Your mid-day meal holds a very important place in your diet. Halfway through the day, your body will be looking for a re-charge and a healthy boost of energy! Lunch will help to level out your blood sugar and get your concentration back on track for the remainder of the afternoon. This is especially important for kids, as they can easily start to zone out during the afternoon, which can negatively impact their performance in school.
The good news is, making lunch doesn’t have to monopolize your whole morning or previous night. You can make a delicious, budget friendly and healthy meal in under 10 minutes! We’ve taken inspiration from the Feed More Bayard Community Kitchen to share some ideas that you can easily incorporate into your kitchen.
Lunch Bowls
These are the perfect dump and go meals that are perfect for busy families and individuals. Combining ingredients that you know go well together into on amazing meal is a quick and easy way to make sure you get the nutrition you’re looking easily.
A burrito bowl (a la Chipotle) is always a popular, and super easy, choice! Add your favorite protein like chicken or turkey, along with brown rice, salsa and your choice of veggies. We love adding corn, tomatoes, peppers and black beans, sprinkled with some cheese and sour cream.
Hearty Salads
Please note, we’re not talking about your average garden salad. We suggest starting with the basics (lettuce, tomato and cucumber) and adding in more delicious flavors you love. Try chicken or tuna as your main protein, and then go crazy with other favorite salad fixings like hard boiled eggs, almonds or walnuts, dried cranberries, spinach and avocado.
Salads can be made in a hurry and are a great way to pack in the flavor along with fun, nutritious ingredients!
Classic Sandwich
The sandwich has been a staple lunch item for decades. But instead of plain ham and cheese, we suggest going above and beyond in creating your perfect bite. Rather than white bread, go for whole wheat bread or multi-grain as a healthier option. When you can avoid processed deli meats, choose fresh cut meats like chicken, turkey or ham. Spinach is packed with nutrients other lettuce may lack and you can never have too many veggies like avocado, cucumber, tomato (yes, this is a fruit) and onion.
You can also skip the bread altogether by making the whole thing a lettuce wrap! It’s just as fast and easy to make and will cut an unnecessary carbohydrates.
We hope this brings you a few ideas on how to make your lunchtime a little more enjoyable. Don’t forget to take just a few minutes for yourself and enjoy a healthy, delicious meal.
