Sometimes it feels like your family’s always on the move and there’s no time to eat a healthy meal. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of 25 easy-breezy recipes that you can make in advance and eat on the go. Whether you need a quick breakfast, a new lunch box favorite, or a simple snack, we’ve got you covered. They’re as nutritious as they are playful and sure to please both kids and grownups in your carpool.
Air-Fried Bean and Cheese Taquitos
You only need 5 ingredients to make these crunchy taquitos your kids will love. You can prepare them in advance to pack in lunch bags or enjoy them right away as a snack or a starter. Don’t forget a side of guacamole!
Get the recipe: Air-Fried Bean and Cheese Taquitos
Keto-Friendly Avocado Chips
Who says chips have to be junk food? Mashed avocado and Parmesan combine into low-carb, keto-friendly crisps flavored with fresh lime juice and spices.
Get the recipe: Keto-Friendly Avocado Chips
Baked Beef Chimichangas
Make chimichangas healthier and just as crispy by using your oven instead of the fryer. These baked beauties are tucked full of lean ground beef and corn before getting toasted in the oven, with no splatter in sight.
Get the recipe: Baked Beef Chimichangas
Cheeseburger Pockets
Who knew it was so simple to make this homemade take on a savory turnover? We pack all the flavor of the kid-friendly cheeseburger into a golden dough pocket for maximum portability. Consider doubling the recipe and freezing the rest to always have some on hand.
Get the recipe: Cheeseburger Pockets
Energy Trail Mix
We love this savory trail mix that’s full of protein from nuts, seeds, and bite-sized chucks of jerky for that hit of energy kids need for after school sports. Missing a little sweetness but want to keep the protein? Try using a teriyaki-flavored jerky instead.
get the recipe: Energy Trail Mix
Chewy Granola Bars
Making your own granola bars means no more scouring labels for hidden ingredients and additives. These simple bars come together in one mixing bowl and get cut into 24 bars, giving you enough for the whole family. Change it up with your preferred nut of choice, or sub in dried fruit for a nut-free version.
Get the recipe: Chewy Granola Bars
Sandwich Kabobs
Your kids will love this new take on their usual sandwiches. The popsicle sticks keep them from falling apart, letting you slide off portions as you eat them.
Get the recipe: Sandwich Kabobs
Strawberry Cream Cheese Pancake Stacks
Those mini pancakes in your freezer don’t just have to be served with syrup at the table. They make for a quick breakfast on the run when sandwiched with some strawberry cream cheese. Try other fruit spreads or peanut butter for different variations.
Get the recipe: Strawberry Cream Cheese Pancake Stacks
Turkey, Egg, and Cheese Waffle Sandwich
Frozen waffles make for a surprising spin on breakfast sandwiches that are especially eye catching for kids. Ours is a classic version with turkey and cheese, but bacon and avocado would be right at home here too. Looking for a vegetarian version, swap out the turkey for some plant-based sausage.
Get the recipe: Turkey, Egg, and Cheese Waffle Sandwich
Barbecue-Ranch Chicken Nugget Wraps
Kids love eating chicken nuggets plain, but they can also serve as part of a more well-rounded lunch. Here, the little golden morsels of chicken are balanced with crunchy fresh vegetables and creamy dressing in this flavorful wrap. Tucking the ends in and rolling like a burrito offers maximum ease for eating in transit.
Get the recipe: Barbecue-Ranch Chicken Nugget Wraps
Banana-Chocolate Chip Muffins
You’d never guess these gluten-free pastries were good for you, getting their natural sweetness and moisture from mashed bananas and apple sauce. The mini chocolate chips make this a breakfast your whole family will reach for on the way out the door.
get the recipe: Banana-Chocolate Chip Muffins
Throw-Together Trail Mix
Skip the trip to the store by using whatever you already have in your pantry to make this 5-minute trail mix. It’s a great way to clear out the stragglers in your pantry and pull together a quick snack.
Get the recipe: Throw-Together Trail Mix
Turkey and Veggie Cream Cheese Roll-Ups
These compact little roll-ups are perfect for breakfast, lunch, and snacking in between meals. With just four ingredients and only five minutes of prep, they’ll become your go-to for every day of the week.
