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As the vibrant days of spring approach, dive into these colorful and flavorful lunch recipes. These meals are packed with a rainbow of veggies, complex carbs, whole grains and are lower in saturated fats, so they’re suitable if you follow adiabetes-friendly eating pattern. Plus, these recipes star seasonal produce like leafy greens, carrots and strawberries. Recipes like our Open-Face Goat Cheese Sandwich with Tomato & Avocado Salad and our Chipotle-Lime Cauliflower Taco Bowls are tasty and satisfying ways to celebrate the changing seasons.
01of 27Open-Face Goat Cheese Sandwich with Tomato & Avocado SaladThis simple lunch comes together in just 10 minutes, making it a great option for busy days.View Recipe
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Open-Face Goat Cheese Sandwich with Tomato & Avocado Salad
This simple lunch comes together in just 10 minutes, making it a great option for busy days.
View Recipe
02of 27Falafel Pita Sandwiches with TzatzikiThis delightful vegetarian sandwich boasts tons of flavor from the yogurt sauce and quick-pickled veggies, and it’s only 400 calories! You can make the pickled vegetables, falafel mixture and tzatziki sauce ahead of time for easy meal-prep lunches or dinner later in the week.View Recipe
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Falafel Pita Sandwiches with Tzatziki
This delightful vegetarian sandwich boasts tons of flavor from the yogurt sauce and quick-pickled veggies, and it’s only 400 calories! You can make the pickled vegetables, falafel mixture and tzatziki sauce ahead of time for easy meal-prep lunches or dinner later in the week.
03of 27Cauliflower Grilled Cheese SandwichesTurn a comfort food classic into a healthier low-carb version packed with veggies. We use cauliflower rice to make gluten-free toast that holds together this green chile grilled cheese sandwich for a delicious and healthy dinner.View Recipe
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Cauliflower Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Turn a comfort food classic into a healthier low-carb version packed with veggies. We use cauliflower rice to make gluten-free toast that holds together this green chile grilled cheese sandwich for a delicious and healthy dinner.
04of 27Stuffed Potatoes with Salsa & BeansTaco night meets baked potato night with this simple recipe for loaded baked potatoes with salsa, beans and avocado. This easy, healthy family dinner comes together with just 10 minutes of active time, so you can make it on even the busiest of weeknights. This recipe is just as delicious with sweet potatoes in place of russets.View Recipe
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Stuffed Potatoes with Salsa & Beans
Taco night meets baked potato night with this simple recipe for loaded baked potatoes with salsa, beans and avocado. This easy, healthy family dinner comes together with just 10 minutes of active time, so you can make it on even the busiest of weeknights. This recipe is just as delicious with sweet potatoes in place of russets.
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Chipotle-Lime Cauliflower Taco Bowls
06of 27Vegetarian Italian HoagiesTraditional Italian subs feature meat but this delightfully easy sandwich packs a punch with artichoke hearts, red onion and zesty pepperoncini instead. We love it for dinner as well as lunch. If you’re packing the hoagies to take along, keep the ingredients separate and assemble right before eating to avoid soggy bread. Serve with tomato and cucumber salad.View Recipe
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Vegetarian Italian Hoagies
Traditional Italian subs feature meat but this delightfully easy sandwich packs a punch with artichoke hearts, red onion and zesty pepperoncini instead. We love it for dinner as well as lunch. If you’re packing the hoagies to take along, keep the ingredients separate and assemble right before eating to avoid soggy bread. Serve with tomato and cucumber salad.
07of 27Farro Salad with Arugula, Artichokes & PistachiosPrecooked farro makes this dish come together in no time. And you can make it in the same bowl you serve it in, minimizing cleanup!View Recipe
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Farro Salad with Arugula, Artichokes & Pistachios
Precooked farro makes this dish come together in no time. And you can make it in the same bowl you serve it in, minimizing cleanup!
08of 27Shredded Chicken & Avocado Nacho SaladJennifer Causey; Styling: Lindsey LowerDinner doesn’t get any easier than this five-ingredient salad. And it’s bursting with Super Bowl Sunday potential.View Recipe
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Shredded Chicken & Avocado Nacho Salad
Jennifer Causey; Styling: Lindsey Lower
Dinner doesn’t get any easier than this five-ingredient salad. And it’s bursting with Super Bowl Sunday potential.
