There’s no way around it; if you want to stay on track with your health goals, packing your own lunch is the way to go. Eating out just won’t cut it and with these fast to pack and healthy office lunch ideas your budget and waistline will thank you.
Quick Office Lunch Ideas
First, you’ll need some grownup lunch containers. Well, I say grown-up but I use these Easy Lunchboxes for both my kids and me because they stack well and I can use them too. They are free of chemicals and they can be both microwaved and placed in the dishwasher so that’s a win-win.
Below are 10 healthy office lunch ideas that come together super fast with either leftover or by easily prepping them the night before -because let’s face it, nobody wants to pack lunch at 6 am.
1. BLT in a Bowl
I try to keep lunch delicious and simple and when I’m trying to avoid eating carbs from bread, which is often, this BLT bowl takes care of all that!
With only 5 ingredients and minimal prep time, it means I can prep my lunch ahead of time which is a win. I often make a couple of these salads for a few days and I’m good to go.
Bacon, lettuce, and tomatoes are the perfect base for all salads, in my opinion, but I spiced up my lunch with some cheese and avocado to keep me full longer -and I mean… it’s avocado!
When it’s ready in the fridge it’s super easy to throw into my bag and I don’t even have to worry about spills. I keep the dressing in a small lidded container and then drizzle it over my salad at lunch.
2. Asian Chicken Salad Wraps
This is one of my favorite salads that I order when eating out; however, it’s easy to overeat and at $13 per salad I can build a whole week’s worth for that amount!
It has all the crunchy textures I love in every bite so it’s the perfect eating-out fix I crave.
Packing this lunch helps me feel like I’m staying on track with my health goals and I don’t feel like I’m missing out by not going out to eat.
While I don’t “diet” I am pretty strict with the foods that I eat. They must be whole foods, have healthy fats, fiber-rich, lots of colors, and limited sugars.
Being prepared helps me make good choices throughout the day. This Asian chicken salad wrap gives me plenty of energy without making me feel stuffed and tired -the way a wrap or sandwich would. Grab the recipe here.
3. Chicken Caprese Salad
Who doesn’t have chicken, cherry tomatoes, and some cheese (preferably mozzarella) in the fridge at all times? Well, I do! I used to make the classic Caprese Salad and bring it to work, but tomatoes and cheese just didn’t hold me up. So I added lettuce for fiber and bulk as well as a serving of chicken for protein -and this, my friend, keeps me full so much longer!
This is also a Family KickStart approved recipe which makes it easier to know I’m on track with my health goals.
4. Black Bean Salad
This is the perfect office lunch idea for when you open a can of black beans for one meal and then the rest sits in the fridge for a couple of days. Toss it out? No! Make this black bean salad, of course.
It’s like eating a black bean and corn taco but without the tortilla. Place it over a bed of lettuce or just as is. You can make it ahead of time and it only has 3 ingredients, black beans, corn, and salsa!
You can also make one big batch and portion it out over a few days.
If you are looking for more healthy office lunch ideas that include boiled eggs, check out the video below! in it, I shared 5 of my favorite lunch box meals that are good for you and delicious!
5. Cali Lunch Box
As a busy, full-time working parent, I have to get creative with my meals and pack them at the same time as I pack my kids. And this is one healthy office lunch that I pack for my kids too!
What I love is that there’s nothing to heat up, assemble, or put together. It’s a healthy grab-and-go option for when I just want to get out the door fast and I can easily pack it ahead of time.
6. Chicken Salad Stuffed Avocado
There are weeks where I make my Southern Chicken Salad and then reinvent it in different ways. One way is by stuffing an avocado -as opposed to placing a bed of lettuce, topping it with avocado, and then chicken salad.
Stuffed avocados are delicious -just like my Hummus Stuffed Avocado and pack a lot of nutrition that will keep you satiated longer.
If you’re doing the Family KickStart program, this is one lunch idea that you’re going to love!
