The links below may be affiliate links, meaning I earn a small compensation at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure policy here. 

Now that we are home most days for lunches during the week, we are back to our regular reliance on lunch trays for quick and easy lunches. I have been putting together trays with all kinds of food for lunches for years. I have found it to be one of the simplest ways to give us all variety at lunchtime, stretch ingredients, and serve lunch in a way that is both fun and easy. 

Using this method for lunch trays can be especially great for homeschooling families! Our daily rhythm always includes a break for the kids before lunch (usually outdoors), and a break for me from the noise. I use this time to prep anything that needs to be cooked/blended/mixed, and then once the tray is assembled, I call everyone back and we eat together and continue with our lessons.

There are really no rules when it comes to making lunch trays, but I will share a few “tips” and recommendations that I have found helpful over the years. 

In addition to that, I put together a list of over fifty items that make a regular appearance on our lunch trays. Many of these things are staples in our kitchen, so it’s easy to keep them on hand for simple lunches. You can also find a free printable reference sheet with all the ideas together to make it easier to fill in any gaps when you’re putting together a tray, or thinking of what the “main” component of your tray could be.

50+ Easy Lunch Tray Ideas

I tend to think of our lunch trays in two categories– either there is a central main component, or the tray is more of a charcuterie style situation. 

I try to include something from each of the groupings below– a main item or several charcuterie items, a munchable, fruit and veg, likely something for dipping or spreading, and often, a small treat. Again, though, there are no rules. It just depends on what we have on hand.

For the tray itself, I have three trays that I use most often. Each are from IKEA, but I’ve linked some similar ones below with the recommendations. Occasionally I use a long wooden serving board instead of a tray, but its the same concept.

Having various sizes of bowls is also very helpful in containing wet items, as well as keeping items grouped together. I like to use larger bowls for the main dishes, and smaller ramekins for other components. We are also big fans of investing in local pottery, so that often shows up in our lunch trays too.

RECOMMENDATIONS

• Acacia Wooden Serving Tray
• 12″ Round Metal Serving Tray
• Set of 6 4″ ramekins (also useful in the Instant Pot)
• Small colorful serving bowls

As for actually serving the lunch trays, I don’t really micromanage the kids’ choices. The general rule is simply that everyone should choose a little of each category. Sometimes we eat from the tray, sometimes we use plates, and other times a paper towel is sufficient.

My hope is that these ideas will help you to simplify lunches, and that you will be able to take these ideas and make them your own! 

MAINS ::

• salad bar
• muffins (nutty blueberry, carrot raisin, raisin date walnut, chocolate zucchini, banana nut)
• tuna salad
• Sheetpan Nachos
• Homemade Pigs In A Blanket
• quesadillas
• Garlic Orzo w/ Bacon and Greens
• biscuits with jam/honey/egg (I like to make these smaller than normal, about 3″ biscuits, so we can have multiple biscuits with different combos)
• caesar salad
• Fruity Couscous (recipe in my cookbook)
• Healthy Homemade Banana Bread
• Quick & Easy Chicken Salad

CHARCUTERIE :: 

• salami
• deli meat
• pepperoni
• summer sausage
• chicken nuggets
• cheddar cheese
• brie
• goat cheese
• pimento cheese
• peanuts, almonds, pistachios, etc
• pickles
• olives

DIPS & SPREADS :: 

• ranch
• peanut butter
• yogurt
• chocolate hazelnut spread
• cream cheese & jam
• guacamole
• salsa

MUNCHABLES :: 

• veggie straws
• popcorn
• tortilla chips
• pretzels
• sourdough slices/toast
• multi-grain crackers
• rice cakes
• cheese crackers
• graham crackers
• chips

FRUIT & VEG :: 

• carrot sticks
• cucumber
• pepper slices
• green smoothies
• coleslaw (rainbow or easy coleslaw hack)
• apple slices
• banana
• orange wedges
• grapes
• pineapples
• berries
• pears
• kiwi
• melon

TREATS :: 

• dates
• yogurt pretzels
• gummy bears
• wafers & cookies
• chocolate peanuts
• canned peaches

PRINT A COPY OF THE LUNCH TRAY REFERENCE SHEET. 

