Quick, Easy and Healthy Work Lunches
It can be really tempting to buy lunch every day. You’re busy, you’re stressed, and there are plenty of places around serving tasty food. That’s all well and good; we love supporting our local eateries, but it can become costly and also makes it harder to control what you are eating every day. Whether your reasoning is health, convenience or budget related, packing your own lunch can be easy and delicious. We’ve rounded up a selection of quick, easy and healthy lunch ideas for work.
Tasty Lunch Ideas for Work – Salads
There are so many yummy options to choose from rather than just your go-to garden salad. There’s really no excuse to have another dull work meal.
Pork Fillet with Rainbow Slaw & Soy-Cashew Butter Dressing
A vibrant health bowl, packed with Asian flavours and heaps of protein.
Recipe for Pork Fillet with Rainbow Slaw & Soy-Cashew Butter Dressing
Nutty Grain Salad with Bacon, Egg & Avo Oil Mayo
Breakfast, brunch or lunch, this grain-filled salad tastes great any time of day.
Recipe for Nutty Grain Salad with Bacon, Egg & Avo Oil Mayo
Bulgar Wheat, Kale & Halloumi Salad with ClemenGold® Dressing
Refreshing, filling and tasty, you can’t go wrong with this zesty salad.
Recipe for Bulgar Wheat, Kale & Halloumi Salad with ClemenGold® Dressing
Vegan Mixed Grain & Pulse Salad
Make this loaded and healthy salad for dinner and save lunch leftovers.
Recipe for Vegan Mixed Grain & Pulse Salad
Roasted Butternut & Cauliflower Salad
Enjoy this earthy salad, flavoured with warm spices and infused with rooibos. Make it for a weekend braai and pack any extras away.
Recipe for Roasted Butternut & Cauliflower Salad
Cauliflower ‘Couscous’ with Pistou
Pulse or grate cauliflower to get a nutritious carb-free version of couscous. Lower in calories and just as, if not more delicious than the real thing.
Recipe for Cauliflower Couscous with Pistou
Quinoa Salad with Mint & Lime
A fresh and zesty salad that’s supercharged with protein. Another great one to make for weekend entertaining. Be sure to make extra, so that you’ll have for the week ahead.
Panzanella Salad
Embrace your inner hipster at work with the original salad jar recipe.
Black Lentil, Feta, Tomato & Coriander Salad
A light yet filling salad, full of healthy pulses and packed with flavour.
Recipe for Black Lentil Feta Tomato & Coriander Salad
Crunchy Chicken Noodle Salad
A definite winner chicken lunch, with plenty of crunch and punchy Asian flavours.
Recipe for Crunchy Chicken Noodle Salad
Avo on Greens with Mustard Vinaigrette
Feed your mind with this green salad.
Recipe for Avo on Greens with Mustard Vinaigrette
Fattoush Salad
A Lebanese dish with a modern twist; serve with creamy avo and crispy crackers.
Watermelon & Labneh Salad with Granola and Fresh Mint
If you’re one of those people who don’t have an appetite in the morning, this refreshing breakfast-inspired lunch is the ideal fix.
Recipe for Watermelon & Labneh Salad with Granola and Fresh Mint
Vegan Roast Veggie Bowl with Quinoa
Repurpose leftovers with this wholesome veggie bowl, all it needs is a drizzle of avo oil.
Recipe for Vegan Roast Veggie Bowl with Quinoa
Healthy Lunch Ideas for Work
Deadlines looming? Boss breathing down your neck? These lunches were designed for the workaholic in you.
Salami & Brie Sandwich on Buttermilk Seed Loaf
Pack this delightful deli-style sandwich for a tasty work lunch.
Recipe for Salami & Brie Sandwich on Buttermilk Seed Loaf
Lentil Dhal
Loaded with lentils, comforting flavours and all the protein you need, this dhal is ideal for cold winter days spent at the office.
Bánh Mì-inspired Halloumi Sandwich
Healthy and delish, this Vietnamese-inspired sandwich will become your go-to work lunch.
Recipe for Bánh Mì-inspired Halloumi Sandwich
Open Sando with Guac, Goats Cheese, Beetroot & Poached Egg
Take your sandos to the next level with tasty toppings and poached eggs. Tip: simply make microwaved poached eggs if you’re stuck at the office.
