Lose Weight By Bringing These 10 Homemade Lunches To Work Slideshow
Apple and Curry Chicken Salad
Bold flavors like curry, ginger, and fresh lime juice elevate simply cooked chicken without adding extra calories. To make things even easier, buy a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken from the grocery store. The chicken salad can be refrigerated for up to a week and can be used in a salad or spread over some whole-wheat bread.
Artichoke and Mushroom Frittata
Frittatas are the ideal lunch option: They can be made ahead of time, they last a few days in the refrigerator, and they can be eaten at room temperature.
Blackened Shrimp Lettuce Wraps
Shrimp cooks in a matter of minutes, making it a convenient dish to prepare the night before. Prior to cooking, toss the shrimp in some blackened seasoning — a pungent blend of dried spices that usually include paprika, garlic, thyme, cayenne pepper, black pepper, and oregano — to give them some extra flavor. Place a few of the cooked shrimp in some bib lettuce leaves, and before wrapping, top each one with a dollop of salsa or green goddess dressing.
California Asian Pasta Salad
Traditional pasta salads are drenched in mayonnaise or ranch dressing, but if coated with a light vinaigrette and loaded with vegetables, pasta salads can be the perfect lunch. Mix in avocado, spinach, and fresh herbs, and try to maintain a one-to-one ratio of vegetables to pasta.
Eggless Tofu Salad
Tofu is a low-calorie, vegan protein source that absorbs flavor and takes no time to cook. Forget spending 20 minutes hard-boiling and peeling eggs; this eggless salad tastes just like the real thing. Spread some on whole-wheat toast and add some sliced for a light yet hearty lunch.
Healthy Quinoa Bowl
If you've ever purchased a quinoa bowl for lunch, you know it can cost $10 or more. Save some money and make a big batch of quinoa at home to store in the fridge. Add some quinoa to a plastic container and top with avocado, cherry tomatoes, feta cheese, a hard-boiled egg, or some broccoli florets for a nutritionally balanced lunch.
Mason Jar Salad With Maple-Cider Vinaigrette
Mason jar salads are as trendy as they are practical. Add the dressing to the bottom of the Mason jar before piling on the ingredients, such as nuts, grains, greens, and diced fruits, to prevent them from getting soggy. Just give the jar a couple of shakes, and you'll have a perfectly dressed salad.
Click here for the Mason Jar Salad with Maple Cider Vinaigrette
Quick and Easy Salmon Burger
Canned salmon is your best friend: One serving is only 80 calories but contains 13 grams of protein and healthful omega-3 fatty acids. Canned salmon is precooked, so it takes only a few minutes and a handful of ingredients to make into salmon burgers. The patties can then be used throughout the weeks in wraps or on top of a bed of salad greens.
Taco Salad
Taco salads tend to be more tortilla chip than health food, but this nutritional imbalance is easily rectified by swapping out the taco bowl for lettuce, baby spinach, or kale. Use extra-lean turkey cooked down with salsa for an easy-to-assemble salad. Add any additional vegetables or grains to add some depth to the salad.
Veggie Burger
Making the perfect veggie burger doesn't require much, only a food processor and a hot skillet. Veggie burgers usually comprise either a combination of fibrous vegetables, such as carrots, beets, and legumes, or beefy portobello or baby bella mushrooms in order to mimic the texture of meat. Slide one of these patties into a pita pocket with arugula and a dab of hummus for a filling lunch.