You just came back from a three day, mini summer vacation to the beach. You walk through your house as your salty beach waves are flowing down your newly bronzed skin, leaving the smell of sunscreen wafting behind you. All this bliss will end soon as the clock strikes: “Monday”.
At that moment you realize you haven’t made a single one of your lunches for the coming week. The cafeteria at your work or internship only serves greasy, old chicken nuggets that are severely over priced. Come on, you’re better than that.
We came up with a collection of our favorite, quick, easy and portable summer lunches so you don’t have to eat that $8 mystery meat. Enjoy below.
Raw Pad Thai
Photo by Tess van Donkelaar
This bowl packs a hearty crunch with every bite. Combining the freshness of the vegetables with the spicy, peanut sauce is a delicious way to get your vegetables that will satisfy your cravings for that killer Pad Thai.
Black Bean Taco Salad
Photo courtesy of cleaneatingmag.com
With the protein of the black beans, the salty bite of the feta and that creamy avocado we all love; this salad is taking taco Tuesday to a whole new level.
Chicken Salad
Photo by Ashleigh De Simone
Try the curry chicken salad for a twist on your favorite classic meal. Add a few scoops to a bed of greens or in between two slices of bread.
Pita Pocket
Photo by Abigail Wilkins
With just four ingredients, this pocket of yumminess couldn’t get any better. It will take you to the Mediterranean in a single bite.
Sweet Potato Meal
Photo by Tess van Donkelaar
Sweet potatoes are some of the world’s healthiest foods because they pack so many vitamins, minerals and complex carbohydrates, it doesn’t matter what you put on top. But why not try it with black beans, salsa, avocado and lime?
Smoothie Bowl
Photo by Diana Davis
Making a smoothie bowl at work is a great way to switch up your boring old lunches. Don’t just think smoothie bowls are limited to just fruits; you wouldn’t know this one had vegetables in it by the taste.
Wrap it up
Photo by Ana Dukakis
Sick of salads and out of bread? Fear not, this caprese inspired wrap literally tastes how summer feels. Super quick to make and super delicious to eat.
Salmon Chickpea Salad
Photo courtesy of thecrepesofwrath.com
This one-bowl, no-cook recipe will save you time in the morning and the protein and heart –healthy fats will power you through your day and that spinning class after work. This salad looks as bright and fresh as you’re going to feel after eating it.
Replace the Noodle with the Zoodle
Photo by Jackie Behar
Summer squash and zucchini are abundant in the summer farming season, as are tomatoes and most greens. Spiralize your favorite vegetable or create a mixture of them finish with a homemade tomato sauce and then wilt some greens in there to add definition to this dish. Freeze the left over tomato sauce and use to recreate the dish for another lunch.
Create a Dressing to Uber Personalize your Salad
Photo courtesy of tumblr.com
Use these tips that explain and teach you how to create the perfect dressing personalized for you. You can alter the ratios of ingredients to tailor the taste to fit you best. Use tip number four on this list to create a super creamy dressing that has no dairy at all so everyone can enjoy it.
Homemade Zesty Pesto
Photo by Jake Popescu
Whether it’s for lunch, family dinner or a barbecue with friends, pesto is always a fan favorite and surprisingly easy to make. It’s obvious a basil sauce but throwing in a few handfuls of greens to the blender is a sneaky way to transform this dish into a nutrient dense dinner.
DIY Hummus
Photo by Keni Lin
I’ve had the luxury of growing up with homemade authentic hummus thanks to my Lebanese mother; however, not many people were as lucky. Made from scratch hummus is really much simpler than it seems. If you want to spunk up the traditional recipe you can try one of these four elevated recipes for your next lunch.
Eggplant and Goat Cheese Panini
Photo by Alana Babington
This is a perfect no-meat Monday recipe. This eggplant and goat cheese panini is easy to make the night before and will travel well with you to work. Just assemble and cook the panini the night before, wrap tightly in aluminum foil, store in the fridge over night and microwave at work the next day. This satisfying sandwich will fill you up and won’t make you miss meat.
Multi-Use Salmon Cake
Photo by Olivia Chadwick
Seafood is abundant in the summer so why not take advantage of that. These salmon cakes cook in just 10 minutes and are gluten-free. You can create anything with these cakes, add them as a protein to a salad or put it between burger buns and slather on some sriracha mayo for a salmon burger. The cakes are good for traveling lunches, backyard cooks outs and everything in between.
Frozen Refresher
Photo by Jen Baron
After your scrumptious lunch, refresh with this cucumber mint popsicle. It will rehydrate and recharge you for that hot day ahead. Make ahead and keep some in your freezer for emergency chill sessions.
Hope these recipes come to your aid when you’re rushing around to make a lunch before work.