Lunch ideas

Lunch ideas

Anita Joy Edwards
Make, Home, Projects

Lunch serves as a refreshing break in the day, providing an opportunity to rejuvenate away from daily stresses. By tuning into your body's hunger cues, you can time your mid-day meal with brain and body nourishment.

Explore our three picture galleries to generate ideas of what to pack for work or make at home. Each are categorized by preparation time, most often based on pre-prepped ingredients. Make it easy to find lunch options that suit your schedule by navigating preferences with the tags provided.

Featured
Deli Sandwich With Crunch
Deli Sandwich With Crunch

Spread a slice of avocado on bread. Top one side with Bibb or mixed green, slice of tomato, choice of deli meat (pastrami in picture). On the other slice of bread sprinkle Trader Joes ‘Everything But The Bagel’ spice - or a mix of crunchy seeds (sesame, pumpernickel, flax, chia, etc).

Artichoke Ham Salad
Artichoke Ham Salad

Roughly chop couple greens, tomato, and deli meat; add chopped artichoke (canned or fresh) and cooked rice. Flavor with oil and vinegar, salt and pepper.

Tuna Avocado Bowl
High-Protein, Grain, Fish, Canned, Bowl, Warm Dish, 20-minute, Stovetop
Tuna Avocado Bowl
High-Protein, Grain, Fish, Canned, Bowl, Warm Dish, 20-minute, Stovetop

Open one tin tuna fillet in oil; pour over rice (wild rice in picture). Chop one vine ripe tomato over top; Add half of a sliced avocado. Salt and pepper to taste.

High-Protein, Grain, Fish, Canned, Bowl, Warm Dish, 20-minute, Stovetop
Open Face Tuna Radish Sandwich
Cold Dish, 5-minute, Canned, Bread, Fish, Toaster, Sandwich
Open Face Tuna Radish Sandwich
Cold Dish, 5-minute, Canned, Bread, Fish, Toaster, Sandwich

Top a slice of toasted bread with tuna fillets, a sliced tomato, sliced radish, and micro-greens. Drizzle EVVO over top; salt and pepper to liking.

Cold Dish, 5-minute, Canned, Bread, Fish, Toaster, Sandwich
Tuna Filet Salad
Tuna Filet Salad

Top a plate with greens, parley leaves, and sliced cucumbers. Add tuna fillets in oil (use the oil). Shave a carrot over top then spoon cooked quinoa to finish. Drizzle vinegar over top. Salt and pepper to taste.

Sandwich & Raw Veggies
Sandwich, Cold Dish, Bread, 5-minute, Pre-prepped Ingredient, Toaster, Canned
Sandwich & Raw Veggies
Sandwich, Cold Dish, Bread, 5-minute, Pre-prepped Ingredient, Toaster, Canned

A half sandwich of cold cut meats and lettuce with one condiment slathered on (optional) toasted bread (mayo here). Side with raw veggies (carrot, sweet peas, and cauliflower here) that may be easily pre-prepped.

Sandwich, Cold Dish, Bread, 5-minute, Pre-prepped Ingredient, Toaster, Canned
Tuna Pasta Salad
Salad, High-Protein, Pasta, Fish, Canned, Pre-prepped Ingredient, 20-minute, Warm Dish, Stovetop
Tuna Pasta Salad
Salad, High-Protein, Pasta, Fish, Canned, Pre-prepped Ingredient, 20-minute, Warm Dish, Stovetop

Tuna fillets in oil from the tin topped on pre-cooked noodles, kale, chopped onions, and lentils. Drizzle some EVOO, vinegar, and season to taste (perhaps, an edible flower!)

Salad, High-Protein, Pasta, Fish, Canned, Pre-prepped Ingredient, 20-minute, Warm Dish, Stovetop
No Bun Sausage
Pasta, Stovetop, Hot Dish, Pre-prepped Ingredient, 30-minute
No Bun Sausage
Pasta, Stovetop, Hot Dish, Pre-prepped Ingredient, 30-minute

Herbed sausage packs flavor. Pan-cooked then set on a bed of pasta. Sautéed Brussel sprouts, garlic scapes, and red potatoes. Topped with fresh thyme then drizzled with EVOO.

Pasta, Stovetop, Hot Dish, Pre-prepped Ingredient, 30-minute
Vegg Out Bowl
Bowl, Meat-free, High-Protein, Stovetop, Pre-prepped Ingredient, Pasta, 20-minute, Leftovers
Vegg Out Bowl
Bowl, Meat-free, High-Protein, Stovetop, Pre-prepped Ingredient, Pasta, 20-minute, Leftovers

Hard boiled eggs cut into pasta (then warmed in microwave); add in sliced mushrooms, tomatoes, and torn basil. Nutritional yeast mixed in the fold. Eggs and pasta are pre-made. Time saver!

Bowl, Meat-free, High-Protein, Stovetop, Pre-prepped Ingredient, Pasta, 20-minute, Leftovers
Chicken Wrap
Wrap, 5-minute, Pre-prepped Ingredient, Tortilla, Canned, Warm Dish, Stovetop, Toaster
Chicken Wrap
Wrap, 5-minute, Pre-prepped Ingredient, Tortilla, Canned, Warm Dish, Stovetop, Toaster

Look at the slather of mayonnaise on this wrap! Torn baked chicken on a bed of cabbage and herbs and (hidden in the picture) a few tomatoes. This bed of deliciousness is wrapped up in a corn tortilla that was heated on the burner by flipping until just right (or toast in a toaster). Two, please!

