Jun 25

Jun 25 Lunch ideas

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

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

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.

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

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

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, 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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