Workdays are hectic enough and your lunch shouldn’t add to the stress of your busy workweek.
Tight deadlines, packed schedules, and the desire to eat something fresh and satisfying …all of these aspects of our busy lives can make lunchtime a challenge.
These easy, delicious lunches are perfect for busy professionals looking to stay energized and healthy while at work and are ideal for anyone juggling tight schedules, long workdays, or the challenge of eating well on the go.
Busy professionals need quick, healthy options, and we all want meals that are easy to prepare and transport. So, let’s keep it simple–but delicious eating.
I’ve put together a list of healthy, packable lunches that are so good, that you’ll look forward to lunchtime. These lunches will take the stress out of mealtime because they
- Are quick and easy to prepare
- Use simple, wholesome ingredients
- Travel well and stay fresh
- Are full of nutrients that keep you energized and focused all day
From fresh salads and hearty wraps to make-ahead grain bowls and flavorful soups, there’s something for everyone here who’s on a busy schedule to enjoy.
Let’s make lunch easier—starting today!
1. The Best Healthy Turkey Chili
The Best Healthy Turkey Chili is a hearty, one-pot lunch that ups the satiety factor of lunch with lots of lean ground turkey, hearty chili beans, and nutrient-packed veggies.
Bold, comforting flavors make this chili ultra-satisfying, while its wholesome ingredients keep it guilt-free, energy-spiking, and nutrient-dense.
Perfect for meal prep or a quick workday lunch, you can get all kinds of scattered, smothered, and covered with this lunch, piling on slices of onion, avocado, cheese, or a squeeze of lime and maybe some sour cream. Scrumptious.
2. Italian Stuffed Peppers
Italian Stuffed Peppers are a healthy, flavor-packed lunch idea you’ll enjoy cold or zapped in the microwave at work.
Stuffed with lean ground turkey, healthy grains like quinoa, aromatics, and fresh herbs, these vitamin-C packed, nutrient-dense peppers are stuffed with even more nutrition, and then baked until they’re deliciously tender and caramelized.
They make for a great packed lunch that’s not only nutritious but gluten-free, high in fiber, and packed with nutrition.
Perfect for workdays, you will love this wholesome comfort meal lunch that’s highly customizable. See, eating nutritious food can be delicious and satisfying, too!
3. Healthy Chicken Salad
Healthy Chicken Salad is a nutritious and delicious work lunch idea!
This healthier take on chicken salad uses light mayonnaise instead of regular to make these a leaner, more guilt-free lunch option.
Made with lean chicken breast, chopped red onion, celery, and a blast of Dijon for a bitter blast of flavor, this chicken salad packs in the flavor without packing on the pounds.
You don’t have to eat chicken salad on just bread either–stuff it in a scooped-out tomato, half an avocado, or on a pretzel roll for a delicious twist.
Healthy Chicken Salad makes for a wholesome lunch that’s packed with protein and flavor!
4. Crispy Chili Lime Chickpea Salad
Crispy Chili Lime Chickpea Salad is a nutrient-packed, texture-rich lunch that’s bursting with flavor!
Made with crunchy roasted chickpeas, crunchy walnuts and seeds, as well as nutrient-dense vegetables and fruits like avocados, spinach, and cucumber, this salad is more than bursting with nutrition, and delicious, and the creamy tahini-lime dressing brings a welcome splash of bright, citrus, sweet, and sour flavors to the salad as well, hitting all five of your taste buds hard.
Loaded with plant-based protein, fiber, and healthy fats, it’s a gluten-free, vegetarian-friendly meal that’s as delicious as it is healthy
5. Cauliflower Shawarma Bowls
Cauliflower Shawarma Bowls are a healthy, flavor-packed lunch idea that’s easy to make!
Roasted, spiced cauliflower delivers bold, shawarma-inspired flavors, paired with fresh veggies, creamy tahini dressing, and a base of quinoa or greens–you choose.
Customizable and nutrient-rich, these bowls are perfect for make-ahead meal prep or a quick work-day lunch you’ll feel good about eating!
