Make it easier to feed yourself, even through your busiest days, with the best easy mom lunch ideas. Each of these can be prepped ahead or made in minutes—and is yummy, nutritious, and seriously satisfying.
I know firsthand how hard it can be to feed myself in the day-to-day busy life as a mom, so these recipes are here to make it a little easier for me—and for you. Below you’ll find a range of lunch ideas that work for us busy moms to eat at home, to pack for work or a day out of the house, or to grab and enjoy whenever we have a sliver of time.
Each can be made quickly or can be meal prepped ahead of time so they are ready and waiting in the fridge for lunchtime. Each has nutrition, including protein and fiber, to help keep us full longer, as well as a mix of flavors, textures, and veggies.
(You may also like Postpartum Freezer Meals and my go-to Mango Overnight Oats that are I love to make ahead for an easy breakfast.)
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Easy Salad Wrap
This Salad Wrap is versatile, filling, nutritious, and the best combo of flavors and textures. It can be prepped ahead of time and stored until you need it without any of the ingredients wilting.
This easy Salad Wrap is one of my go-to make-ahead lunches for myself. It’s easy to prep, is loaded with nutrition, and has the yummiest mix of flavors and textures.
Easy Salad Wrap
Focaccia Sandwich Recipe
It’s versatile, filling, delicious, and is a much less expensive version of an Italian sandwich that I might buy at the store…and just tastes SO good.
With an easy make-ahead option and the most delicious combination of flavors and textures, this Focaccia Sandwich is one of the yummiest lunches for us parents. It’s great to take to work, to enjoy at home, or even to share with the kids! (I usually make half of the loaf at once if making lunches for myself for one week, then freeze the second half and use it for a future week.)
Favorite Focaccia Sandwich Recipe
Easy Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
I love a good quinoa salad and I particularly love how easy they are to make ahead of time and grab whenever I need a fast meal for myself. This version, which features tender quinoa, crunchy cucumbers and shredded carrots, protein (and fiber!) packed beans, and creamy cheese, is a perfect mix of textures and nutrition.
Mix up this grain salad to have lunches prepped for the week for yourself, or to have a dinner side or vegetarian main dish to share with the family.
Easy Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
Easy Farro Salad
The beauty of this salad is that you can make it ahead of time, it stores so well, and that it’s versatile. Which means you can change the cheese or omit it completely, swap the vegetables for ones you happen to have on hand, and vary the dressing.
With a delicious blend of textures, this easy Farro Salad is a favorite side dish or vegetarian lunch. It’s easy to change up this recipe to use your favorite vegetables and herbs, and it’s a satisfying lunch for work or home.
Easy Farro Salad
Favorite Salmon Salad Sandwich
It’s a protein-packed riff on tuna salad that’s mild in flavor and includes a nice dose of the healthy fats our kids need for proper brain development.
This salmon salad is packed with protein, healthy fats, and calcium and can be used as a dip or a spread for sandwiches. We use homemade relish in this recipe, but you can use any that you like the flavor of.
Favorite Salmon Salad Sandwich
Vegetarian Hummus Wraps
I love a good wrap for kids, and this one is so, so easy and satisfying. You can use store-bought or homemade hummus and add any veggies or cheeses you like.
Quickly combine a few simple ingredients to make a really yummy lunch wrap. This recipe makes one wrap, so increase the serving size as necessary.
Easy Hummus Wrap (to Share with the Kids)
Easy Quinoa Patties
With just a few ingredients, including quinoa, broccoli, cheese, and eggs, and a super fast method that allows you to make a batch in under 10 minutes, these are a favorite meal to share with the kids.
These quick Quinoa Patties are a delicious way to serve quinoa to kids—and adults! Plan to make the quinoa ahead of time so these come together in minutes.
Easy Quinoa Patties (Favorite Quinoa Cakes)
Best Easy Pasta Salad
The beauty of this method is you can swap ingredients and dressings in an out to make it your own. You can make the Easy Pasta Salad recipe more or less complicated as you like.
With one simple method, you can make the best pasta salad ever using your family’s favorite ingredients and dressing. This is infinitely flexible, it stores well so you can make it ahead, and it’s great cold or at room temperature. (See the Notes for variations!)
Best Easy Pasta Salad Recipe
Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
With just a few ingredients and a super simple method, you can make the yummiest Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad as an easy meal to share with the kids.
With just a few ingredients and a super simple method, you can make the yummiest Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad as an easy meal to share with the kids. It works well packed as kids lunch, too!
Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
Yogurt Flatbread (2 Ingredients)
You can mix together this bread dough and have the whole thing ready to eat in under 20 minutes. There’s no waiting for it to rise or rest and no need for yeast. It’s similar to naan bread in flavor and texture and can be used in similar ways.
With two main ingredients and no rising time, this Yogurt Flatbread is a protein-rich meal component. We love it with hummus for an easy kids meal—and how well it stores for future meals!
Yogurt Flatbread (2 Ingredients)
How to Store
Each lunch can be prepped ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for about 5 days so you can enjoy them all week. Look at each individual recipe for the specifics on the storage for each recipe.
Best Tips for Success
- Go with the portion that you prefer to satisfy your own unique hunger.
- Add a side of fruit or dessert as you prefer.
- Try my favorite Bentgo Meal Prep Containers for easy packed lunches in a container that is affordable and easy to clean.