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Carbohydrate foods are essential to our diets—they provide fiber, vitamins and minerals. Carbohydrates are necessary for energy production and to fuel your brain. However, if you sometimes feel better on fewer carbs and more protein and healthy fats, these low-carb lunch ideas will helpreduce your carb intakewhile not going too low and still providing the nutrients you need.Make one of these recipes as your next to-go meal or workday lunch. From stuffed avocados to quick salads, these lunches are lower in carbs but provide enough to keep your energy levels up. Plus, each recipe has14 grams of carbohydrates or fewerper serving, so you can meet your nutritional goals.
Carbohydrate foods are essential to our diets—they provide fiber, vitamins and minerals. Carbohydrates are necessary for energy production and to fuel your brain. However, if you sometimes feel better on fewer carbs and more protein and healthy fats, these low-carb lunch ideas will helpreduce your carb intakewhile not going too low and still providing the nutrients you need.
Make one of these recipes as your next to-go meal or workday lunch. From stuffed avocados to quick salads, these lunches are lower in carbs but provide enough to keep your energy levels up. Plus, each recipe has14 grams of carbohydrates or fewerper serving, so you can meet your nutritional goals.
01of 20Avocado Egg SaladView RecipeThis quick recipe takes classic egg salad to the next level with the addition of creamy avocado. Serve it on a piece of toasted whole-grain bread or inside a tender lettuce leaf. Avocados brown quickly, so plan on making it no more than two hours before you plan to serve it.
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Avocado Egg Salad
View Recipe
This quick recipe takes classic egg salad to the next level with the addition of creamy avocado. Serve it on a piece of toasted whole-grain bread or inside a tender lettuce leaf. Avocados brown quickly, so plan on making it no more than two hours before you plan to serve it.
02of 20Loaded Broccoli SaladView RecipePhotographer / Brie Passano, Food Stylist / Annie Probst, Prop Stylist / Holly RaibikisThis is the broccoli salad you will get special requests for. The combination of bacon, sour cream, mayonnaise, scallions and Cheddar is hard to resist. And the addition of rice vinegar or cider vinegar sharpens all the flavors.
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Loaded Broccoli Salad
Photographer / Brie Passano, Food Stylist / Annie Probst, Prop Stylist / Holly Raibikis
This is the broccoli salad you will get special requests for. The combination of bacon, sour cream, mayonnaise, scallions and Cheddar is hard to resist. And the addition of rice vinegar or cider vinegar sharpens all the flavors.
03of 20Salmon-Stuffed AvocadosView RecipePhotographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Lydia PurcellCanned salmon is a valuable pantry staple and a practical way to include heart-healthy omega-3-rich fish in your diet. Here, we combine it with avocados in an easy no-cook meal.
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Salmon-Stuffed Avocados
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Lydia Purcell
Canned salmon is a valuable pantry staple and a practical way to include heart-healthy omega-3-rich fish in your diet. Here, we combine it with avocados in an easy no-cook meal.
04of 20Tuna Salad with EggView RecipePhotography / Jennifer Causey, Styling / Ali Ramee / Audrey DavisThis simple tuna salad with egg has a clean and balanced flavor. The capers and lemon bring acidity to help everything come together, and the chopped arugula adds a peppery kick. Enjoy it with greens or on a slice of your favorite whole-grain bread.
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Tuna Salad with Egg
Photography / Jennifer Causey, Styling / Ali Ramee / Audrey Davis
This simple tuna salad with egg has a clean and balanced flavor. The capers and lemon bring acidity to help everything come together, and the chopped arugula adds a peppery kick. Enjoy it with greens or on a slice of your favorite whole-grain bread.
05of 20Spinach & Artichoke-Stuffed Portobello MushroomsView RecipeStuffed mushrooms and spinach-artichoke dip come together in this quick vegetarian recipe. Serve these cheesy stuffed mushrooms with a big salad for a satisfying and healthy lunch.
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Spinach & Artichoke-Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
Stuffed mushrooms and spinach-artichoke dip come together in this quick vegetarian recipe. Serve these cheesy stuffed mushrooms with a big salad for a satisfying and healthy lunch.
06of 20Chopped Power Salad with ChickenView RecipePhotographer: Grant Webster, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Joseph WanekEnjoy this filling and colorful salad for lunch or dinner. The dressing gets made in the same bowl that the salad is tossed in so the greens absorb every bit of flavor.
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Chopped Power Salad with Chicken
Photographer: Grant Webster, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Joseph Wanek
Enjoy this filling and colorful salad for lunch or dinner. The dressing gets made in the same bowl that the salad is tossed in so the greens absorb every bit of flavor.
07of 20Avocado Tuna SaladView RecipePhotography / Greg DuPree, Styling / Ruth BlackBurn / Julia BaylessJazz up a can of tuna with this easy avocado tuna salad recipe. Silky avocado adds a creaminess that’s cut with a hit of acidity from lemon and a briny punch from feta cheese. Romaine hearts and cucumber offer a refreshing crunch.
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Avocado Tuna Salad
Photography / Greg DuPree, Styling / Ruth BlackBurn / Julia Bayless
Jazz up a can of tuna with this easy avocado tuna salad recipe. Silky avocado adds a creaminess that’s cut with a hit of acidity from lemon and a briny punch from feta cheese. Romaine hearts and cucumber offer a refreshing crunch.
08of 20Chicken Salad-Stuffed AvocadosView RecipeLooking for a clean, packable lunch for work? This healthy homemade chicken salad served inside an avocado instead of with bread is just the ticket. Plus, this recipe makes enough for ready-made lunches for the week!
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Chicken Salad-Stuffed Avocados
Looking for a clean, packable lunch for work? This healthy homemade chicken salad served inside an avocado instead of with bread is just the ticket. Plus, this recipe makes enough for ready-made lunches for the week!
