Back-to-school/work meals for EVERYONE
August 15, 2022 | Hui Hui Lee
Hello friends, how was your summer break? Did you get to do anything fun over this summer? Now that our summer break has come to an end, it is time to get back to a full schedule of daily routines. Are you ready for it? Let's chat a little about a routine lifestyle here today. I know it might not sound as exciting as the topics of holiday and vacation, but trust me, routine can also be fun and interesting. So what type of “routine” food shall we try today (that is easy enough, shorter prepped time, and most importantly, delicious)? If you don’t know me by now, I am all about easy, flavorful, appetizing, well-presented, and healthy food! So you might then ask what I mean when I say healthy food. A healthy recipe, from my perspective, consists of well-balanced macronutrients (carbohydrate, protein, and fat), as well as packed with an excellent source of nutrients (vitamins, minerals, as well as fibers).
Back to school/work meals can be very easy, tasty, and also have an aesthetic appearance. If you are interested in getting more ideas on what to prepare for back-to-school/work meals, come join me today. I am a strong believer in flavors, and different cultures use different combinations of spices and seasonings. Therefore I always include several cuisines while planning my meals to help to prevent myself from getting bored. If you are following my blog, please be more adventurous when trying unfamiliar cuisines, most of the time you will end up astonished and loving the food.
Without further ado, let’s jump right in to see what meals to make for our back-to-school/work.
Japanese bento lunch set: For the main meal, I have made yaki tuna onigiri (grilled rice ball with creamy tuna filling), steamed broccoli, octopus-like turkey dogs, spinach tamagoyaki (cooked spinach rolled in japanese omelet), and teriyaki chicken meatballs. For a snack, I have some apple slices and grapes, also peanut butter energy bites.
Korean lunch box: I prepared chicken bibimbap, which is pretty much a mixed rice dish served with an array of side dishes (veggie and meat), and gojuchang sauce. For the protein, I made chicken bulgogi and a sunny-side-up egg. For the veggies, I individually prepared mung bean sprouts, korean-style spinach, stir-fried shiitake mushrooms, and korean-style zucchini. For the dressing to go with the rice mixture, I made gojuchang sauce. The general idea of this bibimbap recipe is adapted from SeonkYoung Longest.
Crispy veggie rice paper dumpling set meal (vegetarian friendly): The flavorful rice paper dumplings wraps are crispy outside and chewy inside, wrapped with the savory umami flavor shredded cabbage and shiitake mushrooms. This is a vegan and vegetarian dish. The recipe is adapted from I heart umami. To complete this meal, I also incorporated some stir-fried leeks with sliced shiitake mushrooms (I omitted dried shrimp and chicken stock granules), soft-boiled eggs, and fruits (grapes and strawberries)
Chipotle tahini bowls (vegetarian friendly): This is an EXTREMELY versatile recipe, it goes very well with the creamy chipotle tahini sauce. So simple, yet flavorful and filling. The recipe is adapted from Pinch of Yum. I also made mixed fruit parfait for my sweet snack for later.
Baked chicken shawarma wrap meal: Are you looking for a meal that is going to blow your minds and taste buds? This baked chicken shawarma is perfect for you! It is a very versatile recipe, you can make it into a wrap or bowl. Previously, I made it into the Shawarma bowl, but this time, I have decided to wrap in pita bread. This chicken shawarma wrap pairs very well with creamy tahini sauce. To make it complete, I also packed myself some fruits (cut-up kiwi, grapes, and strawberries) and tossed cashews. The baked chicken shawarma recipe is adapted from feasting at home.
Vegan burrito wrap set meal: A delectable Tex-Mex style wrap is one of my favorite go-to lunches. It is not just an easy prepped wrap, it is also very DELICIOUS and SATISFYING! The vegan burrito recipe is adapted from the simple veganista. I also packed a zucchini chocolate chunk bread muffin (not vegan friendly) and fresh strawberries for my late-afternoon snacks.
*Most ingredients prepared for the blog are sponsored by DRH Health Food and Nutrition Department.