6. Healthy Turkey Wraps
Healthy Turkey Wraps are a light and satisfying lunch idea!
Packed with lean turkey, fresh veggies, and a creamy yogurt-based dressing, these wraps are as nutritious as they are delicious.
Ready in just 20 minutes, they’re perfect for busy workdays or meal prep. Plus, they’re easily customizable for all your favorite toppings from bacon and ranch dressing to healthy avocado and a sprinkle of lime juice!
7. Healthy Taco Salad
This Healthy Taco Salad is so delicious, you’ll find that quick, 25-minute minutes it takes to make this spicy, yummy taco salad that’s a lighter take on your fast food favorite.
Made with lean ground turkey instead of beef, and a highly original and delicious creamy salsa-yogurt dressing, this salad puts the flavor and nutrition into your lunch box, major.
Crispy baked tortilla strips add crunch, while customizable toppings like your favorite salsa or ranch dressing, some sliced avocado, jalapenos for added heat, and piles of shredded cheddar can be piled on here to make this one filling and highly beloved lunch. A lighter, satisfying twist on Taco Tuesday any day of the week.
8. Cottage Cheese Alfredo
Cottage Cheese Alfredo is a healthy twist on the classic comfort dish called Alfredo, a lunch or dinner entree so beloved in Italy it’s sometimes eaten for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, hot, cold, with cheese or without.
With this recipe, by replacing heavy cream with cottage cheese, you get a creamy, protein-packed sauce that’s lighter yet just as delicious as the Italian classic.
Ready in 30 minutes, it’s the perfect nutritious work lunch that keeps you energized with high, healthy carbs. Add veggies or lean protein for an even more filling, nutrient-dense lunch.
9. Orzo Salad
Orzo Salad is a healthy and satisfying lunch option!
Packed with crisp cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, briny olives, and tangy feta, this orzo salad is a classic and quite refreshing Mediterranean dish.
Chickpeas add protein and up the satiety-factor, which the homemade Greek salad dressing, made with wine vinegar and oil drench this salad in authentic vinegary Italian flavors. Make it ahead for a quick, nutritious, and filling work lunch that’ll keep you energized all day!
10. Healthy One-Pan Balsamic Chicken
One Pan Balsamic Chicken and Veggies is a healthy, easy lunch option that comes together in one pan that you can stick in the fridge, and move to a lunch pail container the next morning.
With this delicious recipe, lean chicken and roasted veggies are coated in a tangy balsamic glaze, creating a deliciously satisfying meal that you can sauté in less than 13 minutes flat.
It’s low-carb, high-protein, and perfect for meal prepping or a quick, nutritious work lunch!
11. Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps are a healthy, delicious, low-calorie lunch option that are just packed with protein and flavor (and are fun to eat as well, hot or cold, btw).
Made with ground chicken, umami-empowering shiitake mushrooms, and crunchy water chestnuts, these wraps are low-carb, gluten-free, and deeply delicious.
The spicy hoisin dipping sauce so perfectly complements these sweet and savory wraps.
A quick, satisfying meal for work lunches or meal prep that you’ll very much look forward to eating. When is lunchtime, anyway?
12. The Best Veggie Burger
The Best Veggie Burger We’ve Ever Made is a healthy, veggie-packed lunch idea you’ll love!
Each patty delivers nearly 1 cup of vegetables, smoky spices, and hearty ingredients like black beans, walnuts, and rice, helping you create a veggie burger that doesn’t make you wonder, “Where’s the beef”
Vegetarian, vegan-friendly, and freezer-ready, these burgers are perfect for meal prep.
They make a satisfying, energizing work-day lunch.
13. Chicken Burrito Bowl
Chicken Burrito Bowl is the ultimate healthy work lunch idea!
Packed with lean chicken, fiber-rich brown rice, beans, tomatoes, and slices of avocado, this is one flavorful, energizing bowl full of Mexican flavors that’s perfect for busy days.
Customizable and meal-prep friendly, this bowl is a wholesome alternative to takeout that you’ll actually look forward to eating!
14. Healthy Chicken Caesar Wraps
Healthy Chicken Caesar Wraps are a nutritious, grab-and-go lunch perfect for busy workdays!
