A warm lunch or morning tea is the ideal way to help ward off the winter chill and keep kids’ energy levels up throughout the school day. It’s also a great way to reduce waste and use up leftovers. Check out Tam’s great ideas for hot lunch-box meals.
“There’s nothing I like better when I’m at work on a cold winter’s day than uncapping a steaming flask of homemade soup. A hot lunch boosts my energy levels for the rest of the day, and wards off the chill like nothing else. Sometimes I’ll make up a batch of porridge for morning tea, in case I’m in too much of a hurry for breakfast. For kids, a hot homemade lunch at school is a real treat, whether it’s leftovers from dinner or a soup you’ve made specially for them. The recipes I’ve chosen here are simple and quick to prepare, and the savoury ones also make for a hearty winter dinner for the family, with lunchtime leftovers ready to reheat and pack up the next day. When you’re ready to pack lunch, first pour boiling water into the flask, then pop the lid on and leave it for 10 minutes before draining and drying it. Then add your food. That way, the food won’t lose any heat when you add it to the flask.”
- Tam
01
Chicken & corn noodle soup
This simple, delicious soup takes just 45 minutes to make – perfect for a weeknight dinner – and you could easily double the quantities so everyone gets a hot lunch the next day. If fresh sweet corn isn’t available, simply use canned corn kernels.
Try it with creamed corn for a silkier, thicker soup. If you’re making this purely for school lunches, you can add the uncooked noodles and spinach to the soup once it’s in the flask – they’ll have cooked through sufficiently come lunchtime.
02
Pumpkin pasta soup
This is a great set-and-forget midweek dinner. It uses everyday ingredients that won’t break the bank, working out to be $4.12 per serve, and smells gorgeous while it’s baking.
Because chicken drumsticks have a bone, they might take longer to cook in the centre, even if they’re browned on the outside. So, when it’s time to check the meat, pick the largest drumstick and use a small, sharp knife to pierce it at its thickest spot. If the juices run clear, all your chicken should be good to go.
03
Orange-spiced porridge with blueberries
A delicious option for morning tea (or lunch for those with a sweet tooth). Porridge is the ultimate winter-warmer, and this version amps up the flavour with the warmth of cinnamon and vanilla, and fruity zing from the orange and blueberries.
You can make the porridge the base for any other cooked fruit you like – some stewed apple or rhubarb, perhaps. Pour the porridge into the flask.
04
Kids’ green mac ’n’ cheese
Here’s a great way to hide the good stuff. This recipe updates a family favourite by packing it with green veggies in a vibrant take on the classic that any Dr Seuss fan will adore. If you don’t have a stick blender, simply pulse the milk mixture in a food processor.
To retain maximum heat (the blending will have reduced the mixture’s temperature slightly), make sure you preheat your flask before transferring the mac ’n’ cheese. Simply fill the flask with boiling water, set aside for 10 minutes, then drain and dry thoroughly.
05
Chicken fried rice
Fried rice is a great way to use up leftovers and makes the perfect feast-in-a-flask for a school lunch, too. Mix and match your ingredients, depending on what veggies you have available.
Corn kernels, finely shredded cabbage, and chopped red capsicum, zucchini or green beans are all good options. If you don’t have any leftover cooked rice, a packet of microwave brown rice is a quick and easy alternative.
Which insulated container should you choose?
Opening a container of hot food can be hard for little hands, so make sure the flask you choose is well insulated and doesn’t transfer the heat to the outer wall of the flask. It should be easy for a child to open, but still effectively seal in the heat.
To avoid any school-bag catastrophes, check that the container is leak-free and easy to clean.
Check the manufacturer’s instructions how long food will stay hot (or cold) in your chosen flask, as these recommendations can vary.
A wide-mouthed food flask is worth considering for more solid recipes, such as the chicken fried rice or green mac ‘n’ cheese, as it will be easier and safer for a child to spoon out the contents.
The golden rule before adding any hot food to your flask is to fill it with boiling water first, then put the lid on and set aside for 10 minutes. Drain the water and dry the flask well before filling.
A flask isn’t just for hot food – any insulated container will keep food cold, too. The same rule applies when you’re preparing a flask for cold food: fill it with ice-cold water and set it aside for 10 minutes, before draining and drying well. That way, the food will stay chilled for longer.
In the market for a flask? Woolworths, Everyday Market and BigW all have a great selection of lunchbox-friendly flasks to choose from.