Admittedly, there have been many occasions I’ve discovered myself hunched over my desk, consuming spoonfuls of rooster and rice as I work via lunch. That is by no means the vibe, and I’m joyful to say that is now a uncommon prevalence, 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 earn a living from home now, however I keep in mind a time when packing my lunch additionally proved to be a problem. How will you 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 couple of of her ideas and methods, and naturally, a couple of recipes you may strive your self.
Featured picture from our interview with Sanetra Longno by Michelle Nash.
Assemble, Don’t Prepare dinner
If you happen to haven’t made your approach onto the meal prep practice but, now’s a good time to start out. 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 all the pieces 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 type. Critically, it has all the pieces: crusty baguette, pickled veggies, and the best-tasting tofu you’ve ever tucked right into a bowl. A really transformative lunch awaits.
Go-To Grain Bowl
Crispy tofu, crunchy rice, recent herbs—it’s the proper combo.
Choose For Snack-Fashion Lunches
Easy work lunch concepts work finest. Who needs packing a lunch to be sophisticated? To make the method straightforward on you, take into account throwing a couple 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 couple of extra protein and recent 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. If you happen to discover you’re keen on this type 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 all the pieces stays neat and tidy.
Fall Charcuterie Board
Who says charcuterie is only for events? This fall-inspired board makes the proper 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 Gadgets On Hand
We’ve all had that second the place we appear to have nothing to eat at dwelling. 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 if 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 amazing 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 just get pleasure from, and also you gained’t must make a hasty DoorDash order.
Wholesome Work Lunch Concepts
Lastly, we’ve rounded up much more recipes which might be good for packing up and taking with you to work. From soups, salads, and much more bowls—you’re certain 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’d 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 actually proves easy can style luxurious!
Beet, Farro, & Goat Cheese Salad
Prep it on Sunday—get pleasure from all week. The elements are hearty sufficient that this can maintain within the fridge for a couple of days! Work lunch made straightforward.
Coconut Curry Pink 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 advanced taste. It’s healthful with out feeling like a cleanse, aka the proper 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 carry endurance, and all of it comes collectively effortlessly.
Rooster Burger Lettuce Wraps
I used to roll my eyes at “lightened-up” burgers—if I needed one, I used to be going all in. That modified when this recipe got here alongside. Made with rooster, it’s satisfying with out feeling heavy—good for a weekday lunch or your subsequent burger evening.
This put up was final up to date on October 14, 2025, to incorporate new insights.
