It’s so nice to be back in a routine, isn’t it?  This time of year for me means regular mealtimes, a little healthier eating (watermelon, olives and rosè no longer count as a dinner), meal prep on Sundays, and making school lunches.  I will admit, school lunches throw me since my son doesn’t eat the classic lunchbox staple, a sandwich.  And many of you often message me asking for new school lunch ideas.  I have a great “recipe” for you that my son is crazy for, and so I am.  Meet the “cucumber-turkey roll-up!”

Quite honestly, although I thought this up for my son, I ended up loving these little roll-ups just as much.  I need a little protein in the middle of the day otherwise I get a little tired.  But I don’t want a huge piece of chicken or steak.  A couple of ounces and I’m good.  I was recently re-introduced to Applegate luncheon meats and you guys know how particular I am about animal protein, so I wasn’t sure their new line of organic pre-sliced meats would meet my high standards.  But it did and I am thrilled to share this find with you here.

Here’s what I need in a luncheon meat:

• organic
• no carageenan
• no antibiotics, hormones or growth promotants
• from animals fed a vegetarian or pasture-centered diet (beef needs to be 100% grass-fed)
• No chemical nitrates, nitrites or phosphates
• No preservatives or artificial ingredients.

If you think that’s impossible to find, I would have agreed with you until Applegate recently reformulated their line of organic pre-sliced meats and now I am a fan.  If you are vegetarian, we can still be friends and you can make these roll-ups without the turkey and sub one of their sliced cheeses instead or just make the with hummus.

There are many different types of eaters out there and I am not going to tell you to be Whole30 or Paleo or vegan.  I think any one of these eating styles can be wonderful if you are committed to limiting sugar, refined carbohydrates, artificial foods, and the like.  What I can attest to is that, these cucumber rolls-ups can be a lot of fun to make and don’t have to be limited to a lunch box.  I served a version of these to my friends with drinks with cucumber + Applegate organics smoked chicken + almond milk cream cheese + finely diced sun-dried tomato. Another time for myself I made cucumber + Applegate organics turkey + mashed avocado (tends to go a little brown in the lunchbox) + Everything but the Bagel Seasoning.  Totally delicious!

Do check out Applegate’s website to find out more about their products and to find out what retailers near you stock their products.  Hoping September is off to a great start for you and yours!

I love seeing your creations, so please tag me @pamelasalzman #pamelasalzman so I can check them out!

You can shop the tools I used for this recipe by clicking on the images below!