School lunch ideas

I need some ideas/ recipies for school lunches. I already have some good ideas for sandwiches but i want some more variety for foods to take with me. I do have access to a microwave but would prefer not to use it if i don't have to. Ideas can vary from a recipes to just good types of ready to eat foods you have tried.

Well if you need more information just ask because i don't know what else to put.

Edit: school snack can be helpful too.

Whole wheat pitas are really good. You can bring some hummus, or spread it on a pita and load it with veggies/meat- are you vegetarian? If you're not, you can easily grill/fry up some chicken breast the night before and put it in a pita or a wrap for lunch. :]

No i'm not vegetarian, thanks for the quick reply and the ideas, i am writing a grocery list right now! I love whole wheat pitas and hummus i will try them together!

Peanut butter and apples are a good snack. Celery and low fat cream cheese is also good. Yogurt is a great snack, as are goldfish, pretzels, and veggies/fruit of course. Try some granola bars or protein bars for snacks. I like Nature Valley for granola, or Atkins or Special K for protein. I also like having a handful of natural almonds every once in a while. I also love beef jerky for a snack. My only problem is that once I start, I can't stop, LOL.

I love those tuna/cracker kits they sell at the stores (mostly cuz I love tuna!.) I also like to make stir-fries pretty often, so a serving of that with some rice or rice noodles is great since you have access to the micro. Soups are also great. I'll have like a half a cup of beans (with the broth) and some shredded cheese on top sometimes. (Microwaved of course so the cheese can melt...)

One really filing recipe I've tried a few times is simple, but also requires the microwave for reheating at school. I mix fresh or steamed veggies (such as some sliced tomato and squash, chopped potatoes and onions, and corn kernels or whatever else you prefer) and heat them in a pan with some olive oil until they're all cooked. Add some spaghetti sauce. Then when the sauce is heated, mix in some croutons (or toasted day old bread, cut into cubes, works just as well). The croutons get soggy with the sauce, which sounds gross, but is actually quite good. Then I top each serving with a thin slice of mozzarella. I usually make a big pot of this stuff then store it in 1-cup containers. Put a couple in the fridge and the rest in the freezer for later. Depending on your mix-ins and caloric goals, you may want to make them 1/2 cup servings. It's really filling, so that might still be more than enough.

wow thanks great ideas! my list is getting longer!

Here are a few ideas:

Lunch

Have some left overs from the previous night or use the left overs in your lunch e.g. If you had rotisary or chicken breast the night before and have left over...then have a chicken salad or even a chicken sandwich.  You could also make chicken soup.

snack ideas

-baby carrots

-fruit (grapes, bananna, apple)

-boiled eggs

-celery sticks

-cucumber

-pickles

-yogurt with fruit

i pack my lunch everyday, and tese are some of things i bring most often:

sandwiches, wraps, and pitas (stuffed to the brim with veggies :)

yogurt and fruit

whole fruit or applesauce

dried fruit/nuts

veggies (i like to dip things in hummus or eat leafy greens straight out of a bag. I always have two or three servings of veggies in my lunch.) 

sometimes, if i'm in the mood, i will bring oatmeal fixings

soup

if there's leftovers from the night befor, i will bring those on occassion

cheese sticks

pudding :)

i pack every day at school and i usually pack a protein bar or granola bar that has around 200 calories, then maybe some pretzels/rice cakes/crackers, then something fruity like actual fruit, applesauce, or fruity yogurt.

i was gonna make a topic like this b4 but i just saw this one :) um i need some ideas too except that:
My school is completely Nut-Free [student allergies]

and i'm vegetarian, so any other snack/meal options? (i use some of them already but need more variety for everyday stuff)

Thanks all, keep em coming.

I've been brainstorming myself what to bring for a lunch on campus once classes start up again. I have my sandwhiches down, my favorite being:

35 cal bread, smart deli lunch "meats" (vegetarian), hummus (or avocado), tomato slices and LOTS of lettuce

For snacks I like:

yogurt (Dannon Light&Fit)

whole fruit (apples, grapes), or something I sliced myself (watermelon, etc)

hummus with baby carrots, pretzels or pita chips for dipping

celery and peanut butter (Skippy Natural Creamy is what I like )

For me, warding off mid-day hunger is about several small healthy snacks. If I only bring one big entree then I'll still feel the need to eat 2-3 hours later. If I'm on the go, I pick up a bean burrito from Taco Bell, "fresco style". It's 350 calories and those beans are pretty filling! Hope this helps!

Just make a very small salad with grilled chicken, and wrap it with one or two low-carb tortillas. It has about 210 to 350 calories depending.