Soups, salads, and hearty grain bowls!
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No doubt about it, weekdays are busy! Whether you have back-to-back work calls or you're trying to get the family out the door, many people often forget about preparing a healthy lunch to get them through the day. And what results might look something like a fast-food drive-through, unhealthy packaged foods, or an unsatisfying granola bar! 😩 That's when the hangry feelings start to set in. Luckily, if your New Year's resolution was to eat healthier this year, this list of healthy lunch ideas will save the day. Not only will they jumpstart your healthy eating journey, but they'll keep you full and satisfied right up until dinnertime. And, perhaps best of all—you can feel good about packing these healthy lunches for your family, too.
Gone are the days when healthy lunch ideas meant bland. Instead, you'll find flavorful turkey recipes, healthy soups, and grain bowls packed with tasty mix-ins. Looking for ways to add more seafood to your repertoire? Try the ginger shrimp salad or the chipotle Caesar salad topped with grilled salmon. Prefer something a little more comforting? You can't go wrong with sticky pork lettuce wraps or a slow cooker turkey chili that's both filling and nutritious. Planning your lunch ahead of time might seem like it's tricky to do, but these quick lunch recipes are all surprisingly easy to prep—whether you whip them up in the morning or the night before. Just don't forget to save some room for a healthy cookie recipe, too!
1
Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
Save time and calories by using an air fryer, but keep all the juicy flavor. And though this recipe makes more, you can reduce to make it a single serving. It's great with a side salad!
Get the Air Fryer Chicken Thighs recipe.
2
7-Can Soup
Ree calls this "the easiest soup on the planet." Loaded with beans, you'll stay full thanks to the protein. Just look for canned beans with low or no sodium. You can skip the Velveeta, too, though a little indulgence is fine.
Get Ree's 7-Can Soup recipe.
3
Watercress Salad With Pistachios
If you easily get bored with salads, try this interesting twist! Along with watercress, it has crisp fennel and radishes. The pistachios sprinkled on top add texture and protein.
Get the Watercress Salad With Pistachios recipe.
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4
Spinach and Feta Chicken Burgers
When you switch to chicken for burgers, you save a lot of fat but keep a ton of protein. To make these even healthier, skip the bun and add a veggie side.
Get Ree's Spinach and Feta Chicken Burgers recipe.
5
Teriyaki Meatball-Broccoli Kebabs
Beef is an excellent source of protein. It's also perfectly fine in moderation, especially when paired with broccoli. Skip the rice if you want to go low carb or try cauliflower rice!
Get Ree's Teriyaki Meatball-Broccoli Kebabs recipe.
6
Chickpea Salad
This flavorful salad doesn't even need the lettuce! Chickpeas get tossed with lots of veggies like cucumbers, red onions, and tomatoes for a Mediterranean twist. And did you know feta is lower in fat than most other cheeses?
Get the Chickpea Salad recipe.
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7
Air Fryer Salmon
A gourmet ten-minute lunch? Yup! While this easy-yet-tasty fish is cooking, prepare a side salad and you'll be all set. A side of rice rounds it out, but you could swap out any whole grain if you wish.
Get the Air Fryer Salmon recipe.
8
Avocado Salad
Avocados are a great source of healthy fats and keep you fuller longer. Pair them with tomatoes, cucumbers, and crunchy green onions for a fun (and just as healthy!) salad without the lettuce.
Get the Avocado Salad recipe.
9
Cauliflower Fried Rice
With so much flavor in this dish, you won't miss the actual rice. It's a great low carb alternative and has plenty of spinach in it, too, for extra vitamins.
Get Ree's Cauliflower Fried Rice recipe.
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10
Grilled Shrimp Skewers
The great thing about shrimp (besides being super delicious)? They cook super fast. Healthy and done in less than 20 minutes? Sign us up!
Get the Grilled Shrimp Skewers recipe.
11
Cauliflower Steak
You can absolutely make these delicious vegetarian steaks in advance and reheat them for lunch! They're full of flavor and a great alternative to meat.
Get the Cauliflower Steak recipe.
12
Collard Green Salad
Collard greens aren't just healthy, they're very hearty, too. That means you can prep this salad a day in advance and it won't wilt. It's good luck and good eating!
Get the Collard Green Salad recipe.
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13
Turkey Taco Lettuce Wraps
Instead of your typical tacos, this healthier version swaps the beef for lean turkey and the flour tortillas for crunchy lettuce cups. Don't worry—it's still packed with all the spices and toppings of a regular taco.
Get Ree's Turkey Taco Lettuce Wraps recipe.
14
Instant Pot Lentil Soup
Lentils are the powerhouse ingredient in this comforting soup recipe. They're loaded with good-for-you fiber and they're low in fat.
Get the Instant Pot Lentil Soup recipe.
15
Greek Salad with Chicken
As far as salads go, this one is hard to beat! It's refreshing thanks to the crunchy lettuces and juicy tomatoes and filling thanks to the grilled chicken and pita chips. Just be sure to keep the dressing on the side until you're ready to serve.
Get Ree's Greek Salad with Chicken recipe.
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16
Mediterranean Salmon-Veggie Grain Bowls
Grain bowls are so popular these days and for good reason! They're not just healthy and filling, but they're also easy to customize. Add any veggies you like or swap out the quinoa for faro instead. The options are endless.
Get Ree's Mediterranean Salmon-Veggie Grain Bowls recipe.
17
Slow Cooker Turkey Chili
If you're looking for a healthy winter recipe, this chili is for you! It's made with lean ground turkey, protein-packed beans, and plenty of warming spices.
Get the Slow Cooker Turkey Chili recipe.
18
Ginger Shrimp Salad
This recipe couldn't be easier. The shrimp is marinated in a flavorful soy sauce, brown sugar, ginger and garlic mixture, then quickly cooked under the broiler for just 4 minutes. It's all served over a fresh salad with a spicy lime and ginger dressing.
Get Ree's Ginger Shrimp Salad recipe.
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19
Tex-Mex Grain Bowls
This vegetarian lunch recipe is hearty enough for even the hungriest cowboys. Of course, you can always add some cooked ground beef or grilled chicken on top, too.
Get Ree's Tex-Mex Grain Bowls recipe.
20
Taco Salad
This healthy ground beef recipe is the best of both worlds. It has all the deliciousness of a taco plus it's light and healthy for any weekday lunch.
Get the Taco Salad recipe.
