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Photo: Photographer / Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist / Kay Clarke, Food Stylist / Ruth Blackburn
With just 20 minutes of active time in the kitchen, you can pull together any one of these simple and packable spring lunch ideas. These healthy, tasty recipes include delicious spring produce, like spinach, avocado and asparagus, so you can get in your veggies and enjoy something fresh and flavorful. Recipes like our Mashed Chickpea Salad with Dill & Capers and Cucumber Sandwich are perfect for a light and satisfying lunch break.For food safety, it’s best to consider how long your food might be out of the fridge when toting a lunch around, and where it will be when you get to your destination. The limit for any recipe with meat, poultry, fish, sliced vegetables and dairy (which includes soft cheeses) is about two hours, according to theUSDA. In hot weather, it’s far less—about an hour. It’s best to chill whatever you plan to pack in the fridge overnight, and it should go into an insulated cooler with at least two ice packs. The bigger the ice packs and the closer you put them to the food, the longer everything will stay chilled.
With just 20 minutes of active time in the kitchen, you can pull together any one of these simple and packable spring lunch ideas. These healthy, tasty recipes include delicious spring produce, like spinach, avocado and asparagus, so you can get in your veggies and enjoy something fresh and flavorful. Recipes like our Mashed Chickpea Salad with Dill & Capers and Cucumber Sandwich are perfect for a light and satisfying lunch break.
For food safety, it’s best to consider how long your food might be out of the fridge when toting a lunch around, and where it will be when you get to your destination. The limit for any recipe with meat, poultry, fish, sliced vegetables and dairy (which includes soft cheeses) is about two hours, according to theUSDA. In hot weather, it’s far less—about an hour. It’s best to chill whatever you plan to pack in the fridge overnight, and it should go into an insulated cooler with at least two ice packs. The bigger the ice packs and the closer you put them to the food, the longer everything will stay chilled.
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Mashed Chickpea Salad with Dill & Capers
View Recipe
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Chipotle-Lime Cauliflower Taco Bowls
03of 21Chickpea & Quinoa Bowl with Roasted Red Pepper SauceView RecipeQuinoa and chickpeas pack this vegetarian grain bowl with plenty of plant-based protein. Whip up a batch of these flavorful grain bowls and pack them in lidded containers to stash in the fridge for easy, healthy grab-and-go lunches all week long.
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Chickpea & Quinoa Bowl with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce
Quinoa and chickpeas pack this vegetarian grain bowl with plenty of plant-based protein. Whip up a batch of these flavorful grain bowls and pack them in lidded containers to stash in the fridge for easy, healthy grab-and-go lunches all week long.
04of 21Cucumber SandwichView RecipePhotographer / Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist / Kay Clarke, Food Stylist / Ruth BlackburnThis creamy, crunchy cucumber sandwich recipe strikes a lovely balance between decadent and light. The cream cheese-yogurt spread complements the crisp refreshing cucumber while the hearty flavor and texture of the whole-wheat bread holds everything together. Removing the crusts makes it more delicate than your average sandwich.
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Cucumber Sandwich
Photographer / Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist / Kay Clarke, Food Stylist / Ruth Blackburn
This creamy, crunchy cucumber sandwich recipe strikes a lovely balance between decadent and light. The cream cheese-yogurt spread complements the crisp refreshing cucumber while the hearty flavor and texture of the whole-wheat bread holds everything together. Removing the crusts makes it more delicate than your average sandwich.
05of 21Chickpea Tuna SaladView RecipePhotography / Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling / Ruth BlackburnThis chickpea tuna salad with capers, feta and cucumber makes for the perfect lunch to pack for work or school. You can prep the salad the night before (just be sure to keep the spinach separate and dress the salad right before serving).
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Chickpea Tuna Salad
Photography / Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling / Ruth Blackburn
This chickpea tuna salad with capers, feta and cucumber makes for the perfect lunch to pack for work or school. You can prep the salad the night before (just be sure to keep the spinach separate and dress the salad right before serving).