MORE LIKE THIS ::

• Summer Lunch Ideas + Printable Menu
• Fall & Winter Meal Ideas, Plus Printable Menus

If you use this reference sheet or ideas to build your own lunch trays, I’d love to see them! Be sure to tag me, @thispilgrimlife on Instagram! Feel free to add more lunch tray inspiration and tips in the comments too!

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The post 50+ Easy Lunch Tray Ideas appeared first on This Pilgrim Life.

I’ve really enjoyed writing about adventuring with family this week. But, knowing where to go and what to pack is all well and good, unless you feel lost about what to pack to eat. Or what to eat when you get back home. 

I know how stressful it can be to figure out a lunch to throw together that everyone will enjoy (while also getting everyone ready to leave). Or to figure out a dinner to cook that doesn’t deplete your already low energy after an adventure. I’ve been there. Many times!

After years of adventuring with my kids every week during the spring and summer, I have a ready-to-go list of lunches and dinners that we rely on for adventure days. I put together an entire adventure day food plan for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Save this post to refer back to for easy meal ideas, and be sure to scroll to the bottom for the free Adventure Day Menu!

Adventure Day Food Ideas

BREAKFAST

Before we head out on adventures, I want to make sure that the kids eat a good breakfast that is going to fill my kids up so that they are not hungry as soon as we arrive at our destination. My kids eat cereal a couple times a week on other days, but if we are going to go hike, play, swim, or whatever, I encourage them to eat other options.

Our go-to’s are: 

• yogurt with granola & fruit or jam
• Instant Pot steel cut oats (1 cup oats, 3 cups water, 3 minutes on high pressure, natural release)
• eggs and sausage (from the freezer)
• smoothies and toast
• bagel or English muffin egg sandwiches

LUNCH

Just like breakfast, I know that if we are going to be “adventuring”, we are all going to need PLENTY of food that is FILLING and REFRESHING. Not only that, but the food also needs to be something that my kids WANT TO EAT. Otherwise, they’re not going to be interested in pausing their play time to eat something.

That said, I can’t be in the kitchen all morning packing a lunch before we head out. This is why I buy more “ready-to-go” foods once the weather starts warming up. Cheese sticks, salami, baby carrots, fruit pouches, granola bars, pimento cheese, meat sticks, fruit strips, and the like.

In addition, I try to spend a little time over the weekend prepping at least a couple of things we can take with us on picnics during the week. Hard boiled eggs, tuna salad, ranch, muffins, fresh salsa, pasta salad, etc.

If you want to see a full list of ideas, as well as our favorite picnic gear, you can check out my post: 30+ Healthy Grab & Go Picnic Ideas. 

DINNER

When I asked on Instagram about what one of your biggest struggles with food and adventure days, I heard from SO MANY that when you got home from adventuring, you were too tired and drained to want to do much of anything for dinner. BUT, most of us also can’t spend $30+ on take-out every time we head home. Or we just don’t want to.

Don’t get me wrong, I will totally spring for fast food occasionally. I do have another solution, though.

I put together a list of super, (SUPER), easy dinner ideas for any night you need them. (Of course, we need really easy dinners on more than just adventure days). 

The list is categorized by meals that you can prep ahead of time (the weekend before or morning of), meals you can pull out of the freezer and heat, and meals that come together quickly (promise!).

PREP AHEAD

• cook rice the morning of, or over the weekend, and have ready in the fridge to use for a quick fried rice dinner. 
• chop some root veggies and slice up some sausage, then toss it all together in a bag and put in the fridge. When it’s dinner time, simply transfer everything to a sheet pan, drizzle with oil, salt, and seasoning, and roast. (full recipe: Sheetpan Roasted Sausage and Root Veg)
• prep potatoes to be cooked for a baked potato bar. Wash the potatoes, and place on a trivet in the Instant Pot with a cup of water underneath. Use the delay start to set a cook time, or simply press start when you get back home. (most baking potatoes take 15-18 minutes on high pressure with a natural release)
• make a batch of Instant Pot 30 Minute Barbecue Chicken in the morning, or over the weekend. Simply reheat and serve with fries/chips and fruit for an easy dinner. (Alternately, you can cook a larger pork roast with barbecue sauce and freeze in dinner sized portions) 
• cook a beef roast or venison roast over the weekend to have delicious, hit-the-spot French dip sandwiches for an easy dinner
• combine everything to make lentil sloppy joes in the Instant Pot and use the delay start feature to have it ready when you get home. Or, make the mixture in the morning or over the weekend and just reheat. Serve with buns, or over rice for a healthy, inexpensive meal.
• the next time you make spaghetti, make a little extra and follow Naptime Kitchen’s instructions to freeze as a simple baked spaghetti. Pull it out of the freezer before your adventure and bake when you get home.
• Cook rice ahead of time (morning of, or weekend before), and make sure you have the ingredients on hand to make flavorful burrito rice bowls. Everyone can add their own toppings for a quick and easy dinner idea. (Alternately, use the recipe for Magic Burrito Pot from my cookbook for a similar dish)

