How To Create Picnic-Inspired Lunches

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #WellYesMoment #CollectiveBias

Wintertime can be both magical and dreary…fresh fallen snow is beautiful but after awhile, the lack of sun can drive one batty! Don’t worry, with a trip to Walmart, I’m going to show you how to create a little sun for your significant other, just in time for Valentine’s Day, a special co-worker or your bestie, with a picnic-inspired box lunch!

It is a great way to package up winter time favorites like soup and salad or sandwiches in a fun and clever way and make someone’s day with a tasty surprise. With a little bit of prep, creativity and DIY touches, you’ll be ready to grab a blanket and pretend it’s spring outside!

Our box lunches are inspired by 3 different and very yummy Campbell’s Well Yes!™ soups, all made with nutritious ingredients, non-BPA lining, no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives including chicken meat raised without antibiotics.  These soups make great mealtime solutions when paired with other options, and all dressed up for lunchtime convenience.

Soup and Sandwich

Let’s start with our classic combo, the Soup and Sandwich! I paired the Black Bean with Red Quinoa, chock full of tomatoes, corn and red peppers, with a smoked turkey and roast beef ciabatta sandwich.  Round things off with white cheddar popcorn and lemon sandwich cookies.

• I used ciabatta bread instead regular sandwich bread; other tasty options like Kaiser rolls and focaccia bread quickly kick up a ho-hum sandwich.
• Take a trip to the deli department for a world of sandwich meat options from salami to my favorite, proscuitto. It’s all about layering the flavors to make your sandwich fabulous.
• Parchment paper is great for wrapping sandwiches because the paper is grease-proof; finish the look with baker’s twine or ribbon.
• I’m all about repackaging; half pint soup containers create a perfect portion for lunch while clear bags make anything in them look special.
• 2″ round labels are great for labeling your meal components; handwrite or run through a printer.
• Don’t forget your disposable utensils and colorful paper napkins.

Soup and Salad

Perfect for pairing with salad, the Roasted Chicken with Wild Rice Soup contains corn, carrots and sweet potatoes and of course, chicken meat! Finish things off with chocolate cookie wafers and fruit.

• Keep on moving past the iceberg lettuce and get into leafy greens like kale, arugula and spinach for your salad.  The darker the leaf, the bigger the nutritional punch!
• Toss in some flavor with fresh herbs like parsley and cilantro.
• Forget about your typical cheddar and mozzarella and opt for a strong flavor cheese like asiago or crumbled feta.  It will max your flavor with a minimal amount which means more bang for your calorie buck.
• Classic salad veggies like cherry tomatoes and shredded carrots are always a good choice.  Fruits like avocado (yes, avocado is a fruit), apples and berries are also great choices for most salads.
• I love to use small dip containers for side items like dressing and crackers.

Soup and Mini Charcuterie Tray

Yes, you saw that right…I bet you’ve never thought of this pairing!  Don’t let a mini charcuterie for lunch scare you, it’s easy to put one together with crackers, simple meats and cheese. With a touch of cream, the vegetarian Tomato Carrot Bisque is great paired with the salty meats.

• Make sure that you choose cheese in a variety of textures and flavors…but don’t fret over picking the “right” cheese.  Staple cheeses like sharp cheddar, gouda, brie and goat cheese pair well with each other. I went with gouda and blue cheese wedges.
• Those same meats that are great on your sandwich are just as fabulous for your charcuterie tray. Head back to the deli and choose 2-3 cured meats; I used a Spanish salami, prosciutto and Chorizo Cantimpalo. Even pepperoni can be used!
• Make it look professional, layering a small tray with a romaine lettuce leaf.
• Keep your crackers crispy by packaging in a glassine bag to prevent grease spots.

Voila! Finish off your lunch box with a fun tag; do a quick Pinterest search for lots of fun options.

With Campbell’s Well Yes!™ soups’  low prices, you can create a lunch box for everyone special in your life.  Be on the lookout for a Well Yes coupon in your Sunday papers on March 12 and in store demos in select nationwide Walmart stores 2/16 – 2/19.

I hope you have been inspired to pack a picnic-inspired lunch for someone special in your life.

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #WellYesMoment #CollectiveBias