Recipe for Open Sandwich with Guacamole, Goats Cheese & Beetroot & Poached Egg
Charred Tomato & Lemon Cottage Cheese Tartines
Fuel up between meetings with these simple and tasty tomato tartines.
Recipe for Charred Tomato and Lemon Cottage Cheese Tartines
Lemon & Rocket Pesto Tartines with Avocado & Asparagus
Transform everyday dry toast with this Lemon & Rocket Pesto. Get all your greens in and top it off with some avo and asparagus.
Recipe for Lemon & Rocket Pesto Tartines
Potato & Baby Spinach Frittatas
Make it the night before and pop it in the work microwave for a quick, filling meal.
Recipe for Potato & Baby Spinach Frittatas
Braaied Caprese Brinjal Parcels
Throw these on the braai the night before for a real work time treat. Hopefully, they’ll last ’til then and won’t end up becoming midnight snacks.
Recipe for Braaied Caprese Brinjal Parcels
Sesame & Chermoula-Spiced Chicken Pieces
Easy to prepare the night before and, if you’re in a rush, they are also tasty eaten cold.
Recipe for Sesame & Chermoula Chicken
Spicy Fish Goujons
Eat these with some mayo, or make it a full meal with a side of leafy greens.
Beetroot Falafel With Creamy Cashew Sauce
A healthy, colourful twist on the regular falafel.
Butternut Spread Pita with Bacon
Keep this spread in the office fridge for emergency snack cravings. We can’t promise no one will steal it though.
Recipe for Butternut Spread Pita with Bacon
Quick Easy Healthy Lunch Ideas for Work – A Meal to Seal the Deal
They’re old-school, but slightly cooler than a sarmie. Here some revamped wrap recipes.
Beetroot Falafel on Flatbread with Guacamole
These beetroot falafel are super easy to make and filled with nutritious veggies and protein-packed pulses.
Recipe for Beetroot Falafel on Flatbread with Guacamole
Bobotie Pancakes
These pancakes are essentially egg wraps and work great as a no-carb alternative. Get creative with fillings.
Vietnamese Chicken Spring Rolls
These no-fry spring rolls use rice paper wrappers instead of the traditional fried pastry ones – way healthier!
Recipe for Vietnamese Chicken Spring Rolls
Rice Paper Rolls with Meat-free Fillets, Red Cabbage & Quinoa
If you’re not into chicken, these vegetarian-friendly wraps are the way to go!
Recipe for Rice Paper Rolls with Meat-free Fillets, Red Cabbage & Quinoa
Deep Fried Cauliflower Soft Tortilla Wraps
This air-fryer-friendly recipe is great for when it’s ‘crunch-time’.
Recipe for Deep Fried Cauliflower Soft Tortilla Wraps
Grilled Chicken & Tabbouleh Wraps
We absolutely love the Mediterranean flavours in this wrap.
Recipe for Grilled Chicken & Tabbouleh Wraps
Quick Easy Healthy Lunch Ideas for Work – Something Substantial
Fritters are a great way to use up leftover meat and vegetables. Use a high-quality non-stick pan and coconut oil for maximum health benefits.
Herby Snoek Fritters
These Herby Snoek Fritters are a South African favourite. Don’t let any go to waste!
Recipe for Herby Snoek Fritters
Cauliflower Fritters
So yum – make extra, you’ll definitely want to test a few.
Recipe for Cauliflower Fritters
Curried Vegetable Fritters
Dip these spicy fritters into some tzatziki as a work snack, alternatively, fill a pita with them for something more substantial.
Recipe Curried Vegetable Fritters
Courgette, Ricotta & Goat’s Cheese Fritters
Enjoy with some yoghurt dressing, a watercress salad or, better yet, make a veggie burger.
Recipe for Courgette Ricotta & Goat’s Cheese Fritters
Lamb Meatballs with Herby Yoghurt, Hummus & Toasted Pita
Long hours call for a rewarding lunch. Gather your leftovers, add some delicious dip, and toast a fresh pita for a satisfying bite.
Recipe for Lamb Meatballs with Mint & Coriander Yoghurt, Hummus and Toasted Pita
Zucchini Noodles with Chicken, Feta & Kale Meatballs
Want something filling, but don’t want to be stuffed? Look no further than these tasty chicken meatballs.
Recipe for Zucchini Noodles with Chicken, Feta & Kale Meatballs
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