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Proteinis an essential nutrient that is important for keeping muscles healthy, promoting heart health and supporting healthy weight maintenance. Each of these healthy, filling lunch recipes follows our nutrition parameters forhigh-protein meals, containing 15 grams or more per serving.In addition to being high in protein, these lunches are also packed withanti-inflammatoryingredients like healthy fats, fruits, vegetables and whole grains to help you reduce chronic inflammation and itspesky symptoms, which can include stiff joints, digestive issues and brain fog.Recipes like our Cucumber-Chicken Green Goddess Wrap and Chicken-Quinoa Bowl with Strawberries & Pecans will make your lunch the healthiest and most delicious meal of the day.
Proteinis an essential nutrient that is important for keeping muscles healthy, promoting heart health and supporting healthy weight maintenance. Each of these healthy, filling lunch recipes follows our nutrition parameters forhigh-protein meals, containing 15 grams or more per serving.
In addition to being high in protein, these lunches are also packed withanti-inflammatoryingredients like healthy fats, fruits, vegetables and whole grains to help you reduce chronic inflammation and itspesky symptoms, which can include stiff joints, digestive issues and brain fog.
Recipes like our Cucumber-Chicken Green Goddess Wrap and Chicken-Quinoa Bowl with Strawberries & Pecans will make your lunch the healthiest and most delicious meal of the day.
01of 21Pesto Chicken Quinoa BowlsView RecipeThis pesto chicken quinoa bowl is packed with herbs from the basil pesto and the Italian spice mix and gets a slight kick of heat from the red pepper. If you enjoy the flavor profile, this dish can also be made with orzo in place of quinoa.
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Pesto Chicken Quinoa Bowls
View Recipe
This pesto chicken quinoa bowl is packed with herbs from the basil pesto and the Italian spice mix and gets a slight kick of heat from the red pepper. If you enjoy the flavor profile, this dish can also be made with orzo in place of quinoa.
02of 21Cucumber-Chicken Green Goddess WrapView RecipeBrie PassanoThis quick and easy wrap rolls up and is ready for a casual, stationary lunch or a meal on the go, with protein from chicken to keep you going. The green goddess dressing is creamy with cheese and avocado and bright from lemon and herbs. Cucumber and carrots add color and crunch to this healthy, robust whole-wheat wrap.
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Cucumber-Chicken Green Goddess Wrap
Brie Passano

This quick and easy wrap rolls up and is ready for a casual, stationary lunch or a meal on the go, with protein from chicken to keep you going. The green goddess dressing is creamy with cheese and avocado and bright from lemon and herbs. Cucumber and carrots add color and crunch to this healthy, robust whole-wheat wrap.
03of 21Roasted Salmon Rice Bowl with Beets & BrusselsView RecipeRoasting vegetables and salmon together on one sheet pan while the rice cooks makes an easy, satisfying meal packed with protein, whole grains and veggies. To ensure that you’re getting 100 percent whole grains, look for a wild rice blend that consists of wild and brown rice.
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Roasted Salmon Rice Bowl with Beets & Brussels

Roasting vegetables and salmon together on one sheet pan while the rice cooks makes an easy, satisfying meal packed with protein, whole grains and veggies. To ensure that you’re getting 100 percent whole grains, look for a wild rice blend that consists of wild and brown rice.
04of 21Baked Falafel SandwichesView RecipeThis street-style falafel sandwich is herbaceous, tangy and rich. The falafel gets nice and crispy in the oven while the veggies inside keep it simple and fresh. Make the tahini sauce (see Associated Recipes) ahead of time for easy prep. Wrapping the sandwich in foil makes it a perfect bring-along lunch and helps hold it together for eating on the go.
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Baked Falafel Sandwiches

This street-style falafel sandwich is herbaceous, tangy and rich. The falafel gets nice and crispy in the oven while the veggies inside keep it simple and fresh. Make the tahini sauce (see Associated Recipes) ahead of time for easy prep. Wrapping the sandwich in foil makes it a perfect bring-along lunch and helps hold it together for eating on the go.
05of 21Green Veggie Bowl with Chicken & Lemon-Tahini DressingView RecipeFor this healthy 30-minute dinner, treat your veggies like pasta and cook until al dente, or just done. If you have a little extra time, double or triple the lemon-tahini dressing and use it to quickly dress a salad or as a sauce for steak or shrimp.
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Green Veggie Bowl with Chicken & Lemon-Tahini Dressing

For this healthy 30-minute dinner, treat your veggies like pasta and cook until al dente, or just done. If you have a little extra time, double or triple the lemon-tahini dressing and use it to quickly dress a salad or as a sauce for steak or shrimp.
06of 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.
07of 21Tomato-&-Avocado Cheese SandwichView RecipeParmesan cheese is such a bold flavor, you only need 1/4 cup to add a big punch to this vegetarian toaster-oven sandwich. Get a serving of fruit too, when you enjoy the sandwich with a fresh pear.
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Tomato-&-Avocado Cheese Sandwich

Parmesan cheese is such a bold flavor, you only need 1/4 cup to add a big punch to this vegetarian toaster-oven sandwich. Get a serving of fruit too, when you enjoy the sandwich with a fresh pear.
08of 21Orzo Salad with Chickpeas & Artichoke HeartsView RecipePhotography / Fred Hardy, Styling / Kady Wohlfarth / Kay ClarkeThis hearty orzo salad features feta, lemon and dill, three ingredients often found in Greek cuisine. Enjoy for lunch or dinner.
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Orzo Salad with Chickpeas & Artichoke Hearts
Photography / Fred Hardy, Styling / Kady Wohlfarth / Kay Clarke

