Eating the same lunch every day can get boring and tedious. Even if you love your go-to meal, there are still ways to add variety and make it more interesting. If you’re looking for some inspiration to liven up your work lunches, here are 6 ways you can make them more interesting! Whether you’re a fan of sandwiches, salads, or soups, these tips will help you take your meal to the next level.
1. Try Different Recipes
One great way to make work lunches more interesting is to mix up your recipes. Experiment with different ingredients, flavors, and textures to create unique meals that are both delicious and nutritious. Try taking leftovers from dinner and repurposing them into a sandwich or wrap. Incorporate fresh vegetables in salads or sandwiches for a crunchy texture. For an extra burst of flavor, add herbs and spices to your meals.
2. Make a Meal Prep Routine
If you are really looking to make your lunch more interesting, a great way to do this is by creating a meal prep routine. Meal prepping can help you get creative with your meals and save time during the week. You’ll also be able to avoid unhealthy temptations when you have a plan in place for packing lunch.
Start by picking two or three days out of the week to dedicate meal prepping. Decide on easy, healthy recipes that you can make a big batch of and divide into individual portions for each day. You can also freeze some meals for later in the week or for times when you don’t feel like cooking.
3. Use Leftover Ingredients to Create New Dishes
There’s nothing better than using the leftover ingredients from previous meals to create something new and delicious. For example, if you cooked a stir-fry for dinner the night before, why not turn it into an egg roll wrap for lunch?
Or if you have some extra vegetables on hand, try chopping them up as a topping for your sandwich or wrap. You can also get creative with cooked grains; try incorporating them into salads, wraps, or even as a side-dish. This way, you’ll be able to create an entirely new and delicious meal without having to buy any special ingredients!
4. Pack a Snack Box
When packing a lunch, your choices are not limited to just sandwiches and salads. Packing a snack box full of delicious treats is an easy and enjoyable way to add some variety.
Start with a container full of healthy snacks like nuts, yogurt-covered pretzels, dried fruit, baby carrots, hummus, or applesauce cups. Also, you can just get something like a ZenPop snack box, or other subscription-based snack boxes with a variety of treats. You can also make your own trail mix using your favorite ingredients like almonds, sunflower seeds, and chocolate chips! Don’t forget to include something sweet too, like dark chocolate or natural cookies.
5. Spice Up Your Meals with Herbs and Spices
To make your work lunches more interesting, try adding herbs and spices to your food. Whether it’s a sprinkle of black pepper on top of salad greens or a dash of garam masala in your curry, herbs and spices can add an extra layer of flavor to meals that will bring life back into boring leftovers.
Just be careful not to over-season your food, or you may end up with a lunch that’s too spicy for you to enjoy. You can also experiment with adding different herbs and spices to your meals, so you never get bored of the same old flavors.
6. Make a Salad Bowl
Of course, salads are always a great way to get in some fresh vegetables and create a delicious and healthy work lunch. But don’t limit yourself to just lettuce! Get creative with your salad bowl by adding different types of greens, creamed cheeses, nuts, seeds, chopped fruits or veggies, and various dressings for added flavor.
If you’re looking for inspiration, you can even check out some of the many creative recipes online. You’ll be sure to find something that will make your lunchtime salads into a delicious, nutritious, and fun meal!
In the end, there are many ways to make your work lunches more interesting. From experimenting with different flavors, ingredients, and cooking methods to bringing a friend for lunchtime conversations, there is something for everyone! Don’t be afraid to get creative and step out of your comfort zone – you may be surprised at the delicious and nutritious meals you can create in no time. Thanks for reading!