5 Lunch Ideas with Vegetables in 5 Minutes

This post is brought to you in partnership with Veggies Made Great. All opinions are my own.

Today I’m sharing five lunch ideas with vegetables that kids will want to eat! From mini frittatas to baked muffins, these are easy options you can feel good about packing for lunch in a matter of minutes!

While adding fresh veggies to a lunchbox is always encouraged, this is often difficult for many of us who have picky eaters.

If you’ve ever wondered, “how can I get my child to eat more vegetables in their meals?” I feel your pain; trust me. 

Thankfully over the years, I’ve developed a few tricks to add nutrition-rich veggies to lunches in ways kids will enjoy -like in pasta sauce, in muffins, and smoothies.

However, I am the first to admit that I don’t always have time to bake items from scratch and I’m always looking for solutions to packing a healthy lunch with vegetables for my kids quickly. This is how I first discovered Veggie’s Made Great a couple of years ago (the Superfood Veggie Cakes are a staple in my grocery order) and keep a stash of them in my freezer for quick lunch solutions.

Thankfully, they have a variety of delicious options like mini frittatas, veggie cakes, even muffins. The best part? They taste so good you wouldn’t know veggies are the main ingredient. 

Below, I’m sharing how I incorporate Veggies Made Great into our lunches, pairing ideas, and some tips on how to best pack lunches fast!

How to Pack Veggies for Lunch 

If your kids aren’t fans of fresh veggies, the next best way to make sure they get the nutritional benefit is to add them into cooked foods and baked goods.

I do this all the time, like stirring chopped spinach into mini quiches or adding pureed zucchini and carrots to chili. The veggies cook down and take on the dish’s flavor and are often not noticeable.

Incorporating them into lunches can be a bit more challenging -I’ve had my share of recipe flops and many lunches that have come home uneaten- not to mention time-consuming.

When I’m short on time, Veggie’s Made Great is an excellent alternative with tasty, nutrient-dense options kids love. Each of their products is gluten-free, soy-free, and tree-nut-free, so everyone in the family can enjoy it. They even mastered the art of making delicious muffins with vegetables, which are my kids’ favorites. 

What Vegetables are Good for Lunch 

The best vegetables for lunch are the ones your kids will eat, it’s that simple. However, when you have a child (like two of my three) who refuses to eat veggies, one must get creative when it comes to packing vegetables for lunch.

Whether you pack them fresh, warmed in a thermos, or deliciously hidden in a muffin or quiche, I hope you find it helpful to know you’re not the only one looking for an easier way.

Veggie Muffins

Muffins for lunch? Definitely! And you’d never guess these sneaky muffins are made with zucchini and carrots, which keeps them super moist and adds nutrition. I like to pack these with an additional protein source like Greek yogurt or hard-boiled eggs to make them a well-balanced meal you can feel good about packing. 

1. Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

Classic banana muffin flavors with bits of melted chocolate chips are incredible fresh out of the microwave for breakfast or packed into the lunchbox. 

2. Double Chocolate Muffins

Your kids will think they are hitting the jackpot when they open their lunch to find a delicious, super moist chocolate muffin. Little do they know it’s packed with veggies!

3. Blueberry Oat Muffins

These are the perfect go-to when you want a warm, blueberry muffin without the guilt. Again, the first ingredient is veggies, but you’d never know that from the flavor of blueberries and spongy vanilla muffin! 

I love that Veggies Made Great offer foods we all want to try off Pinterest but don’t have the time to make, like the double chocolate and banana chocolate chip muffins made with zucchini carrots. 

Veggie Frittatas

Frittatas are a popular breakfast option that I like packing for a yummy, protein-rich lunch. They also pack easily in a lunchbox and can be served warm (packed inside a thermos container) or at room temperature in a lunchbox.

1. Spinach & Egg White Frittata

Who doesn’t love a mini frittata and these are made with just the right amount of spinach, Mozzarella, and red bell peppers. These are gluten-free and packed with 5 grams of protein apiece. I usually serve two of them with fresh fruit and yogurt on the side. 

2. Mushroom & 3 Cheese Frittata

For my mushroom lovers, these frittatas are a must! At 80 calories each with 4 grams of protein, you can pop these in the microwave and pack them into the lunch container for later that day or serve them for breakfast -since they are individually wrapped, it’s also a great option for adults to bring to the office.

As you know, it’s not always easy to make veggie-rich meals our kids enjoy. And while I have a lot of recipes on my websites for muffins and quiches, I can appreciate having a time-saving and done-for-you option in my freezer like the products from Veggies Made Great.

They are a perfect quick option for those of us who need to incorporate more veggies into our meals, picky eaters, people who don’t like veggies, or for times when you need a healthy snack or breakfast on the go.

Veggies Made Great are easy to find nationwide at stores such as Walmart, Costco, Target, Shop Rite, Stop and Shop, Kroger, Meijer, Publix, Shop Rite, King Scoopers. You can also check out the store locator and download a coupon to use and try them out!

We can skip the mess, save time, and they are a super nutritious, convenient option. What’s not to love?