Pasta and Noodle Lunchbox Roundup

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This post opens a series of lunchbox roundups that will feature different types of lunchboxes I pack for my daughters and post almost daily on my Pinterest and Facebook pages. My kids, like many others, love pasta and noodles, so they make a frequent appearance on our lunchbox menu. When packing lunchboxes, I always try to include three types of foods:

Grow food (protein+starch)
Vegetables
Fruit and/or dairy

I also usually include a small serving of a sweet treat, to round out the meal. I am also a big proponent of packing a small serving of a less liked or new food into your child’s lunchbox from time to time. This way, they get one more opportunity to learn to like something new!

Here are some of the earlier lunchbox-themed posts that you may find useful:

The Art and Science of Packing a Lunchbox

Lunchbox safety

Involving kids in lunchbox preparation

Sample lunchbox menus

Grain and pasta salad recipes

In general, whole wheat pastas have a higher protein and fiber count than regular, white pasta. Whole wheat pastas are also a better source of nutrients such as selenium, potassium, and magnesium. Besides, there is a growing body of scientific evidence correlating whole grain consumption in children with chronic disease prevention later in life. As with other nutritious foods, introducing whole grains when children are young can help build life long healthy eating behaviors.

I use buckwheat (soba) pasta a lot in my daughters’ lunchboxes. It is a great way to introduce more variety and also boost nutrition. Buckwheat pasta is also a good source of nutrients like manganese, lean protein, carbohydrates, and thiamine. Since buckwheat does not contain gluten, buckwheat noodles are a good choice for people following a gluten-free diet (such as those with celiac disease) or individuals with gluten allergies. If you can find 100% buckwheat noodles, definitely give them a try. Although it may be easier to make the transition to a rather strong nutty flavor of backwheat gradual by introducing your kids to mixed wheat-bauckwheat noodles first.

Here are 10 pasta and noodle lunchboxes (including pictures and ingredients) I have made for my daughters in the past.