These healthy lunch ideas put the fun back into your midday meal! Pick from tasty salads, wraps, soups, and more.
Stuck in a rut when it comes to lunch? Midday meals don’t have to be boring. Try these easy healthy lunch ideas! Each recipe is either simple to put together the day of, or easy to meal prep at the start of the week. And there’s so much more inspiration than just sandwiches. Try crunchy wraps and burritos, tasty make-ahead soups, flavor-packed salads, and more! What does healthy mean? This term can be loaded, but here it simply means the recipes have fresh ingredients, lots of veggies, and healthy fats like olive oil.
And now…our top easy healthy lunch ideas!
In need of healthy lunch ideas? Try this easy veggie wrap recipe! Fill a tortilla with savory chickpea salad, colorful veggies, and a tasty spread, and you’ve got a lunch that will make everyone jealous!
This simple concept requires no cooking at all: layer a dollop of hummus with crunchy veggies and serve with pita wedges. It’s easily customizable and you can make it super basic or fancier with easy additions of ingredients. It takes just 5 minutes to make this Mediterranean-style meal that’s bursting with creamy, tangy, crunchy, fresh, and savory flavors.
Introducing Mediterranean Tuna Salad! Combine canned tuna with crunchy vegetables, feta cheese, olive oil and a punch of Dijon mustard for the most flavorful salad to hit your plate! Serve it with crackers as an easy lunch, or over greens with pita bread and olives.
Here’s a quick healthy lunch idea that’s always satisfying and works for nearly every diet.. Throw rice, veggies, and burrito fillings in a bowl and call it meal! You can make this one 15 minutes using packaged pre-cooked rice for easy assembly.
Here’s a genius healthy lunch idea that tastes far greater than the sum of its parts: Ricotta Toast! Spread ricotta cheese on toast, then load it up with sweet or savory toppings. Go basic with juicy ripe tomatoes and a drizzle of olive oil, or hearty with tender smoked salmon, capers and fresh dill.
Here’s a healthy lunch idea that’s a bit unexpected, but surprisingly satisfying…Cottage Cheese Bowls! Sure, cottage cheese and pineapple or melon seems a little retro. So let’s dust off the concept and make a modern way to lunch. Top this high protein cheese with fresh berries or apple, cinnamon and drizzle of honey.
Here’s a customizable make-ahead recipe that works for healthy lunch or snack: Egg Muffins! Bake up scrambled eggs in muffin tin cups with healthy veggies, then refrigerate them for meals all week! The filling is packed with good stuff: loads of spinach, cottage cheese for healthy protein, and jarred red pepper.
Here’s a fun way to mix up lunch with a spin on a deli-style favorite: Salmon Salad! It’s a creamy, crunchy mix of tangy flavors: just like Tuna Salad but using canned salmon. The flavor is savory and satisfying, and this recipe has a healthy spin with less mayo. It takes just 5 minutes, and works with crackers, in lettuce wraps, in a sandwich, and more.
When it comes to side dishes and lunch ideas, there’s nothing quite like the humble lentil. Introducing, our family favorite lentil salad recipe! This recipe takes everything that’s good about this protein-packed legume and makes it sing. The flavor pops with tangy and savory notes: tender lentils coated in zippy white wine vinegar Dijon dressing, with pops of crunchy cucumber and salty feta.
We like to eat extremely simple at breakfast and lunch, so that we can spend our time and energy on dinner recipes. So here’s one of our favorite easy and health lunch tricks: this chickpea salad sandwich! It’s basically a vegetarian chicken salad sandwich. It’s so tasty, it’s become one of our most popular recipes!
Here’s a healthy lunch recipe you can mix up in minutes: White Bean Salad! It’s bursting with Mediterranean flavor from simple ingredients: bell pepper brings a crunch, parsley an herbaceous bite, and red wine vinegar brings a zing of acidity. Top with a sprinkle of feta, and it’s irresistibly tasty with minimal effort. Serve with pita wedges or crusty bread.
Here’s a recipe that’s an appetizer but works as a healthy lunch: Hummus Dip! Spread hummus in a lunch container, then top with cool cucumber, tomatoes, olives, artichokes and feta cheese. Each bite is a burst of tangy, bright and creamy flavor! It’s best with crunchy pita chips, but anything goes here.
Here's a make-ahead healthy lunch idea that's great for hot lunch! Lentils are one of nature’s wonders: they’re full of protein, shelf stable for years, inexpensive, and make for some of the most satisfying filling meals. Try this simple Red Lentil Soup! It’s deliciously hearty, featuring aromatic vegetables, lemon and a hint of smoked paprika.
Here's an easy sandwich recipe that hits the spot: the Avocado Club! It's full of umami flavor and so satisfying that it surprised us both. The combination of smoky, rich, hearty, crunchy and savory is so irresistible…you’ll want to eat it all over again once it’s gone.
Here's a tasty healthy lunch salad: Edamame Salad! It mixes the hearty legume with fresh, crunchy veggies like corn and cucumber, crumbly feta cheese and a tangy red wine vinaigrette. It makes a burst of fun and fresh flavors that’s great as a side dish, or a protein-packed salad for lunches.
Here's a healthy lunch idea that takes minutes to put together: Smoked Salmon Toast! It's a simple toast of artisan bread loaded with fluffy whipped ricotta, smoked salmon, capers and fresh dill. The electric pink salmon is stunning against the delicate green dill fronds. Each bite is a burst of smoky, creamy, rich, briny, salty and fresh!
