Field Meals | Lunch Ideas to Take On the Go

This is part of a series featuring simple to prepare, healthy (ish) field meals for not only farmers but anyone who needs some new lunch box ideas.

Today we're focusing on lunchbox friendly field meals! This means the meals travel in a lunchbox (or are stored in the fridge), but require no microwave. They're designed to fuel your body and keep you satisfied.

I know my farmer friends have all sorts of set-ups in their farming operation. Some of us are around to cook a lunch, but many of us work off the farm. You asked for ideas, and I heard you! Whether you're on the farm or away at work, these meals will have you and your family prepared!

Pssst...I have even more cold lunch ideas for adults!

Okay, here we go!

Turkey, Provolone and Pesto Panini from This Farm Girl Cooks - Deli turkey and jarred pesto make these sandwiches a breeze. They taste even better at room temperature, in my humble opinion.

Citrus Chicken Quinoa Salad from Sally's Baking Addiction - This make ahead salad actually gets better as it sits and the flavors intensify. Don't let the word "salad" scare you. The quinoa and chicken have plenty of protein to keep you satisfied. Serve with some pre-roasted veggies and it's a healthy, wholesome, filling meal!

Chicken Bacon Ranch Wraps - Simple, easy to prepare and a crowd pleaser. If you'd like, you can switch out the flour tortilla for a low carb or whole wheat tortilla.

Carnitas Burrito Bowls from Fit Foodie Finds - Make a batch of these for the week and you have lunch (or dinner) with whole grains, protein, veggies and healthy fats. They're super easy to assemble!

Copycat Costco Chicken Bakes - you don't have to go to the food court to enjoy this cult classic! Cheesy chicken breast and creamy caesar salad dressing are all wrapped up in a pizza dough packet. These chicken packets are perfect for eating on the go!

Veggie Egg Salad Sandwiches from Corn, Beans, Pigs and Kids - This is a great way to add some veggies to the typical egg salad. I love that they're a mayo substitute, too!

Taco Pasta Salad with Beef - Mexican flavors come together in this Taco Pasta Salad with Catalina dressing! It's a great main dish to add to your weeknight dinner rotation, of your can take it to a potluck as a side dish.

Leftover Pizza - This one's random, but I know my farmer loves a cold slice. I don't think he'd object to this for occasional field meals!

Chicken, Bacon and Avocado Panini from The Noshery - Simple ingredients and who says a panini has to be served hot? I think the flavors of this sandwich meld together. When you assemble these the night before, you'll be set for lunch.

Thai Peanut Chicken Salad from Fit Foodie Finds - Crunchy veggies, chicken and peanuts make this a versatile lunchbox idea. Eat it from a container, or make it into a wrap. It's a great meal prep make ahead dish!

Italian Pinwheels from Tornadoughallie - Pepperoni, ham, provolone and some other goodies made these an easy lunch idea. Kid friendly, too!

Quick & Easy Chicken Spring Roll Jars from The Girl on Bloor - Use ground chicken or ground turkey for this simple, quick recipe with no chopping required. Hellooooo bagged coleslaw! I would prep these in my favorite meal containers instead of a jar.

Pineapple Chicken Salad Wrap from Skinnymom - These are making my mouth water! Cook a chicken in the slow cooker at the beginning of the week to set yourself up for wraps, salads, soup and more. This is a balanced recipe containing healthy protein and some crunch from sliced almonds. Yum!

A few more to go!

Greek Chicken with Tzatziki Sauce from Cooking Classy - Fresh and flavorful, try these kabobs, although in all likelihood you'll skip the skewer in your lunchbox. That might be weird. I picked this recipe because veggies + chicken + tzatziki equal a full stomach for hours without a post-meal hangover. Serve with some rice or pita bread.

Mexican Quinoa Salad from Dear Crissy - I like to grill chicken on the weekend or cook up a whole chicken in the slow cooker. Leftovers area perfect fit for this meal and honestly, I've never met a Tex-Mex dish I didn't love. This recipe is no exception!

Sonoma Chicken Salad from Whole Foods - I feed this to our famers. If you're watching calories you can sub half the mayo with greek yogurt (that's what I do). It makes a big batch for several meals! Serve on sandwiches or wraps.

Mediterranean Three Bean Salad from Two Peas and Their Pod - Make this for dinner and enjoy the leftovers for lunch! A complete meal in a bowl.

Lasagna Cups

This Easy

This Easy Lasagna Cups Recipe is kid-approved and simple to make! These meaty, cheesy, tasty handfuls are perfect for meals on the go or in your home.

Oh, and you can't forget about dessert - I recommend you make these Better Than Sex Brownies aka Ultimate Turtle Brownies or Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread slices to tuck into a packed lunch, too!

I hope you find these field meals helpful! What other ideas do you have? I'd love to hear from you.