Adult lunchables will get you excited for lunch time! If you enjoyed lunchables as a kid, these adult lunchable ideas will be so nostalgic for you. But, instead of packing our containers with unhealthy, ultra-processed meats and other treats, we’re packing well balanced meal with protein, healthy fats, fiber, and energizing carbs.
In today’s post, I’m sharing three healthy lunchables for adults that are gluten free, grain free, high protein, high fiber, and packed with nutritious foods you can feel good about. Plus, I’m sharing my easy formula to guide you on making your own lunchable variations. The combinations are endless, which is why I love adult lunchables so much. You never get bored!
Why Adult Lunchables Are A Great Idea
There are many reasons homemade lunchables are a good idea. Here’s a few reasons I love making them:
- No Cooking. A true lunchable requires no cooking; otherwise, it would be considered meal prep. The whole idea behind a lunchable is that it’s easy, fast, and there’s no cooking involved. It should be something you can put together very quickly.
- Fast and Easy. Because there’s no cooking involved, you can put together an adult lunchable super quickly, which is perfect for those week’s you don’t have time to meal prep.
- Variety. These lunchables are like mini charcuterie boards with lots of variety (but healthier!). They’re also very flexible. You can add your favorite fruits and vegetables to munch on and add extra healthy treats to satisfy your sweet tooth. It’s an easy way to get a variety of foods and nutrients.
- Kid Friendly. If your kids are getting bored with their current lunch box setup, try giving them a homemade lunchable. Although, these are made for adults, you can easily make swaps to make them kid friendly.
How To Build a Healthy Adult Lunchable
My formula for building a healthy adult lunchable that’ll keep you full, energized, and satisfied all afternoon comes down to making sure you have a well-balanced meal. You’ll want to include the following in your lunchables:
- Protein. Including protein in every meal is crucial for keeping you full, balancing blood sugar, balancing hormones, and maintaining ideal muscle mass (which ultimately promotes a healthy metabolism). Some no-cook protein options include…
- Uncured Deli Turkey or Ham
- Uncured Pepperoni or Turkey Pepperoni
- Non-GMO Tofu
- Greek Yogurt
- Boiled Eggs (can cook in advance)
- Chickpeas
- Wild Caught Canned Fish
- Rotisserie Chicken (already cooked)
- Cottage Cheese
- Healthy Fat. Including healthy fats will also help to keep you full and keep blood sugar levels balanced (leading to less cravings). Healthy fats are also an important part of balancing hormones and contribute to better brain health.
- Olives
- Avocado (or pre-made guacamole)
- Cheese Sticks
- Cottage Cheese (fat and protein)
- Nuts and/or Seeds
- Nut Butters
- Hummus
- Fiber. In addition to keeping you full, fiber filled foods are a critical component to colon health and overall gut health. Including fiber with every meal with help to keep you regular and promote healthier digestion.
- Carrot Sticks
- Cucumber
- Bell Pepper Slices
- Apple Slices
- Pear Slices
- Berries
- Celery
- Cherry Tomatoes
- Healthy Carb (optional): Carbs are optional but they are a great way to boost your energy, especially if you need an afternoon boost. And, when paired with healthy fats and proteins, healthy carbs will have little impact on your blood sugar.
- Healthy Crackers (I love seed crackers)
- Gluten Free Tortillas (for making wraps, pinwheels, etc.)
- Any Fruit
- Overnight Oats
- Treat (optional): It wouldn’t be an adult lunchable with some sort of treat. Here are some healthy treat options you can include:
- Chocolate Squares
- Dates Stuffed with Nut Butter
- No Cook Energy Balls
- Popcorn (Lesser Evil is a great brand!)
Adult Lunchable Ideas
Here are three adult lunchable ideas you can put together in minutes! They’re healthy, well-balanced, and full of nutritious foods to keep you full and energized all afternoon.
- Recipe 1: I pair turkey and pepperoni with cheese and olives, pepperoncinis, and hummus with crackers to give you an Italian Deli Style Lunch Box.