Get the recipe: Turkey and Veggie Cream Cheese Roll-Ups
Crispy BBQ-Ranch Chickpeas
Roasting chickpeas turns them into crunchy bites packed with protein and fiber. Even better, you can make them at home with just a handful of items. They’re perfect on their own to munch on, or you can add them to bulk up a salad or grain bowl. Try experimenting with other spices in your pantry.
Get the recipe: Crispy BBQ-Ranch Chickpeas
Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Cookies
These better-for-you treats are low in refined sugar and gluten-free. Banana and flaked coconut add natural sweetness to hearty oatmeal cookies made with almond meal and studded with dark chocolate chunks.
Get the recipe: Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Cookies
Multigrain Almond Bites
If you love puppy chow around the holidays, these treats are a healthier version you can enjoy year-round, while remaining just as travel friendly. Almond butter and multigrain cereal bring the protein and fiber, while the chocolate brings the perfect hint of sweetness.
Get the recipe: Multigrain Almond Bites
Pizza Sandwich
Cult favorites collide in this “grilled cheese meets pizza” sandwich that’s soon to be in your regular rotation. Make sure to let it cool before you pack it to keep the bread crispy, and feel free to swap out the pepperoni for mushrooms or roasted peppers for a vegetarian take.
Get the recipe: Pizza Sandwich
Pasta Salad Skewers
Pasta salad is always a summertime crowd-pleaser, especially when it’s this fun to eat. Stack up cheese tortellini, fresh mozzarella, salami, and veggies onto wooden skewers for Italian-inspired, portable pasta salad kabobs.
Get the recipe: Pasta Salad Skewers
Hummus and Goat Cheese Sandwich
Who says sandwiches need to be made with sliced bread? Cutting a round sourdough loaf in half, building the sandwich inside, and cutting it into wedges is a great shortcut to making sandwiches for the whole household. The vegetables make this as healthy as it is easy.
Get the recipe: Hummus and Goat Cheese Sandwich
Buffalo Chicken Pinwheels
You can get all the flavors of buffalo wings with none of the mess in these handy little pinwheels. You can reduce or omit the hot wing sauce to make them safe for more sensitive palettes, just make sure you keep some on the side for yourself!
Get the recipe: Buffalo Chicken Pinwheels
Peanut Butter & Jelly Bites
PB&J bites are a fast, no-cook way to enjoy this nostalgic flavor combination. Naturally sweetened with dates and featuring two sources of protein, they are perfect for snacking and packing in lunch boxes. You’ll have trouble eating just one!
Get the recipe: Peanut Butter & Jelly Bites
Cobb Salad in a Jar
Mason jars let you portion out salads for the entire week in your fridge, letting you grab and go as you need them. Layers of hardboiled egg, bacon, and avocado provide enough protein to get you through even the most demanding after school activities.
Get the recipe: Cobb Salad in a Jar
Mason Jar Pasta Salad
Tortellini makes for the perfect forkable pasta in this summery red and green-hued salad. Everyone will want to race through the vegetables to get to the creamy mini mozzarella bites at the bottom. Use a rubber band to keep a fork secured to the side when you store them, so you never have to worry about forgetting a utensil.
Get the recipe: Mason Jar Pasta Salad
Ham & Jam Sandwich with Brie
There are few things we love more than a cheeseboard, which serves as the inspiration for our new favorite sandwich. The classic pairing of salty brie and sweet jam gets rounded out with sliced ham and arugula to become a full-on lunch. You can use Swiss to make them more kid-friendly, which means more brie for you!
Get the recipe: Ham & Jam Sandwich with Brie
Hummus and Turkey Sandwiches
For a meal that’s compact and goes anywhere you do, it’s hard to beat the classic turkey sandwich. We level up the flavor with a thin layer of red pepper hummus and honey mustard, and tuck in some thin slices of cucumber for crunch. For adults, a drizzle of sriracha adds a welcome kick.
Get the recipe: Hummus and Turkey Sandwiches
