What are your best meal prep recipes for work lunches?
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9 Answers
My favorite meal prep recipes for work lunches are these veggie Champions:
- I like to head to the store each day and take home some of these recipes
- I like to make a big batches of these and just eat them during the day
- I like to make a big batch of this one type of recipe and eat it with my work lunch
- I like to make a big batch of these recipes and eat them during the day
When meal prepping for lunch at your workplace, it's ideal to prepare meals that are easy to transport, require minimal reheating, and are both satisfying and nutritious. Here are some best meal prep options for work lunches:
1. **Salad in a Jar:**
- Layer your salad ingredients in a mason jar, with dressing at the bottom and greens on top. When it's time to eat, shake the jar to distribute the dressing. This keeps your salad fresh and avoids sogginess.
2. **Grain Bowls:**
- Create grain bowls with cooked quinoa, brown rice, or couscous as a base. Top with your choice of proteins (chicken, tofu, beans), vegetables, and a flavorful sauce or dressing.
3. **Wraps or Sandwiches:**
- Prep wraps or sandwiches with whole grain bread or tortillas. Choose a variety of fillings like lean deli meats, roasted vegetables, hummus, or your favorite spreads.
4. **Cold Pasta Salad:**
- Prepare pasta salad with whole wheat pasta, a protein source (chicken, shrimp, or beans), and plenty of fresh vegetables. Dress with a vinaigrette or light sauce.
5. **Quiche or Frittata:**
- Make a quiche or frittata ahead of time and cut it into individual portions. They're delicious served cold or at room temperature.
6. **Couscous or Grain Salads:**
- Prepare salads with couscous, bulgur, or farro, and add a mix of colorful vegetables, herbs, and a light lemon-based dressing.
7. **Bento Boxes:**
- Create bento-style lunch boxes with a variety of small portions, including sliced fruits, veggies, cheese, nuts, and lean protein.
8. **Soup or Chili:**
- Prepare a big batch of soup or chili over the weekend and portion it out for the week. Heat it in the microwave at work for a warm and comforting lunch.
9. **Leftovers:**
- If you've had a well-balanced dinner the night before, pack leftovers for lunch. Many dishes taste just as good, if not better, the next day.
10. **Mason Jar Oatmeal:**
- Prepare overnight oats in a mason jar with oats, yogurt, fruits, and a touch of sweetness. Simply grab and go in the morning.
11. **Hummus and Veggie Platter:**
- Assemble a platter with hummus, cut-up vegetables, whole wheat pita, or crackers for a satisfying and easy-to-assemble lunch.
12. **Stir-Fry:**
- Make a stir-fry with lean protein, plenty of vegetables, and a tasty sauce. Portion it into containers and reheat at work.
13. **Veggie and Protein Dips:**
- Pack small containers with protein-rich dips like Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, or peanut butter, and pair them with sliced fruits, vegetables, or whole grain crackers.
14. **Mason Jar Parfait:**
- Layer Greek yogurt, fresh berries, and granola in a mason jar for a healthy and tasty lunch option.
15. **Protein Packed Bento:**
- Create a bento box with hard-boiled eggs, roasted nuts, sliced cheese, and a selection of fruits and veggies.
When preparing your work lunches, consider portion sizes and your specific dietary preferences and restrictions. Experiment with different options to keep your midday meals interesting and enjoyable while staying focused and productive at work.
1. **Salad in a Jar:**
- Layer your salad ingredients in a mason jar, with dressing at the bottom and greens on top. When it's time to eat, shake the jar to distribute the dressing. This keeps your salad fresh and avoids sogginess.
2. **Grain Bowls:**
- Create grain bowls with cooked quinoa, brown rice, or couscous as a base. Top with your choice of proteins (chicken, tofu, beans), vegetables, and a flavorful sauce or dressing.
3. **Wraps or Sandwiches:**
- Prep wraps or sandwiches with whole grain bread or tortillas. Choose a variety of fillings like lean deli meats, roasted vegetables, hummus, or your favorite spreads.
4. **Cold Pasta Salad:**
- Prepare pasta salad with whole wheat pasta, a protein source (chicken, shrimp, or beans), and plenty of fresh vegetables. Dress with a vinaigrette or light sauce.
5. **Quiche or Frittata:**
- Make a quiche or frittata ahead of time and cut it into individual portions. They're delicious served cold or at room temperature.
6. **Couscous or Grain Salads:**
- Prepare salads with couscous, bulgur, or farro, and add a mix of colorful vegetables, herbs, and a light lemon-based dressing.
7. **Bento Boxes:**
- Create bento-style lunch boxes with a variety of small portions, including sliced fruits, veggies, cheese, nuts, and lean protein.
8. **Soup or Chili:**
- Prepare a big batch of soup or chili over the weekend and portion it out for the week. Heat it in the microwave at work for a warm and comforting lunch.
