Everything’s Better in a Mason Jar!
You know the value of finding nutritious recipes and taking advantage of healthy meal plans to keep your family on track, but it’s just as important for your family’s wellness to plan for takeout – from your own home, that is. It’s hard to beat a mason jar for taking beautiful, healthy meals on the go. They’re practical, they’re easy to find, and they sure are pretty. In fact, mason jars are just about perfect for prepping any meal in advance, whether it’s lunch for the work week, after school snacks, or a weekend family picnic. While there are endless possibilities for mason jar meals, we have a few delicious and hassle-free favorites.
Swiss Chilled Oats
This one is perfect for a balmy summer day. Give the oats a quick rinse in cold water and drain before preparing at night, and wake up to tasty, chewy Swiss chilled oats in the morning. Mix and match milks, sweeteners, and fruits or nuts for variety. Yum! Before long, you’ll find yourself craving it.
- 1/3 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 cup almond (or coconut, or other) milk
- pinch or two of salt
- 2T sweetener
- optional nuts and fresh or dried fruits
Place all in a 4oz mason jar, cover, and refrigerate overnight or for at least 3 hours.
Roasted Veggies on Orzo
The beauty of this meal is that as long as you have cooked orzo, you can layer pretty much any combination of roasted vegetables on top of it. This is a great way to use leftover veggie side dishes, and while orzo is pretty and holds its own for hours in a jar, you can just as easily sub rice or even quinoa.
Black Bean Burrito in a Jar
Yes, yes, you could just make a burrito, but where’s the fun in that? Plus, this version doesn’t get soggy by midday! Layer seasoned rice or quinoa, black beans, cheese, shredded lettuce or sprouts, salsa, and a dollop of Greek yogurt or sour cream in a mason jar. Serve with tortilla chips or a tortilla, or just pick up a fork and dig in!
Caprese Salad
Fragrant fresh basil, crisp arugula or baby spinach, ripe cherry tomatoes, and morsels of mozzarella, layered in a 4oz jar, drizzled with a touch of vinaigrette. Be still my heart.
Hummus & Veggies
This might just be the perfect snack-to-go. Take a small or wide mouth mason jar and add a layer of hummus. Top it with chopped carrot sticks, celery, broccoli spears, and snap peas, and toss it in the fridge! Or in your bag, or in your backpack, or…
Image Source: Sprouted Kitchen
Oh, the possibilities! Do you have a favorite mason jar recipe?