If you are looking for Easy Healthy Lunch Ideas To Take To Work, then you are in the right place.Here I have rounded up 17 of the yummiest, tastiest and simply easiest lunch ideas which will surely satisfy your taste buds.
Looking for some easy healthy lunch ideas to take to work? There’s nothing worse than feeling tired and lazy on a Monday morning after the weekend when you know you should be getting up, going to the kitchen, and cooking yourself a healthy dinner.
10-MINUTE CHICKEN QUESADILLA WITH FETA CHEESE
If you’ve got some cooked chicken, feta cheese and vegetables you can easily make this tasty quesadilla recipe in 10 minutes. You’ll put all of the ingredients in a bowl, mash them together, spread over a tortilla, fold in half and toast in a pan. Use whole grain tortillas (or tortillas that fit your diet). I usually love pairing this kind of sandwiches or quesadillas with something fresh. Usually I make a quick salad and it keeps me full until dinner. The recipe is here.
LOW CARB TASTY AVOCADO CHICKEN SALAD
This is a super tasty and easy avocado chicken salad and it is one of my favorite chicken salad recipes. It’s super flavorful, fresh and filling. Recipe here.
CHICKEN EGG BAKE
If you’re often on the go and don’t have time to eat over the sink during your 5 minute lunch break, you might consider mixing a bunch of things together in a bowl and baking them. Without sugar. With chicken and vegetables instead. That would be one disgusting banana bread….But no, it’s not banana bread – it’s an egg bake. You can use any smaller baking pan you have at home to make this delicious egg bake that I shared on my sister’s blog. It’s filled with vegetables, cooked chicken and it’s super easy to make. The recipe says breakfast, but you can eat it any time you’re hungry for something savory – it’s perfect for lunch, great to meal prep as well. You can find it here.
VEGAN QUESADILLA WITH CHICKPEAS
Another quesadilla recipe! Fill this one with chickpeas, herbs and vegetables spread the mixture on one half, fold and toast on both sides in a pan. Serve with some guacamole, salad – anything fresh! It’s an easy, quick and delicious vegan lunch. The recipe is here.
MEDITERRANEAN SALMON BOWL
One of the few salmon recipes on my blog and it is one of my favorite recipes for lunch and dinner. To be honest I never make a recipe exactly the same way twice, but I often make some variation of this bowl. Feel free to use the vegetables you have at home for this one.
SUPER FRESH AVOCADO CHICKPEA SALAD
I used to make salads like this one every single morning before I went to work. I would pack it in a container, it took me about 10 minutes and it kept really well in our fridge in the office. It tastes so fresh, but also has the saltiness from the feta cheese and the olives and it’s really filling. Now that I don’t leave the house, I seem to find more excuses not to make salads like this one. It’s really weird. However, I’ve recently started counting my vegetable servings (aiming for 8) and am getting back to making salads for lunch, because we need those fresh vegetables to feel good. Great story, can I eat it? If you want to make this delicious chickpea salad, here’s the recipe.
CRUSTLESS TUNA QUICHE
Canned tuna is a super versatile ingredient and it goes really well in a crustless quiche. Super easy to pack and take to work, great for meal prep and very filling and tasty. Recipe here.
QUINOA FRIED RICE
Fried rice has to be one of my favorite meals – it’s easy, quick, super delicious and you get to use all of your old food. If you don’t have rice, but quinoa, you can still get the same treatment with the recipe right here.
MEDITERRANEAN CHICKEN BOWLS
This is a super simple, quick and delicious Mediterranean recipe with chicken, chickpeas, hummus and a salad. I mean it’s got all of my favorite things, the recipe is here.
CHICKPEA SPINACH CAKES
I feel like chickpeas are gonna win an award for the most used ingredient on this list. But there are no awards, so sorry chickpeas. You’re only gonna get smashed in a bowl with a bunch of other ingredients and eaten. I know it sounds scary, but you’re delicious. And these chickpea spinach cakes are tasty too, perfect with some garlicky sauce like this cashew sauce and a quick tomato cucumber salad. Recipe here.