- Recipe 2: Add cottage cheese to mini peppers and sprinkling with Everything Bagel seasoning is so delicious! I also add in some turkey for extra protein, store bought hummus with carrots and cucumber, and a stuffed date for a healthy treat.
- Recipe 3: Using gluten free tortillas, I made a simple wrap and sliced them into pinwheels to easily fit in my container. Paired with berries, celery, and peanut butter for fiber, fats, and protein.
Storage Tips and Container Recommendations
These adult lunchables don’t require any fancy containers and they’re pretty low maintenance when it comes to storage. Here’s a few tips for you.
- Storage: I like to prep about 3 days worth of these adult lunchables for an easy grab-and-go lunch option. Pick one lunchbox combo you like and prep 2-3 days worth. Then, pick another combo you like and prep 2-3 days worth once you’ve finished the first round. This way, you buy the ingredients you need for one bento box setup and you’re able to use all the ingredients before moving on to another lunch box combo.
- Bento Box Recommendations: I prefer glass bento box containers or stainless steel. The main thing is to make sure it has at leaast 3 compartments so you can separate the foods into sections.
More Healthy Lunch Box Ideas
If you’re on the search for easy, healthy lunch ideas you can take to school or work, here are a few of my favorites.
Healthy Adult Lunchables
Video
Equipment
- Glass Bento Box (optional)
- Stainless Steel Bento Box (optional)
Ingredients
Bento Box One (1 serving)
- 4 Uncured Pepperoni Slices
- 4 Slices Uncured Deli Turkey Slices
- 1 Stick of Cheese
- 2 Tbsp Hummus
- 10 Seed Crackers
- 1/4 C. Olives
- 1/2 Bell Pepper, sliced
- 2 Tbsp Pepperoncinis or Banana Peppers
- 2 Small Chocolate Squares
Bento Box Two (1 Serving)
- 4 Mini Peppers, sliced in half and seeds removed
- 1/2 C. Cottage Cheese
- Everything Bagel Seasoning, to taste
- 2 Tbsp Hummus
- 1/2 C. Cucumber Slices
- 1/4 C. Baby Carrots
- 4 Uncured Deli Turkey Slices
- 1 Stuffed Date (stuff with nut butter and chocolate square)
Bento Box Three (1 serving)
- 1 Gluten Free Tortilla Wrap
- 1/4 C. Whipped Cottage Cheese (whip using a food processor, add favorite herbs, to taste)
- 4 Uncured Deli Turkey Slices
- 1 Small Handful of Baby Spinach
- 1 C. Berry Medley
- 3 Celery Stalks, sliced
- 1-2 Tbsp Nut Butter
Whipped Cottage Cheese Spread (makes 6 servings)
- 1 pint Cottage Cheese
- 6-8 Fresh Basil Leaves
- 1-2 Tbsp Fresh Thyme
- 1-2 Garlic Cloves
- 1-2 Tbsp Lemon Juice
- Sea Salt and Pepper, to taste
Instructions
Bento Box One
- Add all ingredients to your lunch box and store or enjoy!
Bento Box Two
- Add all ingredients to your lunch box and store or enjoy!
Bento Box Three
- Add all ingredients for the whipped cottage cheese spread to a food processor and blend until smooth. Spread the mixture onto a tortilla wrap. Add the sliced turkey and spinach. Roll tightly. Then, cut into 1-2 inch pinwheels. Add to lunch box along with all remaining ingredients and store or enjoy!
Hey Kayla! Which gf wraps do you use if you don’t mind me asking? We love Siete brand, but they can be finicky to wrap up like in your recipe here. I’m looking forward to trying these ideas out for good blood sugar balance on our next road trip!
I typically use the cassava flour wraps from Siete when making wraps. I just pop them in the microwave or on the stovetop to warm them up a bit and that makes them more pliable. The GF ones from the mission brand definitely folds better but they’re not as clean.
These are AWESOME 👌 hits nutrition needs, tasty and fun, I get so much intrigue from my co – workers as ALWAYS Kayla hits it home.
Thank you Kayla
Lol yay so glad you loved them as much as I do! 🙂