06of 21Chickpea Salad SandwichView RecipePhotography / Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling / Ruth BlackburnThis vegan chickpea salad sandwich is lemony, bright and surprisingly delicious. It’s got all the flavors of a classic tuna salad sandwich—dill, lemon and a bit of garlic—but with chickpeas instead to add a vegan source of protein and a healthy boost of fiber. Celery brings a nice crunch.
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Chickpea Salad Sandwich
This vegan chickpea salad sandwich is lemony, bright and surprisingly delicious. It’s got all the flavors of a classic tuna salad sandwich—dill, lemon and a bit of garlic—but with chickpeas instead to add a vegan source of protein and a healthy boost of fiber. Celery brings a nice crunch.
07of 21Veggie & Hummus SandwichView RecipeThis mile-high vegetable and hummus sandwich makes the perfect heart-healthy vegetarian lunch to go. Mix it up with different flavors of hummus and different types of vegetables depending on your mood.
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Veggie & Hummus Sandwich
This mile-high vegetable and hummus sandwich makes the perfect heart-healthy vegetarian lunch to go. Mix it up with different flavors of hummus and different types of vegetables depending on your mood.
08of 21Avocado Tuna Spinach SaladView RecipeGreg DuPreeAvocado adds creaminess while sunflower seeds provide texture and crunch in this easy tuna-spinach salad.
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Avocado Tuna Spinach Salad
Greg DuPree
Avocado adds creaminess while sunflower seeds provide texture and crunch in this easy tuna-spinach salad.
09of 21Caprese SandwichView RecipePhotographer / Jennifer Causey, Food Stylist / Karen Rankin, Prop Stylist / Christine KeelyThis caprese sandwich is fresh from the basil and hearty from thick, crusty ciabatta. The sun-dried tomatoes deepen the flavor. Topping the bread with a layer of basil leaves and using toasted bread helps to keep the sandwich from getting soggy if you need to make it a few hours ahead.
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Caprese Sandwich
Photographer / Jennifer Causey, Food Stylist / Karen Rankin, Prop Stylist / Christine Keely
This caprese sandwich is fresh from the basil and hearty from thick, crusty ciabatta. The sun-dried tomatoes deepen the flavor. Topping the bread with a layer of basil leaves and using toasted bread helps to keep the sandwich from getting soggy if you need to make it a few hours ahead.
10of 21Hearty Chickpea & Spinach StewView RecipeThis satisfying stew comes together in a snap. Mashed chickpeas add body to the broth, and tomato paste adds a savory note without adding too much sodium in this healthy recipe for weight loss.
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Hearty Chickpea & Spinach Stew
This satisfying stew comes together in a snap. Mashed chickpeas add body to the broth, and tomato paste adds a savory note without adding too much sodium in this healthy recipe for weight loss.
11of 21Egg Salad Lettuce WrapsView RecipeWe love the retro vibe of these egg salad lettuce wraps. Iceberg lettuce makes a perfect low-carb swap for bread to serve the egg salad.
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Egg Salad Lettuce Wraps
We love the retro vibe of these egg salad lettuce wraps. Iceberg lettuce makes a perfect low-carb swap for bread to serve the egg salad.
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Spinach & Artichoke Salad with Parmesan Vinaigrette
13of 21Rainbow Veggie WrapsView RecipeThere’s definitely a sushi vibe to these kid-friendly wraps, which are stuffed with vegetables, cheese and hummus and then rolled and sliced. Serve them with store-bought green goddess, a creamy herb-filled dressing, to take it up a notch with ease. They look impressive but they’re easy enough for kids to assemble themselves for an easy lunch or dinner.
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Rainbow Veggie Wraps
There’s definitely a sushi vibe to these kid-friendly wraps, which are stuffed with vegetables, cheese and hummus and then rolled and sliced. Serve them with store-bought green goddess, a creamy herb-filled dressing, to take it up a notch with ease. They look impressive but they’re easy enough for kids to assemble themselves for an easy lunch or dinner.
