Top 10 lunchbox ideas

Does the prospect of a limp shop-bought sandwich fill you with despair? Try whipping up something special at home and you’ll soon be excited to open your lunchbox again. These easy, varied recipes keep things interesting at lunchtime – take your pick and start planning your week of delicious meals.

Want even more healthy lunch inspiration? Learn how to pack a healthy lunch and get more advice on sugar, salt and portion sizes with our easy-to-follow guide. You can also find more kids’ recipes for every occasion in our family hub.

1. Giant couscous salad with charred veg & tangy pesto

Make this vibrant couscous salad for a healthy lunch option that will keep you powered until the work day’s end. Beetroot is rich in folate, iron, manganese and potassium, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

2. Barley couscous & prawn tabbouleh

Craving a hearty couscous salad to keep you full? A box filled with barley couscous & prawn tabbouleh could be the answer, or try our roasted veg & couscous salad for a vegetarian version.

3. Chicken tikka pasties

These chicken tikka pasties are a great portable lunch option. They keep well, and one batch makes 6-8 servings, meaning that you can cook them on a Sunday and have lunch sorted for the whole week.

4. Coronation chicken salad

Using leftover roast chicken is a great way to eat well and save money. Try this quick and healthy coronation chicken salad – or make sesame chicken noodles or chicken with Spanish-style butter beans.

5. Super-green mackerel salad

Eating mackerel at your desk might not make you too popular, but ,trust us, it’ll be worth it. This scrumptious super-green mackerel salad takes 20 minutes to prepare and is packed full of good stuff.

6. Masala frittata with avocado salsa

Protein-rich frittatas can help you through the afternoon – pop a slice of this masala frittata with avocado salsa into your lunchbox, or make a more traditional asparagus & new potato version with seasonal produce.

7. Sesame & ginger sushi bowls

Start with a layer of brown basmati rice, then add nutritious toppings such as avocado, shredded carrot and a punchy Asian-style dressing. Sesame & ginger sushi bowls may become your new favourite lunch!

8. Raspberry & honey flapjacks

Can’t make it through to lunch without a little elevenses? We know the feeling. Make these easy raspberry honey flapjacks using just five ingredients for the perfect mid-morning pick-me-up.

9. Vegan banh mi

Bored of traditional vegetarian sandwich options? Think outside the box and leave your egg mayonnaise or ploughman’s in the past. Our vegan banh mi is a great filling lunch option jam-packed with colourful veggies and cooked tempeh.

10. Salmon & chive bagel topper

Not had time to make anything the night before? This sophisticated salmon & chive bagel topper can be assembled in a flash with just a handful of ingredients.