FROM THE FREEZER

• potstickers (we always have these on hand from Costco)
• chicken nuggets (I found an organic version my kids love from Costco. We like to use our CrispLid to heat them, and then serve them with homemade ranch or barbecue dipping sauce. Add applesauce and baby carrots and you have a VERY easy meal!)
• black bean burgers (serve with sour cream/homemade yogurt and salsa)
• Instant Pot Chicken Pot Pie (this recipe makes enough for two 9×13 pot pies. They freeze and reheat wonderfully!)
• freezer soup (tomato soup, broccoli cheese, chicken and wild rice, spicy sausage and lentil… there are so many easy soups that freeze and reheat well!)

QUICK & EASY 

• Instant Pot Ramen Noodles + Egg Rolls (my ramen noodle recipe is so quick and easy, not to mention is a family favorite. Perfect with a side of veggie egg rolls from the freezer!)
• didn’t prepare rice ahead of time? That’s okay. This Instant Pot fried rice shortcut is done in 30 minutes.
• Instant Pot Garlic Orzo with Bacon & Greens(this one pot meal comes together quickly and is comfort food in a bowl)
• Quesadillas with chips & salsa (ingredients for quesadillas are easy to keep on hand, especially since you can add all sorts of leftovers to them! Pair them with chips and salsa, fresh fruit, or a green smoothie for an easy kid-friendly meal).
• Salad Bar (keep basics on hand– lettuce, toppings, dressings– and you can easily throw together a quick salad bar for a make-your-own-dinner kind of night. A salad bar can work for reluctant salad eaters too with a tasty homemade dressing and the ability to choose their own toppings– even toppings all eaten separately)
• Sheet Pan Nachos (nachos are a crowd-pleaser that come together quickly. Stick with a traditional version, or try the Taco Chicken Nachos from my cookbook)
• Breakfast for dinner (this is a go-to for good reasons. Eggs, frozen hashbrowns, easy Instant Pot grits, toast with jam, bagels…the options are many and kids can help make this dinner too)
• Green smoothies and popcorn(my kids love this dinner, and when served with some salami or deli meat, you have all the major food groups– fruit, veg, dairy, whole grains, protein!)
• Easy Tortilla Pizzas (this is a fun twist on nachos or quesadillas, and they’re fun to eat too)
• Charcuterie Board (who says charcuterie just has to be a lunch time thing? Ingredients to put together a filling and nutritious board can easily be kept on hand and spread out for a simple dinner idea)
• Hot dogs and applesauce (of course hot dogs had to be included… quick, easy, and supremely kid-friendly. Boost the nutrition by serving it alongside fresh fruit or applesauce, carrot sticks with ranch, or this easy coleslaw hack)
• Skillet Tortellini Bake (if you’re wanting something more filling after a day out of the house that is still easy to make, this dish is it. You could even cook the meat and pasta ahead of time to cut down the cook time– and effort– even more).
• Instant Pot box Mac’n’cheese(I always make box mac’n’cheese in the Instant Pot. It makes a very simple dinner with some frozen peas and bacon stirred in)
• Naan Bread Pizzas (personal pizzas without needing to worry about dough)

Free Printable Menu

Get all of these ideas in a printable to refer back to when you need them! Tape it to the inside of a kitchen cabinet, or tuck it in your planner for easy reference. The top half of the printable with help you with ideas for lunches on your Adventure Days, and the bottom half will remind you of all the easy dinner ideas mentioned above!