09of 27Spinach & Strawberry Meal-Prep SaladOne of our most popular salad recipes,Spinach-Strawberry Salad with Feta & Walnuts, gets a makeover in these simple yet totally satisfying meal-prep spinach salad bowls. They require minimal prep and can be customized to your taste. Swap in roasted salmon for the chicken thighs, and almonds or pecans for the walnuts, and use any fresh berry that looks good at your market.View Recipe
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Spinach & Strawberry Meal-Prep Salad
One of our most popular salad recipes,Spinach-Strawberry Salad with Feta & Walnuts, gets a makeover in these simple yet totally satisfying meal-prep spinach salad bowls. They require minimal prep and can be customized to your taste. Swap in roasted salmon for the chicken thighs, and almonds or pecans for the walnuts, and use any fresh berry that looks good at your market.
10of 27Vegan BLATs (BLTs with Avocado)Roasted shiitake mushrooms doused in soy sauce with a dash of smoked paprika become a natural, vegan alternative to bacon. Try them in this vegan version of a classic BLT with creamy avocado and eggless mayonnaise or on top of a salad as a substitute for bacon bits.View Recipe
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Vegan BLATs (BLTs with Avocado)
Roasted shiitake mushrooms doused in soy sauce with a dash of smoked paprika become a natural, vegan alternative to bacon. Try them in this vegan version of a classic BLT with creamy avocado and eggless mayonnaise or on top of a salad as a substitute for bacon bits.
11of 27Crunchy Veggie WrapsThese vegetarian wraps pack perfectly for school or office lunches.View Recipe
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Crunchy Veggie Wraps
These vegetarian wraps pack perfectly for school or office lunches.
12of 27Chipotle Ranch Egg Salad WrapsPut a Southwest spin on easy-to-pack egg salad sandwiches with this healthy wrap recipe.View Recipe
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Chipotle Ranch Egg Salad Wraps
Put a Southwest spin on easy-to-pack egg salad sandwiches with this healthy wrap recipe.
13of 27Tofu, Snow Pea & Carrot Wild Rice SaladSesame oil and nori (dried seaweed) give this healthy grain-salad recipe Asian flair. Serve as a vegetarian main dish or as a side for grilled shrimp or baked chicken.View Recipe
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Tofu, Snow Pea & Carrot Wild Rice Salad
Sesame oil and nori (dried seaweed) give this healthy grain-salad recipe Asian flair. Serve as a vegetarian main dish or as a side for grilled shrimp or baked chicken.
14of 27Chicken Caesar Pasta SaladThis scrumptious and healthy salad combines elements of Caesar salad, pasta salad and chicken salad for an easy weeknight dinner that comes together in less than 30 minutes (and most of the prep can be done ahead). Use your blender to whip together the tangy buttermilk-based dressing, which would also be great on a salmon or chickpea salad.View Recipe
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Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
This scrumptious and healthy salad combines elements of Caesar salad, pasta salad and chicken salad for an easy weeknight dinner that comes together in less than 30 minutes (and most of the prep can be done ahead). Use your blender to whip together the tangy buttermilk-based dressing, which would also be great on a salmon or chickpea salad.
15of 27Seitan BBQ SandwichesEnjoy classic BBQ flavor with filling vegan seitan, or wheat meat. The sliced seitan needs time in a hot pan to turn brown and crispy; let it sear before coating it with the tangy ketchup mixture for the best texture. A side of sweet potato chips makes the perfect pairing for a fast weeknight meal.View Recipe
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Seitan BBQ Sandwiches
Enjoy classic BBQ flavor with filling vegan seitan, or wheat meat. The sliced seitan needs time in a hot pan to turn brown and crispy; let it sear before coating it with the tangy ketchup mixture for the best texture. A side of sweet potato chips makes the perfect pairing for a fast weeknight meal.
16of 27Anti-Inflammatory Beet & Avocado WrapPhotographer: Fred Hardy, Food Styling: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Shell RoysterPacked with fiber and monounsaturated fats, avocados areone of the best foods to eat to fight inflammation. Combined with beets, which contain their own inflammation-fighting phytochemicals, you’ll get a lunch that packs a healthy punch. The tahini-lemon mixture adds brightness and a nutty flavor to the wrap. To julienne beets, cut them into thin rounds, then slice the rounds into matchsticks. Or to save time, simply grate the beets on the largest holes of a box grater.View Recipe
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Anti-Inflammatory Beet & Avocado Wrap
Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Styling: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
Packed with fiber and monounsaturated fats, avocados areone of the best foods to eat to fight inflammation. Combined with beets, which contain their own inflammation-fighting phytochemicals, you’ll get a lunch that packs a healthy punch. The tahini-lemon mixture adds brightness and a nutty flavor to the wrap. To julienne beets, cut them into thin rounds, then slice the rounds into matchsticks. Or to save time, simply grate the beets on the largest holes of a box grater.
