18 Easy, Protein-Packed Recipes for Back-to-School Lunches
When my two girls are grown, I'll probably find myself weeping in the lunchbox aisle, reminiscing about how fun it was, packing school lunches for all those years, but currently, it's one of my least favorite tasks. Trying to come up with packable, nutritious meals that they'll actually eat makes me feel like Oedipus trying to solve the Riddle of the Sphinx.
Because their days are long and activity-filled, they need food with staying power. Most days, I try to pack a lunch that's fairly balanced in terms of protein, carbs and fiber. (And some days, they get buttered fusilli and an apple.) They love bread, pasta, fruits and vegetables, so carbs and fiber are easy. But I often struggle with working a little protein into their bento boxes, as I know many parents do. The other day, I scrolled through New York Times Cooking looking for higher-protein, lunchbox-friendly ideas that my kids might eat, and I'm sharing them with you here. Good luck. Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.
These excellent burritos from Ali Slagle are always a winner. Make them ahead, wrap in foil and freeze, then heat up and pop into a Thermos. I make ours with ground turkey or chicken.
Recipe: Easy Burritos Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.
These simple chicken meatballs from Lidey Heuck can be piled into a container or tucked into a squishy hoagie. I toss in a few packets of ketchup left over from takeout.
Recipe: Baked Chicken Meatballs David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.
Cozy and soul warming, this 10-minute, 5-ingredient red lentil dal from Priya Krishna gets better over time, so it's the perfect thing to make on a Sunday to have for lunches all week.
Recipe: Everyday Dal Bryan Gardner for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Barrett Washburne.
My big kid loves to take a Caprese salad in her school lunch. This one from Colu Henry adds white beans for extra oomph, so my oldest can make it through a school day and two hours of dance class.
Recipe: White Bean Caprese Salad Bryan Gardner for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Greg Lofts.
My 13-year-old kept stealing bites when I made myself this clever salad from Hetty Lui McKinnon, so I'm taking the hint and packing it in her lunch. Hetty calls for vegetarian dumplings, but I make it with chicken.
Recipe: Dumpling and Smashed Cucumber Salad With Peanut Sauce Rachel Vanni for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Spencer Richards.
Salty, sweet and crunchy, these homemade energy bars from Genevieve Ko happily straddle the line between a dessert and snack.
Recipe: Homemade Protein Bars Ghazalle Badiozamani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Barrett Washburne.
If you're a perimenopausal mom, you probably have cottage cheese in the fridge. So use it in these surprisingly light egg muffins from Naz Deravian for you and your kiddos.
Recipe: Cottage Egg Cheese Bites Julia Gartland for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Samantha Seneviratne.
I love making cheese quesadillas for breakfast, but these chicken quesadillas from Ali Slagle are a great heartier option for lunch. Ali smartly suggests mixing together the chicken and cheese for even melting and distribution. It's the little things.
Recipe: Chicken Quesadillas Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.
My kids are dubious about tofu, but these crunchy cubes might change their minds. Kristina Felix coats tofu in a savory mixture of tamari, garlic and onion powders, and cornstarch, then bakes them until crispy.
Recipe: Baked Tofu Mark Weinberg for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Michelle Gatton.
Cheese tortellini and salami give this reader-favorite pasta salad from Ali Slagle a bit more staying power. Because delicate arugula will become soggy in a lunchbox, I'll sub in roughly chopped broccoli that will soften as it sits.
Recipe: Tortellini Pasta Salad Nico Schinco for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Kaitlin Wayne.
Afghan murgh kebab, grilled spiced chicken kebabs that are served with a garlicky white sauce, inspired this not-boring, creamy-spicy chicken salad from Zaynab Issa. A mix of Greek yogurt and mayo keeps it out of gloopy territory.
Recipe: Lemon Turmeric Chicken Salad Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.
A well-made egg salad is sublime, and this one from Lidey Heuck does not disappoint. To guard against sogginess if you're making a sandwich: Toast the bread a bit first, lightly butter it, then put a piece of lettuce on each slice before adding the egg salad.
Recipe: Egg Salad Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.
You'll almost always find chickpeas in my cabinet because they're great in so many things. In a pinch, I add a small container of plain chickpeas to my kids' lunches, but this recipe from Kristina Felix is something special.
Recipe: Easy Chickpea Salad Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.
As a pseudo-Southerner, I am thrilled to announce that one of my kids loves pimento cheese, so this is already a lunchbox go-to in our house. She likes this one from Matt and Ted Lee with Ritz crackers and cucumbers.
Recipe: Pimento Cheese Linda Xiao for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Monica Pierini.
This superfast hummus from Michael Solomonov and Steven Cook of the Philadelphia restaurant Zahav calls for an entire 16-ounce jar of tahini so it's incredibly flavorful (and also packed with good fats that will keep my girl going through soccer practice).
Recipe: 5-Minute Hummus Kerri Brewer for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Spencer Richards.
Carolina Gelen adds browned butter and protein-rich lentils to classic tomato soup resulting in a stick-to-your-ribs version that will keep beautifully in a Thermos.
