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Make-Ahead recipes
27 Must-Try Lunchbox Updates

27 Must-Try Lunchbox Updates

March 17, 2014

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Lisa Powell Bailey

Enjoy 26 of our favorite make-ahead bag lunches, great for packing in kids' lunches or getting you through the workday. Don't forget your superhero lunchbox!

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Turkey and Swiss Pinwheels

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Kira Corbin

Turkey and Swiss Pinwheels Recipe
Spice up the typical turkey and swiss combination with a homemade dilly Dijon spread.

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Veggie Salad in a Jar

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Veggie Salad in a Jar Recipe

Make these salads up to a day ahead; pack them tightly with the dressing on the bottom, followed by denser ingredients that won't get soggy while they marinate. The recipe easily doubles if you need lunch for 4 people.

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Peanut Butter, Banana and Granola Wraps

Photo: Ryan Benyi; Styling: Elizabeth Blake

Peanut Butter, Banana and Granola Wraps Recipe
You may be used to packing a daily lunch for your kids, but did you know that these portable provisions can benefit your health and work performance, too? Studies have found that workers who skip the midday meal are more stressed and less productive than those who take a lunch break. Plus, people who skip lunch are more likely to consume excess calories when snacking in the afternoon. Here are 26 of our favorite make-ahead bag lunches, great for packing in kids' lunches and getting you through the workday.

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Chicken, Potato, and Green Bean Dippers with Honey Mustard

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Kira Corbin

Chicken, Potato, and Green Bean Dippers with Honey Mustard Recipe

Prepare chicken strips, potatoes, green beens, and honey-mustard for a great make-ahead lunch.

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Creamy Chicken Salad with Pita Chips

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Kira Corbin

Creamy Chicken Salad with Pita Chips Recipe
Prepare these homemade pita chips and creamy chicken salad for an easy lunch or after-school snack.

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Turkey and Swiss Wrap with Carrot Salad

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Kira Corbin

Turkey and Swiss Wrap with Carrot Salad Recipe

Serve these turkey and swiss wraps with a carrot salad for a healthy and kid-friendly lunch.

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Mediterranean Tuna Salad

Photo: Ryan Benyi

Mediterranean Tuna Salad Recipe

You can keep this Mediterranean-style tuna salad in the fridge for up to a week making it the perfect make-ahead lunch.

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Provençal Beef Sandwich

Photo: Ryan Benyi

Provençal Beef Sandwich Recipe

Try this 5-ingredient beef sandwich for a tasty and substantial lunch.

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PB Sandwich

Photo: Ryan Benyi

PB Sandwich Recipe

Add a layer of sliced bananas to update the classic PB&J sandwich.

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Tuna-Salad Pita

Photo: Ryan Benyi

Tuna-Salad Pita Recipe

This tuna salad keeps in the fridge for up to one week. When you're ready to enjoy it for lunch, spread the tuna salad in pita pockets and add lettuce and tomato.

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Roast Beef Wrap

Photo: Ryan Benyi

Roast Beef Wrap Recipe

A mixture of mayo, wasabi, and soy sauce adds flavor to this beef wrap stuffed with arugula, scallions, and cucumber.

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Curried Chicken Salad

Photo: Ryan Benyi

Curried Chicken Salad Recipe
This twist on chicken salad gets its unique flavor from curry powder and mango chutney. Serve over greens for for a tasty make-ahead lunch.

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Herby Potato, Green Bean, and Tuna Salad

Photo: Grant Cornett; Styling: Angharad Bailey

Herby Potato, Green Bean, and Tuna Salad Recipe

Herby Potato, Green Bean, and Tuna Salad is chock full of lunchtime goodness. You can also add a hard-boiled egg on top for an extra protein boost.

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Pesto Chicken Salad Sandwiches

Becky Luigart-Stayner

Pesto Chicken Salad Sandwiches Recipe
This hearty sandwich is a filling lunch recipe. Prepare the chicken salad at home the night before, and then assemble the sandwich at work the next day.

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Farro Salad with Creamy Feta

Photo: Johnny Autry; Styling: Cindy Barr

Farro Salad with Creamy Feta Recipe
Good news, whole-grain shoppers! Precooked farro is popping up in both the grain aisle and the frozen-foods section of many supermarkets, meaning this Mediterranean dish requires just 30 minutes of prep time.

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Lettuce Wraps with Hoisin-Peanut Sauce

Photo: Johnny Autry

Lettuce Wraps with Hoisin-Peanut Sauce Recipe
You'll love these meatless, Asian-inspired lettuce wraps with their tangy hoisin-peanut sauce. Just pack the lettuce leaves, filling, and sauce in separate containers and assemble the wraps at work.

