Author: Lacy Ngo

Copyright © 2019 Mindfulness in Faith and Food.

You are free to retain any and all content here for personal use, but need permission to use it anywhere else on the internet.

The Mindful Planner: Free Printable

The Mindfully Healthy Lunch Box

Developing the Healthy School Lunch Box Checklist

As school approaches, I have been brainstorming ways to make sure my kids get a healthy lunch box on those chaotic mornings. I always like preparing and organizing before school starts. This year, I feel an even stronger urge to organize because my youngest is (eek!) starting Kindergarten!

healthy school lunch ideas, healthy lunch box — The Healthy School Lunch Box Checklist

Disclosure: This site may provide affiliate links. (See full disclosure).

Get Organized with the “Healthy Lunch Box Checklist”

I decided to get organized with a “Lunch Box Checklist.” This healthy but extremely simple Lunch Box Checklist will make packing a lunch so much easier on those hectic days.

I was so happy with this checklist, I thought you might like it too! You can actually download my “Healthy Lunch Box Checklist” as a free printable and join the “Mindfulness in Faith and Food” Fam here.

Bonus Mindful Lunch Box Notes

I like to find joy in the little things, and I want my children to find joy in the little things too! Nothing like a little lunch box note to bring some joy to my children’s day! When you join the “Mindfulness in Faith and Food” family, you get the free “Mindful Lunch Box Notes” printable too!

Do you have some amazingly healthy school lunch ideas? Please share your ideas in the comments!

You are free to retain any and all content here for personal use, but need permission to use it anywhere else on the internet.

This site is hosted by Bluehost.

Healthy Buffalo Chicken Salad Dip

Absolutley NO COOKING required!

Are you in a BIG hurry?… I mean like people are coming over in about 5 minutes? Then this healthy Buffalo Chicken salad is a super fast way to get something yummy and nutritious on the table! It is just perfect for parties!!! Plus the yogurt is a fantastic source of probiotics!

This site contains affiliate links (See full disclosure here.)

This healthy buffalo chicken salad or healthy dip required no cooking, and is a great source of probiotics and turmeric! — This healthy buffalo chicken salad dip required no cooking, and is a great source of probiotics and turmeric!

Serves 6-8

Ingredients

2 can Wild Planet Organic Roasted Chicken Breast
2 stalked celery, washed and chopped
½ cup walnuts
1/2 cup Greek yogurt (I like Fage)
1 tsp Black Pepper
1/2 cup hot sauce
1 tbsp fresh lemon
½ tsp white vinegar
1 tsp parsley
½ tsp dill
1 tsp garlic, minced
1 tsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
½ tsp onion powder
½ cup cheddar cheese
½ tsp paprika
½ tsp turmeric

To Prepare

Mix all the ingredients together in a medium bowl, and you are done!

Serve with whole grain or black bean crackers or chips. You can eat it either cold or warm!

See healthy cracker or chip ideas below:

Healthier Chips for your Buffalo Chicken Dip

Healthy Zoodle Pasta Salad

Healthy Broccoli Salad

Copyright © 2019 Mindfulness in Faith and Food.

You are free to retain any and all content here for personal use, but need permission to use it anywhere else on the internet.

Healthy Zoodle Pasta Salad

I am loving this zoodle craze right now! Zoodles are so fun, colorful, and delicious. What a creative way to eat more vegetables. I also love pasta salad, but sometimes I don’t feel like boiling the pasta. That is why I love making this healthy zoodle pasta salad. This delicious pasta salad required absolutley NO COOKING! Yes!!!!!!

This site contains affiliate links (See full disclosure here.)

No bake Healthy Zoodle Pasta Salad: easy, quick, and healthy! It's a perfect healthy appetizer for when you want to make something quickly! — No bake Healthy Zoodle Pasta Salad: easy, quick, and healthy! It’s a perfect healthy appetizer for when you want to make something quickly!

Serves 6-8

Ingredients

1 can Black Beans
1 cup canned corn
1 can petite diced tomatoes
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, cut in half
1 Onion, chopped
1 bottle Primal Kitchen Avocado Oil Italian Dressing
1 tsp jalapenos , diced
1 tbsp. Cilantro
4 cups spiralized zucchini
½ cup celery, chopped
4 scallions, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp lime juice
1 tsp lemon juice
1/2 cup goat cheese crumbles, optional
Sea Salt and Black Pepper to taste

To Make

Combine and Stir all ingredients together. Refrigerate until cold. Serve and enjoy!

Healthy Broccoli Salad

Copyright © 2019 Mindfulness in Faith and Food.

You are free to retain any and all content here for personal use, but need permission to use it anywhere else on the internet.