Recipe: Lentil Tomato Soup Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.
J. Kenji Lopéz-Alt's technique for steaming eggs in a little bit of water — not a whole potful — is the best way I know of to get truly perfect hard-boiled eggs. (No weird gray rim.) My kid eats only the whites. Fine. I scoop out the yellows and make myself a batch of Eli Zabar's egg salad.
Recipe: Perfect Boiled Eggs David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Vivian Lui.
Another household favorite is cowboy caviar, also known as Texas caviar, which I adapted from Helen Corbitt, a dietitian from New York, who came up with it in the 1930s after moving to Texas. Black beans, black-eyed peas, corn, tomatoes, red onion, bell pepper and scallions are dressed in a lightly sweet dressing. I pile it into a bento box and send them with a resealable bag of Fritos Scoops.
Recipe: Cowboy Caviar
Follow New York Times Cooking on Instagram , Facebook , YouTube , TikTok and Pinterest . Get regular updates from New York Times Cooking, with recipe suggestions, cooking tips and shopping advice .
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Forbes
16 minutes ago
- Forbes
The Best Tunnel Fits From The 2025-'26 WNBA Season: Week 11
Y'all mind if the Valks throw a fit real quick@rakuten - Arrivals Courtesy of WNBA Instagram The trade deadline had us all in shambles. Dijonai Carrington moved to the Minnesota Lynx, Emma Meesseman to the New York Liberty, and Jay Sherrod was waived from the Liberty just to be picked up by her former rival team, the Lynx. All this moving around leaves the league in flux and, more importantly, the fashion in disarray, too. Imagine moving from breezy Minnesota to a hot New York summer? That'd call for a wardrobe restyle. But on the plus side, we reach new heights and inch closer to the playoffs, which means we might see an influx of players out on injury, slowly come back into the playing field. We've already had Cameron Brink's status turned over; now we await Caitlin Clark's. But while we wait, we still want to turn our attention to this week's tunnel fits. And this week, they're all business. 10s across the board 🌟 Courtesy of WNBA Instagram There's been a lot of big talk surrounding the acquisition of the Connecticut Sun, and Olivia Nelson-Ododa looks like she's on the way to do the negotiation herself. Nelson-Ododa gets down to business in a form-fitting COS fluid double-breasted wool blazer paired with a crisp white button-down from Gap. She finishes the look with statement bottoms: Helmut Lang men's sheepskin leather shorts, and adds a pop of color with a fiery red BOTTEGA VENETA Andiamo small intrecciato leather clutch and custom shoes to match. all-league fits first team (1) Courtesy of WNBA Instagram Haven't you heard the news? Kahleah Copper just landed a spot on the League First Team All Fits, and trust, she's not riding the bench. Copper has consistently delivered fits, back to back, with a level of intention and style that makes it easy to forget this isn't her full-time job. She proves it yet again in what can only be described as a soft(er) punctual yet dandy fit. She wears a gingham double-zip track jacket and shorts from Open Air, paired with her often-worn and ever-controversial black Tabi loafers by Maison Margiela. Maddy Westbeld — Chicago Sky EAT EAT EAT 🍽️@redlobster - #skytown (1) Courtesy of WNBA Instagram Westbeld is channeling that recurring nightmare where you show up to work in just your underwear—only this time, it's intentional. And somehow, it works. Thanks to recent fashion references, the no-pants look is not only acceptable but deeply embedded into the zeitgeist of iconic fashion moments. Miu Miu's Spring/Summer 2023 show made the agenda clear, reviving the no-pants moment while ushering in the return of the office siren aesthetic, which Westbeld meshes perfectly. And at least she threw on a jacket, it's practically enough for the Windy City. Angel Reese — Chicago Sky EAT EAT EAT 🍽️@redlobster - #skytown Courtesy of WNBA Instagram Following suit (figuratively) in a cropped trench, Angel Reese steps in to complete her teammate Maddy Westbeld's outfit—with actual bottoms. A Burberry cotton mini skirt, to be exact. Reese leans into an early fall color palette with a pair of suede open-toe boots from... the TikTok Shop? In a recent gameday OOTD, she mentioned how tough it is to find size 12 shoes—and apparently, TikTok came through. She finishes the look with a black Bottega Veneta Andiamo small intrecciato leather clutch and oversized Chanel sunglasses. Satou Sabally — Phoenix Mercury Two squads. One tunnel. All business. The @phoenixmercury and @indianafever just touched down fo Courtesy of WNBA Instagram You might've assumed, based on the earlier picks, that there was a preppy or suit-and-tie agenda being pushed in the W' — but Satou Sabally creates a quiet rift in the monotony. While everyone else is dressing up, Sabally is dressing down, in the best way: a cool, '90s Princess Diana kind of way. She wears the highly coveted Adidas Originals x Willy Chavarria poplin track top and matching bottoms. Chavarria, the Mexican-American designer behind the collab, recently debuted the now-iconic collection with Adidas not too long ago—and Sabally managed to get her hands on a rare colorway. Tiffany Hayes — Golden State Valkyries Adidas Originals x Willy Chavarria Poplin Tracktop Courtesy of WNBA Instagram Back to the suit and tie of it all. Hayes wears a school uniform inspired fit with a little edge, as she pairs an oversized blazer, teal tie, and tan pleated shorts with Tabi loafers. She would've definitely been written up, but style is a sacrifice for all. Jonquel Jones— New York Liberty Lookin' like a walking trophy 🏆🙂_↕️ Courtesy of WNBA Instagram More suit, but no tie. And this time, pink! It can feel as simple as it's written, but it's always nice to see athletes in a pop of color because sometimes the show (the tunnel) is about you. Jonquel Jones comes out in her Easter Sunday best—a salmon blazer, tailored pants, and a white tee. But the star of the show? The pink and blue mismatched Nike sneakers.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Resident shares year-long experience with camper transformed into dream home: 'It has everything I need'
