Five Healthy Lunches To Take To Work

Are you looking for healthy lunches to take to work?

Healthy lunches to take to work can be creative and tasty! As long as the refrigerator is filled with a few staples, healthy lunches can be whipped up in no time.

Let’s leap out of the leftover rut! In this post, I will share my grab-and-go lunches to take to work or to enjoy at the pool or sports field!

This post is all about Five Healthy Lunches To Take To Work.

Getting Ready

Although weekends may be filled with the most fun and activity, you can confidently move into Monday with simple, healthy lunches to take to work.  How? First, be certain to read the blog post The Not So Boring Truth About Family Meal Prep. Second, find your favorite packable lunch containers.  Lastly, grab your water bottle, pack your lunch, throw your goodies in your cute lunch bag, and walk out the door with confidence!

Make Your Superpower a Stocked Kitchen

Not all superpowers are created equal! For example, an empty refrigerator on a Sunday night depletes all energy sources to start the week ready for battle! On the other hand, a kitchen filled with fruits, vegetables, cheeses, nuts, lunch meats, crackers, granola bars, and sauces and dips supercharges the mind and body and creates momentum for a strong week.

Even if your refrigerator and pantry have a few gaps, filling out this FREE PRINTABLE – Family Meal Prep can fire up your creative juices!  And this FREE PRINTABLE – Stocked Kitchen PDF Checklist serves as a reminder for what to put on your shopping list!

Choose Favorite Containers

Many working and stay-at-home mothers are familiar with bento boxes. However, just in case you have not been introduced to these food containers, here is a brief description. A bento box was an idea created by Japanese culture.  While there is only one “box,” it holds multiple areas for different foods.  For example, a compartment each for meats, nuts, fruits, vegetables, and dips, so every item has its own home.

However, lunch containers for your healthy lunches are a personal choice.  What do you prefer?  My cabinet is overflowing with containers, in a variety of sizes, shapes, and compartments.  Most importantly, find your favorites and use them daily.

Five Healthy Lunch Ideas

Although the title of this post states “healthy lunch ideas,” it could have easily promised “simple.” Life is a whirlwind and I believe everyone’s life could use a little more simple. 

Likewise, a balanced lunch is also important.  These easy healthy lunch ideas include protein, for building and maintaining lean muscle tissue, and vegetables, for vitamins, minerals, and extra fiber.  Furthermore, complex carbohydrates, in the form of fruits and whole grains, provide natural energy, and healthy fats are brain food. The combination of macronutrients, in your containers, also allows your blood sugar levels to self-regulate, aka – fewer energy highs and lows.

Cheese, Crackers, & Vegetables

Open up your refrigerator, find your favorite cheese, and pull out two or three vegetables.  Next, open your pantry doors and grab your crackers! Last, slice, cut, and throw everything into your container.  Certainly, this lunch can be prepared in five minutes or less! 

Here are a few of my favorite combinations:

• Habanero cheese, pita crackers, cucumbers, mini bell peppers, black olives
• Co-jack cheese, whole wheat crackers, snap peas, broccoli florets, green olives
• Havarti cheese, Everything But The Bagel seasoned crackers, carrots, mini bell peppers, guacamole

Clean-Out the Fridge Salad

Undeniably, creativity has an opportunity to fly with this no heat, healthy lunch to take to work or the park! First, build your salad with a green foundation.  For example, spinach, romaine lettuce, kale, Asian salad mix, spring mix, or any combination.

Next, add your protein.  For instance, pork chops, steak, salmon, or chicken are great ways to deplete the leftover supply.  Feel free to pile on more vegetables to add flavor, color, and vitamins and minerals:  sweet peppers, cucumbers, broccoli, cauliflower, beets, sweet potato, radishes, snap peas, brussel sprouts, and/or carrots.

Last, drizzle your favorite dressing.  If choosing a balsamic dressing, the healthy fat will be included.  If you prefer ranch dressing, add black olives, green olives, avocado, or a spoonful of sunflower seeds to add healthy fat.  

Where’s the carbohydrate?  Depending on your vegetable choices, carbohydrates may be plentiful.  If your body requires more carbohydrates due to your active lifestyle, include an apple or maybe add quinoa or brown rice to your salad!

Not-Your-Average-Sandwich

Have you ever tried Naan bread? My favorite is the smaller, individual round slices. Cut one in half, spread your favorite sauce, add your meat, cheese, and greens, and out the door you go! Low-carb wraps are also an option, as well as, fresh, whole-wheat bread from the local bakery. And when bread is not an option, cheese or lettuce can be your wrap!

My favorite sandwich combinations:

• Naan bread, Sriracha Aioli sauce, turkey breast, co-jack cheese, spinach, and avocado
• Low-carb wrap, leftover Rotisserie chicken, romaine lettuce, avocado, buffalo sauce, and ranch dressing
• Mozzarella or provolone cheese slices, pesto sauce, turkey breast, and red bell pepper slices

Sandwich combinations can be served with a side of fruit, extra veggies, hummus, and/or your favorite crunchy, salty snack.

Cottage Cheese, Seeds, & Vegetables

Seeds? Sunflower and pumpkins seeds add the perfect crunch to cottage cheese. And Slap Ya Mama seasoning adds mouth-watering zing!  Serve with cucumbers, jicama, and mini bell peppers.  Cantaloupe, watermelon, mango, and/or pineapple make great carbohydrates for this combination and taste great with Slap Ya Mama too!

Tuna or Hard-Boiled Eggs + Extras

Avocados make a great alternative to mayonnaise.  Slice an avocado, when you are ready for lunch, and gobble it up with your pouch of tuna.  If tuna is not your thing, what about two hard-boiled eggs?  Add a cheese stick or cheese slices and a few crackers or pretzel sticks.  Finally, combine proteins and carbohydrates with s small side salad or a handful of snap peas and carrots.

One More Quick Tip for Healthy Lunches

Start Creating a Lunch Calendar

Calendars are the greatest tool for focus and success, in any area of your life.  Hence, take the five healthy lunch ideas shared above and write them into a “food calendar.”  What if you created five new healthy lunches to take to work for three more consecutive weeks?  As a result of your meal planning, your lunch ideas will create more free time.  And meals can be rotated, added to, and interchanged throughout the upcoming months. 

To sum it up, planning with a stocked kitchen allows you the freedom to create endless possibilities for healthy lunches. 

This post was all about Five Healthy Lunches To Take To Work.

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