Healthy Broccoli Salad

I have to give credit to my mom for inspiring this particular recipe because my mom makes an amazing healthy broccoli salad for family cookouts just about every summer. And every time she makes it, we devour it!

And just like the other recipes in this series, this broccoli salad requires absolutely no cooking!

This site contains affiliate links (See full disclosure here.)

Just like the other recipes in this series, this healthy broccoli salad requires absolutely no cooking! Perfect for parties and picnics! Great source of probiotics!

Serves 8-12

Ingredients

1 head broccoli
1/2 cup crumbled goat cheese
2/3 cup dried cranberries (like Oceanspray Reduced Sugar Dried Cranberries)
½ cup almonds
1 cup red onion, chopped
1/2 cup Greek yogurt (I like Fage)
1 ½ tbs. white wine vinegar
¼ tsp sea salt
¼ tsp black pepper
2 tbs. honey
1/2 cup Free Range, no nitrate/nitrite added Turkey Jerky (broken into small pieces) or Grass Fed, no nitrate/nitrite added Beef Jerky (I like Think Beef Jerky)
2 tbs. lemon juice

To Make:

Stir all ingredients together.

Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Copyright © 2019 Mindfulness in Faith and Food.

You are free to retain any and all content here for personal use, but need permission to use it anywhere else on the internet.

No Cook Healthy Creamy Salsa

Just 2 Ingredients!

Are you in a BIG hurry… I mean like people are coming over in about 5 minutes? Then this healthy creamy salsa recipe is a lightening fast way to get something yummy and nutritious on the table! It is just perfect for parties!!! Plus this creamy salsa is super healthy! The yogurt is a great source of probiotics, and the salsa is a delicious way to get your vegetables!

This site contains affiliate links (See full disclosure here.)

This healthy creamy salsa recipe is a lightening fast way to get something yummy and nutritious on the table! It is just perfect for parties!!! Plus this creamy salsa is super healthy! The yogurt is a great source of probiotics, and the salsa is a delicious way to get your vegetables!

Serves 6

Ingredients for Creamy Salsa (yes, there are only two!!!):

8 oz. jar salsa

1 cup yogurt

To Prepare

Mix together…Done!

Serve with whole grain chips or crackers. Find links to some of my favorite chips below!

Healthier Chips for your Creamy Salsa Dip

Copyright © 2019 Mindfulness in Faith and Food.

You are free to retain any and all content here for personal use, but need permission to use it anywhere else on the internet.

Black Bean Hummus

Easy No-Bake Healthy Appetizers

Have you noticed there is a theme to all the recipes on our blog? We are all about finding stress free, easy ways to eat healthy delicious food. Whether its cooking and freezing a month of meals all at once; keeping healthy packaged on-the-go snacks on hand; or throwing together no-bake healthy appetizers (like this Black Bean Hummus) to take to a party, Mindfulness in Faith and Food has got all of your stress-free and healthy cooking needs covered!

This site contains affiliate links (See full disclosure here.)

Take this Black Bean Hummus, for example…

Black Bean Hummus: easy no-bake appetizer perfect for parties and picnics. — This Black Bean Hummus recipe is another A-mazingly easy, no-bake, no-fuss recipe. A crowd pleasing favorite healthy appetizer perfect for parties and picnics

This no-bake, no-fuss Black Bean Hummus recipe is a crowd favorite, and is a perfect healthy appetizer for parties and picnics!

Serves 6-8

Ingredients

1 can black beans
¼ cup tahini
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tsp lemon juice
½ tsp minced garlic
¼ tsp salt
½ tsp cumin
½ tsp paprika
¼ tsp cayenne pepper
2 tbs water

To make

Slowly blend ingredients in the food processor until well blended

Serve with whole grain chips or crunchy raw vegetables.

Copyright © 2019 Mindfulness in Faith and Food.

You are free to retain any and all content here for personal use, but need permission to use it anywhere else on the internet.

Avocado Turkey Sandwich with Homemade Greek Yogurt Spread

Plus Tips on How to Make Deli Meat Sandwiches Healthier

Avocado Turkey Sandwich with Greek Yogurt Spread plus tips on how to make deli lunch meat sandwiches healthier!

The Scoop on Heavily Processed Meat

Sometimes you just want a good old fashioned deli sandwich (my favorite is a turkey sandwich), and yet you wish you could eat a healthier version.

After all, luncheon meat is often heavily processed, and limiting processed foods has been shown to promote gut balance; and reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s, dementia, some cancers, and inflammation.

Moreover, heavily processed foods may reduce cognitive focus and attention and immune function.

Highly processed luncheon meats include pepperoni, salami, and bologna, just to name a few.

This site contains affiliate links (See full disclosure here.)