Here's a healthy lunch idea that will make you look forward to lunchtime: a stuffed bean burrito! This burrito is packed with flavor from Spanish rice (aka Mexican rice), seasoned black beans, peppers and onions, and mashed avocado. Even better, step it up with a zingy vegan sauce.
Tip: Remember to pack wraps in parchment or wax paper, since plastic can make them become soggy in the refrigerator.
Here’s a cozy make-ahead soup that’s made of healthy veggies that taste bright and restorative: this Chickpea Soup with Rice! It’s similar to a chicken rice soup, except it’s made with plant-powered chickpeas instead. Tender grains of rice make for a satisfying thick body to the turmeric and ginger-infused broth, with a punch of lemon zest to brighten each spoonful.
Though it looks a little like rice, orzo is actually a small pasta in the shape of rice! Experience the flavors of Greece in this lunch pasta salad recipe: salty feta cheese, Kalamata olives, and of course, powerhouse herbs like mint and dill! It’s one of our crowd favorite salad ideas.
Why not make up a batch of classic three bean salad for lunches? This one packs loads of plant-based protein and stays good in the fridge for days. It's an easy three bean salad that’s as simple as dump and stir.
Need a healthy soup recipe that pleases everyone? Try this Kale Soup with White Beans! Hearty Tuscan kale, white beans and tomatoes float in a tangy broth flavored with oregano and fennel. It comes together in just 30 minutes and makes a huge pot that’s great for healthy lunches.
Here’s the most perfect egg salad recipe! It’s ultra creamy and savory, made with mayo and Greek yogurt to up the creaminess factor. It’s got just the right balance of fresh herbiness with savory Dijon mustard. Spread on bread or eat with crackers.
Here’s a genius idea for easy healthy lunches: this Ultimate Hummus Sandwich! That’s right: hummus on a sandwich. You don’t have to reserve hummus just for carrots and pita triangles! It works as a sandwich spread that’s full of plant-based protein to keep you full for hours.
This black bean pinwheel recipe is all about making a healthy lunch as fast as possible! The pinwheels are packed with healthy veggies rolled into a tortilla with a bit of hummus. Eat them plain or dip in salsa!
Last up in our healthy lunch ideas: try a make-ahead grain bowl! This quinoa bowl is one of our fan favorite recipes Why? This fresh bowl of delicious vegetables and easy chickpeas is smothered in a tangy lemon tahini sauce that's darn delicious. It's easy to make ahead and totally customizable to whatever veggies you have on hand!
Make it a meal
The healthy lunch ideas above are main dish ideas that serve as the substantial portion of your lunch. But a great meal is rounded out by simple, no-cook “sides” to make it well balanced. Here are some great ways to accessorize the lunch ideas above:
- Roasted salted nuts: almonds, cashews, walnuts, pecans, peanuts, or mixed nuts
- Dried fruit: apricots, cherries, raisins, craisins, blueberries, etc
- Fresh fruit: apple slices, bananas, blueberries, peaches, plums, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries
- Veggie sticks: Carrots, celery, bell pepper, radishes, avocado, kohlrabi
- Energy bars and balls: Try Easy Energy Balls, No Bake Energy Bites or Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
More lunch recipes
Need more inspiration? Here are a few more lunch recipe collections to browse:
- Try 45 Easy Lunch Ideas
- Go for 25 Tasty Gluten Free Lunch Ideas
- Grab 25 Vegetarian Lunch Ideas
- Opt for 15 Easy Vegan Lunch Ideas
25 Healthy Lunch Ideas!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 2 wraps 1x
Description
This veggie wrap recipe is packed with flavor! Colorful vegetables and hummus make a satisfying, healthy lunch idea.
Ingredients
- 15-ounce can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1 rib celery, thinly sliced
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced
- 3 tablespoons mayonnaise (or vegan mayo)
- ½ tablespoon Dijon mustard
- ½ tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- ½ teaspoon celery seed
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ cup hummus, chive and onion cream cheese spread, or other spread*
- 1 carrot, shredded
- 1/4 red cabbage, sliced
- 1/2 red pepper, sliced
- 1 cup chopped lettuce
- 1 handful jarred sliced pepperoncini (optional)
- Optional: sliced or shredded cheese
- 2 burrito size tortillas (at least 10-inch; smaller tortillas do not work)
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, smash the chickpeas with a fork. Mix in the chopped celery and green onions, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, celery seed, and kosher salt. Taste and adjust salt or add freshly ground black pepper if desired.
- Spread the hummus or flavored cream cheese onto the center of each tortilla, leaving a 1-inch border all the way around. Place an even layer of carrot, red cabbage, red pepper, chopped lettuce, and pepperoncini on top. (Add shredded cheese or cheese slices if desired.)
- Make a burrito style-wrap by folding in each side of the tortilla, then rolling it up from the bottom. Slice the wrap in half.
- Eat immediately, or wrap it up in parchment or wax paper for storage and refrigerate until serving, up to 1 day. (Do not wrap in plastic, or the wrap becomes soggy.)
- Category: Lunch
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Keywords: Healthy lunch ideas, easy healthy lunch ideas
thank you for all, really like to the ricotta toast, the lentil and feta salad also works for me too, much appreciated!
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thank you for all, three bean salad, yay, love this but it’s been too long, and don’t know why since it has so many ingredients that I love!
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