14of 21Quinoa Avocado SaladView RecipeProtein-packed quinoa pairs with creamy avocado in this refreshing grain salad. It’s the perfect make-ahead side dish to bring on a picnic or take to a potluck. Or pack it for lunch or enjoy it as a light dinner.
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Quinoa Avocado Salad
Protein-packed quinoa pairs with creamy avocado in this refreshing grain salad. It’s the perfect make-ahead side dish to bring on a picnic or take to a potluck. Or pack it for lunch or enjoy it as a light dinner.
15of 21Spring Roll SaladView RecipeAll the tastes, color and fun of a spring roll without all the work! This healthy salad recipe is bursting with the colors of rainbow from generous amounts of fresh vegetables, shrimp and whole grains all topped with a peanut dressing for the ultimate satisfying salad.
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Spring Roll Salad
All the tastes, color and fun of a spring roll without all the work! This healthy salad recipe is bursting with the colors of rainbow from generous amounts of fresh vegetables, shrimp and whole grains all topped with a peanut dressing for the ultimate satisfying salad.
16of 21Green Goddess Quinoa Bowls with Arugula & ShrimpView RecipeWe’re taking advantage of all the healthy items you can find at your local specialty grocery store to create these healthy meal-prep lunches. To add extra protein (while minimizing prep time), we’re using fully cooked quinoa and cooked shrimp, both of which you can find in the freezer section. With a few more simple items, including bottled salad dressing, you’ll have all the ingredients you need to make these high-protein lunch bowls in under 20 minutes.
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Green Goddess Quinoa Bowls with Arugula & Shrimp
We’re taking advantage of all the healthy items you can find at your local specialty grocery store to create these healthy meal-prep lunches. To add extra protein (while minimizing prep time), we’re using fully cooked quinoa and cooked shrimp, both of which you can find in the freezer section. With a few more simple items, including bottled salad dressing, you’ll have all the ingredients you need to make these high-protein lunch bowls in under 20 minutes.
17of 21Avocado 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
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.
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Chicken Caprese Pasta Salad Bowls
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3-Ingredient Creamy Rotisserie Chicken Salad
Carolyn Hodges
20of 21Cauliflower Rice Bowls with Grilled Asparagus & Chicken SausageView RecipeStock the fridge with a week’s worth of lunches using a handful of ingredients from your local grocery store. To save on carbs, we’re swapping in riced cauliflower for regular rice and adding pregrilled asparagus, which bulks up these bowls and adds fiber. At lunchtime, just reheat to steaming and then top with a bit of pesto. Try Trader Joe’s for fast shortcut ingredients.
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Cauliflower Rice Bowls with Grilled Asparagus & Chicken Sausage
Stock the fridge with a week’s worth of lunches using a handful of ingredients from your local grocery store. To save on carbs, we’re swapping in riced cauliflower for regular rice and adding pregrilled asparagus, which bulks up these bowls and adds fiber. At lunchtime, just reheat to steaming and then top with a bit of pesto. Try Trader Joe’s for fast shortcut ingredients.
21of 21Turkey, Cheese & Veggie PlateView RecipeThis colorful picnic dinner idea features tasty munchies you don’t need utensils for and mild flavors that kids prefer, like deli meat, cheese and crunchy raw veggies. It’s easy to assemble this complete menu, and adults will enjoy it as much as the kids. The menu calls for store-bought hummus and cookies, but you can easily make them yourself.
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Turkey, Cheese & Veggie Plate
This colorful picnic dinner idea features tasty munchies you don’t need utensils for and mild flavors that kids prefer, like deli meat, cheese and crunchy raw veggies. It’s easy to assemble this complete menu, and adults will enjoy it as much as the kids. The menu calls for store-bought hummus and cookies, but you can easily make them yourself.
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