Eating sandwiches every day for lunch will not make your tastebuds sing for joy and it certainly isn’t the healthiest option.
Believe it or not, sandwiches are not a healthy source of calories. Many of them are loaded with high-fat condiments, processed meats, bread, and dairy that can significantly impact your heart and weight. Finding alternatives to your favorite lunch and especially sandwiches is a good way to maintain your weight and ultimately improve your health. Let’s take a look at some healthy lunch options.
The following are healthy lunch options that will make your tastebuds sing for joy:
Lettuce Wraps
Instead of bread, switch to romaine lettuce wraps with hummus, extra vegetables, and fruits such as avocado and cucumbers. You don’t need processed meats or cheeses to make wraps enjoyable. In fact, the fewer processed foods you eat, the better.
One of my favorite burgers is Red Robin’s Veggie Burger in a lettuce wrap. Keep in mind I’m vegetarian.
Buddha Bowls
If you don’t like the idea of lettuce wraps but love most of what goes inside of them, then opt for a Buddha bowl. Buddha bowls start with a brown rice, quinoa, or beans base then are topped full of vegetables and herbs. Try your own Buddha bowl with a base of cooked chickpeas and raw spinach, and top it with your favorite fruits and vegetables such as bell peppers, corn, avocado, and grape tomatoes. You can even make a simple sauce for dressing with a teaspoon of tahini and lemon juice.
Mexican Chopped Salad with Creamy Avocado Dressing
Salads make great lunch options, but if you are anything like me, it doesn’t stay with you long. This Mexican Chopped Salad with Creamy Avocado Dressing has black beans in it that will give you the protein that you need to get through the day and great fiber that will fill you up.
Lentil Soup
Vegetable soups with broth bases are traditionally healthy lunch options. Lentil soup is particularly important because lentils can lower cholesterol and prevent you from developing type two diabetes. As a soup, lentils are so delicious that you’ll want to eat more of them.
Here is a Hearty Lentil Soup that will fill you up and is great year-round. It’s all made in one pot and is quick and easy.
Chickpea Salad
Ditch the classic salad sandwich and make a plant-based alternative using chickpeas. Chicken salad sandwiches are commonly mislabeled as healthy but are traditionally high in fats and salt. Here is a Chickpea Salad recipe that is healthy, quick, and tastes great.
Veggie Burgers
Another meal that Americans commonly eat during lunch includes a beef hamburger. Unfortunately, many restaurants serving hamburgers are not trying to watch your calorie intake. One whopper from McDonald's with cheese is seven hundred and ninety calories. Meaning just one meal can take up nearly all your calories for the day. A great alternative to the classic hamburger is a veggie burger wrapped in lettuce. Top it with mustard and your favorite vegetables such as onion and tomatoes to increase their nutrients. Veggie burgers are made from plant-based protein, have fewer calories, and are just as tasty as regular burgers.
Want a really good vegetarian burger? Check out this yummy Sweet Potato Black Bean Burger from Cozy Peach Kitchen.
Want a delicious vegan Mushroom Burger? Here is a recipe from Vegan Heaven.
Here is another great easy vegan option for a Veggie Burger and this one is from Chocolate Covered Katie. By the way, if you want something sweet but want to keep it healthy, Chocolate Covered Katie has some awesome dessert recipes. You should check them out here.
Crispy Baked Falafel with Lemony Tahini Sauce
Salads can be great but can also get boring. Add some flare to your salad with this Crispy Baked Falafel with Lemony Tahini Sauce. It will add protein, even more fiber, and great flavor to that everyday salad. This is also a great plant-based healthy lunch option.
Many alternatives to lunch don’t involve a sandwich or a boring, bland salad. Instead, take the time to experiment with different vegetables and other plant-based proteins to create soups, salads, and power bowls that give you the energy you need to finish your day. Not only that, these options can be easily made before you leave for work so you can avoid fast food lines or other excuses that lead to poor choices during lunchtime.
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