Made with lean grilled chicken, crisp romaine lettuce, and a light Caesar dressing, all wrapped in a whole-grain tortilla, these wraps deliver big on classic Caesar salad flavors, in a convenient wrap you can hold in your hand and dip in all kinds of tasty dressings and dips.
Quick to prepare and easy to make ahead and store, these wraps are a satisfying way to power through your afternoon
15. Rainbow Veggie Pinwheels
Rainbow Veggie Pinwheels are a nutritious and colorful lunch idea that’s perfect for busy workdays!
Packed with fresh veggies like bell peppers, carrots, and spinach, and wrapped in a whole-grain tortillas, they’re wraps are as healthy as they are delicious.
You’ll love how quick and easy they are to make, and they’re fun to eat, whether on the go or showing them off in your work cafeteria.
16. Sesame Tofu & Broccoli
Sesame Tofu with Broccoli is a healthy, protein-packed lunch idea that’s perfect for busy workdays!
Crispy, sesame-coated tofu pairs with tender broccoli in a savory, slightly sweet sauce that’s full of flavor.
Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s vegan, meal-prep friendly, and delicious on its own or served over rice for a balanced, energizing meal.
17. Big Mac Salad
Big Mac Salad is a healthy twist on a fast-food favorite!
With fresh lettuce, juicy ground beef, and tangy pickles, it delivers all the classic Big Mac flavors without the bun–and thus without the guilt.
Topped with a guilt-free “special sauce,” this low-carb, high-protein lunch is quick to make, easy to customize, and perfect for your healthy work lunch rotation!
18. Greek Salad Cottage Cheese Bowl
This Greek Salad Cottage Cheese Bowl is a protein-packed, healthy work lunch!
Creamy cottage cheese pairs perfectly with fresh cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, and olives for a flavorful Mediterranean twist on lunch.
Ready in mere minutes, this protein-packed bowl is light, satisfying, and easy to customize.
Packed with nutrients and heart-healthy olive oil, this quick lunch keeps you energized and very much on track with your health goals!
19. The Ultimate Veggie Sandwich
The Ultimate Veggie Sandwich is a healthy and flavorful lunch idea!
Bursting with fresh veggies like avocado, cucumber, and sprouts, and served on a healthy whole-grain bread spread with healthy, protein-rich hummus this ultimate in veggie-sandwich eating makes for one satisfying meatless meal of a sandwich.
Perfect for busy days, this 15-minute recipe is customizable and ideal for meal prep or an on-the-go lunch!
20. Peanut Chicken Meal Prep Bowls
Peanut Chicken Meal Prep Bowls are a healthy, low-carb lunch idea!
Tender chicken, fresh veggies, and a creamy peanut sauce make these bowls both flavorful and satisfying.
Perfect for grab-and-go lunches, they’re pre-portioned to keep your week stress-free.
Stay on track with your nutrition goals while enjoying a meal that’s anything but boring!
21. Thai Peanut Salad Wonton Cups
Thai Peanut Salad Wonton Cups are a healthy, crunchy, and flavorful lunch idea!
These crispy wonton cups are filled with a fresh Thai-inspired salad and topped with a creamy peanut dressing.
Packed with nutrients, fiber, and healthy fats, they’re perfect for an energizing work lunch.
Make-ahead friendly and easy to enjoy on the go!
22. Low Carb Gyro Bowls
Low Carb Gyro Bowls are a healthy, protein-packed lunch idea you’ll love!
Bursting with bold Mediterranean flavors, these bowls feature gyro-spiced meat, crisp veggies, and creamy tzatziki sauce–all without the guilt of the gyro wrap!
They’re low-carb, nutrient-dense, and perfect for meal prep—a quick and satisfying workday option.
Customize with your favorite toppings for a delicious, guilt-free lunch!
23. Thai Basil Beef and Lemongrass Rice Bowls
Thai Basil Beef and Lemongrass Rice Bowls are a healthy, flavor-packed lunch idea!
Juicy, seasoned beef is cooked with garlic, chili, and Thai basil, and served over zesty lemongrass rice.
