Healthy Lunch Ideas for Work: 15 Easy Recipes!
A new year is beginning and, like millions of other people around the world, you’ve probably vowed to make this year healthier and happier. You’re definitely not alone. Kick off the New Year in good health with some of these easy and delicious lunch ideas for work.
We realize how busy life can be, but it’s important to stay healthy. Sometimes, healthy options aren’t exactly the most appealing when you’re hungry and desperate for carbs. Luckily, we’re here to help. We’ve chosen the best sandwich, wrap and salad recipes submitted by Half Hour Meals’ members and are ready to share them with you.
Consider adding one (or all) of these 15 amazing lunch ideas to your weekly meal planning this year!
*Click Images for Full Recipes
1. Grilled Veggie Basil Mayo Wrap
This is a delicious wrap and perfect for a quick and easy lunch idea. You can use any type of grilled vegetables. We suggest try different combinations every week to keep it fresh and delicious. Adding grilled chicken will give you a protein boost and help you get the nutrients you need each day.
2. Mozzarella, Tomato and Lettuce Sandwich
This is a delicious and healthy sandwich that is perfect for work. It’s easy to make (takes less than 5 minutes) and can be paired with a salad for a complete, healthy lunch. It’s vegetarian, for those of you looking for a great sandwich without the meat.
3. Hot Italian Turkey Sandwiches
This sandwich, with its sauteed mushrooms and onions, roasted red peppers, and pesto mayonnaise, is definitely fancier than your average sandwich — and more delicious, too! These may be fancy sandwiches, but they’re still ready in 10 minutes. And the left-overs reheat really well. As long as you have a microwave at work, you’re good to go!
4. Super Healthy Steamed Quinoa
Quinoa can be easily steamed with turmeric, cumin, whole oregano and garlic. This dish stays lovely for many days and can be combined with tuna to give you that extra dose of protein.
5. Classic Tuna Sandwich
An easy yet healthy recipe you can eat any time of the day but is particularly great for those of you looking for healthy, balanced lunch ideas. This sandwich takes just minutes to whip up and can be made a day or two ahead, for those of you who are really busy.
6. Grilled Chicken Wrap
This is a super quick meal you can make in a flash with just a few ingredients. It makes a great lunch or even a light dinner. Serve with a fresh salad for even more health benefits. Consider switching up the vegetables and dressing from time to time to keep this recipe from getting boring.
7. Grilled Chicken Sandwich with Chipotle Mayo
Add a little kick to a traditional chicken sandwich by using spicy chipotle mayonnaise. The avocado balances out the spiciness, giving this sandwich the perfect amount of sweet and spicy. The best part of all? It’s really healthy!
8. Fried Rice
In just no time you can turn plain white rice into something so delicious, with just a few simple ingredients, offering a different texture and a nice blend of the different flavours, soaked up by the rice, while frying. This dish can easily prepared in advance and reheated in the microwave or oven.
9. Grown Up Ham and Cheese Sandwiches
Quick and easy for even your busiest weekday or weeknight (depending on when you make your lunches), these sandwiches are an updated version of an old fashioned favorite. Full of flavor and healthy nutrients, you can’t go wrong with this delicious lunch idea.
10. Tuscan Grilled Chicken Pepper Salad
This salad is so pretty, and delicious too! It’s the perfect salad for a work lunch and is loaded with healthy and delicious, crisp vegetables. The salad needs to sit at room temperature for a little while, which makes it the perfect recipe for an office lunch.
11. Spicy Piri Piri Chicken Wraps
Piri Piri (also spelled Peri Peri) is a popular spice in Portuguese food and is becoming more and more popular in North America. You can find Piri Piri at most grocery store delis. The spicy wraps contain Monterey Jack cheese and fresh tomatoes to round off this simple dish that can be made for lunch, dinner or a midnight snack!
12. Healthy Grilled Chicken Salad
If you’re trying to stay healthy, this is the salad for you. A ton of protein and vegetables make this salad a delicious way to enjoy your weekday lunches while getting all of the nutrients you need to stay healthy.
13. Extremely Easy Tuna Salad
Tuna salad is one of the healthiest options for lunch. Healthy greens combined with protein-packed tuna make this salad both delicious and healthy. Consider swapping the cheese with pears for an even healthier dish.
14. Wilted Spinach Salad
Spinach, onion and hard-boiled eggs are drizzled in a light vinaigrette dressing in this healthy and tasty lunch salad. You can add bacon if you want, which may make it a little less healthy (but a little more delicious). Sometimes it’s okay to indulge a little, right?
15. Chicken Stir Fry
A stir fry is an excellent way to eat lots of crunchy vegetables with plenty of vitamins retaining their original texture and flavour. This stir fry recipe can be whipped up the night before and used for lunch several days of the week. Healthy and delicious – it doesn’t get any better than that!
