Life
11 Healthy Lunches to Start the New Year Right
Holiday foods (and the rate at which we willingly devour them) can sometimes make us feel a little like we are Charlize Theron, prepping for our role in Monster. When the first of January rolls around, many of us are ready to turn a new page in our eating habits, and so we go back to basics, loading up on fruits, vegetables, and lean meats. But just because it’s January does not mean we have to live in a taste wilderness where our only options are grilled chicken and steamed broccoli. To prove our point, we’ve collected 11 great lunch ideas that are as healthy as they are delicious. We have tuna and chard wraps, roasted Buddha bowls, and Thai chicken soup — and the good stuff doesn’t stop there. Keep reading for tasty lunches that will satisfy your cravings — and your resolutions.
Image: Green Kitchen Stories
BBQ Salmon and Crispy Chickpea Salad
This salad is a step in the right direction! Salmon is slathered in a homemade BBQ sauce and then tossed with crispy chickpeas and a pile of spring greens. Don’t forget the ranch drizzle! (via How Sweet It Is)
Image: How Sweet It Is
Red Lentil Hummus Kitchen Sink Veggie Wrap
These veggie wraps start with a homemade red lentil hummus and finish with everything but the kitchen sink. Roll up whatever fresh things you have on hand for a quick lunch that will keep you full and well fed. (via Oh She Glows)
Image: Angela Liddon
Crispy Kale Salad with Couscous, Grilled Chicken, and Pomegranates
This couscous salad takes advantage of all the best parts of winter, including kale and pomegranate seeds. A tahini-lemon dressing and ripe hunks of avocado keep this dish bright and satisfying. (via Half Baked Harvest)
Image: Half Baked Harvest
Creamy Carrot Ginger Lime Soup
This creamy carrot soup is bright and zippy with its smart and flavorful additions of ginger and lime. Keep this recipe in your lunch rotation and save yourself from salad boredom. (via Bare Root)
Image: Bare Root
Tuna Chard Wraps with Fresh Dill Sauce
This tuna salad uses coconut milk instead of mayonnaise. Wrap it up in big chard leaves and you’ll have a happy lunch — with no carbs in sight! (via Healthful Pursuit)
Image: Healthful Pursuit
Winter Pumpkin and Millet Salad
Millet is a hugely versatile grain that somewhat resembles couscous. In this recipe, it’s tossed with roasted butternut squash, hazelnuts, grapes, and greens. Top this with some lean protein and you’ll have everything you need when lunchtime comes a-calling. (via Green Kitchen Stories)
Image: Green Kitchen Stories
Roasted Persimmons with Mushrooms and Kale
If you’ve never tasted a ripe persimmon, you are truly missing out on one of winter’s best natural treats. Tossed with roasted mushrooms, fresh lemon, and handfuls of leafy kale, this dish is super healthy and super fresh — and in the absolute tastiest way possible. Look! You just won January! (via Lick My Spoon)
Image: Lick My Spoon
Roasted Buddha Bowls
We suspect this Buddha bowl, filled with broccoli, cauliflower, chickpeas, and a creamy tahini-citrus dressing, is the path to true lunchtime enlightenment. (via Oh She Glows)
Image: Angela Liddon
Cold Grilled Vegetable Soup
We love this chilled soup idea. First you grill up a bunch of your favorite vegetables, and then you cool them in the refrigerator. Next, stick them in the food processor with some Greek yogurt, Dijon mustard, and a few other flavor boosters, and — voila! A delicious soup filled to the brim with healthy veggies. You are so smart. (via The Healthy Foodie)
Image: The Healthy Foodie
Grilled Chicken Romaine Caesar Wraps
This Paleo-friendly lunch idea packs the flavors of a chicken Caesar salad into bite-sized romaine wraps. Sure, there’s not a crouton in sight, but check out the kalamata olives — and that fresh, homemade dressing. This is Caesar salad 2.0, folks. (via Bare Root)
Image: Bare Root
Thai Chicken Soup
Thai food can be a little heavy, but this Thai-inspired chicken soup refuses to conform to that maxim. Fill your bowl with vegetables, chicken, and an aromatic broth spiked with fish sauce, sesame oil, and coconut milk. You’re welcome. (via A Spicy Perspective)
A Spicy Perspective