This hearty orzo salad features feta, lemon and dill, three ingredients often found in Greek cuisine. Enjoy for lunch or dinner.
09of 21Salmon-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.
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Chicken-Quinoa Bowl with Strawberries & Pecans
Charlotte & Johnny Autry

11of 21Shrimp, Avocado & Feta WrapView RecipeThis easy wrap makes a great healthy lunch to pack for work. Buy cooked shrimp in the seafood department at most supermarkets and grocery stores, or check the freezer section for tailed and deveined shrimp that are easy to thaw and steam. Salty feta and chopped fresh vegetables keep this easy lunchtime wrap flavorful and satisfying.
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Shrimp, Avocado & Feta Wrap

This easy wrap makes a great healthy lunch to pack for work. Buy cooked shrimp in the seafood department at most supermarkets and grocery stores, or check the freezer section for tailed and deveined shrimp that are easy to thaw and steam. Salty feta and chopped fresh vegetables keep this easy lunchtime wrap flavorful and satisfying.
12of 21Chicken & Apple Kale WrapsView RecipeUsing kale leaves instead of bread to wrap your filling makes this healthy chicken lunch recipe low-calorie—and lower in carbs. If you can’t find lacinato (aka Tuscan) kale, try cabbage for your wrap.
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Chicken & Apple Kale Wraps

Using kale leaves instead of bread to wrap your filling makes this healthy chicken lunch recipe low-calorie—and lower in carbs. If you can’t find lacinato (aka Tuscan) kale, try cabbage for your wrap.
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Salmon Rice Bowl
Photographer: Brie Goldman, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco

14of 21Spinach & Feta Turkey Meatballs with Herbed QuinoaView RecipeWith a variety of flavors and textures—and a whopping 30 grams of protein—these meal-prep bowls will keep you fueled all afternoon. Look for tzatziki near the specialty cheeses and dips at your grocery store.
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Spinach & Feta Turkey Meatballs with Herbed Quinoa

With a variety of flavors and textures—and a whopping 30 grams of protein—these meal-prep bowls will keep you fueled all afternoon. Look for tzatziki near the specialty cheeses and dips at your grocery store.
15of 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.
16of 21Black Bean-Quinoa BowlView RecipePhotography: Carson Downing, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Gabe GrecoThis black bean and quinoa bowl has many of the usual hallmarks of a taco salad, minus the fried bowl. We’ve loaded it up with pico de gallo, fresh cilantro and avocado plus an easy hummus dressing to drizzle on top.
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Black Bean-Quinoa Bowl
Photography: Carson Downing, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Gabe Greco

This black bean and quinoa bowl has many of the usual hallmarks of a taco salad, minus the fried bowl. We’ve loaded it up with pico de gallo, fresh cilantro and avocado plus an easy hummus dressing to drizzle on top.
17of 21Avocado Chicken SaladView RecipeCaitlin BenselThis avocado chicken salad is herbaceous, bright and creamy. The blend of cilantro, dill and chives pairs nicely with fresh avocado. Enjoy this easy chicken salad over lettuce, on crackers or in a wrap.
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Avocado Chicken Salad
Caitlin Bensel

This avocado chicken salad is herbaceous, bright and creamy. The blend of cilantro, dill and chives pairs nicely with fresh avocado. Enjoy this easy chicken salad over lettuce, on crackers or in a wrap.
18of 21Citrus Lime Tofu SaladView RecipeThis veggie-packed salad has plenty of protein and fiber, so you’ll feel full and satisfied. Prep the ingredients ahead of time for an easy vegan lunch idea to pack for work.
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Citrus Lime Tofu Salad

This veggie-packed salad has plenty of protein and fiber, so you’ll feel full and satisfied. Prep the ingredients ahead of time for an easy vegan lunch idea to pack for work.
19of 21Edamame Hummus WrapView RecipeMade with protein-rich edamame instead of chickpeas, this easy hummus recipe is the perfect vegetarian filling for a grab-and-go wrap. Or double the recipe and use the hummus for a healthy snack with cut-up vegetables.
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Edamame Hummus Wrap

Made with protein-rich edamame instead of chickpeas, this easy hummus recipe is the perfect vegetarian filling for a grab-and-go wrap. Or double the recipe and use the hummus for a healthy snack with cut-up vegetables.
20of 21Stuffed Sweet Potato with Hummus DressingView RecipeAli RedmondHearty yet simple to prepare, this stuffed sweet potato with black beans, kale and hummus dressing is a fantastic 5-ingredient lunch for one!
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Stuffed Sweet Potato with Hummus Dressing
Ali Redmond

Hearty yet simple to prepare, this stuffed sweet potato with black beans, kale and hummus dressing is a fantastic 5-ingredient lunch for one!
21of 21Vegan Burrito Bowls with Cauliflower RiceView RecipeThese meal-prep vegan burrito bowls are healthier and more flavorful than takeout. Make them early in the week for grab-and-go meals when days are busy. We use frozen cauliflower rice, a low-carb substitute for white or brown rice, to cut down on prep time.
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Vegan Burrito Bowls with Cauliflower Rice

These meal-prep vegan burrito bowls are healthier and more flavorful than takeout. Make them early in the week for grab-and-go meals when days are busy. We use frozen cauliflower rice, a low-carb substitute for white or brown rice, to cut down on prep time.
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