Do you run home to eat lunch? Or do pack your lunch as you get ready for work? We will help you make a healthy and delicious vegetarian lunch in 15 minutes or less.
A vegetarian diet is good for the body because it contains a low amount of saturated fat and cholesterol, and contains a high amount of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. To get the benefits of a vegetarian diet, meat eaters can eat vegetarian lunches to increase their fruit and vegetable intake.
Tips for making lunch fast:
- Use leftover food from previous meals in new recipes.
- Boiled eggs can be chopped to make an egg salad sandwich.
- Chopped apples can be used in a waldorf salad.
- Toss canned foods together to make a fast salad.
- Canned beans, corn, and diced tomatoes can be tossed together to make a cowboy caviar.
- Salads can easily turn into a wrap by stuffing them into whole-wheat tortilla.
- Have a bag of pre-washed raw spinach ready to add greens to your lunch.
- Throw a handful on your sandwich or wrap.
- Steam spinach by microwaving it for 30 seconds.
- Sliced fruits can also be used in an entree.
- Strawberries are used in a strawberry spinach salad.
A spinach salad topped with sliced strawberries and walnuts.
For sides, rather than pairing your meal with chips, add these healthy alternatives to your lunchbox:
- A piece of fruit or fruit slices
- Chopped veggies with hummus or ranch
- A yogurt cup or cheese stick
- Nuts or a trail mix
Food safety when packing lunch:
- It is important to prepare your meal safely in order to not get sick.
- Always wash your hands before cooking or meal prepping.
- When taking your lunch to-go, use an insulated lunchbox with ice packs to keep foods cold during the day.
- Separate warm foods and cold foods into different lunch boxes to prevent foods from entering the “temperature danger zone” (40°F – 140°F), which can increase your risk of getting sick from a food-borne illness.
By Emily Jacobs