4 of my Go-To Lunches
I’m back in full work mode which means packing myself lunches.
Today I’m sharing with you 4 of my go-to lunches that will be a regular part of my rotation.
Mediterranean Chickpea Quinoa Bowl
I usually make some substitutions to this recipe by using spring mix instead of romaine, ditching the kalamata olives (not my fave), and using tzatziki instead of hummus. But hummus also works really well in this recipe.
How I prep ahead:
I make the quinoa ahead of time — I like to cook this in chicken broth for more flavour — and keep in a glass bowl in the fridge
I rinse the chickpeas and keep in a glass bowl in the fridge
I wash enough lettuce for 3-4 lunches at a time
I cut all the cucumber to add to the lettuce
red onion — you can cut this ahead of time, sometimes that can make the onion stronger so I might do this the night before
Make the salad dressing up and leave in a container beside the fridge
This way all my ingredients are ready to rock. When I’m packing my lunch the night before, I cut up the cherry tomatoes and set aside then mix the rest of the ingredients together.
COBB SALAD
Yet another simple but classic salad. I love a Cobb salad because you can really customize this to your own preferences for a salad. I don’t always cook bacon to go with this, but it does add great flavour if you do. Sometimes I’ll swap out chicken for cheese with the eggs, then I always add cherry tomatoes, avocado, nuts & seeds.
The simple dressing in this one is light and fresh. You can start to see from these last two recipes how easy it is to make your own dressings.
Making your own dressings is a great thing. You eliminate any hydrogenated oils, trans fats and other filler ingredients in the store-bought versions.
How I prep ahead:
Boil the eggs and store in the fridge
Wash your lettuce and store in a container in the fridge
Cook your chicken and/or bacon, chop into pieces and store in the fridge
Make the salad dressing
Once you’ve done this, you have all the basics ready to rock for your lunch prep. In the evening, I will mix everything together in a container (except for the cherry tomatoes) and store in the fridge.
Chicken Shawarma Salad Bowls
I feel like the title says it all. This salad is warming and flavourful and always one I’m so happy I made.
Who doesn’t love a chicken shawarma…I’m a huge fan. So give me those flavours in a salad and you’ve got a perfect match. Another simple and easy dish that you can prep ahead of time and have ready for your week’s lunches.
How I prep ahead:
Cook the chicken, chop and store in a glass container in the fridge
Wash your lettuce
Chop your cucumber
Make the salad dressing
Are you starting to see the theme? These small steps to prep your salad make all the difference when you’re tired at the end of a long day or you’re rushed in the morning trying to get everything done.
Burrito Bowl Mason Jar
If you’ve been here for a while, you know that I love any type of burrito bowl.
This is another simple, delicious recipe that packs flavour, protein, healthy fats and fiber into your delicious lunch.
If you are making these in mason jars, the avocado can go brown and the lettuce can get a bit soggy if you leave it in the fridge for more than 2-3 days. I personally prefer to have all of the ingredients ready and stored in the fridge, then make up a fresh salad the night before. Either way works, just be mindful of how many jars you’re making and storing.
How I prep ahead:
Cook the turkey and store in a glass container in the fridge
Wash all the spinach and store in a container in the fridge
Rinse the black beans and store in the fridge
Cook the quinoa and store in the fridge
(If you start losing space in your fridge, you can mix the base ingredients together like the turkey, beans and quinoa)
I love the President’s Choice Cilantro Lime Crema and would definitely be adding that on top of this salad once it’s all mixed up.
Creating Your Own System
There you have it! Four of my staple lunches that I will be consistently rotating through.
Now, how can you implement these?
You’ve probably heard me talk about systems before. I’m a big fan, because life is busy and I don’t want to spend hours looking up new recipes, going back and forth on what I want to make, and feeling overwhelmed with options.
I’ve created a list of roughly 15-20 lunches that I love and I keep this stored. You can create your list on your phone, on Google drive, in a notebook…whatever works best for you.
Then, when I’m making my grocery list for the upcoming week and planning out my meals, I can pull up that list and make a quick decision on what I want to make for lunches the following week.
This saves me from spinning my wheels every week to find new lunch recipes. It keeps my lunches new and fresh so I don’t get tired of the same meals and the same salads over and over again.
No boring food here!
How Can I Help You?
If you find yourself wanting more recipes, tips and suggestions like this…I can help!
I have built these habits and routines over time to simplifying healthy eating for my busy life. We often focus so much on feeding our families, making sure kids lunches are packed, that dinners are lined up, that they have snack options, that our own nutrition needs come last. Then we end up scrambling to put a lunch together or we buy something convenient or we barely eat.
None of those options set you up with the energy you need to tackle your busy life, nor do they help move you towards your wellness goals.
Prioritizing your own nourishment is equally as important. But I am promising you, it can be this simple.
I’ll show you how in my Simple Meals Program that kicks off in January. Jump on the waitlist now and be the first to find out all the specifics.
