It can be very difficult to stay healthy and well-nourished when you live a busy lifestyle. Workplaces and schools don't always offer a full kitchen facility that can be utilized by students or employees. Many of us just want something fast, filling, and easy that we can enjoy quickly on our lunch breaks while getting the nutrients our bodies need to keep up with demanding jobs and schedules. It may seem impossible to make lunches that don't require a ton of prep, appliances, and time, but it's really not. Here are five examples of easy and healthy lunches that you can make during the week.
Tuna Salad Pitas
This easy and nutritious lunch is full of protein and can be easily customized to your tastes. The basic way to make this is to get pita bread from a place like the Klosterman Baking Company or a bakery near you that might make them. What you do next is mix half a can of tuna with mayonnaise, a dash of mustard, chopped veggies, and spices to taste. Stuff the tuna mixture into the pita and you're all set.
Chicken Wrap
Another healthy and easy lunch is the chicken wrap. All you need is a tortilla, some cooked chicken, lettuce, tomato, and whatever condiments you enjoy. Roll the chicken, veggies, and any condiments in the tortilla and you've got a great hand-held lunch that is quick and great for busy days.
"Bento" Box
Remember how awesome it was as a child to eat Lunchables? However, you don’t have to keep missing those good old days, because it is easy to make an adult version for yourself! All you need is a few foods that you enjoy and it's as easy as throwing them together in a lunchbox, or you can take a note from the Japanese bento traditions and create interesting and adorable snack creations. Sliced cheeses, grapes, nuts, apple slices, cut veggies, luncheon meats, and crackers can be combined in any number of ways to create your very own snack pack that provides a filling, nutritious, and fun way to eat your lunch.
Soups & Chowders
While this lunch may require a little more preparation than others, it can be worth it to pre-make a soup to eat for lunch that can last the entire week. You can even make this while you're working. All you need is a few ingredients such as beef or chicken broth, vegetables and potatoes, and stew meat. Throw the ingredients into a crock-pot and let them cook for 4-6 hours. This is a simple lunch that you can put in a thermos and carry to work or school easily and can provide a healthy and filling lunch for chilly weeks.
Nachos
You may not think of nachos as a healthy meal, but they very well can be! All you need is chips, black beans, guacamole, and cheese (the shredded type and not the processed liquid stuff you get at the store), as well as vegetables such as shredded lettuce, tomato, onions, bell peppers, and jalapenos. It's as simple as putting these ingredients together and enjoying an entirely customizable and nutritious treat for lunch.
These are just a few examples of delicious, filling, and healthy lunches that can be easy and fast for lunch breaks. Don't waste time in line at a fast food joint only to get food too high in calories and too low in nutrients when you can quickly and easily prepare a healthy lunch that tastes great in minutes.