09of 20Mozzarella, Basil & Zucchini FrittataView RecipeThis vegetable-studded frittata recipe is one of the quickest meals you can make. Serve it with a tossed salad and a slice of olive oil-drizzled crusty baguette.
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Mozzarella, Basil & Zucchini Frittata
This vegetable-studded frittata recipe is one of the quickest meals you can make. Serve it with a tossed salad and a slice of olive oil-drizzled crusty baguette.
10of 20Turkey & Cheddar Lettuce WrapsView RecipeCrispy green lettuce leaves hold the filling inside this low-carb turkey wrap. It’s perfect for lunch or a quick, easy dinner on the go.
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Turkey & Cheddar Lettuce Wraps
Crispy green lettuce leaves hold the filling inside this low-carb turkey wrap. It’s perfect for lunch or a quick, easy dinner on the go.
11of 20Arugula, Chicken & Melon Salad with Sumac DressingView RecipeJason DonnellySweet and savory find harmony in this salad dotted with ripe melon and tossed in a lemony dressing. Melon balls are so adorable, but making them leaves some fruit behind—whir up those leftovers into a smoothie.
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Arugula, Chicken & Melon Salad with Sumac Dressing
Jason Donnelly
Sweet and savory find harmony in this salad dotted with ripe melon and tossed in a lemony dressing. Melon balls are so adorable, but making them leaves some fruit behind—whir up those leftovers into a smoothie.
12of 20Eat-the-Rainbow Chopped Salad with Basil & MozzarellaView RecipePhotographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster, Food Stylist: Jennifer WendorfThis fresh and colorful salad has all of the delicious flavors you love from the classic caprese salad plus even more healthy veggies. Double this and top each portion with 3 ounces of grilled or roasted chicken to take it from a simple side to a quick main dish.
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Eat-the-Rainbow Chopped Salad with Basil & Mozzarella
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf
This fresh and colorful salad has all of the delicious flavors you love from the classic caprese salad plus even more healthy veggies. Double this and top each portion with 3 ounces of grilled or roasted chicken to take it from a simple side to a quick main dish.
13of 20Meal-Prep Turkey Cobb SaladView RecipeCubed deli turkey takes the place of chicken, while Cheddar replaces blue cheese in this easy Cobb-inspired salad. The protein-rich turkey and cheese, plus eggs and bacon, gives the salad staying power, to get you through the rest of your afternoon.
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Meal-Prep Turkey Cobb Salad
Cubed deli turkey takes the place of chicken, while Cheddar replaces blue cheese in this easy Cobb-inspired salad. The protein-rich turkey and cheese, plus eggs and bacon, gives the salad staying power, to get you through the rest of your afternoon.
14of 20Creamy Pesto Chicken Salad with GreensView RecipeFor a healthy variation on creamy chicken salad, we’ve replaced half the mayonnaise with basil pesto. Serve over greens or make it into a sandwich for a healthy lunch.
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Creamy Pesto Chicken Salad with Greens
For a healthy variation on creamy chicken salad, we’ve replaced half the mayonnaise with basil pesto. Serve over greens or make it into a sandwich for a healthy lunch.
15of 20Taco Lettuce WrapsView RecipeDon’t limit yourself to lettuce for this low-carb, gluten-free taco lettuce wrap recipe—any fresh green sturdy enough to wrap around 1/2 cup of filling works.
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Taco Lettuce Wraps
Don’t limit yourself to lettuce for this low-carb, gluten-free taco lettuce wrap recipe—any fresh green sturdy enough to wrap around 1/2 cup of filling works.
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Pickle Sub Sandwiches with Turkey & Cheddar
17of 20Spinach & Mushroom QuicheView RecipePhotographer: Jen CauseyThis healthy vegetarian quiche recipe is as simple as it gets. It’s a quiche without the fussy crust! It’s filled with sweet wild mushrooms and savory Gruyère cheese. Serve it with a light salad for lunch.
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Spinach & Mushroom Quiche
Photographer: Jen Causey
This healthy vegetarian quiche recipe is as simple as it gets. It’s a quiche without the fussy crust! It’s filled with sweet wild mushrooms and savory Gruyère cheese. Serve it with a light salad for lunch.
18of 20Green Goddess Salad with ChickenView RecipeFor this cucumber, tomato, Swiss cheese and chicken salad, a healthy green goddess salad dressing gets its creaminess from avocado, buttermilk and herbs. Any extra dressing is delicious served over grilled chicken or flaky white fish, such as cod or flounder.
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Green Goddess Salad with Chicken
For this cucumber, tomato, Swiss cheese and chicken salad, a healthy green goddess salad dressing gets its creaminess from avocado, buttermilk and herbs. Any extra dressing is delicious served over grilled chicken or flaky white fish, such as cod or flounder.
19of 20Barbecue Chicken Kale WrapsView RecipeSmooth, lacinato kale (aka dinosaur kale) is topped with barbecue chicken, carrots and cabbage in this healthy, gluten-free lettuce wrap recipe.
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Barbecue Chicken Kale Wraps
Smooth, lacinato kale (aka dinosaur kale) is topped with barbecue chicken, carrots and cabbage in this healthy, gluten-free lettuce wrap recipe.
20of 20Shrimp Cobb Salad with Dijon DressingView RecipeWe’ve replaced chicken with shrimp in this delicious and easy spin on the classic Cobb salad. This satisfying salad takes just 20 minutes to make.
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Shrimp Cobb Salad with Dijon Dressing
We’ve replaced chicken with shrimp in this delicious and easy spin on the classic Cobb salad. This satisfying salad takes just 20 minutes to make.
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