35 Quick and Delicious Grab and Go Lunch Ideas for Your Busiest Days
In search of fast, portable lunch solutions for those hectic days? Look no further. This article lays out 35 grab and go lunch ideas that are simple to prepare and perfect for your active lifestyle. These meals are designed to save you time and keep you satisfied as you conquer your day.
Key Takeaways
- Proper Good 90 Second Meals offer a variety of ready-to-eat soups, oatmeals, and meals that are packed with wholesome ingredients for a nutritious and convenient lunch.
- Get creative with lunch classics like chicken salad, sandwiches, and wraps by adding different ingredients, flavors, and sauces for a delicious midday meal.
- Make meal prep easy and your lunches interesting with protein-packed snack boxes, veggie-focused ideas, and no-cook lunch options to accommodate both busy schedules and dietary preferences.
Proper Good 90 Second Meals
Proper Good provides a quick, healthy, and delicious solution for your lunch. With a variety of 90-second meals that can be enjoyed on the go or in the office, you’ll never have another dull lunch.
From Red Pepper Meatball Soup to Creamy Chicken Soup, the option for a comforting or adventurous meal is just around the corner. Our meals pack wholesome ingredients to ensure you don't compromise on nutrition.
Warming these meals is effortless. Whether you prefer the microwave, stove, or simply boiling the pouch, there’s no prep time needed.
You can check the nutritional information for Proper Good 90-second meals on our website. This allows you to make a healthy lunch choice on busy days.
Soups
A bowl of hot soup remains unbeaten as a comfort food. Proper Good soups, with flavors like Quinoa & Brown Rice, Red Pepper Meatball Soup, and Broccoli Cheddar Soup, offer both vegetarian and vegan options, catering to a wide variety of dietary needs. Our soups contain healthy ingredients such as bone broth, coconut milk, chicken, meatballs, turmeric, paprika, and lots of veggies. They are a nutritious choice for a delicious lunch.
Advantageously, these soups are:
- pre-cooked
- Just heat them up in the microwave, or enjoy them straight from the pack if you’re in a rush
- For that extra touch of creaminess, add a dollop of sour cream to some of their soups
Not only are they easy to make, but customers rave about their rich flavors and top-notch ingredients.
Oatmeals and Overnight Oats
For a filling and nutritious choice, consider oatmeals and overnight oats from Proper Good. With varieties like Apple Cinnamon Protein Overnight Oats and oatmeals made with steel-cut oats, they offer a quick and efficient grab and go lunch option that’s ready in no time.
These meal options are packed with nutrients like:
- Magnesium
- Zinc
- Copper
- Iron
- Calcium
They are also loaded with fiber to keep your digestion in check and keep you satisfied. We offer high-quality nutrition and fresh flavors that customers love. Pair them with toasted bread for an added crunch and voila! You have a delicious and satisfying meal.
Quick and Easy Chicken Salad Variations
Chicken salad, a classic lunch staple, can be transformed into a mouth-watering masterpiece with a dash of creativity. From Chicken Salad with Apricots and Almonds Sandwich to Southern-Style Chicken Salad, the options are endless. These salads make for a perfect cold lunch option that’s light yet filling.
Preparing a classic chicken salad is straightforward. All you need is some chopped, cooked chicken meat, mayonnaise, lemon juice, blanched slivered almonds, and vegetables like chopped celery and green onions. Mix them all up and let it chill before serving. For a healthier twist, try adding celery, red grapes, toasted pecans, onion, parsley, yogurt, and mayo.
And if you want to jazz up your rotisserie chicken salad, try adding tomato or fresh lettuce to a sandwich, using different types of bread, or stuffing the chicken salad into hard-boiled eggs. The options are limitless!
Fresh and Flavorful Wraps
Offering a fresh and flavorful alternative to the traditional sandwich, wraps are a great choice. They’re easy to make and you can fill them with a variety of tasty ingredients to suit different palates. Try making Chicken Caesar Wraps, Buffalo Shrimp Lettuce Wraps, or Roasted Vegetable Baked Falafel Sandwiches for a lunch that’s both delicious and nutritious.
To make your wraps tastier, add chicken, shrimp, falafel, turkey, lettuce, and sauces like buffalo sauce, hummus, and balsamic vinegar. And let’s not forget the sauces! Caesar dressing, peanut butter, Thai peanut sauce, buffalo blue cheese sauce, pesto, tzatziki, salsa, chutney, hummus, cilantro lime sauce, BBQ sauce, pico de gallo, sweet chili, chipotle mayo, ranch sauce, sriracha mayo, and more can take your fresh wraps to a whole new level of deliciousness.
Creative Sandwiches to Upgrade Your Lunch Game
Despite being a lunchtime staple, sandwiches don’t have to be boring. Upgrade your lunch game with creative sandwich ideas like:
- Club Sandwich
- Egg Salad
- Italian Sub Squares
- Reuben Squares
- Thai Fried Chicken Sandwich
- Reuben Sandwich
- Buffalo Chicken Wrap
- BBQ Tempeh
- Ham and Swiss Sliders
- Toasted Reubens
And if you want to shake things up even more, get creative with your ingredients! Mix goat cheese with chopped pepitas and hot sauce to spread on whole-grain bread for a tangy twist on a ham and cheese sandwich. Try different cheeses like cheddar, spreads like hummus, or sauces and surprising ingredients for experimentation. Creating a sandwich that truly satisfies knows no bounds.
