Our Favourite Lunch Treats...

I was always a big fan of vegemite and chippie rolls - with two stipulations that they were salt and vinegar flavoured and that Mum packed my chips separately so they didn't get soggy! We didn't really get into Roll-Ups or Fruit-For-Yonks or Le Snaks, but I did like Annies fruit snack and frozen punnet of Goulbourn Valley Peaches.

I love making up a whole lot of roast vegetables and having these as a salad with a delicious dressing for lunch during the week. I chop up courgettes, aubergine, tomatoes, pumpkin, garlic, red onion and anything else on hand, toss in a bit of olive oil and place in the oven for 30-40mins or until nicely roasted - goes perfectly with a raspberry vinagerette!

 

I have bad memories of peanut butter on Vogels sandwiches that used to take me all lunch hour to eat!  If Mum put a few biscuits or a muesli bar in I was pretty much sold. Yoghurts had a tendency to explode and banana’s were usually beaten to a pulp (god only knows what I did with my school bag!).

I love the ‘stack’ salad. I get a tall Tupperware container and put layer on layer of yummy stuff. I’m all about the number of different salad ingredients so the perfect ‘stack’ would go something like this; coleslaw (pre-mix stuff from the deli), tabuolihi, cucumber, tomato, cottage cheese, alp alpha sprouts, mung beans, snap peas, gherkins, beetroot, coriander, baby spinach leaves, then topped with seeds and nuts. Add a diet coke I’m a happy camper. 

 

Favourite packed lunch as a school girl
My Mum was a health nut and we only ever got Molenberg with peanut butter sandwiches for lunch and some fruit... So on the odd occasion we would get scroggin – which was the coolest lunch treat ever! Especially when we found the carob pieces (yes carob – not chocolate)!
Favourite packed lunch as a working girl
I love avocados, and after reading 'Eat Clean' on nzgirl over a year ago I finally had the insight to put them on toast and bring them to work - yum! Toast some brown bread, add some tuna or tomatoes (or both) and slap that avocado right on there.

 

Anya, nzgirl Fashion and Beauty Manager
Favourite packed lunch as a school girl
I loved veggies so my favourite lunch was my Mum's chicken sammies loaded with salad on wholewheat bread eaten with my beloved carrot sticks. My mum used to make her own hummus for me to dip my carrot sticks into. Yum!

A few healthy leftovers (cooked chicken breast, asparagus and tomato and a small handful of cooked brown rice) whipped up with a couple of egg whites and one yolk makes a simple and tasty five minute frittata. With a little side salad, this is quick and tasty lunch option that always keeps me full and energized.

 

It feels like soooo long ago that I was eating out of my pink ‘cool kids’ lunch box. I loved chicken sandwhiches and all those little treaties, like Roll-Ups, Dunkaroos (ooh remember them?!), chippies and the mini Just Juice containers… So old school!

I’m a bit lazy and usually only end up with peanut butter or honey on toast, but when I can be bothered I love bringing chicken salads or left over pasta. Toasted bagels with cream cheese are also super yum (and easy!).

 

My favourite packed lunch as a kid
Oh the good ol' days! My pink plastic lunch boxed was filled with a sandwich Dad made, an apple (or other fruit) and normally a couple of biscuits, usually choc chip cokies (or if I was lucky a packet of chippies, yum yum).

I’m not a morning person to any stretch of the imagination so, if I ever bring my lunch it is basic and minimal. However, sometimes I do bring a big feed packed with nutritious meat and veggies - also known as last nights leftovers!

 

Cara, nzgirl reader and Records Adviser
My favourite packed lunch as a kid
I loved vegemite and chippie sandwiches!
Blackberry roll-ups for morning or afternoon tea, some mandarins and I loved it when Mum put in a little packet of biscuits for me, like tiny teddies.
My favourite packed lunch now
Chicken salad sandwich with Vogels bread, with mayo instead of butter - it tastes just how it sounds, absolutely yum! A piece of fruit - usually an apple or a piece of stone fruit in summer. Home baked biscuit or a muffin for morning tea, or rice crackers and hummus.

 

Justine, nzgirl reader and Student/Junior Accountant
My favourite packed lunch as a kid
My all time favourite was Toffee Pops, animal crackers with the pretty icing, the yogurts that came with a compartment of sauce and a compartment of sprinkles... On Fridays, without fail, I'd order a mince potato top pie, raspberry bun and chocolate Primo!
My favourite (nutritious) packed lunch now
A wrap packed with capsicum, mesculin, spinach, grated carrot, cottage cheese and the most delicious chilli and lime dressing, with a Weight Watchers apple crumble bar - yummo!

 

Kelli, nzgirl reader and Student
Favourite packed lunch as a kid
I usually had a Le Snack, the iced animal biscuits, luncheon with tomato sauce rolled up with a tooth pick to keep it together and Fairy bread!
My favourite packed lunch now
A banana or blueberry bran muffin. Also a salad with lettuce or rocket, grated carrot, cucumber, avocado, tomato and sometimes pine nuts or sesame seeds, with marinated chicken bits. I also love homemade veggie soup with a wholemeal roll or piece of wholemeal bread.

Jenn, nzgirl reader and Student
My favourite packed lunch as a kid
Chicken sandwiches, yoghurt covered raisins, mini muffins or lamingtons.
My favourite (nutritious) packed lunch now
I make a simple salad with lettuce, carrot, tomato and capsicum, then add some rice and then a tin of tuna or salmon – yum! Sometimes I might have falafel instead. Then I’ll usually have a piece of fruit and a Weight Watchers muesli bar just because they're really nice!

 

Teri, nzgirl reader
My favourite packed lunch as a kid
Marmite and chip sandwiches! And I loved Le Snacks, little bags of chips, Roll-Ups and Griffins Chocolate Chip biscuits!
My favourite (nutritious) packed lunch now
Chicken salad sandwiches (with aioli light instead of butter). I’ll usually have a savoury muffin (or a chocolate one if I feel like it) and a tasty Phoenix juice.