5 Refreshing and Healthy Lunch Ideas

[highlight]Five Refreshing & Light Lunch Recipes, designed to provide inspiration and motivation for fun, convenient, flavorful and healthy lunch ideas.[/highlight]

In keeping up with this week’s theme of  The Healthy Lunch Challenge, it’s important to keep your lunches interesting! There are so many great ideas out there for filling, flavorful, healthy lunches but sometimes it’s hard to see past the usual salad or sandwich.

Below are 5 ideas to shake up your lunch routine:

 1. Wraps

Credit: Eating Well

• Considered an elevated version of a sandwich, wraps offer an array of interesting fillings and flavors.  Many wraps themselves contain less calories/sugar/carbohydrates than breads used in sandwiches.
• Wraps are a perfect vessel for holding extra vegetables, healthy fats (olives, avocado, etc), and lean proteins such as chicken, fish, turkey.
• They are more portable than sandwiches and can pack a lot of flavor/ingredients that a sandwich wouldn’t be able to offer.
• In place of mayo or mustard, consider using hummus, vinaigrette, chutneys or smashed avocado to add flavor instead of fat/calories.
• Check out my Wraps Pinterest Board for recipe ideas.

2. Cauliflower Rice

• Cauliflower Rice has become quite the rage lately.
• Used in place of white/brown rice, it’s a great way to create a vegetable-centered dish with lots of added flavors and lean proteins.
• Cauliflower Rice is easy to make or can be purchased in the frozen (sometimes even in the fresh produce section) at Trader Joe’s. Only takes minutes to cook and even tastes great re-heated on the second day.
• Consider adding great flavors such as lime, garlic, ginger and sesame oil/seeds.
• Serves as a great background for vegetables, chicken, fish, tofu, fruits, and nuts.
• Check out my Cauliflower Rice Pinterest Board for recipe ideas.

3. Burrito Bowls

Credit: Cooking Light

• Burritos are an insanely popular lunch item. They are delicious, filling and easy to eat. However, they are often filled with unhealthy fats and extra calories.
• Thanks mainly in part to Chipotle, Burrito Bowls have become a healthier alternative to heavy tortilla wrapped burritos.
• Burrito Bowls are a great way to incorporate protein (beans, chicken, tofu, steak) and vegetables with refreshing tastes like pico de gallo and fresh guacamole.
• Watch out for rice, sour cream and additional cheese if you are aiming for a healthy lunch option.
• Burrito Bowls are also easy to re-create at home or pack of lunch on the go.
• Consider adding shredded romaine lettuce, chopped bell peppers, sliced avocado and fresh lime for extra flavor without extra calories.
• Check out my Burrito Bowl Pinterest Board for recipe ideas.

4. Themed Salads

Credit: Skinny Taste

• Salads are a common lunch fixture, especially when people are trying to eat “healthier”.
• Salads are a great way to add lots of vegetables, lean proteins, healthy fats and believe it or not variety to your lunches.
• Think beyond the typical lettuce, carrots, tomato and dressing salad in order to remain fulfilled and not get bored.
• Themed salads are a great way to think outside the typical salad recipes and add great flavor and filling ingredients to your entree.
• Consider an Italian Salad theme with chopped salami, garbanzo beans, sun dried tomatoes, black olives and herb vinaigrette. Or Thai Salad with lots of shredded vegetables such as carrots, cucumber, bell peppers mixed with chopped peanuts, cilantro and zesty lime dressing.
• Check out my Salad Pinterest Board for recipe ideas.

 5. Loaded Sweet Potatoes

Credit: Skinny Taste

• Sweet potatoes are filling, chock full of vitamins and nutrients and cheap!
• Just recently, people have been finding that “loaded” sweet potatoes are a great way to make a complete meal out of this great ingredient.
• Black beans, avocado, chicken, pork, steak, and vegetables are great compliments to sweet potatoes and make for a great, portable and filling lunch
• Check out my Loaded Sweet Potatoes Board on Pinterest for recipe ideas

Lunch doesn’t have to be boring! What’s your favorite healthy lunch ideas?