Wrap, 5-minute, Pre-prepped Ingredient, Tortilla, Canned, Warm Dish, Stovetop, Toaster
BLT
Pre-prepped Ingredient, Sandwich, Bread, Stovetop, 15-minute, Toaster, Warm Dish
BLT
Pre-prepped Ingredient, Sandwich, Bread, Stovetop, 15-minute, Toaster, Warm Dish

Bacon may be pre-made. This lovely hand-held can meet the full hand-sized portions. A wide-mouth bite!

Pre-prepped Ingredient, Sandwich, Bread, Stovetop, 15-minute, Toaster, Warm Dish
Egg Veg Salad
Salad, Grain, Pre-prepped Ingredient, Stovetop, 20-minute, Cold Dish
Egg Veg Salad
Salad, Grain, Pre-prepped Ingredient, Stovetop, 20-minute, Cold Dish

There are several variations to an egg salad. It’s a matter of adding colorful veggies to a mashed hard boiled egg. Then toss-in a grain. Pictured here: 3 hard-boiled eggs, white rice, spinach, cherry tomatoes, dash of vinegar and EVOO.

Salad, Grain, Pre-prepped Ingredient, Stovetop, 20-minute, Cold Dish
Sandwich & Beets
5-minute, Bread, Sandwich, Canned, Cold Dish
Sandwich & Beets
5-minute, Bread, Sandwich, Canned, Cold Dish

Load up a slice of bread with layers of meat topped with greens and a slice of tomato. Slather dijon mustard on the topper slice then squeeze it all in to a tight finger-grip. Side of beets to add a pep of energy and color.

5-minute, Bread, Sandwich, Canned, Cold Dish
Asian Orange & Greens
20-minute, Warm Dish, Stovetop, Bowl, High-Protein, Grain, Pre-prepped Ingredient, Leftovers
Asian Orange & Greens
20-minute, Warm Dish, Stovetop, Bowl, High-Protein, Grain, Pre-prepped Ingredient, Leftovers

Grapefruit, hard-boiled eggs and edamame (once frozen) tossed in toasted sesame oil stir-fried greens and rice. So simple, especially when ingredients are pre-made - packed with flavor and textures.

20-minute, Warm Dish, Stovetop, Bowl, High-Protein, Grain, Pre-prepped Ingredient, Leftovers
Cauliflower Steaks
20-minute, Hot Dish, Oven, Stovetop, Cruciferous, Leftovers
Cauliflower Steaks
20-minute, Hot Dish, Oven, Stovetop, Cruciferous, Leftovers

Bring a larger sized cauliflower home from the produce section, cut in ~1 inch slices then broil on low. Top with a tomato or creamy sauce (I used nutritional yeast). Then sautéed veggies (i.e. mushrooms, peppers, asparagus, onions, etc).

20-minute, Hot Dish, Oven, Stovetop, Cruciferous, Leftovers
Open Face Italian Sandwich
Warm Dish, Toaster, Microwave, Sandwich, Bread, 5-minute
Open Face Italian Sandwich
Warm Dish, Toaster, Microwave, Sandwich, Bread, 5-minute

Toasted bread layered with Italian sausage, tomato sauce, and hearty leafy greens - kale, spinach, mustard greens, etc. Garnish with an herb if you so desire and/or grated cheese.

Warm Dish, Toaster, Microwave, Sandwich, Bread, 5-minute
Open Face Egg Sandwich
5-minute, Pre-prepped Ingredient, Warm Dish, Toaster, Stovetop, Sandwich, Bread
Open Face Egg Sandwich
5-minute, Pre-prepped Ingredient, Warm Dish, Toaster, Stovetop, Sandwich, Bread

Hard boiled eggs on hand makes this a 5-minute meal. Cut open eggs over toasted bread then garnish with microgreens or a green of choice. Side of veggies then voila! A simple meal.

5-minute, Pre-prepped Ingredient, Warm Dish, Toaster, Stovetop, Sandwich, Bread
Salmon Quinoa MIcrogreens Bowl
20-minute, Stovetop, Oven, Pre-prepped Ingredient, Warm Dish, Leftovers, Grain
Salmon Quinoa MIcrogreens Bowl
20-minute, Stovetop, Oven, Pre-prepped Ingredient, Warm Dish, Leftovers, Grain

Pre-prep salmon and quinoa to reduce time to 5-minutes. Pictured is broiled salmon on top of a quinoa medley mix with green onions and parsley. Add a veggie of choice (radish here), plus top with an herb or microgreens.

20-minute, Stovetop, Oven, Pre-prepped Ingredient, Warm Dish, Leftovers, Grain
Pork Pho What
60-minute, Hot Dish, Stovetop, Pasta, Bowl, Leftovers, Pre-prepped Ingredient
Pork Pho What
60-minute, Hot Dish, Stovetop, Pasta, Bowl, Leftovers, Pre-prepped Ingredient

Ramen noodles can simplify adding pasta to a dish. For the ‘Pho What’ make a vegetable soup with stock (veggies here are leek and peppers). Sautee your favorite sausage, chop, then toss in to your Pho What. Spoon over desire portion of ramen noodles.

60-minute, Hot Dish, Stovetop, Pasta, Bowl, Leftovers, Pre-prepped Ingredient
Dinner Ideas

Dinner Ideas
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Breakfast Ideas

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