5 Lunch Ideas for Busy Moms

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If I'm being honest here – one of the hardest things about juggling two kids is managing meal times, especially if I'm flying solo (like I typically am at lunch time). When it was just Emmie, we had our little routine nailed down – once we walked in the door from school, Emmie watched TV for a few minutes and I fixed her lunch. Once she was eating, I fixed my own. Easy enough, right?

Well, throw a hungry, screaming newborn in that mix and that little routine gets shaken up a bit. I'm still trying to figure out the best way to get them both fed and happy as quickly as possible – it's kind of like juggling (if you're juggling with two hungry children screaming at you). And, admittedly, preparing a lunch for myself usually goes on the back burner during actual lunch time.

So far, I've found that the best way to get myself fed is to have easy meals ready to go. I like to have ones that can be prepped ahead of time (like during morning nap time when Emmie is at school) and are ready to take out of the fridge and eat when lunch time rolls around. And, added bonus if I can keep those meals well-rounded and wholesome.

HORMEL® NATURAL CHOICE® lunch meats are an absolute staple in my quick lunches. I love that they are packed with flavor and have no added preservatives. NATURAL CHOICE® deli meats are not preserved using artificial ingredients and added preservatives like other brands may. Instead, they use a process called HPP that packages, seals and pasteurizes products by placing them under high-pressure water exertion. It enhances wholesomeness and maintains quality.

Not only are NATURAL CHOICE® products delicious, but I love that I can enjoy them without adding additional preservatives to my diet. Their 100% natural products provide a quick, simple, and affordable source of protein in so many different lunches.

Here are a just a few of my favorite lunch ideas with NATURAL CHOICE® products for moms in a time crunch!

Bacon Club Salad

Ingredients

1 cup mixed greens
1 slice NATURAL CHOICE® Honey Deli Ham, chopped
1 slice NATURAL CHOICE® Oven Roasted Turkey, chopped
2 slices NATURAL CHOICE® Uncured Bacon, cooked and crumbled
1/4 cup shredded Swiss cheese
1/4 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons croutons
1/4 cup grape tomatoes, halved
2 tablespoons honey mustard

Directions

Combine all ingredients (except honey mustard) in a large bowl. Drizzle in honey mustard and toss well. Serve immediately.

Turkey Avocado Sandwich 

Ingredients

1 wheat hoagie roll
3 slices NATURAL CHOICE® Oven Roasted Turkey
1 avocado, pitted and sliced
lettuce
3 slices tomato
1 tablespoon mayo

Directions

Spread mayo on both slices of bread. Layer remaining ingredients in the sandwich.

Ham and Spinach Roll-Ups

Ingredients

4 fajita-sized flour tortillas
4 slices NATURAL CHOICE® Honey Deli Ham
spinach
1/4 cup veggie cream cheese, softened at room temperature

Directions

Spread cream cheese on tortillas. On top of cream cheese, evenly layer ham and spinach. Tightly roll tortilla and slice into 1/2″ pieces.

Breakfast for Lunch

Ingredients

1 egg
1 ounce sliced Cheddar cheese
2 slices NATURAL CHOICE® Uncured Bacon, cooked
1 large biscuit or English muffin

Directions

Scramble egg. Once egg is cooked through, make a sandwich-sized stack of eggs in the pan and place cheddar on top. Cook eggs/cheese on low heat until cheese is melted.

Once eggs and cheese are cooked, place on one half of the biscuit/English muffin. Layer sandwich ingredients over the eggs and cheese and serve.

Bunco Grilled Cheese

Ingredients

2 tablespoons yellow mustard
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
dash of poppy seeds
2 tablespoons butter
3 slices NATURAL CHOICE® Honey Deli Ham
1 slice Swiss cheese

Directions

Mix mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and poppy seeds together in a small bowl. Spread mixture on one side of each piece of bread; spread butter on other side. In a skillet heated to medium heat, place one slice of bread butter-side down. Layer ham and cheese over the bread in the pan and place other slice of bread, butter-side up, on top. Cook outside of bread to golden brown and serve.