To Make Roasted Lentils

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Want to learn how to make roasted lentils? Here’s an easy way to make delicious crunchy lentils (sweet or savory) that are perfect for a high protein, high fiber snack!

roasted crunchy lentils

Hi friends!

I wanted to share a quick little tutorial with you on how to make roasted lentils. I’ve been on a bit of a lentil kick lately since they’re one of my favorite plant-based proteins. I shared a couple of roundups: 15+ Easy Red Lentil Recipes and 20+ Green Lentil Recipes if you’re looking for ways to add more lentils to your meal plan. And if lentils give you a little intestinal trouble, learn How To Sprout Lentils to make them easier to digest. 

Today I want to show you how to roast them for a deliciously crunchy snack.

how to make roasted lentils

Roasted Lentils and Chickpeas

If you’re wondering why you should ever make roasted lentils, I understand…but roasted chickpeas are a popular snack right? I’ve got a whole post on How To Roast Chickpeas and I use them all the time in Roasted Chickpea Snack Mix. Lentils are similar, just smaller. This actually makes them perfect for toddlers and younger kids because they can still enjoy some crunch, without it being a choking hazard. 

Depending on whether you make your roasted lentils sweet or savory, they can be a great addition to a nut-free trail mix or sprinkled on a salad for some extra protein!

how to cook lentils

How To Cook Green Lentils

Before you can roast lentils, you have to know how to cook them. Here’s my method:

Add green lentils and water to a pot. I usually use a ratio of 1 cup lentils to 4 cups water because they triple in size when cooking. Cover and bring to a boil, then crack the lid, reduce heat and simmer for 12 minutes. Drain extra water. 

A reminder that you can cook the whole bag of lentils at once, then divide them into 1-2 cup portions and freeze until you need them. That’s what I do so that I always have them on hand to make my Lentil Banana Muffins.

roasted lentils snack

Roasted Crunchy Lentils

When you’re ready to make roasted lentils, spread a cup of cooked lentils on a paper towel. Let them dry for an hour or so.

Transfer to a baking sheet and spray lightly with oil. 

Add seasonings. For a sweet version, I like to use cinnamon and sugar For a savory version I’ve done cayenne pepper and paprika or garlic powder and salt. 

Roast, stirring occasionally. 

Let cool.  

Want to make roasted lentils in air fryer? You could! Just make a foil tray to hold them in the bottom of the air fryer. And make sure you leave enough room around the edges for the air to circulate.

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Roasted Lentils Recipe

how to make roasted lentils
Print Recipe

Want to learn how to make roasted lentils? Here’s an easy way to make delicious crunchy lentils (sweet or savory) that are perfect for a high protein, high fiber snack!

Ingredients

Scale

1 cup cooked lentils

spray oil

seasonings

Instructions

  1. Spread 1 cup of cooked lentils on a paper towel. Let them dry for an hour or so. Transfer to a baking sheet and spray lightly with oil.
  2. Add seasonings. For a sweet version I like to use 1/2 tsp sugar and 1/2 tsp cinnamon. For a savory version use whatever spices you like – I’ve done cayenne pepper and paprika, curry powder, garlic powder and salt, etc.
  3. Roast at 300 degrees F, stirring every 10-15 min, for 40-45 min.
  4. Let cool.
  5. Add to trail mix, salads etc or snack on them by the handful!

 

Notes

You could probably do 2 cups of cooked lentils on a large baking sheet at one time but I wouldn’t recommend more than that or you’ll crowd the pan and they won’t get crispy!

Pretty easy right?! These are perfect to snack on by the handful, or you can add them to snack/trail mix, sprinkle on soup or salad etc.

Want to learn how to make roasted lentils? Here's an easy way to make delicious crunchy lentils (sweet or savory) that are perfect for a high protein, high fiber snack!

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

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