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Strawberry Chicken Salad

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck and Caroline Cunningham

Strawberry Chicken Salad Recipe
This healthy salad requires few ingredients and just 20 minutes of hands-on prep time. Crunchy, sweet and satisfying, it's the perfect springtime lunch staple.

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Edamame and Almond Hummus

Photo: Alex Farnum; Styling: Kevin Crafts

Edamame and Almond Hummus Recipe
This protein-packed dip in its gorgous green hue is a great lunchbox snack. Bring along some water crackers and sliced vegetables for dipping.

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Greek Pasta Salad

Kate Sears

Greek Pasta Salad Recipe

Go Greek with your pasta salad by stirring in cucumber, tomato, olives, spinach, and feta, and tossing in a tangy vinaigrette.

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Avocado and Sprout Sandwiches

Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Avocado and Sprout Sandwiches Recipe
These veggie-friendly sandwiches feature healthy toppings like avocado, bean sprouts and toasted pumpkin seeds. Give them your own personal touch with whatever condiments, cheeses or vegetables you have on hand.

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Tabbouleh with Chicken and Red Pepper

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Leigh Ann Ross

Tabbouleh with Chicken and Red Pepper Recipe
This flavorful, Middle Eastern-themed dish comes together easily when you use rotisserie or leftover chicken. Pita chips and hummus are welcome accompaniments.

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Smoked Salmon Bagel

Victor Protasio

Smoked Salmon Bagel Recipe
Starting with smoked salmon, this bagel sandwich is layered with tasty ingredients—flavored cream cheese, capers, and purple onion. It's a quick fix for a brown-bag lunch.

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Caramel-Yogurt Dip

Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Caramel-Yogurt Dip Recipe
Just a few ingredients and fresh-cut fruit are all you need to make this sweet dip. Pack some for yourself and some for the kids, then smile as you dip into caramel-swirled delight.

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Soba Noodle Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette

Randy Mayor; Melanie J. Clarke

Soba Noodle Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette Recipe
Enjoy this flavorful salad chilled for lunch just as easily as you would warm for dinner. Look for soba noodles, often labeled buckwheat noodles, in the Asian section of supermarkets.

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Mediterranean Chicken Salad Pitas

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Cindy Barr

Mediterranean Chicken Salad Pitas Recipe
Who doesn't love a good chicken salad recipe? Take yours to the Mediterranean wtih the addition of Greek yogurt, green olives, and chickpeas, and serve in pita bread halves.

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Cherry and Sunflower Seed Kale Salad

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Cherry and Sunflower Seed Kale Salad Recipe
Tender baby kale, sweet-tart dried cherries and crunchy sunflower seeds are a delightful combination in this healthy salad. Add leftover chicken or turkey for a protein boost, or leave off the meat altogether. Be sure to pack the dressing separately and toss just before consumption to prevent the salad from becoming soggy.

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BONUS: Oatmeal-Pecan Snack Cookies

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Lisa Powell Bailey

BONUS: Oatmeal-Pecan Snack Cookies Recipe
Use up any leftover dried cherries from the previous slide's kale salad by making these portable afternoon pick-me-ups. Want more? Add chocolate chips or grated carrots for a flavorful spin on the recipe.

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27 Must-Try Lunchbox Updates

1 of 27

Turkey and Swiss Pinwheels

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Veggie Salad in a Jar

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Peanut Butter, Banana and Granola Wraps

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Chicken, Potato, and Green Bean Dippers with Honey Mustard

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Creamy Chicken Salad with Pita Chips

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Turkey and Swiss Wrap with Carrot Salad

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Mediterranean Tuna Salad

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Provençal Beef Sandwich

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PB Sandwich

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Tuna-Salad Pita

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Roast Beef Wrap

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Curried Chicken Salad

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Herby Potato, Green Bean, and Tuna Salad

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Pesto Chicken Salad Sandwiches

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Farro Salad with Creamy Feta

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Lettuce Wraps with Hoisin-Peanut Sauce

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Strawberry Chicken Salad

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Edamame and Almond Hummus

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Greek Pasta Salad

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Avocado and Sprout Sandwiches

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Tabbouleh with Chicken and Red Pepper

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Smoked Salmon Bagel

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Caramel-Yogurt Dip

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Soba Noodle Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette

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Mediterranean Chicken Salad Pitas

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Cherry and Sunflower Seed Kale Salad

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