If there was a forgotten meal in the day, I would argue it’s lunch. Many of us forget it even exists. Some of us are snarfing down whatever salty bagged snack is closest at noon. And some of us just have too much to do around the house to stop and enjoy our lunch.
And that’s just why I think we need to make lunch important again.
It’s time to take back lunch!
It is time to take a break for lunch, to get outside and breathe some fresh air. It’s time to eat something healthy, colorful and filling. It’s time to start making leftovers interesting. It’s time to treat yourself with a tasty lunch!
And don’t worry, there are plenty of easy and healthy meal ideas that are totally doable for lunch.
I’m talking about utilizing leftovers and vegetarian quick meals that are satisfying and super simple. Whether you’re a stay-at-home parent, working in an office or from home, or just tired of sad lunches, these ideas are for you!
1. Baked sweet potato
I’m pretty sure I’ll never get sick of the glorious baked potato, especially since I live in the prime state for these orange (or purple or white) beauties. Although this ingredient takes about an hour to cook, it is so worth it and can be done ahead of time.
Prep and bake your potato at 11 a.m. to be ready for lunch, or bake several of them on the weekend so you can just heat them up when you need them.
Here’s how I fix mine: I wash and stab my baked potato a few times with a knife (and sometimes add grapeseed oil and sea salt to the outside of the skin), then bake at 400 F for about an hour, or until soft. Then, I like to cut it open and stuff with leftover veggies; black beans, cheese and hot sauce; or just top with butter, salt and pepper (and maybe some arugula if I have it).
2. Leftover rice
It’s always a good idea to have leftover rice in the fridge, whether you cooked it or your favorite Chinese or Thai restaurant did. It can be used in so many ways for a filling lunch: stir-fried, put an egg on top or just add leftover veggies or meat.
Here’s how I fix mine: Microwave leftover rice with a little bit of water. Fry an egg in oil and add some greens to the side of the pan if you have them.
3. Grain salad
Grain salads have become a hot item at today’s hip cafes and restaurants (and even fast-casual joints), so it’s a no-brainer for a quick, healthy and cheap lunch. Here’s another lunch you can get ahead of when you cook up a nice pot of grains (I like farro) on the weekend and eat from them throughout the week. Top your grains (hot or cold) with fresh avocado (see idea 4), fresh greens, citrus or a nice vinaigrette. You can of course just take salad greens and top them with your grains and such, too.
Here’s how I fix mine: I like to top my farro with whatever freshness I have on hand: avocado, tomato, feta cheese, nuts and olive oil, just to name a few.
4. Avocado
You’re probably not surprised that this green beauty is on my list, but it really is a lunch hero! Whether you’ve got a few minutes to make avocado toast (I do this in my work kitchen a lot) or you want to get fancy to top a burrito bowl or grain bowl, avocado is a healthy, creamy treat.
Here’s how I make mine: Grab a piece of your best bread on hand (preferably a local multigrain), toast it, then mash 1/2 of an avocado on top. If I have olive oil around, I like to add a little bit of that, too. Top with some everything but the bagel seasoning.
Who’s ready for some lunch?
Pro Tip: If you’re eating from work or another non-home location, throw a little pairing knife and fork in your lunch bag!