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And with the tips in this post, you’ll learn how to pack this healthy winter salad for teens and keep it fresh in a lunchbox for hours.
Healthy Lunch Salad for Teens with Leftovers
This morning, my daughter and I used the leftover roasted veggies from dinner to whip up this oh-so-good winter salad. To up its game, we added crunchy pecans and pomegranate on top.
This is a terrific side salad that pairs great with a simple grilled cheese, a toasted ham sandwich, and even a fall classic: the turkey apple sandwich! You can also turn it into a full meal adding grilled chicken for an all-in-one filling lunch for teens!
What You Need
This packed lunch version of my salad with roasted vegetables is simple to put together with the measurements in the recipe card below. Here’s what I include in the school lunch version:
- Lettuce: mixed greens pair great with sweet and roasted ingredients.
- Roasted Vegetables: such as beets, butternut squash, brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes. These add a cozy caramelised sweetness.
- Cheese: goat, feta, and farmers cheeses are soft, tangy and balance out flavors.
- Toppings: think walnuts, pecans, pepita or sunflower seeds, pomegranate seeds.
- Dressing: I’m using this amazing maple dijon vinaigrette but you can use your favorite.
- Protein: (optional) chicken or turkey can make this a complete lunch.
How to Make a Roasted Vegetable Salad for Lunch
This anything-but-average winter salad for teens works so well because you don’t have to warm up your leftover roasted veggies. Follow these tips for pulling it together so it stays fresh until lunchtime:
- Build the salad base
Start by making a bed of lettuce in a hard lunch container. First place the heavier ingredients like the roasted veggies. Next, add the protein, if using, and cheese. Finish by sprinkling on pomegranate seeds and pecans. - Pack the dressing
Fill a small lidded container with the dressing and drizzle over your salad at lunch. This will prevent the lettuce from getting soggy. - Pack it for school
Keep this winter salad along with any lunch sides refrigerated until ready for school. Pack everything inside an insulated lunch bag.
How to Pack Salad Dressing for Lunch at School
To prevent soggy lettuce or greens, it's best to pack the dressing separately in a small leak-proof container and drizzle it over the salad just before serving. This will ensure your lettuce stays crisp and the lunch bag stays dry!
Keeping Salads Fresh for School Lunches
This teen winter salad will stay fresh for hours from the time you pack it at home until you eat it at school with these additional tips:
Layer the salad
The best way to pack salads for school is by layering the ingredients in the right container. Check out these teen-approved lunchboxes!
Prevent wilting
Add an ice pack inside the insulated bag to regulate the temperature inside and keep the food from getting warm.
Separate wet from dry
Packing the salad separately is key so the other ingredients don't get soggy, especially if you're packing something dry and crunchy, like crackers or banana chips.
Zero Chopping Tip!
Pre-slicing or chopping up your protein at home will eliminate the need for a knife.
More Lunch Salads for Teens
For more easy-prep ideas, try this teen-approved lunch salad with deli meat or chicken strip salad. Just want a side? This tomato avocado salad is simple and delish! Like the winter salad, these can be prepped ahead or made in minutes with leftovers.
Winter Salad for Teens
Ingredients
- 2 cups mixed greens
- 1 cup leftover roasted veggies
- 2 tablespoons pomegranate seeds
- 2 tablespoons vinaigrette, your favorite
- 1 tablespoon chopped pecans, optional
Instructions
- Make a base inside a container with mixed greens.
- Top with roasted veggies and sprinkle on pomegranate seeds and pecans.
- Fill a small lidded container with the dressing and wait to drizzle over the salad until just before eating.
PACK FOR SCHOOL
- Refrigerate the salad or pack it with an ice pack inside a lunch bag.
Bailey says
This salad was perfect for my daughter. She was looking for a heftier salad to keep her full at school We used leftover roasted veggies, nuts and it was the ultimate winter salad for high school.