17of 27Lemon Shrimp & Orzo SaladConsider making a double batch of this easy pasta salad–it’s delicious the next day. The orzo will absorb the dressing as it sits, so add a little more olive oil and lemon juice if you’d like.View Recipe
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Lemon Shrimp & Orzo Salad
Consider making a double batch of this easy pasta salad–it’s delicious the next day. The orzo will absorb the dressing as it sits, so add a little more olive oil and lemon juice if you’d like.
18of 27Red Cabbage-Apple Cauliflower GnocchiTender cabbage and a vibrant applesauce-mustard pan sauce are the perfect pairing for pillowy low-carb cauliflower gnocchi. Add diced chicken-apple sausage for extra protein.View Recipe
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Red Cabbage-Apple Cauliflower Gnocchi
Tender cabbage and a vibrant applesauce-mustard pan sauce are the perfect pairing for pillowy low-carb cauliflower gnocchi. Add diced chicken-apple sausage for extra protein.
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20of 27Quinoa Deli SaladThis healthy version of a deli salad combines hearty quinoa and chickpeas with small amounts of ham and mozzarella, so you get all of the flavor without overdoing it on the sodium. This healthy quinoa salad is great as dinner and doubles as a delicious lunch the next day.View Recipe
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Quinoa Deli Salad
This healthy version of a deli salad combines hearty quinoa and chickpeas with small amounts of ham and mozzarella, so you get all of the flavor without overdoing it on the sodium. This healthy quinoa salad is great as dinner and doubles as a delicious lunch the next day.
21of 27Roast Beef, Arugula, and Pickled Onion WrapQuick-pickle some onions the night before to put a delicious twist on your healthy lunch wrap.View Recipe
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Roast Beef, Arugula, and Pickled Onion Wrap
Quick-pickle some onions the night before to put a delicious twist on your healthy lunch wrap.
22of 27Salmon Pita SandwichThis quick lunch recipe is loaded with heart-healthy omega-3s thanks to the canned sockeye salmon. If you’re bringing this sandwich for lunch, keep the salmon salad separate and stuff the pita just before eating.View Recipe
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Salmon Pita Sandwich
This quick lunch recipe is loaded with heart-healthy omega-3s thanks to the canned sockeye salmon. If you’re bringing this sandwich for lunch, keep the salmon salad separate and stuff the pita just before eating.
23of 27Lentil Salad with Feta, Tomatoes, Cucumbers & OlivesJennifer CauseyThis Mediterranean lentil salad, with chopped veggies, feta cheese and a light dressing, is perfect to have on hand for a quick lunch.View Recipe
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Lentil Salad with Feta, Tomatoes, Cucumbers & Olives
Jennifer Causey
This Mediterranean lentil salad, with chopped veggies, feta cheese and a light dressing, is perfect to have on hand for a quick lunch.
24of 27Spicy Slaw Bowls with Shrimp & EdamameThe quick 10-minute Spicy Cabbage Slaw serves as the low-carb base in this veggie-packed lunch recipe. Topped with high-protein edamame and shrimp, this satisfying lunch will help you power through the afternoon.View Recipe
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Spicy Slaw Bowls with Shrimp & Edamame
The quick 10-minute Spicy Cabbage Slaw serves as the low-carb base in this veggie-packed lunch recipe. Topped with high-protein edamame and shrimp, this satisfying lunch will help you power through the afternoon.
25of 27Roasted Veggie PitasRoasting brings out the sweetness of the vegetables in this vegetarian sandwich recipe, which is topped off with smoked provolone cheese.View Recipe
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Roasted Veggie Pitas
Roasting brings out the sweetness of the vegetables in this vegetarian sandwich recipe, which is topped off with smoked provolone cheese.
26of 27Green Goddess Salad with ChickpeasIn this cucumber, tomato, Swiss cheese and chickpea salad recipe, a healthy green goddess dressing is made from avocado, buttermilk and herbs. The extra dressing is delicious served with grilled vegetables.View Recipe
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Green Goddess Salad with Chickpeas
In this cucumber, tomato, Swiss cheese and chickpea salad recipe, a healthy green goddess dressing is made from avocado, buttermilk and herbs. The extra dressing is delicious served with grilled vegetables.
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Tuna, White Bean & Dill Salad
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