Take Me Out to the Ballgame: Six Easy Packable Lunches for Your Next Family Outing
Make your family outings even more memorable this summer with easily packable lunches. To keep these meals fresh and safe, use frozen vegetable bags or ice inside a cooler or a sealable bag and store away from direct sunlight. Whether you’re taking a trip to the beach, amusement park, or national parks, you can keep your kids happy and full with these easily packable meals.
Asian Fried Rice
Make a version of fried rice as healthy as you like. If you use brown rice, low-sodium soy sauce, and load the rice with the family’s favorite vegetables, you will have a healthy hit on your hands. Add egg, edamame, chicken, or any other protein your family enjoys for a packable lunch that will provide sustenance to last the entire afternoon. Use disposable chopsticks to add to the fun.
Chicken Salad Sandwich
Each family has a favorite chicken salad recipe. Whether you prefer a traditional mayo-based chicken salad, or a lighter cranberry and walnut chicken salad, it is an ideal family outing meal. Use fresh bread, such as Klosterman Baking Company thin wheat buns, and separately pack the salad and bread. Then assemble them when ready to eat, to ensure the best sandwich possible. Add a small package of nuts and put them in last for that crunchy and smooth combo.
Chili
Chili is a household favorite for most families, and each has their favorite recipe which works for all ingredient preferences. You can make a meatless chili, a turkey chili, or a traditional beef-based chili. Whichever is a favorite in your house, this is easily stored and shared wherever you go. Keep a thermos ready for sustenance after a long day of hiking or swimming.
Cold Pasta Salad
All you need is pasta and vegetables for this easy recipe. To add flavor, use Italian dressing or pesto. For the vegetables, include anything that is in season such as squash and cherry tomatoes. You could also add chicken if your family enjoys lean-protein. And you might even consider using leftover grilled vegetables from the night before. It’s a great way to clear out the cupboard before a long trip.
Soup
The brilliant aspect of soup for a family outing is you have a choice of warm or cold based on the season. Soups are easily stored in a thermos that will maintain the temperature and integrity of the soup for hours. You might consider a refreshing fruit soup in the summer, or a hearty and filling bean and vegetable soup in the winter. All you need are some plastic cups to pass around for this one.
Wraps
Wraps are incredibly versatile and easy to fill with leftovers and vegetables. You can fill your wraps with anything like a Greek wrap with tzatziki sauce, fresh vegetables and feta cheese for a cobb salad-inspired meal, or even turkey and ranch with lettuce for an old favorite. The options are endless, and they travel well.
With these family lunches, your kids can eat when they are hungry for a more enjoyable day, and you will be kind to your wallet in the process to ensure more family outings in the near future.
Brooke Chaplan is a freelance writer and blogger. She lives and works out of her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She loves the outdoors and spends most her time hiking, biking and gardening. For more information contact Brooke via Twitter @BrookeChaplan. you can also connect with her on Google+, Facebook, LinkedIn and Pinterest.
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Danielle is the owner of Today's the Best Day. She strives to provide creative and uplifting content in order to enrich the parenting experience for women everywhere. Danielle hopes to help you and your family to make every day the best day! 
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