Mothers often get perplexed about what to pack for lunch for their kids. Even if you an office-goer, making a healthy lunch for the office every day feels no less than a job. To ease your preparation for healthy meals, we have come up with some healthy lunch ideas and recipes. Try these recipes and you are sure to love them.
Lemon-Herb Rice Salad
This simple yet healthy salad has the goodness of fresh herbs that add a unique flavor to it. Instead of white rice, you can also use brown rice, wild rice, or any other variety of your choice.
Ingredients
1/2 shredded carrot
2 cup white rice
1/4 cup oil
2 Tsp. brown sugar
1 bunch torn watercress
1/2 sliced onion
1 diced cucumber
2 Tbsp. rice wine vinegar
Lemon juice + zest
Salt & pepper
Roasted peanuts
Cilantro, mint, and basil to garnish
Method
Take one strip of zest and heat it in oil for about 3-4 minutes. Set the lemon oil aside. Meanwhile, prepare the white rice and add 2-3 lemon zest strips to water. Discard the zest in the end and take rice in a bowl and allow it to cool. Now prepare the dressing with some lemon juice, brown sugar, wine vinegar, ground pepper, and salt. Mix the prepared lemon oil with this dressing after discarding the zest. Stir in the onion and allow it to marinate for some time. Add garnish items along with cucumber, carrot, and roasted peanuts to the rice bowl. Pour the dressing, mix everything, and serve.
Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers
If you are a vegetarian, incorporate stuffed peppers in your healthy meals. These peppers are filled with rice and bean along with cheese and seasonings.
Ingredients
1 cup white rice (uncooked)
3/4 diced bell peppers
1 diced onion
2 cup vegetable broth
1 cup of corn
3/4 cup diced tomatoes
1 cup Pepper Jack cheese
10 oz. black beans
3 bell peppers (halved + seeds removed)
2 Tbsp. taco seasoning
Cilantro
Green onions
Method
Cook rice along with tomatoes, onions, peppers, and vegetable broth. Sprinkle taco seasoning and green onions and cook for 17-18 minutes. Then add corn and beans and mix well. Fill the halved bell peppers with this rice mixture. Garnish with cheese and bake the peppers for half an hour in the oven preheated to about 350-400 degrees. Top with cilantro before serving.
Tuna Avocado Salad
This 3-ingredient salad is rich in proteins, antioxidants, fiber, and vitamins. Vegetarians can swap tuna with tofu, tempeh, or even soybeans.
Ingredients
1/2 mashed avocado
5 oz. can tuna
Lemon juice to taste
Salt to taste
Method
Mix the tuna salad ingredients well and serve. You can also add this tuna salad to your sandwich or even pizzas.
Veggie Club Sandwich
The vegetable club sandwich is one of the easiest healthy lunch ideas for vegetarians. The sandwich is filled with tofu, veggies, and avocado spread. You can use peanut butter or any other nut butter instead of avocado spread.
Ingredients
9 brown bread slices (sliced diagonally)
2 oz. smoked tofu
1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes
1 Tbsp. fresh oregano (chopped)
1/2 pitted avocado
1 Tbsp. yogurt
3/4 minced garlic cloves
1 cup baby spinach leaves
2 Tbsp. white wine vinegar
1/2 cup sliced onion
1 roasted red bell pepper
1/2 cup sliced cucumber
Method
Scoop the avocado, mash it and then blend it with garlic and yogurt. Stir in oregano and vinegar and pulse to form a smooth spread. Cut the bread slices diagonally and spread this mixture on one side of every slice. Top with smoked tofu, tomatoes, and arugula. Place a slice with avocado-side down and top it with onions, cucumbers, and roasted peppers. Repeat and create two more layers to form a club sandwich.
Use these healthy lunch ideas to prepare a healthy meal plan for your family!