SWEET POTATO AND BLACK BEAN BOWLS
Roast some sweet potatoes and cauliflower in the oven and make these bowls in no time! They’re plant-based, easy and delicious. Recipe here.
FINAL NOTES
Like who says final notes? After writing this blog for 5 years now, I still don’t know how to end things…But I hope you get some inspiration and some new lunch ideas that you’ll actually want to make. These are some of the things I usually make and I like them. Stay safe and enjoy these sweet potato and black bean bowls!
Awesome Easy Lunches To Bring To Work
Smashed White Bean and Avocado Sandwich
Once you make the white bean spread, you’ll be set for sandwiches (or straight chip-dipping) all week. Get the recipe.
Barley and Kale Salad with Golden Beets and Feta
Pan Bagnat (French Tuna Salad Sandwich)
The only complicated part is picking up any ingredients you don’t have (like artichoke hearts); after that it’s just chop and toss. Get the recipe.
Mushrooms and Wheat Berries
You can throw in any kind of cooked grain you have; farro or barley would be equally nice. Get the recipe.
Pesto Chicken Roll
Chop up a roast chicken breast (from a store-bought rotisserie bird, if you’re not feeling motivated) and mix with cubed mozzarella, pesto, and a veggie or two. Sugar snap peas suggested, but bell pepper or cherry tomatoes could also be nice.
Pasta Salad with Broccoli and Peanuts
This easy Asian-ish peanut butter sauce would be great on any number of noodle-veggie combos. Get the reci
Chicken Salad with Apricots and Almonds
Bentley Motors
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10 Healthy And Easy Lunch Ideas For Work So You Never Have A Sad Desk Lunch Again
- Many of my clients who work away from home have one common obstacle: they don’t plan ahead when it comes to lunch. As a result, they typically wind up eating something—like a fast-food burrito, a hodgepodge of processed snacks, or heavy takeout—that leaves them feeling zapped of energy and sluggish all afternoon.While bringing a healthy lunch to work does take a little more time and effort, the payoff is well worth it. Meal-prepped lunches for work tend to be more nutritious, can help you better regulate your blood sugar, and keep you focused and productive all afternoon. Plus, eating a healthy breakfast and lunch may boost your motivation to prep a healthy dinner.
Here are 10 easy and nutritious lunches that you can prep and pack for work. Whatever your dietary needs — vegan, gluten-free, or low-carb—you’ll find a recipe on this list that’s delicious and good for you.
1. 15-minute lentil soup
Soup is the ultimate make-ahead meal, since you can cook a big batch that’s easy to store and re-heat (you can even freeze leftovers). This easy variation will leave you feeling satiated and energised thanks to its chief ingredient, lentils. Lentils are chock-full of fibre with over 15 grams per cup. A high fibre intake is tied to a lower risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Also, this recipe is gluten-free and can be easily made vegan if you use veggie broth.
2. Shrimp summer rolls
Summer rolls are an ideal packed lunch because they don’t need to be reheated and they’re handheld—perfect for munching at your desk. This recipe combines veggies with lean protein from shrimp, plus flavourful garlic, lime juice, ginger, and cilantro. Incorporating lean protein into your lunch breaks is crucial for maintaining steady energy all afternoon. Why? Protein prevents blood sugar spikes and the subsequent crashes that can make us sleepy and then cranky a few hours after we eat. To round out the meal even more, add a healthy fat like sliced avocado or a side of chopped nuts.
3. Quick chickpea curry
This simple, mouthwatering recipe is easy to make, thanks to ingredients you likely already have on hand—such as canned chickpeas and ketchup. Chickpeas—along with lentils, beans, and other legumes—are classified as pulses. According to a 2021 review published in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition found those who ate about 150 grams of pulses a day (about 2/3 a cup) saw improvements in blood pressure, inflammation, and body composition (ie your ratio of fat to muscle). For an added boost of nutrients, throw in a handful of fresh baby spinach for more fibre, antioxidants, and vitamin A.