• Print the Adventure Day Menu

I hope these meal ideas and tips are helpful to relieve some of the stress from adventure days so you can get out more and enjoy more time outdoors together! Don’t forget you can check out the rest of the adventuring series on the Family Adventuring page. (What to keep in your car for adventures, a free Adventure Bingo printable, how to easily turn adventure days into learning days, and more!)

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The post Adventure Day Food Ideas & Free Printable Menu appeared first on This Pilgrim Life.

The links below may be affiliate links, meaning I earn a small compensation at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure policy here. 

For weeks now, I feel like I’m been in some sort of meal planning limbo…which is also feeling like a big rut. Summer is over and fall is here (rather abruptly, it seems), and even though I decorated for fall, we’ve started school, gone apple picking, and started eating pumpkin flavored foods, my mind was still struggling to transition to a new season when it came to figuring out what to eat.

Meal planning is a huge part of my weekly routine and how I simplify my otherwise rather busy/crazy life. Since I’ve been in this limbo, though, I have not been following my regular habit of planning lunches and dinners for the week.

THIS CHANGES NOW!

Part of what was holding me back was my plan to create new “master lists” for the season. If you haven’t created or used master lists before to help you plan meals, they can be a total game changer.

Rather than sitting and just trying to magically think of a list of meals that (1) sound appealing, (2) fit your diet, and are (3) mostly seasonally appropriate– this process can be frustrating and overwhelming when you can’t think of anything except Wendy’s or what you ate for dinner last week— a master list provides you with a bank of ideas that have been vetted and are right in front of you on paper (or a screen). 

I’ve used master lists for years, and between them and my Kitchen Essentials Checklist, my meal planning and grocery shopping are seriously streamlined. Of course, this doesn’t mean that my process will work perfectly for everyone, but I do think that having some meal lists ready-to-go can be extremely helpful. I’ve created several over the years, so in addition to the new Dinner Queue and Fall & Winter Lunch Menu, I will include the links to past master lists as well.

Fall & Winter Meal Ideas

My Dinner Queue and Lunch Menu pages are already in my bullet journal, washi taped to the pages right before my meal planning page. This makes it really easy to choose meals, but it is also great because it’s everything I need all together in one place– my master lists, my grocery list, and my meal plan. All tucked in my bullet journal that goes with me everywhere.

This is what works for me. You might have another system that you can tuck your Fall & Winter Dinner Queue into, or maybe this will be the first step in adding a little peace and simplicity to your meal planning routine.

The point is to have meal ideas ready to go and to reduce a little decision fatigue from your life!

Fall & Winter Dinner Queue

• PRINT THE BLANK FALL & WINTER DINNER QUEUE
• PRINT THE FILLED-IN FALL & WINTER DINNER QUEUE

There are two ways to use the new Fall & Winter Dinner Queue. You can use the blank version and fill in your own meal ideas in each category (freezer meals, low-prep dishes, comfort food, soup/stew/chili, sides, and meals for sharing). This would be a great option if you already have a lot of meal ideas that you really enjoy, or if your family has more dietary restrictions that require you to be more selective.

The second version is already partially filled in with meal ideas from my blog and my cookbook that are perfect for fall and winter. There is room in each category for writing in additional entries and meals your family loves. This is a great option is you want to start with a lot of ready-to-go meal ideas in each category! I’ve linked each of the recipes below in their respective categories so they are easy to find. I would suggest pinning this Fall & Winter Dinner Queue post, or even creating an easy link on the homepage of your phone for even easier access.

Another fun idea that I plan on doing this weekend is to get together with a small group of friends to share and swap favorite seasonal meal ideas. Make a pot of soup and grab some fresh bread, and fill out your Fall & Winter Dinner Queue together! So fun!

Meals on my Dinner Queue: 

FROM THE FREEZER ::

• Instant Pot Chicken Pot Pie
• Classic Meaty Lasagna
• Tortellini Skillet Bake
• Instant Pot Chicken & Wild Rice Soup
• Italian Meatballs
• Swedish Meatballs (coming soon)
• Instant Pot Jambalaya
• Instant Pot Hearty Chili
• Instant Pot Maple Pumpkin Chili
• Easy Homemade Stromboli
• Freezer Burritos
• Instant Pot Lentil Sloppy Joes

COMFORT FOOD ::

• Instant Pot Meatloaf
• Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore
• Instant Pot Beef Stroganoff
• Instant Pot Shepherd’s Pie
• Homemade Beef Enchiladas
• 30 Minute Skillet Chicken Parmesan