9. **Leftovers:**
- If you've had a well-balanced dinner the night before, pack leftovers for lunch. Many dishes taste just as good, if not better, the next day.
10. **Mason Jar Oatmeal:**
- Prepare overnight oats in a mason jar with oats, yogurt, fruits, and a touch of sweetness. Simply grab and go in the morning.
11. **Hummus and Veggie Platter:**
- Assemble a platter with hummus, cut-up vegetables, whole wheat pita, or crackers for a satisfying and easy-to-assemble lunch.
12. **Stir-Fry:**
- Make a stir-fry with lean protein, plenty of vegetables, and a tasty sauce. Portion it into containers and reheat at work.
13. **Veggie and Protein Dips:**
- Pack small containers with protein-rich dips like Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, or peanut butter, and pair them with sliced fruits, vegetables, or whole grain crackers.
14. **Mason Jar Parfait:**
- Layer Greek yogurt, fresh berries, and granola in a mason jar for a healthy and tasty lunch option.
15. **Protein Packed Bento:**
- Create a bento box with hard-boiled eggs, roasted nuts, sliced cheese, and a selection of fruits and veggies.
When preparing your work lunches, consider portion sizes and your specific dietary preferences and restrictions. Experiment with different options to keep your midday meals interesting and enjoyable while staying focused and productive at work.
Here are some meal prep recipes that are great for work lunches:
1. **Chicken and Vegetable Stir-Fry**: Cook up some chicken breast with assorted veggies and a tasty stir-fry sauce. Portion it into containers with brown rice for a balanced meal.
2. **Quinoa Salad**: Make a large batch of quinoa and mix it with your favorite veggies, beans, and a light vinaigrette dressing. This salad stores well and can be customized in many ways.
3. **Mason Jar Salads**: Layer your favorite salad ingredients in mason jars, starting with dressing at the bottom and greens on top to keep everything fresh until lunchtime.
4. **Chickpea Curry**: Prepare a batch of chickpea curry with rice or naan. It's easy to reheat and provides a satisfying, flavorful meal.
5. **Pasta Primavera**: Create a pasta dish with lots of colorful vegetables and a light olive oil or pesto sauce. It's a delicious and convenient choice.
6. **Grilled Veggie Wraps**: Grill a variety of vegetables, and then wrap them in tortillas with hummus or your choice of spread. These wraps are easy to assemble in the morning.
7. **Soup or Chili**: Make a big pot of soup or chili on the weekend and portion it into containers. Reheat for a warm and comforting lunch.
8. **Bento Box**: Create a bento box-style lunch with a mix of items like sushi rolls, sliced fruits, and veggies with dip, providing a variety of flavors and textures.
9. **Egg Muffins**: Whip up a batch of egg muffins with veggies, cheese, and protein like turkey or bacon. They're easy to reheat and pack with protein.
10. **Roasted Vegetable and Quinoa Bowls**: Roast a variety of vegetables and serve them over quinoa or your grain of choice. Drizzle with a flavorful sauce for added taste.
Remember to use airtight containers to keep your prepped meals fresh, and consider dietary preferences and restrictions when choosing your recipes.
1. **Chicken and Vegetable Stir-Fry**: Cook up some chicken breast with assorted veggies and a tasty stir-fry sauce. Portion it into containers with brown rice for a balanced meal.
2. **Quinoa Salad**: Make a large batch of quinoa and mix it with your favorite veggies, beans, and a light vinaigrette dressing. This salad stores well and can be customized in many ways.
3. **Mason Jar Salads**: Layer your favorite salad ingredients in mason jars, starting with dressing at the bottom and greens on top to keep everything fresh until lunchtime.
4. **Chickpea Curry**: Prepare a batch of chickpea curry with rice or naan. It's easy to reheat and provides a satisfying, flavorful meal.
5. **Pasta Primavera**: Create a pasta dish with lots of colorful vegetables and a light olive oil or pesto sauce. It's a delicious and convenient choice.
6. **Grilled Veggie Wraps**: Grill a variety of vegetables, and then wrap them in tortillas with hummus or your choice of spread. These wraps are easy to assemble in the morning.
7. **Soup or Chili**: Make a big pot of soup or chili on the weekend and portion it into containers. Reheat for a warm and comforting lunch.
8. **Bento Box**: Create a bento box-style lunch with a mix of items like sushi rolls, sliced fruits, and veggies with dip, providing a variety of flavors and textures.
9. **Egg Muffins**: Whip up a batch of egg muffins with veggies, cheese, and protein like turkey or bacon. They're easy to reheat and pack with protein.
10. **Roasted Vegetable and Quinoa Bowls**: Roast a variety of vegetables and serve them over quinoa or your grain of choice. Drizzle with a flavorful sauce for added taste.
Remember to use airtight containers to keep your prepped meals fresh, and consider dietary preferences and restrictions when choosing your recipes.