5 winter lunch ideas your kids will love
Jul 25, 2025
I’m Dr Kyla, mum of 2 girls and a Paediatric Dietitian. In the colder months, my kids tend to find the usual sandwiches, rice cakes and sushi a little less appealing. So I’ve teamed up with b.box to show you how hot lunches can be quick and easy, but also packed full of nutrition.
There’s something particularly comforting about a hot lunch on a cold day, but lots of people assume it will have to come from the canteen. Enter the b.box insulated food jar – it will keep food warm for up to 6 hours, allowing you to send a hot lunch from home! Here are my 5 favourite hot lunch recipes and tips for using the b.box insulated food jar.
jump to a recipe
5 easy winter recipes
nacho bean mix with corn chips
This deconstructed nacho recipe is quick and easy to make using mostly pantry staples, so it’s perfect for end-of-the-week lunchboxes.
ingredients
- ✦ 1 small onion chopped
- ✦ 1 clove garlic crushed
- ✦ 400g tin corn drained and rinsed
- ✦ 400g tin black or red kidney beans drained and rinsed
- ✦ 400g tin crushed or diced tomatoes
- ✦ 2 tsp paprika (or taco mix)
- ✦ Grated cheese (optional)
- ✦ Corn chips, tortilla chips or cooked rice to serve
instructions
- Cook the onion and garlic in olive oil in a frying pan until soft (about 3-4 mins)
- Add the corn, black beans and tinned tomatoes and stir to combine, before simmering for 10 minutes. Mash lightly and mix through the cheese.
- Prepare the b.box food jar and add your nacho bean mix. Serve mixed with rice or with tortilla chips for dipping.
porridge
It doesn’t get more comforting than a bowl of warm porridge, so why not serve it for lunch?! This is a great lunch option if you’ve served eggs or toast for brekkie, and your kids can get involved by choosing their own mix-ins.
ingredients
- ✦ 2/3 cup quick oats
- ✦ 1 1/4 cups milk
mix-ins
- ✦ Fruit: fresh, tinned, frozen or pureed
- ✦ Chia seeds
- ✦ Yoghurt plain, unflavoured, natural or Greek
- ✦ Sunflower or pumpkin seeds
- ✦ Chia jam
- ✦ Cinnamon
instructions
- Place quick oats and milk in a large microwave-safe bowl. If using chia seeds or frozen berries, you can add these now.
- Heat the mixture on high for 4 minutes, stirring halfway through cooking.
- Preheat your b.box insulated food jar.
- Stir in the mix-ins and spoon into the food jar.
pulse pasta with nut-free pesto
Homemade pesto has so much more flavour to it! I like to make a batch of pesto and stash it away in my freezer for a rainy day. But, if you’re short on time (and energy) a store-bought jar is a great option. Just choose a pesto without nuts if you’re sending to a nut-free school (there’s lots of options in the supermarket now!)
ingredients
- ✦ 1/4 cup sunflower seeds lightly toasted
- ✦ 1/4 cup parmesan cheese grated
- ✦ 2 big handfuls fresh basil rinsed
- ✦ 1/2 cup olive oil
- ✦ 1 garlic clove peeled
- ✦ 1/2 lemon juiced
- ✦ Pinch of salt to taste
- ✦ 1 cup pulse pasta
OR
- ✦ 2 tbps of store-bought nut-free pesto
- ✦ 1 cup pulse pasta
instructions
- Add sunflower seeds, parmesan, basil, oil, garlic and lemon juice in a food processor and blend until smooth. Add salt to taste and/or more lemon juice if needed.
- Cook pasta by following the instructions on the packet. Once cooked, drain the pasta and add to a pan, stir through 1-2 tbsp of pesto mixture to heat through.
- Prepare the b.box insulated food jar and add your pesto pasta.
fancy 2-minute noodles
These fancy 2-minute noodles are great for picky eaters as you can choose whatever frozen veg your child likes. The noodles technically don’t have a sauce, which is perfect for kids currently in the “no sauce” phase.
ingredients
- ✦ Packet of 2-minute noodles
- ✦ 1 egg lightly beaten
- ✦ 1/4 cup frozen peas
- ✦ 1/4 cup frozen or tinned corn
instructions
- Discard the noodle flavour sachet and follow the packet instructions to cook noodles.
- Cover peas and corn with boiling water and stand for a few minutes. Drain.
- Drain noodles and return to the pan. Mix through peas, corn and egg over low heat until the egg is cooked.
- Prepare your b.box insulated food jar and spoon noodles inside.
chicken, cheese, tomato rice cooker “risotto”
This recipe makes enough for a few serves, so it’s great for feeding multiple kids with minimal fuss. It’s got plenty of protein and freezes well too.
ingredients
- ✦ 2 tbsp olive oil
- ✦ 2 cloves garlic crushed
- ✦ 1 1/2 cups Arborio rice
- ✦ 400g tin diced tomatoes
- ✦ 3 cups stock
- ✦ 1 cup shredded roast chicken
- ✦ Parmesan to serve
instructions
- Heat the oil in your rice cooker, then add garlic and cook for 2 minutes.
- Stir through the rice, then add tinned tomatoes and stock and cook until the rice cooker switches to warm.
- Fold in the shredded chicken and prepare your b.box insulated food jar.
- Fill your insulated food jar and garnish with parmesan.
tips and tricks for getting the most out of your b.box insulated food jar
winter lunches sorted!
There you have it, five of my favourite, quick and nutritious hot lunches for kids. The b.box insulated food jar does most of the hard work, and your kids get to enjoy a warm hug sent from home.
Which recipe will you be trying for your kids?! Let me and the b.box team know on Instagram!
