Luckily, when it comes to healthy lunch ideas, salads are just the tip of the low-calorie iceberg. This chickpea salad is a vegetarian version of a classic chicken salad. It doesn’t mimic the flavor of chicken; it swaps chickpeas in for the chicken. It’s an ideal recipe if you’re looking for simple, healthy lunch ideas.
- In less than five minutes, you’ll have a gourmet-looking lunch that’s both satisfying and nutritious.
- This celery soup is thickened with buttery Yukon gold potatoes instead of heavy cream, serving up a rich and smooth texture with less fat and calories.
- Pasta salads are tasty and budget-friendly, but they don’t deliver on protein unless you add in a few extras.
- Either way, it’s delicious and aligns with my philosophy that you can eat any food any time of the day.
- A simple vinaigrette made with whole-grain mustard, red wine vinegar, and agave nectar is poured over the top and garnished with sunflower seeds.
- Frances Largeman-Roth, RDN, is a New York Times bestselling author and nationally recognized health expert.
Orange Chicken Stir-Fry With Rice Noodles
This recipe is full of dark brown sugar, toasted sesame seeds, ginger, garlic, and rice noodles. This soup has garlic, fresh ginger, onion, kale, sweet potatoes, and chicken broth. Coconut flavors are always a delight, and we love soups that bring these tropical flavors.
Chickpea & Roasted Red Pepper Lettuce Wraps with Tahini Dressing
Creamy avocado and cooling cucumber combine with a spicy mayonnaise mixture and peppery arugula in this easy vegetarian wrap. If you like the heat, add additional Sriracha or try it with chile-garlic sauce. For a cooler wrap, you can cut back on the Sriracha or leave it out completely, swapping out the arugula for baby spinach.
Healthy Make-Ahead Lunch Ideas for Busy Weekdays
Whip up this sweet-and-savory salad with a balsamic vinaigrette dressing for a deceptively nutritious lunch. https://www.heartfoundation.org.nz/wellbeing/healthy-recipes You’ve likely seen avocado toast on the menu of many lunch joints these days. You can even get creative with the toppings like eggs and bacon or pico de gallo. This over-the-top sandwich is big enough for the whole family!
Let’s talk about wraps – they’re the perfect lunch option if you’re in a rush and need something quick, easy, and healthy. But if you’re looking to make them ahead of time, there are a few things to remember. They’re all healthy and can be prepared for the week so that you can save time and less stress during your busy weekdays. Plus, I’ve included make-ahead instructions with each recipe to make your meal prep even easier.
Crispy Buttered Turmeric Rice
This sandwich recipe sticks to the classic flavors but uses turkey pastrami instead. Plus, it’s unimeal reviews perfect for cooking ahead and enjoying all week. Mashed avocado and white beans make for a fiber-rich and creamy topping, the perfect partner for a crispy slice of toast. Jazz up a can of black bean soup with your favorite nacho toppings, such as cheese, avocado and fresh tomatoes.
Spicy Turkey Meatballs with Sweet Potato Fries
Top it with a quarter-cup of granola and a half-cup of blueberries for a burst of antioxidants. If you love the crispy chicken salad over a bed of crunchy greens that is sold by literally every fast-casual restaurant, you’re going to love our “dupe” version. The components of this copycat crispy chicken and cabbage salad can be prepped in advance.
Mediterranean-style salad
Serve this with Monterey Jack cheese and chunks of avocado. You can use frozen or canned corn to make this hearty corn and black bean chowder with chicken. This tortellini sausage soup is full of delectable pork sausage, carrots, kale, and tortellini with three kinds of cheese. You can use store-bought spicy mayonnaise or make the sauce in the recipe.
Easy Tofu Stir-Fry from Eating Bird Food
Hard-boil a couple of eggs, then chop them up and mix with mayo, a touch of mustard, and salt and pepper to taste. Make a big batch and store the leftovers for easy lunches throughout the week. With minimal hands-on time, you’ll have a week’s worth of comforting lunches ready to go. Start with the dressing at the bottom of the jar, then add chopped grilled chicken, crisp romaine lettuce, shaved Parmesan cheese, and crunchy croutons. When lunchtime rolls around, just shake the jar to distribute the dressing and enjoy. This wrap brings a taste of the Mediterranean to your lunch break.
Big, Bountiful Green Salads to Pack for Lunch
Enjoy a light lunch featuring bold Thai flavors with this easy chicken curry. Chicken thighs, which are flavorful, juicy, and almost impossible to overcook, are poached in green curry coconut sauce to create a savory and spicy base. This Thai Chicken Curry is a bowl full of spicy flavors, protein, and vegetables that really nourish the body. Sometimes all you want for lunch is a simple dish that packs in a bunch of fresh flavors.
Hummus & Veggie Bento
Combine shredded cold chicken with vegetables and a tangy mustard dressing. Cooked chicken and fresh vegetables maintain texture, and the dressing keeps everything moist. Among 20 common fruits, cranberries have the highest level of phenols, an antioxidant with anti-inflammatory effects. To get these antioxidants, spread cranberry sauce on tortillas, layer with turkey, spinach, and cheese, and roll up.