It tops veggies and chips with shreds of cheddar and a creamy avocado-yogurt-lime juice topping that you’ll want to use atop all your Tex-Mex dishes. This creamy yet light vegan salad is full of bright, herby goodness. On its own, it’s great to serve alongside a sandwich or veggie burger in place of potato salad or coleslaw.

Veggie & Hummus Sandwich

You can also make it into a light lunch by adding a handful of arugula to enjoy it as a green salad. Double the recipe and refrigerate to have on hand throughout the week. Creamy avocado and hummus provide plant-based protein and healthy fats, while juicy tomatoes and crisp cucumbers bring refreshing crunch and flavor.

Instant Pot Shredded Chicken

healthy lunch ideas

Toss cooked pasta with halved cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella balls, torn basil leaves, and a drizzle of balsamic glaze. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve chilled for a refreshing and satisfying lunch option that’s ready in minutes. In this unimeal reviews cucumber, tomato, Swiss cheese and chickpea salad recipe, a healthy green goddess dressing is made from avocado, buttermilk and herbs.

While the quinoa cooks in chicken broth, seasoned chicken cutlets sauté to a golden brown. Add chopped baby spinach and Gruyère to the cooked quinoa and plate up a dinner-quality lunch. This Caesar salad’s egg-free dressing is made with yogurt, which packs probiotics for a healthy gut and doubles as a dip for cut-up veggies or chips. For a speedier execution, prep the dressing and make croutons the night before (or use store-bought). I know it’s easy to work through lunch and skip it altogether or routinely buy lunch out, but healthy balanced lunches from home can be pretty simple! It all comes back to the basics, and today we’re breaking it all down.

Easy Wonton Soup

This healthy high-fiber salad comes together in just 10 minutes. Serve it right away or pack it in individual servings for four super-satisfying high-fiber lunches for the week ahead. To cut down on prep time, we’re using preshredded Brussels sprouts from the produce department and store-bought roasted chickpeas. We took all the flavors you know and love from Buffalo wings and used them in this plant-based chickpea salad. Celery adds a satisfying crunch, while blue cheese provides a cooling element to balance the spicy sauce.

Lemon Shrimp & Orzo Salad

The greens bring an intense herbal flavor and are also known to be rich sources of vitamin A, as well as C and K, folate, and iron (via Livestrong.com). Poblano and jalapeño peppers are bringing the heat along with a dose of capsaicin that helps out your gut and might increase life longevity. This rice dish makes an excellent base for a vegan burrito and can be combined with beans, veggies, or meat to create a more substantial lunch. These delectable dumplings feature a filling that doesn’t have to be pre-cooked, shortening the time it takes to get them from the skillet to into our mouths.

Cottage Cheese Alfredo

Sweet red grapes and crunchy celery make this chicken salad sing, and also balance out the slight tang from the yogurt and lemon. But go ahead and customize the mix-ins with whatever you desire (perhaps some chopped nuts or dried fruit) because this chicken salad recipe is easily adaptable. We use rotisserie chicken (look for unseasoned to keep sodium in check!) to simplify things, but any leftover cooked chicken will work. This lunchtime salad takes its cues from the classic Mexican street food, elote, which is grilled corn rubbed with spices and cheese. Make this tasty lunch plate even more filling by serving it alongside grilled proteins like fish, chicken, or steak, or serve with hard-cooked eggs for a vegetarian twist. This tuna salad recipe gets an upgrade with olives, feta and a tahini dressing.

Salmon Nicoise Salad

This egg curry is loaded with flavors that will make your standard midday sandwich and chips look embarrassingly basic. The flavor and texture of hard-boiled eggs are enhanced by a simmered tomato curry sauce brimming with spices like chile powder, turmeric, cumin, garam masala, and coriander. A hefty helping of spinach is wilted into the sauce, which can be substituted by peas if desired. From squash to stuffing, this cozy dish provides all the nutrients you need to keep going strong throughout the day. The acorn squash alone provides half your daily fiber along with vitamin C and potassium, says recipe developer and nutritionist Kristen Carli.

  • You control the spiciness by using less Thai chile or adding red pepper flakes to taste.
  • Try roasting carrots or roasting broccoli with some parmesan for the perfect complement.
  • The bold, fresh flavors of basil are featured in this healthier rendition of creamy pesto pasta that makes for a protein-packed midday meal.
  • Ready in just 15 minutes, this fajita-like dish can be cooked in just one skillet.
  • Smoky shredded chicken, melty mozzarella, and juicy tomatoes are pressed between focaccia to create a sandwich that’s crispy-crunchy on the outside, and soft and warm in the middle.
  • The chicken has a crispy coating made from flour, almonds and sesame seeds.

Chicken, Spinach & Feta Wraps

In just 10 minutes, mix together fresh cherry tomatoes, basil, vegan or OG mozzarella, avocado, arugula and a simple balsamic vinaigrette for a healthy and refreshing lunch. The great thing about salads is how customizable and easy they are to put together. Just reach for whatever fruits and veggies you have in your fridge and mix them up in a bowl! If you have leftover quinoa, add in all your fave fruits (dried or fresh), nuts, and herbs for a psuedo-grain salad that will satiate.

Ginger Shrimp Salad

And, perhaps best of all—you can feel good about packing these healthy lunches for your family, too. Keep your blood sugar levels under control with these satisfying vegetarian lunches. Each recipe is lower in carbs, calories, saturated fat and sodium to align with a diabetes-appropriate eating pattern. From batch-friendly soups and salads to speedy grain bowls and sandwiches, these highly-rated dishes are flavorful and balanced. Options like our Easy Chickpea Salad Lunch Box and our Marry Me White Bean Salad will leave you feeling nourished until dinner time. If you’re not someone who likes to meal prep lunch recipes on the weekend, don’t worry—there are other ways you can get ahead on lunch!

Three-Cheese Ravioli With Cherry Tomatoes

In this blog post, we’re serving up 10 quick and healthy lunch recipes that prove nutritious eating doesn’t have to be time-consuming. From vibrant https://www.heartfoundation.org.nz/wellbeing/healthy-recipes salads to hearty wraps and flavor-packed bowls, these recipes are designed to keep you fueled and focused throughout the day. Bid farewell to bland lunches and embrace the delicious simplicity of these speedy meals. All of these elements add interest, flavor, and extra nutrients.