5 Simple & Nutritious Lunch Ideas

Lunch is the meal that often gets overlooked and can feel “boring” at times. It’s easy to get caught up in making exactly the same thing every day, especially when you pack your lunch to take with you on the go.

But there’s no need to be bored with your lunch! Food is meant to be enjoyed…even lunch!  With a little forethought and a few new ideas, you can make lunch a delicious, healthy meal you get excited to eat every day.

Here are a few simple, nutritious lunch ideas for you to try:

The Ultimate Tuna Sandwich

Start by making the filling for this tasty lunch. Empty a can of tuna into a bowl, and add anything you please such as chopped olives, pickles, celery, scallions and even carrots chopped into tiny pieces. Sprinkle in a little pepper, and then add a tiny bit of clean-eating approved mayo and mix it together. Spoon onto a slice of healthy bread, such as sprouted whole grain. Add lettuce, spinach, or other greens and tomato to your sandwich before serving.

The “Everything” Salad

Salad doesn’t have to be boring either!  Use a base of various types of lettuce and spinach to keep things interesting. I love including a little bit of arugula to spice things up with a peppery flare.  Add any vegetable, fruit and other topping you have on hand, such as sliced bell peppers, red onions, avocado, strawberries, blueberries, mangos, chickpeas and mixed nuts and seeds. 

Serve it with a homemade dressing such as 2 parts olive oil to 1 part each of apple cider vinegar and a bit of honey. Or if you are in the mood for a more savory than sweet dressing, mix olive oil with balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper, and freshly crushed garlic. 

If you are looking for extra protein, add some grilled chicken on top.

Quinoa Salad

Quinoa has an amazing amount of protein for a vegan source and it’s also extremely versatile. It is one of the few vegan proteins that contains all nine of the essential amino acids our body needs to get from our diet. 

Make up a large batch of quinoa at the beginning of the week and use it throughout the week for several recipes or a quick side dish. For a delicious quinoa salad, simply chop your favorite vegetables into small pieces to add over the quinoa, then drizzle balsamic vinegar over it. Add any herbs and spices that you like.

Veggie Salad Rolls

With a few rice paper wrappers and some vegetables, you can create a lunch that is both flavorful and satisfying. Soak each rice paper wrapper in water for several seconds, then fill it with pre-cut veggies such as bean sprouts, scallions, carrots and lettuce. 

Add a little homemade peanut sauce made from peanut butter, tamari, ginger, crushed garlic, maple syrup and lime juice.

Chili

Chili is a great way to make an easy, healthy lunch and to use up leftovers at the same time. Use a slow cooker for a lunch that you can prepare earlier and enjoy later. Simply add any variety of canned beans, tomato sauce, tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, and garlic to the crockpot. Just about any type of veggie you have on hand can be added to make your chili unique….be creative and use what you have in the fridge!

Ground turkey, chicken, or other meats also be included if desired.

Add your favorite spices such as cumin, coriander, and chili powder, and let the slow cooker sit several hours on either low or high setting, depending on how long it will cook for.

With these simple, fresh lunch ideas…your mid-day meal can now be exciting and tasty. My hope is that you try at least one of them to transform your lunchtime into a special treat you look forward to each day.

With love,

Dr. Marissa

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