PICTURE: PEXELS/ LUNCH BOXES
The new school year is here and if you dread the daily lunch trade-off during break time at school, Johandre Grobler, Executive Chef, at ANEW Hotels & Resorts, has fabulous alternatives to bland sandwiches.
His five unique, no-reheating-required meals are simple to prep, budget-friendly and guaranteed to satisfy even the pickiest of palates.
Sushi-inspired tortilla wraps
- What you’ll need: Tortilla wraps, cream cheese, thinly sliced cucumber, shredded carrots, and smoked chicken or tuna.
- How to make it: Spread cream cheese on the tortilla, layer with veg and protein, roll it up sushi-style, and slice into bite-sized rounds.
- Why this is a great option: It is fun to eat, easy to customise and keeps fresh in a lunchbox.
Build-your-own mini tacos
- What you’ll need: Hard taco shells (the mini ones), shredded cheese, diced tomatoes, and cooked shredded chicken or beef (perfect if left over from your dinner the night before).
- How to make it: Keep ingredients separate in little containers, letting kids assemble their own tacos during their lunch break.
- Why this is a great option: It’s like a party in your lunchbox.
Savoury veggie pancakes
- What you’ll need: Grated courgettes, carrots, cheese, a bit of flour, an egg, and seasoning.
- How to make it: Mix everything into a batter, pan-fry into mini pancakes, and allow to cool before packing.
- Why this is a great option: Packed with veggies, easy to grab and munch, and they’re just as good cold as they are warm.
Cold pasta salad jars
- What you’ll need: Spiral pasta, cherry tomatoes, cubed cheese, diced ham, and a simple olive oil and lemon dressing.
- How to make it: Layer everything in a plastic cylinder jar, for easy transportation and mess-free eating.
- Why this is a great option: A refreshing twist on plain pasta that feels gourmet without the price tag and loaded with energy-fulling carbohydrates.
Sweet and savoury pinwheels
- What you’ll need: Puff pastry, Nutella, banana slices for the sweet option, or pesto, grated cheese and ham for the savoury.
- How to make it: Spread your filling of choice on the rolled-out puff pastry, roll it up, slice it into pinwheels and air-fry or oven-bake until golden and crisp.
- Why this is a great option: These freeze well, so you can make a batch and defrost as needed.
Compiled by: Maegan-Leigh Jacobs
First published by Food & Home
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