9 Portable Lunches (Slideshow)

It's easy to fall into the same routine at lunchtime, but you know you can do better than grabbing a slice of pizza or packing a peanut butter sandwich every day. Pack lunches for yourself before the work week starts and tasty, homemade lunches will be ready to go when you're rushing to get out the door in the morning.

Mason jars are the perfect leak-proof vessel for portable salads, and they look cute to boot! Store the salad dressing at the bottom of the jar with the noodles for an overnight marinade and the vegetables will stay crispy until you shake it all up. Click here to see the recipe.

Steak sandwiches taste great hot or cold. If you're packing this lunch to go, store the buns separate from the filling so the bread doesn't get soggy. Click here to see the recipe.

Pasta e fagioli is a classic Italian dish that uses pantry staples like canned cannellini beans and diced tomatoes. Make this a vegetarian dish by skipping the pancetta, and store it in a travel mug to take it on the go. Click here to see the recipe.

Braised chicken tossed with herbs, roasted peppers, tomatoes, and olives stuffed in a whole-wheat pita makes for a delicious and healthy portable lunch. Click here to see the recipe.

Use leftover chicken to make an easy Mediterranean wrap. For extra flavor, top it off with some tzatziki sauce or even hummus. Click here to see the recipe.

Couscous, small round pieces of pasta made from a mixture of semolina flour and water, makes the perfect base for a cold salad. This recipe calls for red bell peppers, zucchini, feta cheese, and a lemon vinaigrette, but you could easily adapt this concept based on the ingredients you have on hand. Click here to see the recipe.

A six-ingredient dish easy enough to make on a weeknight, this vegetarian soup is the perfect lunch for your next meatless Monday. Click here to see the recipe.

A protein-packed lunch option that can be served hot or cold. Apple, avocado, hardboiled eggs, tuna and quinoa come together with white wine vinaigrette. Click here to see the recipe.

This vegetarian salad is filled with roasted vegetables and tossed with an easy balsamic vinaigrette. Store the dressing on the side for this portable meal. Click here to see the recipe.