19 Healthy and EASY Breakfast, Lunch, and Snack Ideas for Busy Teachers

Each week, I have great intentions of meal prepping, snack portioning, and grocery shopping, but, inevitably, no matter how well I plan, I always seem to run into situations where I need quick, healthy food FAST! And, if I don’t have it near me (desk drawer, purse, pantry, fridge, etc.), I get a pretty hangry or I make a poor food choice that sometimes sends me spiraling out of control. To plan ahead, I’ve curated a list of EASY products I love as go-to, quick meal and snack ideas. Most of the following items are pre-packaged, and the rest are super easy to prepare or assemble!

1. Rx Bars

These bars are great for breakfast or an afternoon snack. Keep one in your desk, your car, or your purse for on-the-go snacking! Many RxBar flavors are Whole 30 compliant, too!

Chocolate Sea Salt is my absolute favorite!

2. Bobo’s Oat Bars

These bars are SO filling! Made from natural ingredients and gluten free, these bars are a great on-the-go breakfast or snack option.

My favorites are original and peach!

3. Salad in a Jar

I LOVE mason jar salads! They are not only healthy, they are quick and easy to assemble! You can use a regular mason jar from your canning stash, or buy one specifically designed for salads!

If you are unsure of where to start with these salads, Amazon has some great mason jar salad idea books!

Here are a couple to check out: Mason Jar Salads and More: 50 Layered Lunches to Grab and Go and The Mason Jar Cookbook: 80 Healthy and Portable Meals

4. Nick’s Sticks 100% Grass-Fed Beef Snack Sticks

These grass fed beef jerky sticks are a tasty, protein source to eat for a quick breakfast, lunch, or snack! This jerky is nitrate free and super tasty!

5. Earnest Eats Gluten-Free Oatmeal with Superfood Grains

If you’re looking for a convenient breakfast or afternoon snack, oatmeal can be a great option. Check out this gluten-free, non-GMO oatmeal, that also includes superfoods grains!

6. Justin’s Natural Classic Almond Butter Squeeze Packs

Before I discovered these squeeze packs, I would portion out my almond butter into tiny containers, which resulted in a lot of messiness! I love the convenience of these squeezable almond butters!

7. KIND Bars

I love, love, love these Caramel Almond and Sea Salt to eat in a pinch when I’m hungry. I carry one in my purse if I’m hungry or if I get a sweet tooth — these are WAY better than the Reese’s or Blizzards I crave!

8. Angie’s Boom Chicka Pop Sea Salt Popcorn

Boom Chicka Pop has not only great home-popped taste, it is a lower calorie snack option! These indiviudal packs are great to pop into a gym bag, purse, or desk drawer.

9. Navitas Organics Blueberry Hemp Superfood Power Snacks

These superfood power snacks are strangely addicting! They are calorie dense and surprisingly filling! I love these as a quick pick me up in the afternoons.

10. Instant Pot

An instant pot might not be a ready made meal, but with the speed it cooks your meal, it almost could be! In addition to being a pressure cooker, it also serves as a slow cooker!

Check out these cookbooks for inspiration: Paleo Cooking With Your Instant Pot: 80 Incredible Gluten- and Grain-Free Recipes Made Twice as Delicious in Half the Time and The Instant Pot® Electric Pressure Cooker Cookbook: Easy Recipes for Fast & Healthy Meals.

11. Planters Nutrition Heart Healthy Snack Nuts Mix

Nuts are a great quick healthy on-the-go snack! Check out these individual packs of mixed nuts, sunflower seeds, pistachios, almonds.

12. DIY Veggie Tray

Take 30 mins to wash, chop, and pack your own veggie tray! This appetizer tray would serve as a great storage container for your veggies!

13. Cheerios Cereal Cup

Sometimes, a person just needs a comfort snack, and for me, that’s cereal. Cheerios is now gluten-free, and I love it as a snack to munch on in the car or during my prep.

14. Bear Naked Granola

This yummy Bear Naked Granola makes for a great morning or afternoon snack!

15. Earnest Eats Energy Bars

Wheat-free, vegan, and filled with nuts, fruit, seeds, and grains, these tasty Earnest Eats Energy Bars are perfectly portioned to use for a morning breakfast or afternoon snack.

16. Quinn Snacks Microwave Popcorn – Maple Kettle Corn

My favorite sweet and salty popcorn option! This Quinn’s microwave popcorn has GMO-free ingredients and is SO tasty!

17. Bob’s Red Mill Paleo Muesli

If you crave cold cereal (like I do), but you are following a Paleo diet (like I TRY to most days), check out Bob’s Red Mill Paleo Muesli. It contains nuts, berries, seeds, and coconut! Add some almond milk to the top for a tasty treat!

18. Stainless Steel Bento Lunch Box

Bento boxes remind me of an adult Lunchable! Use a stainless steel bento box to pack easy and fun lunches or snacks for yourself.

Check out Pinterest for a vast array of Bento box inspiration!

19. Ice Age Meals

I saved the best for last! I first saw Ice Age meals on an episode of Shark Tank, and I ordered my first sample box soon after. I LOVE these meals! They taste homemade, and the ingredient list is amazingly simple. I highly, highly recommend this brand!