Healthy and Hearty Pasta Salads
Pasta salads offer a hearty and nutritious option for lunch. They’re versatile and can be packed with a variety of ingredients to suit different tastes. Short pasta cuts like:
- macaroni
- rotini
- farfalle
- gemelli
- orecchiette
Small pasta shapes are perfect for pasta salads. Their small shapes mimic the size of other ingredients, providing the perfect bite and blending well within the salad, especially when combined with fresh herbs and olive oil.
Protein-Packed Snack Boxes
Snack boxes, packed with protein, are the ideal solution for a quick lunch on busy days. These boxes are filled with high-protein snacks like:
- nuts
- lean meats
- beans
- dairy products
They provide sustained energy throughout the day.
When it comes to packing a protein-packed snack box, you can include items like nuts such as pistachios, lean meats like turkey or chicken, beans and legumes like chickpeas or edamame, and dairy products like Greek yogurt or hard cheeses.
Seafood Delights for a Light Lunch
Seafood provides a fantastic option for a light, yet satisfying lunch. Here are some reasons why:
- Seafood is low in bad fats
- Seafood is high in protein
- Seafood is packed with important nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, vitamin B12, iodine, and selenium
- Seafood is linked to lowering the risk of heart disease
You can try the following seafood salads for a refreshing and satisfying lunch that’s perfect for a hot day:
- ‘Caesared’ Salmon Salad
- Smoked Mackerel Salad with Crunchy Vegetables
- Insalata di Pesce
- Pesto Corn Salad with Shrimp
- Tarragon Tuna Salad
- Jambalaya Rice Salad
- Shrimp Veggie Salad
Enjoy these seafood delights!
Soup and Gazpacho Recipes for a Chilled Lunch
Consider soup and gazpacho recipes for a chilled and flavorful lunch option on warm days. Not only are they refreshing, but they’re also packed with vitamins A, C, and E, and minerals like iron, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, manganese, zinc, copper, and potassium. Plus, they’re low in calories, high in fiber, help with managing weight, and can give you a healthy glow and more energy.
You can try recipes like:
- Smoky Salmorejo
- Chilled Spring Pea Soup
- Chilled Peach Soup with Fresh Goat Cheese
- Chilled Avocado Soup
- Gazpacho
- Chilled Cucumber Soup
They all offer unique and delicious flavors that make for a light and satisfying lunch.
Vegan and Vegetarian Options for Plant-Based Lunches
Plenty of delicious and nutritious vegan and vegetarian options are available for those following a plant-based diet. You can prepare vegan and vegetarian versions of traditional meat-based dishes using plant-based ingredients. Try making:
- Vegan Shepherd’s pie
- Lasagne
- Spaghetti Bolognese
- Pie
- Chilli
- Curry
- Burgers
- And more
There are also vegan recipes designed specifically for meat lovers, like vegan burgers, hearty casseroles, and high-protein meals.
Other options include:
- Lentil and mushroom ragù with spaghetti, a classic Italian dish alternative
- Veggie moussaka
- Spinach and ricotta rolls
- Vegetarian truffade
These dishes offer interesting vegetarian takes on classic recipes. With these ideas, you can enjoy a variety of plant-based lunches that are both delicious and nutritious.
Summary
In conclusion, there are a variety of quick and delicious “grab and go” lunch options available for every taste and dietary preference. Whether you’re a fan of salads, sandwiches, wraps, or soups, there’s something for everyone. With a little creativity and planning, you can enjoy a satisfying and nutritious lunch every day. So why wait? Start exploring these lunch ideas and revolutionize your lunch game!
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I make traditional meat-based dishes work for vegans and vegetarians?
You can make traditional meat-based dishes work for vegans and vegetarians by preparing vegan and vegetarian versions using plant-based ingredients, such as vegan Shepherd's pie, lasagne, spaghetti Bolognese, and more. There are also vegan recipes designed specifically for meat lovers, like vegan burgers and hearty casseroles.
What makes fresh and flavorful wraps a good lunch option?
Fresh and flavorful wraps are a great lunch option because they offer a tasty alternative to traditional sandwiches, are easy to make, and can be filled with a variety of delicious ingredients to suit different tastes. Plus, you can enhance the flavor with ingredients like chicken, shrimp, falafel, turkey, lettuce, and different sauces and condiments.
What are some no-cook lunch recipes for busy people?
Try making Cobb Salad Wrap Sandwiches, Meatless Taco Salad, Hasselback Tomato Clubs, Zoodles with Avocado and Mango Sauce, Green Goddess Salad, Greek Salad, Vegan Sushi, and White Bean & Avocado Toast. These recipes don't require any cooking and are perfect for busy days!
What are some healthy and hearty pasta salad options?
Try adding a variety of vegetables to your pasta salad for a hearty and healthy meal. Consider including tomatoes, broccoli, bell pepper, olives, cucumber, carrots, red onion, and zucchini, and top it with your favorite dressing. Enjoy!
What are some light seafood lunch options?
Try options like 'Caesared' Salmon Salad, Smoked Mackerel Salad, Pesto Corn Salad with Shrimp, and Tarragon Tuna Salad for a refreshing and satisfying seafood lunch. Enjoy these light and delicious dishes.
