Lunch Box Pasta Salad

About this time of year, as the kids embark upon a new year at school and parents are feeling full of enthusiasm and motivation for a healthy year, I’m often asked for lunch box ideas. For me, the key to a healthy lunch box is to keep it relatively simple, of course easy to make, and full of good homemade stuff you know they will eat. You don’t need a vast amount of variety; just enough to prevent food boredom and absolutely always try to steer clear of shop bought, packaged ‘treats’ and low nutrient options such as white bread and processed meats.

Chicken drumsticks, boiled eggs, home baked ham, soups, leftover dinners and healthy (preferably gluten free) wraps all make good bases. Then you just need to add some vegetables or salad – whatever you know they will eat (my little ones like sliced cucumber, peppers, carrots, cherry tomatoes, avocado, etc.), fruit and a small homemade treat if you choose (search my dessert category for lots of ideas).

Pasta is another good lunch box meal, but make sure you buy a good quality, nutritious pasta. I like the versions made from lentils as the protein content is higher than wheat pasta, which helps to slow down the release of the carbs into the system, but if your kids are ok with gluten then opt for an organic, wholewheat version. This recipe I’m about to give you is just something my kids like, so feel free to play around with the ingredients, remembering to jam pack it full of nutritious goodness!

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Lunch Box Pasta Salad

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Prep Time

10 Mins

Cook Time

20 Mins

Servings

People MetricUS Imperial

Ingredients

• 4-6 chicken drumsticks
• 4 Handfuls Good quality pasta
• 1-2 Tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 Tbsp Goats butter
• 1/2 courgette Finely chopped
• 2 Inches cucumber Finely chopped
• 1 Handful Cherry tomatoes Quartered
• 4 Sun dried tomatoes Chopped
• 10 Olives Halved
• 1 Large Picked gherkin Sliced
• 1 Handful fresh basil Finely chopped

Prep Time 10 Mins Cook Time 20 Mins Servings People MetricUS Imperial Ingredients 4-6 chicken drumsticks 4 Handfuls Good quality pasta 1-2 Tbsp olive oil 1/2 Tbsp Goats butter 1/2 courgette Finely chopped 2 Inches cucumber Finely chopped 1 Handful Cherry tomatoes Quartered 4 Sun dried tomatoes Chopped 10 Olives Halved 1 Large Picked gherkin Sliced 1 Handful fresh basil Finely chopped

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Instructions

1. Cook the tray of chicken drumsticks to your liking (add some flavour such as lime/lemon juice and black pepper if you wish).
2. Cook the pasta as per packet instructions (normally about 15-20 mins in boiling water). Once cooked, drain and drizzle in olive oil.
3. Meanwhile sauté the courgette in the butter for about 5-10 minutes.
4. Take 2 of the chicken drumsticks and remove the meat to add to the pasta (save the rest for lunch or a snack another day).
5. Combine all of the ingredients and give it all a mix. Keep any leftovers for the next day or 2. (You can make a large batch of this and use it all week if you wish or portion up and pop in the freezer.)

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