10 lunch ideas for adults (2024)

Transform your leftover garlic and parmesan breaded chicken with giardiniera into a delightful sandwich—an effortless option perfect for busy workdays, requiring only five minutes to prepare. Utilising leftovers ensures nothing goes to waste, making it an ideal choice for mindful eating.

We offer inventive options using the same original recipe for those who prefer alternatives to bread. Explore our tempting chicken rice bowl or indulge in a flavourful Caesar salad wrap. Enjoy the versatility of our signature dish in these satisfying alternatives.

2. Chicken satay salad

Try this effortless midweek meal, packed with protein and bursting with flavour. Simply marinate chicken breasts and generously drizzle them with a zesty peanut satay sauce for a satisfying dish.

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Ideal for those working from home, this recipe offers a quick and straightforward option requiring just 25 minutes to complete. Alternatively, if you're heading to the office, prepare it the night before for a delightful packed lunch that's sure to impress.

Serve a bright plate of goodness with our fuss-free chicken salad recipes.

3. Falafel burgers

Enjoy the goodness of a nutritious burger that not only satisfies your cravings but also keeps your calorie count in check. Perfect for anyone seeking a fulfilling yet low-calorie meal option, these vegan burgers are a breeze to prepare, taking under 20 minutes from start to finish.
This recipe yields up to 4 servings, making it ideal for meal prepping on Sunday evenings to ensure you're covered for most of the week. Customise your pittas with your favourite additions, such as pickled red cabbage, creamy hummus, or crisp cucumbers, to add variety and prevent flavour fatigue.

4. Veggie olive wraps with mustard vinaigrette

Experience the vibrant array of flavours with our straightforward and nutritious veggie wrap. Packed with olives and assorted vegetables, this sandwich offers an effortless vegan, low-calorie lunch solution perfect for enjoying at your desk. Watch as your colleagues gaze with envy as you savour every bite of this 5-a-day masterpiece.

Discover more wrap recipes for an easy portable lunch.

5.

10 lunch ideas for adults (4)

Embrace the flavours of spring with our lively salad bursting with seasonal produce. As late spring rolls around in the UK, consider incorporating podded broad beans or sweet peas for an extra burst of freshness. Prepare this hearty salad the night before heading to the office, ensuring it's ready to grab and go. Remember to withhold the dressing until serving time to maintain the crispness of the potatoes and prevent sogginess.

Check out our spring recipes for our favourite recipes to celebrate the season.

6.

Introducing our versatile meal-prep grain bowls featuring a single base complemented by two distinct and delectable toppings. Opt for the refreshing combination of avocado, olives, and rocket, or enjoy chickpeas, beetroot, and orange. With these diverse topping choices, monotony is a thing of the past, ensuring this dish becomes a beloved favourite that you'll be tempted to enjoy time and again due to its simplicity. Both options boast healthfulness and are entirely vegan.

For more nourishing lunch options, check out our healthy bowl recipes.

7.

Savour the bold flavours of a Mexican-inspired lunch bursting with zest. These quesadillas are quick to whip up and offer a healthy, low-calorie option packed with three servings of your daily recommended 5-a-day. Whether enjoyed hot or cold, they retain their deliciousness. For the perfect finishing touch, sprinkle some fresh coriander and bring a wedge of lime to work for an added burst of freshness when squeezed on top.

Discover more Mexican inspired dishes with our Mexican recipes.

8. Spicy rice noodle salad with smoked mackerel

Delight in the vibrant flavours of our rice noodle salad adorned with delicate smoked mackerel flakes. The spicy dressing adds a delightful kick, though you have the freedom to adjust the chilli to suit your preference. This gluten-free lunch option is quick and easy to prepare, requiring just twenty minutes, and promises a satisfying and flavourful meal.

Liven up noodles by trying them in one of our noodle salad recipes.

9. Rustic vegetable soup

This low-fat veggie soup is made with carrots, cabbage, cauliflower, lentils, celery, and tomato, providing you with three of your five-a-day. If you want to bulk up this riot of colour even more, why not try adding borlotti beans or chicken breast? For an injection of wholesome, healthy goodness, look no further. This recipe makes four servings but is freezable, so if you find yourself getting tired of the same lunch, just save it for another time when you want an easy fix.

Make one of our easy soup recipes for a wholesome, filling lunch.

10. Coconut curry noodle bowl

Make a big batch of these coconut curry noodles to eat later in the week. We used pak choi, green beans, carrots and udon noodles in our stir-fry, but you can personalise it to add any of your favourite veggies.

Get inspired with our best vegan lunch recipes.

