5 Ways to Spice Up Your Work Lunches

Sometimes it’s the little things that help us through the day; and often, the best pick-me-up can be eating a delicious lunch. However, with a busy schedule, people often fall into a rut of robotically eating the same thing every day. Or worse, they fall victim to the unhealthy, but oh-so-tasty trap of ordering takeout for lunch.

To flip the script and ensure you’re enjoying a nutritious, delicious lunch every day, here are five ways to spice up your work lunches.

1. Grown-Up Lunchables

Do people ever really outgrow their fondness of DIY lunches like Lunchables? Isn’t a charcuterie board really just an adult-sized Lunchables? These philosophical questions are best answered after lunch. 

Here’s what you’ll need to prepare a DIY lunch for the office.

Meats – Try prosciutto, salami, mortadella, or whatever tickles your fancy.

Carbohydrates – Slice a baguette or throw in your choice of crackers.

Fruits – Cut fresh melon, pomegranate, or apples. Or, if you prefer dried fruits, include a handful of apricots, figs, peaches, plums or prunes. 

Cheese – The star of the show, feel free to use a few: manchego, brie, gouda, cheddar and bleu. 

Greens – For contrast, include olives, pickled beets or your favorite raw vegetables. A light salad on the side never hurts, either.

Condiments – Small containers of honey, fruit preserves, hummus or jams add a great touch.

Nuts – Can’t forget the crunch! Grab some Marcona almonds, roasted pistachios or cashews to top it off. 

Pack your lunch with pride and enjoy your elevated cheese and crackers. 

2. Vegetarian Swap

When you need the best lunch boxes for work, consider the obvious—switching out standard ingredients with veggies for a fresh new take on an old recipe. 

For example, try using spiralized zucchini as a substitute for your weekly pasta. Not only will this taste super refreshing, but it will be a healthier alternative. If you don’t like zucchini, you can also try the popular spaghetti squash. 

Give buffalo cauliflower or cauliflower rice a chance, and you might find it’s not necessary to compromise flavor for health. You’ll also have more energy to get through your day and away from vending machines. That’s the power of the veggie swap.

3. Mason Jar Meals

A mason jar lunch can be fun and surprisingly simple. Plus, it can be savory or sweet. Get over the guilt and sodium of styrofoam noodles and prepare your own in a mason jar. 

For healthy recipes for lunch at work, here’s a make-your-own-healthy-recipe… recipe: 

Build a base – Miso paste, chicken bouillon, curry paste, chili, soy sauce, or coconut milk can make a complex flavor profile. Test your tongue. Find your mix. 

Pick your noodles – Ramen from instant bags, Mai Fun, or vermicelli will cook easily. If you use other noodles, be sure to cook it before, because adding hot water won’t do it thoroughly.

Add-on – Now’s the time to personalize. Add vegetables, leftover protein, diced tofu or a soft-boiled egg. Again, be sure to cook anything that won’t be fully cooked already with the addition of boiling water.

Just add water – Pour in hot water and keep the lid on to let it cook a bit. Then open, stir and enjoy!

Soup isn’t the only thing that fits in mason jars. Also consider:

• Salads
• Pastas
• Curries
• Milk and oats
• Parfait
• Burrito bowls

A fun component of mason jars is that it also makes lunch box meal prep easy. If you can prepare several options, then you can grab a different meal every day of the week for some variety!

 

4. Fusion Without the Confusion

Comfort foods like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and tuna salad sandwiches are made with undeniable ease. But you should always try to shake up your mealtime. Adding a twist can be as easy as a few more spices.

Take a chicken salad sandwich, for instance. Have you ever considered making it a curry chicken salad sandwich? All you need for the sauce is:

• Mayonnaise
• Salt
• Black pepper
• Lemon juice
• Yellow curry powder

Instead of meal prepping plain baked chicken and steamed vegetables, prepare it in a wok with a pour of teriyaki sauce for a more flavorful, quick stir-fry. 

The chances are that you already have most of these ingredients. If you don’t, you’ll find that they’re incredibly versatile, and you might even end up adding them to your other recipes. 

5. Add a Dash of Science

It can be scary to stray from appliances and recipes that you already know work. But you can do it.

Merely choosing to air fry your fish instead of baking it can be a whole different gastronomical experience. Placing pork into an instant pot with barbecue sauce before bed will yield a rewarding experience, completely different from cooking it in a pan. 

Experiment with different sauces and marinades! If you don’t, you could be missing out on your favorite new dish. Plus, you’ll look forward to eating something new and maybe find some joy in the kitchen.

If your meals feel bland, never hesitate to add a dash of gastronomy.

Get Excited about Lunch Again

Capture the same excitement for lunchtime you had when you were younger. It’s as simple as having something tasty to eat and having the right lunch box recipe for the office.

Eating and preparing lunch is not work, and it shouldn’t feel like it. With a little effort, you can find the joy in eating once again.

You deserve it.

Need ideas for healthy school lunches for the kids? Click to learn more.

 

Sources:

Kitchn. How to Make DIY Instant Noodle Cups. https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-diy-instant-noodle-cups-222560