For moms with young children, choosing what to give them for lunch is always a challenge. Most school lunches are far from wholesome; instead, they lack both nutrition and taste. For Muslim families, there is always the added stipulation of Zabiha halal, which, of course, is not usually available. The best solution is to pack a delicious and nutritious midday meal that gets the kids through the remaining school time.

If you’re a mother (the unsung captain of the ship) who manages multiple parallel tasks, from running school rides to grocery runs, and the home kitchen, packing a school lunch can be an added effort. This is when ready-to-eat halal foods can help you build easy lunch box ideas, cut to suit the preferences of your child.   

On mornings when you realize you don’t have a plan or the time, allow yourself some room to breathe. Try these 5 tasty and fun lunchbox ideas you can build on with Kaiser & Colonel Kababz products. Before we jump to that, here are a few good-to-know tips to keep in mind, especially if you are a finicky mom. 

Add some thought to your lunchbox ideas 

When packing a school lunchbox, it is good practice to include items from all food groups. Grains for carbs as a quick source of energy; meat, dairy, or nuts for protein as a sustained energy source; and vegetables and fruits for micronutrients, essential vitamins, and minerals. 

It is, however, critical to ensure the foods you include in the lunchbox are appetizing for your child’s palate and fit their individual preferences. Also. pay attention to putting together a balanced combo of familiar and the not-so-familiar foods, while making sure they have a choice. As a thumb rule, at least one safe food that you know your kids will most definitely eat must be part of the lunchbox idea you build and customize. This will ensure the box doesn’t come back home untouched and your child hungry.  

Nutritionist mother, Jessica D’Argenio Waller, shares a magic formula that recommends picking at least one from these categories when building your child’s wholesome lunchbox: protein, dairy, veggies & fruits, a crunchy snack & a small sweet. But try not to make the snack or sweet item the ‘safe food’ in your lunchbox ideas.

5 Lunchbox ideas that cut the hassle

Try these tasty lunchbox ideas featuring Kaiser & Colonel Kababz products. There is a wide variety to choose ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook items that cut your prep time to a minimum. These products are made from all-natural ingredients and zabiha halal meats, and deliver authentic flavors of cultural cuisines.  

Let’s make some mornings easier for you and make eating more fun for your young ones. 

Lunchbox # 1

• Appetizer: A small-sized crispy samosa with a chicken-based filling adds a flavorful crunch and packs some carbs and protein.  
• Main course: For a good balance of carbs and protein, heat and wrap Colonel Kababz seekh kebabs in a tortilla. If the tortilla is too bland for your child’s taste, use Kaiser’s Malaysian-style plain paratha, made with less oil. Add crunchy fresh veggies, and drizzle with your child’s favorite sauce. 
• Snack: Cheddar cheese cubes are a good source of protein and fat. Their flavor profile pleases many young palates as a healthy snack option. 
• Fruit & candy: Peach or apple slices are an excellent way to enhance the meal with micronutrients. Add a few fruit gummies as a little treat.  

Lunchbox # 2

• Appetizer: A veggie spring roll is a fun little treat with seasoned veggies wrapped in a crunchy pastry that children of all ages love. 
• Main course: A yummy burger with a chicken breast patty, ketchup, and mayo on toasted buns, and whatever fresh veggies your child is more familiar with.
• Snack: Mozzarella balls or bocconcini are a delicious way to add some healthy fats and calcium to the lunchbox.
• Fruit & candy: Fruit salad, moist with juice or syrup, is great for color and a fun twist to the lunch experience. To top that up, add fruit-filled chocolate pieces for candy. 

Lunchbox # 3 

• Appetizer: A crispy lamb samosa adds an element of crunch and tasty protein to the meal.
• Main course: A Mediterranean mezze-themed lunchbox with crispy falafel, sliced pita bread, baby carrots, and cucumbers to dip in creamy hummus is not just flavorful but a fun experience that many kids enjoy.
• Snack: Place a few breaded mozzarella cheese sticks in the lunchbox – this kid-favorite is a tasty source of protein, calcium, and fat. 
• Fruit & candy: Sliced up green and purple grapes add a pop of color to the lunchbox and are a good source of vitamins. For a sure pick-me-up item, add a chocolate-coated oatmeal cookie.

Lunchbox # 4

• Appetizer: Chicken nuggets are always a hit with kids anywhere. All these golden bites need is a drizzle of tomato ketchup. 
• Main course: Children enjoy parathas, especially when they are stuffed with goodies. The keema paratha is an excellent choice with seasoned ground meat. A tasty combo of carbs and proteins.  
• Snack: Cream cheese with crackers and cucumber slices is a smart way to get some fresh veggies into the lunchbox – it can tempt even the picky mouths.   
• Fruit & candy: A colorful and sweet berry combo with strawberries and blueberries is always a great option for kids and a healthy choice too. The treat in this lunch box idea is a chocolate gingerbread cookie – the not-so-familiar flavor of ginger coated in chocolate is a good way to refine the child’s palate.  

Lunchbox # 5  

• Appetizer: A beef samosa with its flaky pastry and robust savory filling is a good appetizer choice for children who are familiar with the flavor of beef. Kaiser Lahori beef samosa is a good size and takes minimal effort to get ready for the lunchbox. Place a sweet and sour imli (tamarind) chutney for a dip.
• Main course: Tandoori chicken quesadilla is a tasty Indo-Mex sandwich with seasoned tandoori chicken and melty cheese. A unique twist on the Mexican quesadilla, it is a good way to deliver a flavorful dose of protein and carbs.
• Snack: Kids love dipping things in ranch; sliced cucumbers and baby carrots are perfect for adding an element of freshness to the meal.
• Fruit & candy: Add a handful of raspberries mixed with grapes to round off the meal, along with an absolute favorite, the peanut butter and chocolate candy.

Concluding words… 

Coming up with lunchbox ideas and packing one – balanced, nutritious, flavorful, filling, and fun – can be a challenge, especially for working moms. However, it does not have to be such a tedious task. If you plan and stock up on convenient and quality frozen food products, weekday mornings that start without a plan can be made far less hectic. Yet you wouldn’t be compromising the quality of your child’s school lunch.