Make leftover lunches fun

Sep 27, 2021 / MIN READ

 

If bagged lunches elicit a shudder and childhood memories of a weirdly soggy lunchbox, we get it. Fortunately, we have some good news: It doesn’t have to be like that anymore!

By planning ahead and using just a bit of creativity, it’s easy to turn last night’s dinner into a delicious lunch for the next day. Whether it’s for your own meal or your kids’, no one will be trading their coveted fruit snacks for a better cafeteria option on our watch.

Find out how you can repurpose your leftovers for a delicious bagged lunch to bring to school or work.

The ultimate DIY pork sandwich

Have some leftover roast? Create a gourmet deli order with the ingredients you already have in your fridge.

The fun of this one is that as long as you have some bread and time to slice up your pork roast to your liking, you’re ready to build the sandwich of your dreams. Your only limit is your creativity! Not only does a pre-seasoned Tuscan Herb Dry Rub Seasoned Pork Tenderloin make for a delicious and easy dinner, but now you have everything you need for the perfect Cuban Sandwich the next day.

Another option is to use a filet with a more simple flavor profile like the Touch of Sea Salt Dry Rub Seasoned Pork Loin. From there, you can have your children pick condiments and put together their very own sandwich to help them build their confidence in the kitchen.

We recommend using mustard, jam or your child’s favorite cream-based dressing to add some extra flavor. Some nutritious sides for your little ones to add to their lunchbox include sliced apples, pears or any other fruit of their choice.

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A nutritious burrito bowl

If you made Hot Chorizo Tacos or another Recipe Essentials Ground Pork recipe and are left with just the filling, you already have 90% of your meal for tomorrow ready to go.

As you clean up dinner, throw some rice on the stove to put in your lunchbox. All you need to do afterward is add your leftover chorizo or ground pork and your favorite toppings to create your very own meal-time fiesta.

Pro tip: Keep any dressing or shredded lettuce you plan to add separate until it’s time to eat. That way, nothing gets soggy overnight and you’re left with a delicious and fresh meal!

Quesadillas with a twist

Grilled up a few too many hot dogs during last weekend’s BBQ? Not to worry — one man’s leftovers is another man’s treasure.

These hot dog quesadillas are the perfect way to transform your cookout castaways into tomorrow’s delicious lunch! All you’ll need is your favorite shredded cheese, tortillas and some staple spices to add some extra flavor to your meal.

Once you cook up your quesadillas on the stove, you can top with your favorite salsa, guacamole or sour cream.

Keep it creative in the kitchen

There’s no limit to what you can do with your leftovers. Just remember to keep an open mind and you’ll be able to transform last night’s dinner into a meal that has you counting down to lunchtime.

Bring the excitement back into the lunchbox and get some extra inspiration on our recipes page!