LOW-PREP/QUICK ::

• Sheetpan Sausage & Root Vegetables
• Fried Rice (Skillet or Instant Pot)
• Sheetpan Nachos
• Tastiest Easy Sliders
• Instant Pot Herb Chicken & Rice
• 30 Minute Barbecue Chicken
• Instant Pot Honey Mustard Ham & Pesto Sliders
• Homemade Pizza
• Instant Pot Ramen Noodles
• Skillet Chicken Pasta Carbonara

SOUP/STEW/CHILI ::

• Instant Pot Hearty Chili
• Instant Pot Maple Pumpkin Chili
• Instant Pot Spicy Sausage & Lentil Soup
• Instant Pot Chicken & Wild Rice Soup
• Instant Pot Sausage & Kale Soup
• Instant Pot Comforting Beef Stew
• Instant Pot French Onion Soup
• Instant Pot Loaded Cauliflower Soup

SIDES ::

• Instant Pot Collard Greens
• Roasted Butternut Squash & Apples
• Skillet Garlic Green Beans
• Roasted Brussel Sprouts
• Sautéed Garlicky Greens
• Brown Rice (Instant Pot or oven)
• Maple Brussel Sprouts & Bacon
• Rosemary Parmesan Squash Casserole
• Instant Pot Honey Ginger Carrots
• Instant Pot Cinnamon Apples
• Roasted Carrot Fries
• Instant Pot Cauliflower Au Gratin

HOSPITALITY ::

• Taco Night
• London Broil on a Cast Iron Griddle
• Whole Chicken (Instant Pot or oven)

Fall & Winter Lunch Menu

• PRINT THE FALL & WINTER LUNCH MENU

In addition to the Dinner Queue, I created a new lunch menu. After finding my Summer Lunch Menu so helpful all summer long, I knew I wanted to create a fall/winter version with more hot meals and different in-season vegetables.

The lunch menu is divided up into categories like the Dinner Queue– “bowls”, sandwiches/quesadillas, soups, from the freezer, and “more” recipe ideas.

The bowl category is probably the only one that needs a little explanation. The category has three elements: bases, toppings, and sauces. Start with a base (rice, pasta, potatoes, etc), add some toppings (vegetables, leftovers, cheese, cooked meat, etc), and finish with a sauce (ranch, salsa, yogurt, and so on). I’m most excited about this category because of how fun and versatile it is. I’m looking forward to trying a lot of combinations with my kids. The base would be easy to prep ahead of time to make assembling lunch quick and easy!

Just like the Dinner Queue, I linked the recipes below. There are fewer actual recipes in the lunch menu, though, because it’s meant to be a versatile, make-it-your-own menu. I suggest printing a couple of copies– one to put up in the kitchen (maybe on the inside of a cabinet door), one to tuck in your planner– and then also to save this post to get easy access to the recipe links.

LUNCH RECIPES ::

• Easy Tortilla Pizzas
• Sheetpan Nachos
• Garlic Orzo w/ Bacon & Greens
• Instant Pot Ramen Noodles
• Instant Pot Macaroni w/ Bacon & Peas
• 30 Minute Barbecue Chicken
• 10 Easy Homemade Salad Dressings
• 12 Easy Homemade Bread Recipes

LUNCH SOUPS ::

*all of these are Instant Pot recipes

• Creamy Tomato Soup
• (Extra Green) Broccoli Cheese Soup
• Butternut Squash and Apple
• Honey Roasted Carrot
• Loaded Cauliflower
• French Onion 
• Chicken Salsa
• Sweet Creamy Gnocchi
• Simple Vegetable Soup (recipe from Naptime Kitchen)

I hope that these new resources help you this fall and winter to simplify something we all have to do– EAT! Let these fall and winter meal ideas simplify your meal planning this season.

Also, if you use these new printables, I’d love to see how you’re putting them to use! Please tag me @thispilgrimlife so I can see. (This is always true for recipes you make too!) And if you find the Dinner Queue or Lunch Menu helpful, share them with your friends so they can put them to use too!

Sharing is caring! Don’t forget to pin and share. Thank you!

The post Fall & Winter Meal Ideas, Plus Free Printable Menus appeared first on This Pilgrim Life.