September always feels like a fresh start. The return to routines is exciting, but it’s also busy—practices, school, work, and family commitments layered on top of each other. For many families, mine included, dinnertime has to be simple, balanced, and flexible enough to carry into the next day.
One of the ways I’ve kept my sanity through hockey seasons, late volleyball practices, and packed school schedules is by leaning into meals that do double-duty. If I can cook once and cover dinner and tomorrow’s lunchboxes, that’s a win. Over the years, I’ve built up a roster of recipes that check all the boxes: fast, nourishing, and kid-approved.
Today I want to share one of my favourites—Protein-Packed Chicken Egg Roll Bowls. It’s one of those “everyone loves it” meals that comes together quickly and is easy to pack into a thermos the next day. Here’s a teaser!
Protein-Packed Chicken Egg Roll Bowl
All the savoury, sesame-ginger goodness of an egg roll—no wrapper required. This recipe brings together lean Alberta chicken, broccoli slaw, garlic, ginger, and Tamari for a quick, one-pan dinner that’s colourful and filling.
Makes: 4 servings
Prep: 10 minutes | Cook: 15 minutes | Total: 25 minutes
Ingredients
- ½ cup Tamari or soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp toasted sesame oil
- 2 Tbsp rice vinegar
- 5 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 Tbsp grated fresh ginger
- ½ tsp Chinese 5-spice powder
- 2 tsp canola oil
- 8 green onions, sliced (separate white and green parts)
- 1 lb fresh, extra-lean ground Alberta chicken
- 2 (12 oz) bags broccoli-slaw or coleslaw mix
Optional garnishes: black sesame seeds, sriracha, avocado, cilantro
Directions
- In a small bowl, whisk together tamari, sesame oil, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger, and Chinese 5-spice.
- Heat canola oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the white onion pieces and sauté until softened, about 2–3 minutes.
- Add the chicken and cook until no pink remains, 5–6 minutes, breaking it up as it browns.
- Stir in the broccoli slaw and sauce. Cook, stirring occasionally, until veggies are crisp-tender, about 6–7 minutes.
- Fold in the green onion tops, divide between bowls, and add your favourite garnishes.
Turning Dinner Into Lunch
Here’s how I make this work for my family the next day. After dinner, I portion leftovers into thermoses while they’re still hot. To keep food warm longer, I preheat the thermos with boiling water for about 10 minutes before filling it. Small silicone muffin cups are perfect for packing extra sesame seeds, sliced green onion, or a drizzle of sriracha separately, so the kids can add them at lunchtime without losing texture.
If I make a double batch, I’ll freeze portions in Souper Cubes. These little blocks reheat beautifully, and because they’re already portioned, packing a hot lunch is as simple as heat, pour, and go.
Other Dinner-to-Lunchbox Favourites
The Egg Roll Bowl is just one example. A few other meals I lean on in the fall:
- Fried rice with egg and veggies. A fast fridge-clean-out meal that’s always better the next day.
- Steamed edamame. My kids love popping the beans out, and they’re an easy protein booster.
- Chicken and orzo soup. It’s cozy, freezes well, and is so easy to pack into a thermos.
- Chili. Hearty, filling, and fun to top with shredded cheese or crunchy tortilla chips at lunchtime.
- Corn on the cob. In September, we almost always cook extra, then slice off the kernels the next day to add to salads, wraps, or bowls.
GetJoyfull Takeaways
Family dinners don’t have to be elaborate to be meaningful. What matters most is getting something balanced and satisfying on the table, and maybe stretching it into tomorrow so you’re not starting from scratch again. For me, meals like Egg Roll Bowls, soups, and fried rice have become anchors in the busy season. They fuel practices, keep lunchboxes interesting, and most importantly, make sure we still carve out time at the table together.
From our GetJoyfull kitchen to yours, here’s to simple dinners and lunchbox wins that make busy weeks feel just a little lighter.
Joyfully,
Emily
Emily Mardell is a Registered Dietitian, busy mama of three and proud Alberta foodie. Emily is passionate about quality ingredients and creating delicious, nourishing recipes that bring families together. Follow her on social media @GetJoyfull or GetJoyfull.com for nutrition advice and tips to grow food joy and fill up on family time.
Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Alberta Chicken Producers, an organization that supports family chicken farms across Alberta, and promotes the health and nutrition benefits of chicken.