If you spend all morning waiting for lunchtime, you might as well have something amazing waiting for you. When you buy tasteless salads or overcooked pasta dishes or mediocre sandwiches at an office cafeteria, you're slighting the lunch gods. Lunch is an opportunity for deliciousness, for taking a real break, even if only for 20 minutes, and eating something healthy and delicious is the best way to enjoy it.
You may wonder, but how am I going to have time to prepare good lunches every morning? If you do a good weekly meal prep on Sundays and a little bit of night-before lunchbox prep, you won't even have to think about your lunch until you're at your table eating it.
We've got five lunch options for you, plus an accompanying mid-morning snack idea because Lord knows there's no way you can wait from 8 a.m. to noon without eating anything.
Travelling Noodles. This idea is completely life-changing, or at least lunch-changing. It's instant noodles but healthy, and by pre-making them at home, you control what goes in them. Add veggies, a hard-boiled egg, and your own personalized "taste paste." Pack a few rolled-up slices of turkey and some apple slices to munch on while you wait for lunchtime.
Shredded Chicken Avocado Tostadas. This delicious, crunchy lunch will satisfy all your cravings in one fell swoop. Add cheese if you want, or keep it light with veggies and the shredded chicken. Pack two hard-boiled eggs plus salt and pepper for a snack.
Smoked Salmon Pita. Lighter than a bagel, a whole wheat pita is a great vehicle for smoked salmon, red onion, capers, some arugula and cream cheese. Go light on the cream cheese and heavy on the salmon if you want to cut back on the fat. Pack with plenty of cucumber slices with lime and salt.
Burrito Bowl. Layer rice, cheese, beans, salsa, onions and some shredded chicken, beef or pork in a jar. Make sure to season every component for best results - don't just plop in beans straight from a can. These are totally customizable so don't worry about following the recipe to the letter. That's the beauty of homemade lunches! Pack with a banana and a few tablespoons of peanut butter in Tupperware for a mid-morning snack.
Pesto Pasta with Brussels Sprouts and Sausage. Hey, it's Friday, you deserve some carbs to power you through the day! Pack a snack of snap peas and soy sauce mixed with sriracha and a little vinegar for dipping. Salty and fresh, it'll keep you going until it's time to be swept off your feet by a bowl of pasta.
