Woman eating a salad in her office

Thinking of ideas for lunch can take time and effort, especially if you’re trying to make healthy choices. Sometimes, it feels like when you try to be healthier, the hungrier you feel, and the fast food joint down the road starts to look super tempting. Here are some nutritious, easy lunch ideas for work that will fight hunger all day long!

1. Salads

Goat cheese, beet, walnut salad
Image Credit: kiboka via Shutterstock.

Salads are very nutritious because of all the vegetable options you can come up with. You can always add protein, like chicken, to help curb hunger.

2. Soups and Stews

A bowl of vegetable soup.
Image Credit: AS Foodstudio via Shutterstock.

Soups and stews are both great to take for lunch. They are packed full of vegetables, and even some have protein. Invest in a thermos to keep it warm or heat it in a microwave at work.

3. Meal Prep

Batch cooking meals sitting on a counter
Image Credit: maroke via Shutterstock.

Batch cook a bunch of protein for the week. To make meals, simply add your favorite sides or put it in a wrap for a quick, easy sandwich – a nice, healthy, balanced lunch that will keep you full all day long.

4. Pasta Salad

A bowl of pasta salad with vegetables surrounding it.
Image Credit: Liliya Kandrashevich via Shutterstock.

Pasta salad remains excellent all week; in fact, the flavor usually improves as the days progress. It is relatively easy to make, and you can add in your favorite veggies and meat to make it a complete meal – bonus points if you choose whole wheat pasta!

5. Chili

Bowls of spicy chili and peppers
Image Credit: Slawomir Fajer via Shutterstock.

Chili is a nutritious, filling meal that will fuel you with all your body needs for the whole day! Sneak in some extra vegetables to boost vitamins and fiber.

6. Chickpea salad

A bowl of chick pea salad with a bunch of different vegetables in it.
Image Credit: CWB via Shutterstock.

A good healthy and filling option for lunch is chickpea salad. It is easy to make in advance, and you can add in almost anything you want ingredient-wise to complete the salad. Choose the spices or dressing you like to pair it with and mix it at work.

7. Oven Baked Oatmeal

A baking dish with oven baked oats and blueberries.
Image Credit: Nina Firsova via Shutterstock.

An easy make-ahead lunch option is oven-baked oatmeal. It’s nutritious and filling. Try flavoring it with fruits or nut butter. It’s a good option to make in advance and freeze until ready to eat.

8. Chicken and Potatoes

A rotisserie chicken with potatoes and vegetables.
Image credit: Zsolt Biczo via Shutterstock.

In a pinch, grab a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store. Make some potatoes (you can mash them, bake them, etc.) Then, add your favorite vegetable on the side, and you have a complete nutritious meal that will keep you full all day!

9. Overnight Oats

A mason jar filled with overnight oats and fresh fruit.
Image Credit: Olga Gorchichko via Shutterstock.

Overnight oats are fast and easy to make. You can flavor them with maple syrup, cinnamon, and fruit. The best part is that you make them the night before, and they’re ready to take to work. They are super filling and nutritious.

10. Brown Rice

Woman's hands holding a bowl of healthy food
Image Credit: Marina Litvinova via Shutterstock.

Pairing brown rice with a protein of your choice is an excellent way to create a simple meal. Chicken and fish are great options…toss in some veggies, and you’re set!

11. Breakfast Sandwich

A bacon, egg and cheese breakfast sandwich.
Image Credit: Edward Fielding via Shutterstock.

If you’re a breakfast lover, make a big batch of breakfast sandwiches or burritos and freeze them for a quick grab-and-go option throughout the week. Choose from bagels, bread, wraps, or English muffins, top with eggs, cheese, and meat, if you choose.

12. Snacks

Aisle of bulk nuts and seeds in grocery store
Image Credit: James Mattil via Shutterstock.

Grazing on healthy options is another way to stay full and get the nutrients your body needs. Snacks like almonds, vegetables, hummus, and hardboiled eggs are great options.

13. Tacos in a Bowl

Taco salad in taco bowl on cutting board
Image Credit: Brent Hofacker via Shutterstock.

Tacos aren’t just for Tuesdays; they’re a great meal to take to work any day of the week. Cook up some rice, ground meat, taco seasoning, veggies, and all your favorite toppings.

Man eating huge burger
Image Credit: Estrada Anton via Shutterstock.

Some people like to get creative in the kitchen, especially when their pantry is bare. Users in a popular online forum shared some creative food combinations that sound completely disgusting but, in reality, taste pretty amazing! Here are some of the top responses. 17 Weird Food Combos That Sound Disgusting, But Are Actually Delicious

17 Iconic Meals Everyone Ate in the 90s

TV dinner with plastic still on
Image Credit: Donald Bowers Photography via Shutterstock.

Growing up in the 90s, we had some iconic dinners. Some of them are relics now, but we fondly look back on them primarily because of the memories associated with them. People shared the dinners they remember from their childhood in a popular online forum – how many of these iconic meals were on your plate? 17 Iconic Meals Everyone Ate in the 90s

15 Food Crimes That Completely Turn People Off

Woman holding a pot looking disgusted
Image Credit: Roman Samborskyi via Shutterstock.

We all have our favorite foods and opinions on how we prefer food prepared, but sometimes we see others taking things too far with their creative liberties. Someone recently asked the question, “What screams food crime to you?” These are some of the top-voted responses. 15 Food Crimes That Completely Turn People Off

13 Expensive Foods People Don’t Get the Hype About

Fancy expensive cheeseburger at a restaurant
Image Credit: Ezume Images via Shutterstock.

Personal food preferences aside, sometimes we just can’t understand why someone could enjoy eating something that smells, looks, or even tastes bad. Sometimes it can just be the fact that they are overpaying for something that just isn’t worth it. We found a thread where people were discussing expensive foods that people couldn’t understand why someone could actually enjoy eating them. 13 Expensive Foods People Don’t Get the Hype About

Inspired by this thread – photos for illustrative purposes only.

💸 Take Back Control of Your Finances in 2024 💸
Get Instant Access to our free mini course
5 DAYS TO A BETTER BUDGET

Similar Posts