Work can be stressful, especially if you're short on time. You might be tempted to skip lunch or grab whatever is cheapest at the grocery store. But skipping lunch isn't good for your health, and cheap food usually isn't good for your wallet. The best solution is to pack yourself a healthy lunch that's easy to eat at work without taking up too much space in your office fridge. If you have kids of your own, this article will help you send them off with healthy lunches as well!
Pita with hummus, veggies and a side of crackers
You can easily make your own hummus, or buy it ready-made from a grocery store. Hummus is made from chickpeas and has a lot of protein. It goes well with vegetables, so you can put some hummus inside your pita bread, along with some sliced veggies like carrots and cucumbers. You could also put crackers on the side too! Crackers are a good source of fiber and are usually eaten as a side dish at meals.
Tuna salad on whole grain bread
If you're looking for a filling lunch that will keep you going throughout the afternoon, tuna salad is a great option. You can even make it ahead of time and store it in your fridge so all you have to do is grab and go! The best way to make this salad delicious and healthy is by using an ingredient list that includes low fat mayo, whole grain bread (or another type of bread if you prefer), veggies like cucumber or tomato, protein such as chickpeas or beans.
Cold roasted chicken thighs with a side of raw carrots, dried fruit and nuts
Roast the chicken thighs in a pan with a little oil, making sure to keep the skin crispy. Add vegetables to the pan for extra flavor. I like to add any kind of nuts or dried fruit as a side dish, but you could also serve it along with other healthy sides like quinoa salad and steamed broccoli.
Hard-boiled eggs, sliced cheese and mixed berries
Hard-boiled eggs, sliced cheese and mixed berries are an excellent lunchbox combination. Eggs are one of the most nutrient-dense foods on earth, providing protein and healthy fats in addition to being an excellent source of vitamin D and choline. Berries are a great source of antioxidants—vitamin C and folate—and can be purchased frozen from your local grocery store or farmer’s market for a fraction of the cost at the regular produce section. Cheese is a great way to get calcium into your diet if you don’t eat much dairy or if you need extra calcium due to menopause or another health condition such as osteoporosis. A final bonus: hard-boiled eggs take just minutes to prepare so they’re easy enough for even newbie chefs!
Healthy leftovers from dinner last night
It’s a good idea to use leftovers as part of your lunchbox. This can make it easier and less expensive to cook, since you won’t need to spend time making the same meal again. Leftovers can be eaten as they are, or you can add new ingredients if you want something more interesting (for example, stir fried rice with leftover chicken from last night’s dinner).
Leftovers are also great for those days when no time is available for cooking lunch – just heat them up in the microwave or oven! If you have lots of leftovers from dinners during the week, freeze them so that they will keep fresh until next time!
You can eat healthy lunches even if you are busy.
You can eat healthy lunches even if you are busy. It's true! You don't have to sacrifice your health in order to get things done.
In fact, packing a lunch for work will help you avoid the temptation of fast food or cookies from the office kitchen, where most people have junk food on hand at all times. The best part? You can make your lunch in less than 10 minutes! And if you prepare more than one meal ahead of time, it will take even less time (and money) to make lunches throughout the week.
Conclusion
These are just a few ideas for healthy lunches. If you want to try something new, check out our other posts on different types of food and recipes to get some inspiration.