Healthier Lunch Meats

One way to make a healthy sandwich is by purchasing fresh chicken or turkey and cooking the meat yourself. But if that is still not going to satisfy your deli meat cravings, then keep reading because many healthier deli meats are currently available. When you are shopping for lunch meat, choose:

Organic
No Nitrate/Nitrites Added
Lower sodium

Best Turkey Deli Meat Brands

Applegate Organics or Trader Joe’s Oven Roasted Turkey Breast are two of my favorite luncheon meats! Organic Prairie is another great company that offers organic deli meats. You can order from Organic Prairie online!

Need some sandwich inspiration?

Below is one of my favorite Deli Meat Sandwiches Recipes!

Avocado Turkey Sandwich

Serves 4

Ingredients

2 avocado, pitted, peeled, and sliced
8 organic Nitrate/Nitrite Free Turkey Slices
4 slices brie cheese
4 spinach leaves
1 tomato, Sliced
8 slices of whole wheat bread
4 Tbs. yogurt spread (See below)

Yogurt Spread Ingredients

Yogurt Spread

1/2 cup yogurt
2 tbsp. garlic, minced
2 tsp black pepper
1 tbs. Extra virgin olive oil

To Make

First, make the yogurt spread by combining and stirring yogurt, garlic, black pepper, ad extra virgin olive oil in a small bowl.
Next place four slices of bread side-by-side on a clean surface.
Spread the yogurt spread onto the four pieces of bread.
Add two slices of avocado to each piece of bread.
Now add two slices of turkey to each piece of bread.
Add a slice of Brie onto each piece
Next add a slice of tomato.
Then add the spinach leaves.
Place the other pieces of bread on the spinach leaves to form a sandwich.

Make it a Wrap

You can also make a wrap instead of a sandwich using whole wheat wraps. My favorite wraps are The Ole’ Xtreme Wellness!

Want Your Sandwich Toasted?

You can also make a hot sandwich. Simply add the turkey and brie to your bread, and place the bread into the oven set at 375 degrees for 5 minutes. Add the cold ingredients to the bread after the bread has finished toasting.

You are free to retain any and all content here for personal use, but need permission to use it anywhere else on the internet.

How to Make Homemade Hummus

Hummus is such an easy, quick, versatile, and healthy meal or appetizer! In fact, this recipe has exactly ONE step and requires NO cooking!!! You can add hummus to whole grain tortillas wraps and in minutes, you have a no fuss lunch. Or you can pair this delicious spread with raw veggies or whole grain crackers to make a crowd pleasing side!

This site contains affiliate links (See full disclosure here.)

Check out the recipe below!

Easy No Bake Healthy Cooking: Easy Homemade Classic Hummus. This hummus recipe has only one step and requires NO cooking! — Easy No Bake Healthy Cooking: Easy Homemade Classic Hummus

Serves 6-8

Ingredients

1 can chickpeas
¼ cup tahini
¼ cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 tsp lemon juice
½ tsp minced garlic
¼ tsp salt
½ tsp cumin
2 tbs water

Directions

Slowly blend ingredients in the food processor until well blended. Done!

Serve in a wrap with lettuce and your favorite veggies or as a dip with raw veggies or whole grain crackers, pita, or chips.

Hummus Variations

Once you know how to make classic hummus, you can add your favorite ingredients to make new hummus creations. Some of my favorite hummus toppings include:

Sun- Dried Tomatoes
Simply Organic Chipotle Powder
Mediterranean Organic Roasted Red Peppers

You are free to retain any and all content here for personal use, but need permission to use it anywhere else on the internet.

Healthy Ranch Dressing

Like all the recipes on Mindfulness in Faith and Food, this healthy ranch dressing is super easy to make. This Healthy Ranch Dressing is perfect paired with a whole grain or bean chip, salad, or even better some crispy raw or blanched vegetables.

This site contains affiliate links (See full disclosure here.)

Easy and Healthy Ranch Dressing made with Greek Yogurt; Great source of probiotics

Ingredients

¾ cup Greek Yogurt (I like Fage)
1 tbsp. fresh lemon
1 avocado, pealed and mashed
½ tsp white vinegar
1 tsp parsley
½ tsp dill
½ tsp garlic, minced
½ tsp onion powder
½ tsp chives
½ tsp black pepper
¼ tsp sea salt

To Make

Slowly Blend all ingredients in the food processor until well blended.

(When you are in a rush, you can even simply mix one ranch packet with 1 cup of Greek yogurt)

Serve with whole grain or bean chips or crunchy raw or blanched vegetables. See recommended chips below.

Related Products

You are free to retain any and all content here for personal use, but need permission to use it anywhere else on the internet.