February 06, 2017 · Written by Foodtolive Team

5 Great Lunch Ideas for Work or How to Eat Healthy in an Office

Lunch is a very important meal of the day, especially for people who are busy with stressful jobs. However, it’s this particular group, who has the hardest time enjoying some healthy, well-balanced dishes during the short break they manage to get. We understand how hard it might be to eat healthy when you lead a fast-paced life so today, we’ll share some of our great lunch ideas for work. You can make them very fast and pack your meal into a container to eat at the office.

 

5-Great-Lunch-Ideas-for-Work-or-How-to-Eat-Healthy-in-an-Office-1

Great Lunch Ideas for Work: Salads

A salad is a perfect lunch for anyone as it’s usually made of foods that are packed with fiber and antioxidants. It also takes you only a few minutes to whip together if you have some of the more demanding ingredients pre-cooked during the weekend.

Our favorite vegetarian lunch salads are:

 

5-Great-Lunch-Ideas-for-Work-or-How-to-Eat-Healthy-in-an-Office-2

Pasta Salad with Peanut Butter

This recipe is fit for those who have the time to cook pasta and enjoy a light spicy meal. Due to the carbs, it would give you quite a boost of energy, so it might be a great choice for a mid-day meal if you plan to visit a gym after the office.

Ingredients:

  • 150g cooked spaghetti pasta
  • Salad mix (lettuce, carrots, kale, red cabbage)
  • A handful of your preferred nuts and/or seeds

Seasoning:

  • 2 tablespoons vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 2 tablespoons peanut butter
  • 1 crushed clove garlic
  • A pinch of dried ginger
  • A bit of water to thin the mixture out as needed

If you count your calories, you can forego pasta.

 

5-Great-Lunch-Ideas-for-Work-or-How-to-Eat-Healthy-in-an-Office-3

Salad with Lentils and Quinoa

This is one of the great lunch ideas for work if you are looking for a source of proteins and don’t want to risk adding extra centimeters to your waistline. Cook lentils and quinoa in advance and mixing the salad would take less than 10 minutes.

Ingredients:

  • ½ cup cooked quinoa
  • ½ cup cooked lentils
  • 1 diced avocado
  • ½ cup diced red onion
  • 2 segmented clementines
  • 4 handfuls spinach
  • ½ cup halved grape tomatoes
  • ¼ cup pecans
  • ¼ cup fresh parsley

Seasoning:

  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • ¼ cup applesauce
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • Salt and pepper to taste

 

5-Great-Lunch-Ideas-for-Work-or-How-to-Eat-Healthy-in-an-Office-4

Chickpea and Spinach Salad

Chickpeas benefits are so numerous, that everyone should eat them regularly. They also make a perfect travel snack when roasted and flavored with your favorite spices. You can cook a few ounces of dry chickpeas and keep them in the fridge or use the canned variety to make this amazing salad. However, remember that canned lentils often contain lots of sugar and other additives that you might not care for. 

Chickpeas: Nutritional Benefits, Health Benefits, Recipes

Chickpeas: Nutritional Benefits, Health Benefits, Recipes

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup chickpeas
  • A handful of raisins
  • 100g feta cheese
  • A handful of spinach

Seasoning:

  • 1 tablespoon vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • A pinch of cumin
  • A pinch of cayenne pepper
  • Salt and pepper to taste

 

Vegetarian Lunch Recipes That Take a Bit More Work

For all that salads are easy to make and tasty, you can’t eat them every day. If you have a bit more free time to prepare your meal and want to enjoy something extravagant, we offer a few other great lunch ideas for work:

 

5-Great-Lunch-Ideas-for-Work-or-How-to-Eat-Healthy-in-an-Office-5

Wrap with White Beans and Avocado

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups red cabbage (shredded)
  • 1 carrot (shredded)
  • 1 15-oz can white beans (or an equivalent amount of cooked beans)
  • 1 avocado
  • 2 tablespoons red onion (minced)
  • ½ cup cheddar cheese (shredded)
  • ¼ cup fresh cilantro
  • 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon canola oil
  • 2 teaspoons chili
  • Salt to taste
  • Tortillas or whole wheat wraps

Instructions:

  1. Mix together cabbage, cilantro, and carrots in a bowl.
  2. Combine salt, chili, and vinegar. Whisk together and add to the cabbage mix. Toss carefully.
  3. Use a potato masher to mash avocado and beans together. Add onions and cheese.
  4. Spread the bean+avocado paste onto a tortilla. Cover with a layer of veggie mix. Wrap with care.

 

5-Great-Lunch-Ideas-for-Work-or-How-to-Eat-Healthy-in-an-Office-6

Coconut Quinoa with Kale

Ingredients:

Pesto ingredients:

  • ½ cup cashews
  • 2 cups cilantro (packed)
  • ½ cup olive oil
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • Juice of ½ lime
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

  1. Bring water and coconut milk to a boil and add quinoa. Let simmer for 15 minutes.
  2. Remove from heat. Add red onions to cooked quinoa and cover the pan.
  3. Prepare pesto by combining and processing all ingredients in a blender.
  4. Combine all ingredients with pesto. Garnish with coconut flakes (roast them if you have the time).

What About Eating Out for Lunch

Sometimes, no matter how many great lunch ideas for work you have, you don’t have the time or opportunity to realize them. In this case, you have no choice but to eat out, as skipping a meal is never a wise thing.

To stick to your healthy diet while eating out, you should prepare beforehand and make a map of nearby cafes and takeout places that offer well-balanced meals.