How to Turn Cheese and Crackers into DIY Adult Lunchables

Make lunch quick and easy by turning your favorite classy appetizer into a meal prepped lunch! Pick a couple meats, your favorite cheeses, add some fruits and veggies, toss in some crackers and voila! Here are some easy tips and tricks on How to Turn Cheese and Crackers into DIY Adult Lunchables.
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I fully believe everyone should start making their own lunchables at home. One of my favorite reasons… cost. (To my sister, if you’re reading this…) If you picked out your favorite “lunchable” from the store (pizza, nacho, cheese and crackers, any of ’em!), there’s a high probability you could actually purchase the same number of servings of all those ingredients, and assemble your own version at home for much cheaper.

…Assuming you are not purchasing the most top notch expensively aged cheese in this scenario, I think it’s totally doable for anyone reading this right now.

Plus, you get you to make them exactly how YOU want. With much less plastic-y garbage involved and more of what you would actually like to eat. The possibilities are nearly endless.

Basically, it’s a WIN-WIN. I’ve got a couple (perhaps obvious but took me a bit) tips for best methods on assembling these babies, especially if you don’t have cute little bento box style lunch boxes (but I do NEED them… wishlist!!).

Here are my tips on How to Turn Cheese and Crackers into DIY Adult Lunchables:

1. To make it into more of a lunch, add some fruits and veggies, but make sure they are as dry as possible so the excess moisture doesn’t infiltrate your crackers.
2. Keep your crackers as far away from those fruits and veggies as possible. Put the meats and cheeses in between crackers and produce.
3. Use paper or parchment baking cups to hold the crackers. It helps absorb moisture that might otherwise make the crackers soggy. You can also keep your cracker separate, but then it wouldn’t be a true lunchable, would it??
4. If you’re looking for more calories that aren’t cheese or meat, dump some nuts over the top of your lunchable. Easy and delicious!

What I like to put into my adult lunchables:

• Meats: I don’t eat red meat, but I like to add sliced turkey/chicken, turkey pepperoni, and turkey summer sausage. Feel free to go way fancy with salami or other charcuterie meats.
• Cheeses: A regular or, even better, a light Babybel cheese is pretty low on calories and leaves room for another kind of cheese if you want – Hickory Smoked Fontina is pictured, but I love gouda, havarti, cheddar, uhh, all cheese…
• Crackers: As a healthier option, I like to go with Blue Diamond Nut Thins (made from rice and almonds) for my cracker choice. Feel free to use any kind of crackers you would like, although sturdier crackers stay crisp longer.
• Produce: For some reason, I think red grapes are a must when it comes to a cheese and cracker themed lunchable. Overall, the less moist the fruit or veggie, the better. Cucumbers could be subbed with carrot sticks, celery, broccoli, etc., as long as it’s well dried.

Dessert is also an option – keep it on the side or throw it in a little baking cup too. You could go with some classic M&Ms, or a healthier granola bar type item. The beauty of these bowls is anything goes!

3 possible reactions you may receive with your adult lunchable:

1. 
2. People asking where you got such an awesome lunch.
3. Office dogs visiting your desk because you smell really good to them.

Other articles that also support adult lunchables & more:

• How to Eat Cheese and Crackers for Lunch from Hannah Petertil, Food 52
• The Case for the Adult Lunchable from Claire Lower, Lifehacker
• Herbed Goat Cheese Rainbow Snack Boxes from PMP

Did you make this? I want to see how it turned out! Tag me in your social media post @projectmealplan and use #projectmealplan when you share!

Recipe

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How to Turn Cheese and Crackers into DIY Adult Lunchables

Yield: 4 servings 1x

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Prep: 10 minutesTotal: 10 minutes

How to Turn Cheese and Crackers into DIY Adult Lunchables – Check out some simple tips and tricks for turning your fave appetizer into a delicious lunch!

Scale: 1x2x3x

Ingredients

• about 2 cups of red seedless grapes on the vine
• 1 small cucumber, peeled and thinly sliced
• 1 4.25-ounce box Blue Diamond Nut Thins Nut & Rice Crackers (or your favorite crackers!)
• around 40 slices turkey pepperoni
• 4 ounces summer sausage
• 4 Babybel Cheeses (light or regular)
• 3 ounces Hickory Smoked Fontina cheese, or other soft/mild cheese

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Instructions

Assemble all your ingredients into four bowls with lids or bento boxes! Remember to do the following:

1. Use paper or parchment baking cups to hold the crackers. It helps absorb moisture that might otherwise make the crackers soggy.
2. Make sure your produce is as dry as possible so the excess moisture doesn’t infiltrate your crackers.
3. Remember to keep your crackers as far away from those fruits and veggies as possible. Use the meat and cheese as a barrier between the crackers and produce.

Equipment

4-cup Pyrex round glass containers

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OXO Utility Cutting Board

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Notes

Other options for your adult lunchable: Spicy mustards, jams, zesty pickles, pretzel crisps, carrot sticks, berries, or relishes. Be sure to separate any liquid items like mustards or relishes.

Nutrition information estimated with My Fitness Pal.

Nutrition Information

• Serving Size: 1 lunchable
• Calories: 474 (pictured)
• Fat: 20g
• Carbohydrates: 43g
• Protein: 30g

© Author: Danielle

Cuisine: American Method: No Cook

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Thanks for checking out How to Turn Cheese and Crackers into DIY Adult Lunchables! Be sure to use #projectmealplan on social media if you make your own version! And follow me on Pinterest for meal inspiration every single day.