4. Egg salad with herbs and pickles
Instead of relying on traditional mayo, which lacks protein and may contain artificial preservatives, this recipe combines hard-boiled eggs with Greek yoghurt. Greek yoghurt is a great source of protein with over 16 grams per individual container. Protein is crucial for building and maintaining bones, muscles, skin, and even immune cells.
For more nutrients, consider adding extra veggies, like minced bell pepper, chopped kale, or sliced grape tomatoes. You’ll also want to separately pack a slice of whole-grain bread to serve the salad over, or round out your meal with a side of fresh in-season fruit.
Get The Recipe
5. Vegan chilli
Not only does this hearty recipe pack fibre and nutrients thanks to its variety of veggies, beans, and chickpeas, but it also has a bit of a kick (perfect for spicing up a sluggish afternoon). It also includes avocados, which are a great source of good-for-you fats known for protecting heart health and raising beneficial HDL cholesterol levels. Avocados also contain polyphenol antioxidants, which protect cells from damage that could lead to heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Just be sure to separately pack your avocado garnish so it doesn’t get too mushy by mealtime.
6. Lentil quinoa lettuce wraps
This recipe—one of my own—uses canned lentils for a fibre-rich protein source. This lunch option is also seasoned with Mediterranean-inspired healthful ingredients like extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, lemon, and herbs. A 2018 research review found that extra virgin olive oil prevents artery hardening (a contributor to heart attacks and strokes) thanks to its anti-inflammatory antioxidant content and ability to relax blood vessels.
When packing this dish for work, add the pre-cooked quinoa to the lentil mixture and include the lettuce separately to prevent it from getting soggy. Then, when you’re ready to dig in, simply spoon the mixture into the lettuce cups, or serve over a bed of chopped greens.
7. Salmon and sweet potato bowl
One of my favourite things about bowls is how easy they are to customise. This one combines salmon with spinach, roasted sweet potatoes, farro, and harissa (a hot chilli pepper paste native to Northwest Africa). Not only is salmon a good source of anti-inflammatory omega-3’s, but a 2020 analysis of over 9,00,000 participants published in Nutrients also found that for every 20 grams of fish consumed per day, the average risk of death from cardiovascular disease decreased by 4 percent.
To make this bowl gluten-free, simply replace the farro with brown rice. Or if you’re going for a lower-carb lunch, keep the sweet potato and swap the grain for extra spinach.
8. Lemon thyme chicken salad
Salads sometimes get a bad rap for being bland, but this dietitian-crafted dish packs flavour with olive oil, lemon zest, feta, and fresh thyme. Opting for a salad instead of a sandwich or wrap at lunch can instantly double your veggie intake and curb excess carbs, thereby boosting post-meal energy levels. How? The added antioxidants from veggies improve blood circulation, while nixing surplus carbs prevents that dreaded afternoon slump.
9. Mediterranean tuna salad
Transform canned tuna into a Tuscan-style dish flavoured with pesto, chickpeas, and olives. This satisfying recipe provides a generous portion of veggies with two cups total from arugula, iceberg lettuce, and grape tomatoes. It also healthfully balances carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, so you’re consuming a broader array of nutrients and results. The best part? It only takes about 15 minutes to prepare.
10. Tofu Ceviche
Tofu is a quick, convenient protein option for plant-based eaters and omnivores alike, since it’s sold ready-to-eat—perfect for when you’re in a time crunch before work. Also good: one serving of this dish provides 17 grams of protein. This recipe combines tofu with avocado and a tangy vinegar-based sauce. Add chopped jicama—a root vegetable native to Mexico that can be eaten raw—or a side of fresh fruit for some extra healthy carbohydrates.
