15 Healthy Lunch Ideas You Can Meal Prep Ahead Of Time To Make Your Day Easier
If eating healthier is on your list of priorities, good for you! But packing a lunch can sometimes feel a little reminiscent of the PB&J you used to find in your backpack as a kid, and I get that.
Eating healthy can be difficult, especially when the midday meal is mundane and easily skipped. Whether you’re staying at home and feeling uninspired, or are tired of opening the same lunch box in the office, lunch is simply not that exciting, and you might be tempted to grab a bite out. To make lunch (and meal prep) exciting, you need to include the flavors you love.
Balance is important, so make sure that you pack a wide variety of foods! Fruit, a vegetable, protein, and a carb is the most basic formula for a filling and healthy lunch that won’t leave you reaching for packaged snacks. And if you need a lunch box that isn’t a collection of Ziploc bags and other single-use plastics, get yourself a cute Bento box.
Here are some fun lunch ideas you can make ahead of time!
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1. Taco Bowl
Believe it or not, coffee is not a meal! Instead, you can meal prep this delicious taco bowl for a happy lunch break. Each ingredient can be cooked and divided up easily for multiple meals throughout the week. You’ll need rice, black beans for protein, a meat of your choice (or no meat), shredded cheese, and some tortilla chips! Don’t forget a little packet of hot sauce!
2. Soup and Sandwich
Make a warm soup for dinner one night this week, but purposefully make extra to pack for this week’s lunches! All you need is a thermos to keep it warm until you are ready to eat. Add a turkey sandwich and some fruit for a complete meal!
3. Salad
Whether you are a salad enthusiast or simply trying to incorporate more leafy greens into your day, salads are the perfect lunch option, and they are super easy to make and pack. You can simply buy a packaged salad from the grocery store and split it into multiple meals, or add any vegetables and protein you already have in the fridge to a bed of greens.
4. Fajita Bowl
Fajitas are easy to make in large quantities for the whole week! Vegetables, your choice of protein, flavorful seasonings, and rice is a hearty and delicious meal that will spice up your normal lunch options.
5. Smoothie Bowl
With just a few ingredients, you can make those delicious, expensive acai smoothie bowls at home for a fraction of the price. You’ll need an acai berry base, which you can find in the freezer section of your grocery store, additional fruit of your choice, granola, and a drizzle of honey. Full of flavor and nutrients, this lunch is fulfilling and exciting!
6. Wraps on Wraps
Bored of the basic sandwich? Change it up with a wrap! This is a great option because you can either prepare a more complicated wrap, like BBQ chicken, or you can simply spread some cream cheese on a tortilla, add cheese and the lunch meat of your choice, and roll it up.
7. Stir Fry
Surprisingly, stir fry is easy to meal prep, and you can easily change a few ingredients each time you make it to create a seemingly new dish. The basics are stir fry noodles (or rice!), a vegetable or two of your choice, a protein option, and teriyaki sauce. You can do chicken, beef, tofu, etc, and then heat it up in the microwave at work. Yum!
8. Personal Charcuterie Box
There is something so elegant and special about a charcuterie board, so why not treat yourself to a similar experience at lunch? This is easy to pack ahead of time, and there is a ton of variety in what you can include. Crackers and cheese are the basic must-have items, but this can be as simple as a few slices of cheddar cheese and Ritz crackers, or it can be reflective of your latest Trader Joe’s haul. Add some nuts, pickles, sliced cucumbers, grapes, pepperoni, lunch meat, and a sweet or two.
9. Fried Rice
Rice is easy to meal prep, especially if you make it in a large quantity for the week. You can also make a delicious fried rice recipe in an instant pot for the easiest meal prep option for the week! Diced vegetables, scrambled egg, chicken, and a side of teriyaki sauce make a delicious lunch that can easily be reheated each day!
10. Chickpea Quinoa Fritters
Protein doesn’t only have to be meat. Chickpeas are a great source of protein, so make these chickpea quinoa fritters to switch up your lunch routine! They can be meal prepped ahead of time and made in large batches or small quantities, depending on your needs. Pair them with tortilla chips, fruit, and vegetables for a perfectly packable meal!
11. Pasta Salad
Pasta salad is a summer staple for backyard gatherings and barbecues. But it also makes a great lunch that can be eaten cold! You can make the pasta on Sunday night, add tomatoes, feta cheese, and any other additional ingredients, and you have multiple days of delicious pasta salad.
12. Mediterranean Box
Pita slices and hummus are already a delicious and healthy lunch, but you can easily spice it up with thick slices of tomato and mozzarella cheese. A Caprese salad is easy to prep ahead of time and a delicious treat during the day!
13. Chicken Salad
Another way to make a sandwich more exciting is to swap out your bread for something new. A croissant roll is a fluffy and delicious alternative to a basic bread loaf, and it’s the perfect bread for a chicken salad sandwich. Or ditch bread entirely and eat your chicken salad with crackers. Either way, yum!
14. Greek Yogurt and a Bagel
Greek yogurt can be bought in large quantities, and this lunch is a great change to your normal meal prep routine. Add fresh fruit, granola, coconut flakes, and other toppings to the yogurt. Then add a bagel of your choice! Cream cheese and lox is a great way to add protein to the meal, but you can also do a hard-boiled egg on the side. Or you can make bagel sandwiches with a fried egg and sausage!
15. Make Exciting Sandwiches
No, you don’t have to eat sandwiches you hate! Sub sandwiches are delicious, especially on your favorite bread roll, and they’re also a great way to use up the produce in your fridge. Or meal prep hot subs that just need a quick zap in the microwave once you get to the office! This apple turkey sandwich looks to die for! Or swap out the bread entirely for a bell pepper for a healthier option.
Closing Thoughts
Packing a lunch doesn’t have to mean “ugh” when you open it later in the day. Meal prep for the week with some healthy and exciting recipes to save time and money each day, and enjoy!
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