Admittedly, there have been many occasions I’ve discovered myself hunched over my desk, consuming spoonfuls of hen and rice as I work by lunch. That is by no means the vibe, and I’m completely satisfied to say that is now a uncommon incidence, particularly since I’ve reframed lunchtime as a mini reset ritual. It’s once I can step away from my laptop computer and gas up with one thing each nourishing and scrumptious. I work at home now, however I keep in mind a time when packing my lunch additionally proved to be a problem. How are you going to take your noon reset ritual on the go, whereas nonetheless romanticizing the second?
I chatted with our Wellness Editor, Edie Horstman, to get her work lunch concepts that aren’t solely scrumptious, however wholesome and simple to assemble. Learn on for a number of of her ideas and tips, and naturally, a number of recipes you may attempt your self.
Featured picture from our interview with Sanetra Longno by Michelle Nash.
Assemble, Don’t Cook dinner
For those who haven’t made your approach onto the meal prep prepare but, now’s a good time to begin. Horstman loves assembling her lunches for work, as an alternative of cooking one thing new everyday. “Build lunches from prepped components: a protein (rotisserie chicken or deli turkey or baked tofu), a carb (roasted sweet potato or a thick slice of sourdough), a veggie (spinach), and a healthy fat (avo). Mix and match so it never gets boring,” Horstman shares.
Bowls are an ideal work-friendly lunch, and in case you batch every thing forward of time, you may toss no matter you want right into a bowl. Horstman recommends batching gadgets like roasted greens, hard-boiled eggs, and rice cooked in bone broth. “This way, you can build a mini Sweetgreen at home,” she says. Cute!
Spicy Tofu Banh Mí Bowl
My favourite sandwich, in bowl kind. Severely, it has every thing: crusty baguette, pickled veggies, and the best-tasting tofu you’ve ever tucked right into a bowl. A very transformative lunch awaits.
Go-To Grain Bowl
Crispy tofu, crunchy rice, contemporary herbs—it’s the right combo.
Choose For Snack-Model Lunches
Easy work lunch concepts work finest. Who desires packing a lunch to be difficult? To make the method straightforward on you, contemplate throwing a number of necessities collectively and calling it a day. “Don’t underestimate a snack-style lunch: hard cheese, nuts, chopped veggies, hummus, and a protein like chicken salad or edamame,” Horstman recommends.
A snack-style lunch is basically packing up your charcuterie board and including a number of extra protein and contemporary veggie choices. Consider it like an grownup Lunchable. “Ultimately, think in color for the snack-style lunch; i.e. tomatoes (red), edamame (green), carrots (orange), etc.,” Horstmas continues. For those who discover you like this sort of lunch, Horstman recommends investing in to-go containers with dividers as nicely. That approach, you may portion your crackers, veg, fruit and protein so every thing stays neat and tidy.
Fall Charcuterie Board
Who says charcuterie is only for events? This fall-inspired board makes the right work lunch—suppose crisp apples, sharp cheddar, roasted nuts, and slightly one thing candy. It’s easy to assemble, endlessly customizable, and appears like a noon deal with.
Mediterranean Tuna Salad
This salad is giving South of France. Completely scrumptious by itself or paired with a carb like crusty bread or crackers.
All the time Have Seize and Go Objects On Hand
We’ve all had that second the place we appear to have nothing to eat at residence. Or worse, when there’s nothing to eat and also you’re caught at work. Horstman has an answer that requires just a bit little bit of planning forward, however is ideal for once you’ve run out of labor lunch concepts. “Keep “emergency” choices readily available like particular person Greek yogurt containers, apples, clementines, nut butter packets, meat sticks, particular person packets of olives, and DIY trailmix—almonds, pumpkin seeds, and darkish chocolate chips,” Horstman says.
Whereas this isn’t essentially a go-to work lunch, it’s an excellent tip. Preserve a stash in your desk at work simply in case! You’ll all the time have one thing wholesome to snack on that you simply take pleasure in, and also you gained’t have to make a hasty DoorDash order.
Wholesome Work Lunch Concepts
Lastly, we’ve rounded up much more recipes which are excellent for packing up and taking with you to work. From soups, salads, and much more bowls—you’re positive to discover a recipe you like to encourage your mid-day reset.
Broccoli Caesar
A Caesar salad with no romaine in sight? Belief us on this one! This has all of the crunchy, tacky goodness you may depend on, simply with a shaved broccoli base.
Tomato and White Bean Soup
Wholesome, scrumptious, and comes collectively in underneath 20 minutes.
Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad with Lemon French dressing
It’s the crunchy, candy, & zesty salad you’ll crave. Who says getting in your greens must be boring? This salad is something however.
Miso Candy Potato Soup
We would as nicely name this consolation in a bowl!
Creamy Cauliflower Soup
A easy, nourishing recipe you’ll need to carry on repeat all fall. It really proves easy can style luxurious!
Beet, Farro, & Goat Cheese Salad
Prep it on Sunday—take pleasure in all week. The elements are hearty sufficient that this can maintain within the fridge for a number of days! Work lunch made straightforward.
Coconut Curry Purple Lentil Soup
When cozy soup meets the daring flavors of curry, you get pure consolation. This lentil-based recipe—full of candy potato, kale, and warming spices—is hearty, nourishing, and satisfying for everybody on the desk.
Vegan Butternut Squash Soup
This plant-based soup is my go-to reset—nourishing, creamy, and filled with complicated taste. It’s healthful with out feeling like a cleanse, aka the right consolation soup.
Black Lentil Salad With Roasted Veggies
We’ve come a great distance from the times of limp lettuce and bland dressing. This salad delivers on taste and substance—roasted veggies add depth, lentils convey endurance, and all of it comes collectively effortlessly.
Rooster Burger Lettuce Wraps
I used to roll my eyes at “lightened-up” burgers—if I wished one, I used to be going all in. That modified when this recipe got here alongside. Made with hen, it’s satisfying with out feeling heavy—excellent for a weekday lunch or your subsequent burger night time.
This publish was final up to date on October 14, 2025, to incorporate new insights.
