If your work lunch is only 30 minutes, you may be on a time crunch to make your food and scarf it down before your break is complete. You may resort to simple lunches even if you work from home, leaving you unsatisfied with the flavor or because you’re still hungry.
It’s hard for parents to get their kids’ meals ready for the day along with their own. Here are seven ideas to spice up your work lunches and make your day brighter.
1. Portobello Fajita Bowls
One practical idea if you’re short on time is to make your own meal prep. On an off day from work or a free night, you can make multiple meals ahead of time and save yourself from stress later in the week. A popular choice for meal preppers is to make fajita bowls.
Fajita bowls are a superb choice because they’re highly adjustable. These portobello fajita bowls are vegetarian and give you a delectable lunch any day of the week. You get a mix of different flavors from the beans, onions, garlic, avocado, lime juice and seasonings. The only cooking required is sauteing the vegetables and cooking the rice, so you’ll have about four meals ready in the time it takes to cook one.
2. Ham & Lentil Soup
An excellent choice for a hearty lunch is soup. You could make it the day before for a family dinner and save the leftovers for the next day. When it’s time for lunch, all you have to do is reheat it in the microwave for a couple of minutes.
You can make this ham and lentil soup in a slow cooker so you can leave it while you go to work. The kitchen will smell wonderful and you’ll have a meal ready to eat when you get home. This combination of ham, lentils and other vegetables will warm you up on a cold winter’s day.
3. Turkey Chili
Like soup, chili is another savory option to make for your family one night and eat the rest of the week for lunch. You might think of chili as a heavy meal, but this recipe with ground turkey is a bit lighter and will still leave you feeling satisfied.
This turkey chili calls for extra lean ground turkey, which cuts down the calories and packs the protein. The onion, garlic, beans and spices give the classic chili flavor you want. Top it off with shredded cheese, avocado, tortilla chips and any of your favorite toppings. Spice it up with fresh or pickled jalapeños.
4. Mason Jar Salads
If you like salads, Mason jar salads are right up your alley for an easy and delicious lunch. As the name suggests, these are salads you put in a mason jar and carry to work. You can make a few ahead of time and leave them in the fridge, taking the lunch prep out of your morning routine in case you’re busy with the kids or running late.
The ingredients of Mason jar salads are highly customizable. Start with your dressing or vinaigrette at the bottom to prevent the other components from getting soggy. Then stack your toppings one by one until the jar is full. When you’re ready to eat, shake the jar and pour the salad into a bowl. If you like cobb salad, try this Mason jar version with a homemade blue cheese dressing.
5. Hummus and Veggie Wraps
These hummus and veggie wraps are a vegan-friendly way to have a delicious lunch. If you have limited time, wraps are great because they don’t require cooking — the only effort necessary is your assembly.
This wrap combines fresh vegetables like onions, cucumbers and carrots with hummus and balsamic vinaigrette on a tortilla. You can prep these beforehand or assemble them quickly on your lunch break. The hummus can make your tortilla soggy if it sits for a few hours, so you may want to put the hummus in a separate container and wait until lunchtime to spread it.
6. Cozy White Bean Soup
Soup is a meal regardless if you crumble any crackers in it. They’re also very adaptable, so you can change them for your dietary needs and preferences. You can easily make them vegetarian, vegan or anything else.
This white bean soup is a filling choice for vegans or anybody who enjoys soup. The combination of beans, potatoes and other vegetables makes for a delicious meal. It’ll be ready in about 30 minutes and makes six servings, so you can easily take some to work the next day.
7. Vietnamese Turkey Sandwich
Sandwiches are convenient to bring to work and eat when you’re hungry for lunch. Instead of the traditional bread and meat, there are ways to take this classic meal to the next level. Try this Vietnamese-inspired turkey sandwich similar to a banh mi.
In banh mi, you typically see a baguette-style bread stuffed with meat, vegetables, herbs and condiments. For this sandwich, use turkey and a mixture of mayonnaise and sriracha. The combination of carrots, radishes, scallions and rice vinegar gives a fresh crunch of flavor and a nice serving of vegetables. Layer it on a baguette or your favorite bread for an easy lunch.
Enhance Your Work Lunches
A limited amount of time in the morning can still produce a delicious, satisfying lunch. Meal prepping is an efficient way to have multiple meals in the fridge ready to go, regardless of if your day starts off hectic. It can be equally effective if you work from home and have a short time to prepare. No-cook meals like sandwiches and Mason jar salads are excellent for fresh meals in a few minutes.