70 Healthy Lunch Ideas for Seriously Delicious Midday Fuel
These meals are oh-so easy to pack for school and work!
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A healthy lunch might be the best productivity hack: It provides the energy you need to power through that afternoon slump and ensures you can finish your day without feeling... hangry. So when choosing our best healthy lunch ideas, we didn't just gather our lowest-calorie recipes. We put together a list of our best nutrient-packed dishes that contain plenty of satisfying ingredients (nuts! cheese! creamy spreads!) and are easy to make for lunch. Most of them can be made in 30 minutes or less and prepped ahead to bring to work or school.
While we love a veggie-packed salad, that's not all you'll find on this list. Healthy sandwiches, cozy soups, grain bowls, pastas, toasts and more lunch faves can all be part of a healthy diet. "A balanced lunch can energize your body and help stabilize your blood sugar levels. Choosing a lunch rich in lean protein and fiber can help keep you full and satiated too," says Nutrition Lab Director Stefani Sassos. There's nothing that ruins healthy dinner plans faster than snacking all day because of an underwhelming lunch.
Picky eater? We included options for all kinds of dietary requirements. We included vegetarian and vegan options as well as gluten-free picks. No time? With a little meal prep, you can get that healthy meal on your table even faster (or even completely ready to go in the fridge — make-ahead meals FTW!). And the best part about healthy lunching? Having room for healthy dessert, too.
Samantha (she/her) is an Assistant Editor in the Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen, where she writes about tasty recipes, must-try food products and top-tested secrets for home cooking success. She has taste-tasted hundreds of products and recipes since joining GH in 2020 (tough job!). A graduate of Fordham University, she considers the kitchen to be her happiest place.
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