Naturally gluten-free and rich in protein, this dish is perfect for make ahead lunches that eat well hot or cold. A quick, satisfying lunch that’s wholesome, fresh, and energizing—ideal for busy weekdays!
24. Copycat Sweetgreen Harvest Bowl Recipe
The Copycat Sweetgreen Harvest Bowl is a healthy, nutrient-packed salad perfect for work lunches.
With kale, wild rice, roasted sweet potatoes, apples, and goat cheese, it’s a hearty and delicious power bowl that will certainly power you through your busy day.
Tossed in a creamy balsamic dressing, this bowl lunch is meal prep-friendly and keeps you satisfied and energized all day.
A simple, wholesome, and customizable lunch option!
25. Southwest Steak Rice Bowls
Southwest Steak Rice Bowls are a healthy and flavorful work lunch that’s packed with tender steak, fluffy white or brown rice, flavorful veggies, and this highly original yogurt and salsa verde dressing.
Bursting with protein and fiber, this balanced meal is easy to customize with toppings like avocado, salsa, or lime.
Perfect for make-ahead lunches, it’s a bold and satisfying option to keep you energized all day!
26. Egg Roll in a Bowl
Craving an egg roll but having no time to make, stuff, and deep fry one yourself? Then enjoy this lunch of a convenient and delicious Egg Roll in a Bowl.
An Egg Roll in a Bowl is a healthy, low-carb take on a traditional Chinese egg roll that takes all the healthier ingredients that are stuffed inside your favorite egg rolls and dumps them right into a convenient bowl, so you can savor all their delicious, nutritious filling ingredients like sweet and sour cabbage, crunchy shredded carrots, soy sauce, and spices that make it seem like an egg roll has certainly fallen apart in your lunch bowl.
Packed with lean protein and crisp veggies, this quick recipe delivers all the savory flavors of an egg roll without the wrapper.
Ready in just 20 minutes and perfect for make-ahead meal prep, it’s a nutritious option that keeps you energized all day!
27. Creamy Vegan Garlic Pasta
Creamy Vegan Garlic Pasta with Roasted Tomatoes is a nutrient-packed, plant-based lunch idea perfect for busy working days!
This recipe combines pasta with velvety garlic sauce and sweet roasted tomatoes to create a velvety and flavor-packed lunch that’s both comforting and wholesome.
Best of all, clean-up is minimal because it’s a one-pot recipe.
Meal prep it ahead for the week–because you won’t want this packed lunch. Believe it.
28. Healthier Homemade Crunchwrap Supreme
This lighter twist on a fast-food favorite is a lunch game-changer!
Packed with lean protein, fresh veggies, and whole-grain tortillas, this lighter, nutrient-dense take on a Crunchwrap Supreme delivers bold flavors without guilt.
Perfect for day-ahead meal-prepping or quick at-work lunches, this crunch wrap is endlessly customizable and sure to keep you satisfied all day.
Healthy, delicious, and so easy to make!
29. Greek Chickpea Salad
Greek Chickpea Salad is a healthy and refreshing lunch option that’s perfect for busy work days because it’s chock full of satisfying, satiety-inducing chickpeas to keep you full and energized for hours.
Packed with crisp veggies, and tangy feta cheese, this chickpea salad is ultra-filling, nutritious, and flavorful.
Tossed in a light lemon-olive oil dressing, this salad is done and in your lunch pail in 10 minutes flat. Customizable and satisfying, it’s the ultimate work-lunch hero!
30. Panera Strawberry Poppyseed Salad
Panera Strawberry Poppyseed Salad is the perfect healthy lunch option for work!
Packed with fresh, dewy, delicious strawberries, crisp salad greens, and omega-3-rich crunchy nuts, this salad is full of nutrition, especially those crucial antioxidants and vitamins we need to stay maximally healthy.
The tangy poppy seed dressing adds a touch of sweetness with healthy honey instead of sugar, for the ultimate experience in guilt-free salad-dressing enjoyment.
This is an especially light, refreshing, and nutritious salad to power you through your busy day!
