It’s back to school, college and university time for a load of us or our kids this September and October and I know what a struggle eating healthily can be when it comes to lunch time options. Being a student aside, it can still be a challenge to eat well when you are working, or like me, are at home but don’t have a lot of time to prepare meals. It’s often the case that quick to grab but less healthy options become more attractive.
Holland and Barrett are without a doubt one of my favourite places to find healthier options and they challenged me to look at how we can make lunch boxes more healthy. Firstly, we have to have a word about cost. It can be the case that healthier foods, especially packaged on the go options, are more expensive, but I always see them as an investment in your health. You may even find that some options are cheaper than the less healthy alternatives depending on where you shop.
Healthy Lunch Box Swaps
Sweet treats >>
Swap things like chocolate bars for a square or two of dark chocolate or try the new ohso probiotic chocolate. For afternoon sugar hits, try some dried fruit and nuts or fresh fruit but if you need a harder sweet hit Beauty Sweeties are a great alternative with health promoting ingredients.
Granola / cereal bars >>
Swap traditional cereal or granola bars or flapjacks for home made healthier versions, or try a snack bar such as a Trek bar, Nakd bar or my favourite, a Bounce Ball
Crisps >>
Instead of a bag of Walkers, try something like Popchips (which I adore!) or more filling Hummus Chips which are made with chickpea flour. Another fave are the Garbanzo beans snacks which are also super filling and low in calories.
Stodgy sandwiches >>
There are of course lots of different options instead of sandwiches. I love my crustless quiches, but home made soup or chilli in a flask or a wholegrain salad like my chickpea, quinoa and pesto salad are also good options. If you still like something bready try a wholemeal pitta bread stuffed with roast chicken, turkey, tuna, hummus etc and lots of spinach. Chopped up veggies are also great to add in for extra veggie goodness.
Energy drinks >>
Instead of reaching for the Red Bull try a coconut water. I think it should go without saying how much I love my coconut water! For better value buy a large carton and make yourself one of my coconut water mocha’s to go or try a Vita Coco Cafe or Mocha for an added hit of caffeine in place of an iced latte.
Breakfast on the go >>
If you need breakfast on the go options things like corn cakes, rice cakes or these melba toasts with nut butter and a piece of fruit would make a decent option. For something extra filling a bowl of high protein muesli like oomf Bench Pressed Oats with almond milk should keep you going all morning. Other ideas like overnight oats in a jar (just oats, some chia seeds and almond milk mixed together and left overnight) or my gorgeous baked oatmeal, a slice of which can be wrapped in foil to eat on the go are also great options.
Overall I think the key to healthy lunches is preparation, but it is good to know that you can grab some healthier options from Holland and Barrett stores when you need to. No excuses for that Greggs pasty ;-)
Do you struggle to have healthy options for lunch? What are your favourite healthy lunch box swaps?
*I was provided with Holland and Barrett products to illustrate this post
Good shout I always try to make more at dinner time to take as leftover but things like frittata are always winner . Also gotta love the name ‘Bench pressed Oats’ – Genius I want to buy them for that purpose only! (I am a marketing persons dream!)
Haha I’m a sucker for stuff like that as well!
I love the VIta Coco Cafe drink! Even though it contains sugar it’s a much healthier (and tastier!) option if you’re out and about, although it’s not always easy to find where I live.
I also love the hummus chips, have you tried the lentil chips by the same brand? they’re too good! Especially the basil and tomato flavour. They’re way too addictive!
I keep meaning to get a bounce ball to try but they seem way to pricy to me :S are they worth the money?
I have! I love those lentil chips as well, they are super filling :-)
I always have some sort of healthy snack in my bag usually a Nakd bar : )
Snack bars like that are essential for me know, breast feeding makes me super hungry!
Ah some of my faves listed here! Bounce Balls are excellent, I really like them. I also love all things Rude Health – I have their rice cakes, corn cakes AND oat cakes! I also discovered their beetroot nut bar last week – it’s yum and filled me up for ages!
Louise x
You know I must get some more Rude Health products, you’ve reminded me how much I love them! So in love with bounce balls, have you tried the mint choc ones yet?
I absolutely adore those Garbanzo snacks. So so moreish and tasty. I love them.
I tend to take a salad in to work with my everyday. For snacks I aim for nuts as they’re more filling and don’t hitch my sugar levels up. But then I can never say no to a cake at work… biscuits are safe, but cakes are not.
Haha, I was similar with cake, especially homemade cake!
I was just in H&B and didn’t notice the beauty sweeties – will have to look online!
Love your suggestions :) I find afternoon eating so much more difficult to make “healthy” choices because I’m usually out and about and am disorganised so rarely bring food with me so rely on a lot of smoothies and juices.
I know it’s not related to this post but I have to say you have the most beautiful baby boy! It might sound weird but he looks like he has such a mellow and wise personality – an old soul already! I think it’s the lovely eyes.
Thanks so much Rach! I think you are right, there’s just something about him that’s extra special although being his mama I would say that ;-)
The Vita Coco Cafe has replaced frappucinos as my drink of the summer – healthier and cheaper! I tried those hummus chips the other day as my work canteen has just started selling them – they were good although annoyingly the serving size is half the pack and eating only half a pack of crisps is impossible! x
Yep, I just ignore the serving size haha! Totally agree those drinks are far better than frappes, I like having mine with a bit of blended ice.
I tried the hummus crisps and they were ok, but didn’t find them as nice as popchips.
I tend to have salads at lunch, and then have some fruit and a nakd bar for if I feel hungry in the afternoon. Although once it gets colder I will make a roasted veggie/ lentil thing which I can heat up..
I have to agree with the popchips being tastier but I think the lentil chips might be more filling? Love the sound of the roast veggies and lentils for lunch :-)
I haven’t had those garbanzo chickpeas in ages, they are really hard to find. I like to take a salad for lunch, and snacks like nuts, oatcakes, fruit, and snack bars.