Resident shares year-long experience with camper transformed into dream home: 'It has everything I need' After one year of living in her 200-square-foot tiny home, a Texas woman is sharing how downsizing transformed her space — and her perspective. Michelle, of Van Alstyne, Texas, moved from a camper into the tiny home in 2024, buying the home from a previous owner for $83,000. In a TikTok tour of the compact space for Tiny Homes (@tiny_house_expedition), Michelle said she knew the home was for her the first time she stepped in. "It has everything I need in this small, little space," she said. The 24-foot-by-8.5-foot tiny home includes an induction cooktop for cleaner cooking, a full bathroom, and a combo washer and dryer. It also features a living area with a two-person couch and a flip-up desk for working from home. A separate bedroom features an impressive amount of storage space and a roomy bed. Tiny house living can come with big benefits — for both homeowners and the planet. These compact homes are typically far more affordable to build and maintain than traditional houses, helping homeowners save money both upfront and over time. Given their small footprint, tiny homes also use significantly less energy for heating, cooling, and lighting. That means lower monthly utility bills and a reduced reliance on polluting energy sources. While there are notable perks to tiny house living, the decision to embrace tiny living isn't always easy. Some considering tiny house living, for instance, are cautious about aging in a tiny home, especially concerned that common features like lofted beds will become impractical over time. Would you live in a house made of fungus? Heck yes No way Maybe Only if you paid me Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Michelle said she took this into consideration when buying her home, noting the single-floor layout is perfect for her both now and in the future. "I love having the living space all on one floor," she said. "The older I get, the better it's going to be to have everything on the one floor. A lot of the tiny homes I've seen, you have to walk up some steps [to] a lofted bedroom, and I wouldn't want that." With limited square footage, tiny home living often goes hand-in-hand with minimalism. After all, limited space requires a pared-down approach to belongings — and that can benefit both the planet and your mental health. One year into her tiny home journey, Michelle said that her compact living space has led her to care less about excess stuff and instead value meaningful experiences. "I feel like there's a sense of freedom," she said. "To me, it's about what really matters — and what matters to me is life experiences and having fun." Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
It feels like home already: WVU Class of 2029 showcases excitement for first semester
Aug. 19—MORGANTOWN — As the West Virginia University Class of 2029 prepares for its first semester, incoming students are sharing their excitement about life in Morgantown and the reasons they chose to call WVU home. Name: Isaac Garrison Hometown: Wheeling Major: Computer Science "For me, it's about being away from home and experiencing new things. Mostly, it's the fact that everything is within walking distance—anywhere I want to be. To me, it means having the freedom to go wherever I want, whenever I want." — Name: Addyson Day Hometown: Charleston Major: Exercise Physiology "My favorite experience so far has definitely been going out to eat at different local places. You get to meet the people who work there, meet others who are enjoying themselves, and learn new things. Plus, it's a great way to connect with the people on your floor and your roommates through shared experiences." — Name: Michael Reikow Hometown: Philadelphia, Pa. Major: Electrical Engineering "I came here because I love the people, I love the food, and I love the football. Plus, the engineering program stood out to me—it looked like the right fit when I was back in Philly." — Name: Isabella Deering Hometown: Irwin, Pa. Major: Nursing "I came here because my mom went here. She had so many good memories, made a lot of friends, and always talked about the connections her degree gave her. That inspired me to come too." — Name: Daniel Coderre Hometown: Centerville, Ohio Major: Entrepreneurship "As an entrepreneurship major, I'm really interested in the business world. I'm excited to get to know my classmates and really immerse myself in West Virginia culture." — Name: Ava Zavatasky Hometown: North Huntington, Pa. Major: Nursing "I really like the atmosphere here. I'm excited to make new friends and get a good education." — Name: Taylor Powers Hometown: Cambridge Major: Political Science "I'm excited to dive into political science and really start learning about law. For me, this is the foundation. The goal is law school here at WVU." — Name: Skyler Fischer Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pa. Major: General Business "It's the perfect distance from home, but honestly, when I toured the campus, I just fell in love immediately. I love that it's a big football school, too, and I'm most excited to make new friends." Solve the daily Crossword
