Ryvita lunch packs – two ways with toppings

I work for myself, but to escape the trap of working from home and spending the day watching Jeremy Kyle I rent an office in town, about a twenty minute walk away. I share it with a couple of people, and it’s really nice for the whole work/life balance thing, but there’s one downside.

Lunch.

When I worked from home, I’d always take the time to make a proper lunch. It wasn’t always fancy, but there’s a lot to be said for beans on toast. As an office worker though, I’m a bit rubbish at lunch. I hate making Belle’s packed lunches, and the last thing I want to do is make two of the damn things, so I normally buy something. This means a Boots meal deal, (excellent value for what it is, but bleurgh), or, if I’m feeling rebellious, it’s a ‘meat of the day’ bap from the sandwich bar around the corner, (delicious, but basically a heart attack in a bun.)

I feel like things need to change.

Good timing then for the launch of Ryvita‘s new lunch packs. I wrote about Ryvita not long ago, and how tasty they actually are, but if you’re taking them to work, you’ve always got the issue of having to fit the big packet in your handbag, or what you do once you’ve opened them – how do you store them in your desk and keep them fresh?

Come on in lunch packs, this is your cue…

Ryvita lunch packs

Ryvita lunch packs

When fiance first saw them, he looked confused for a minute, then he smiled like a toddler who has worked out how to open the biscuit tin.

“Are Ryvita called Ryvita because they have RYE in them?” he asked.

“Yes,” I said patiently, “yes they are.”

Rye is a bit ace. It’s high in lots of essential vitamins, rich in magnesium and zinc, and a great source of wholegrain and dietary fibre. A much better option than a damp prawn sandwich in a cardboard box.

Each little packet contains four Ryvita, which is just the right amount for a light lunch, and they come is six different flavours. You can pretty much put anything on them, and I’ve created both a sweet and a savoury option for you in this post, to show you how versatile they are.

Now I have to confess, I didn’t actually use the radishes in the end, although they would back a great topping. I just love the colour of radishes so much that I wanted to include them in the picture.

I mean look, they’re just beautiful aren’t they:

Ryvita lunch packs

I’m glad we agree.

I had two key criteria for my Ryvita lunch pack toppings. Firstly, obviously, they have to be tasty. That’s a given. Secondly, I wanted to come up with ideas that I would actually make for my lunch. It’s all well and good creating something fabulously beautiful, but if it takes an hour to make, and you need a full set of professional knives, then that kind of negates the point of the handiness of the lunch packs.

So, I came up with a couple of ideas that are yummy, but not complicated. Let’s go savoury first.

For my savoury combination, I went with Ryvita with sunflower seeds and oats, topped with Normandy brie and fresh figs. I don’t know what it is about figs, but biting into one makes me feels like some kind of exotic princess. There is just something wonderfully decadent about it. They look beautiful too. There are a couple of greengrocers on my way to work, so it’s easy for me to pick up bits of fresh fruit.

The cheese is one that I particularly like from Marks & Spencer, and I thought it would be great for a Ryvita lunch packs topping as it’s one of the ones that M&S sell in mini sizes. You could pick up a few and pop them in your fridge at work, and then you don’t have any waste and don’t have to stink out the fridge.

Ryvita lunch packs

Ryvita lunch packs

My sweet choice is a bit of a classic – raspberry and coconut. I wanted something sweet and spreadable, but a little bit different from your standard jam or chocolate spread. While I was in M&S getting my brie, I came across this coconut spread. It’s delicious and sweet but not in an overwhelming way, so it doesn’t feel weird on a Ryvita. I imagine it would be really good too on things like pancakes or pastries.

Ryvita lunch packs

Raspberries are one of my favourite fruits. Definitely my favourite berry. It’s a bit annoying that they cost about £2 for ten of them, but it’s worth it. Besides, by putting them on top of a pumpkin seeds and oats Ryvita, rather than stuffing handfuls into your mouth in one go, they go much further.

And there we go, two simple but tasty toppings for your Ryvita lunch packs. Why not get yourself some and jazz up your own lunch?

What would you put on your Ryvita?

Ryvita lunch packs

Ryvita lunch packs

Produced in association with Ryvita.

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3 Comments

  1. 18 September, 2016 / 5:38 pm

    Yummy. Love these ideas. I am going to have to go out and buy figs. And I want to steal that plate! Love the splashes of ink.

    • Jo Middleton
      Author
      19 September, 2016 / 9:39 am

      It’s brilliant isn’t it?! I bought it especially to take food pictures on – £5.99 in John Lewis :-)

  2. 18 September, 2016 / 6:40 pm

    Thanks Jo for sharing this great article.I like yours but now im in love with Tomato Salad with Edamame Succotash.

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