7. Low-Carb Cauliflower Rice Burrito Bowls
Who doesn’t love a good burrito bowl for lunch? Exactly. But this one is made with cauliflower rice keeping it low carb and then everything else you love about a burrito bowl: chicken or beef, salsa, guacamole… holy yum!
Pack it along with a side of veggies and fruit and it’s one complete meal that will keep you satisfied for hours! Also, it’s much cheaper than Chipotle -just saying!
8. Dijon Chicken and Veggies
As a working parent, meal prep and figuring out ways to use up leftovers is everything!
I love making this sheet pan chicken and veggies for dinner and then using up leftovers to pack a healthy office lunch! Actually, with a family of 5, we rarely have leftovers but I do cook extra for this reason.
The truth is, that I often order grilled chicken and veggies when I eat out so why not bring some from home? Again, much healthier and better for me.
Leftovers = healthy convenient meals if you ask me. And while I know a lot of people don’t like eating the same thing the next day, just skip a day and it will feel like a completely new meal! Grab the recipe here.
9. Protein Cups or Mini Quiches
I love making a pan of these for breakfast or school lunches and I also love having them in the fridge ready for me to pack in a lunchbox in a hurry.
The combination possibilities are endless; like taco protein cups, spinach and bacon, pizza protein cups, zesty protein cups, and more.
10. The Bistro Box
One of my favorite coffee places sells a smaller version that’s pre-packaged. One isn’t enough to keep me full but when I pack it at home, I can add extra things to keep me full longer.
What I love is that sometimes I don’t have time to sit down and eat a full lunch; so this bistro box idea is perfect for eating and snacking in between meetings and while working away at my computer. If you’ve never made one, see how to make a bistro box here.
Everything inside is bite-sized and I can pick each piece up without making at a mess. A total winner! And did I mention you can pack this healthy office lunch idea ahead of time? Yes, you can! You can make a couple of them and keep them in the fridge for a few days and grab-and-go when you need them. Of course, having some compartmentalized lunch containers is key so make sure to grab a set of them.
Wow, so many great ideas that are easy to make, can be prepped ahead of time, and will provide a healthy office lunch!
Since it’s a fan favorite, I went ahead and included the recipe for the Asian Chicken Salad Lunch Idea below! Enjoy!
What are some of your favorite healthy office lunch ideas?
Asian Chicken Salad Lettuce Cups
Need an easy recipe that transforms your favorite Asian Chicken salad into a healthy lunch? Check out these lettuce cups holding the most delicious healthy Asian salad. This gluten-free lunch idea is terrific and leftovers taste so good!
- Yield: 6 1x
Ingredients
Chicken Salad:
- 2 cups leftover cooked chicken, chopped
- 10.5-ounce can No Sugar Added mandarin oranges,
- 2 stalks celery, diced
- ½ cup shredded carrots
- 1 cup purple cabbage, finely shredded or chopped
- 2 green onion, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup sliced almonds
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 large Bibb lettuce
Sesame Ginger Dressing
- 1/3 cup rice vinegar
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons sesame seeds
- 1 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons fresh ginger, grated
- 1 garlic clove, grated
- 1 1/2 teaspoons sesame oil
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine cooked chicken, mandarin oranges, celery, carrots, cabbage, almonds, green onions, salt and pepper. Add in ½ cup of dressing and toss to combine.
- Refrigerate dressing for up to 1 week.
- To serve, place 1/2 cup – 3/4 cup chicken salad inside a few lettuce leaves. Fold in the sides, roll to eat.
Dressing directions:
- In a large bowl, combine dressing ingredients with a whisk. Transfer to a glass jar and refrigerate up to 1 week. Dressing recipe yields approximately 1 cup.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 lettuce cup
- Calories: 312
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 1001.3mg
- Fat: 9.2g
- Saturated Fat: 1.2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40.7g
- Fiber: 2.2g
- Protein: 16.1g
- Cholesterol: 38.6mg
I AM LOVING THESE EASY SIMPLE SUGGESTIONS.
Thank you!