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10 lunch ideas for adults (2024)

FAQs

10 lunch ideas for adults? ›

You can add variety to their lunch bag without adding time to your morning or evening routine. Try packing what I call a "snack meal." This is a meal comprised of three to five food groups, including grains, vegetables, fruit, dairy and protein.

What to serve adults for lunch? ›

Enjoy the versatility of our signature dish in these satisfying alternatives.
  • Chicken satay salad.
  • Falafel burgers.
  • Veggie olive wraps with mustard vinaigrette.
  • Crispy smashed new potatoes with asparagus, jammy eggs & pickled radish.
  • Bulgur & quinoa lunch bowls.
  • Spicy bean & avocado quesadillas.

What should adults have for lunch? ›

Healthy packed lunch recipes
  • Chicken with Spanish-style butter beans. A star rating of 4.3 out of 5. ...
  • Butter bean curry wraps. ...
  • Caesar pitta. ...
  • Giant couscous salad with charred veg & tangy pesto. ...
  • Roasted veg & couscous salad. ...
  • Vegan kale pesto pasta. ...
  • Lime prawn co*cktail pitta salad. ...
  • Lentil salad with tahini dressing.

What can I eat for lunch besides sandwiches? ›

Healthy lunch ideas for work that aren't sandwiches
  • Butternut squash, apple and wild rice soup. This soup is comfort in a bowl. ...
  • Oven roasted falafel. ...
  • Bistro chicken pasta salad. ...
  • Three grain salad with goat cheese. ...
  • Artichoke and spinach rotini salad with tuna. ...
  • Lunchbox granola bar.

What are common lunch foods? ›

Here are just a handful of common lunch food options.
  • Salads: A highly customizable lunch option, a salad can include practically whatever you want. ...
  • Sandwiches: Peanut butter and jelly (or PB&J) sandwiches and grilled cheese sandwiches are easy options.
Sep 2, 2021

What to serve 12 people for lunch? ›

19 Ideas For Easy Meals For Large Groups
  • Taco Bar.
  • Meatballs.
  • Butter Chicken.
  • Lasagna.
  • Chili.
  • Homemade Pizza.
  • Baked Pasta.
  • Skewers.
Apr 4, 2023

What can I serve my friend for lunch? ›

How to make easy and quick Lunch/Dinner for friends
  • Salad Board.
  • Chickpea Rice.
  • Pan roasted chicken legs.
  • Easy Chicken meatballs.
  • Tomato Chutney.
  • Berries Crumble.
Sep 19, 2021

What is the most ideal lunch? ›

What you eat for lunch is almost as important as what you eat for breakfast.
  1. Avocado and egg sandwich. ...
  2. Summer rolls with peanut sauce. ...
  3. Quinoa pear salad with spinach, cranberries and pecans. ...
  4. Protein Salad. ...
  5. Loaded Vegetable Sandwich. ...
  6. Lentil vegetable soup. ...
  7. Chicken burrito bowl with rice and beans.
Aug 30, 2023

What can I replace a sandwich with? ›

13 simple alternatives to sandwiches
  • Asian chicken omelette wraps. ...
  • Courgette and white bean quesadillas. ...
  • Cottage cheese, grated carrot and rocket pittas. ...
  • Cheese and ham muffins. ...
  • Ham and cheese pinwheels. ...
  • Red pepper houmous with crudités. ...
  • Chicken and salsa wrap. ...
  • Roasted vegetable and ham pasta salad.

What to pack for lunch when you don't like sandwiches? ›

Swap them out for one of these savoury lunch box ideas – not only are they super filling, but they're delicious, too.
  • 1Pie maker zucchini and haloumi fritters. ...
  • 2Easy tuna bento balls. ...
  • 3Healthy zucchini, pumpkin and feta slice. ...
  • 4Pie maker mini fetta, pea and mint frittatas. ...
  • 5Mini carbonara quiches.

What can I eat for lunch instead of fast food? ›

Consider stocking:
  • Whole-grain breads and cereals, pasta, and prepared pizza crust.
  • Milk, reduced-fat shredded cheese, eggs, canned tuna, canned beans, peanut butter, lean ground beef patties, chicken, and meatballs.
  • Fresh, frozen, or no-added-salt canned vegetables; fresh and dried fruit; and fruit canned in juice.
Oct 1, 2009

What kind of food is best for lunch? ›

Healthy People Usually Eat These 7 Things for Lunch
  1. Avocado and egg sandwich. ...
  2. Summer rolls with peanut sauce. ...
  3. Quinoa pear salad with spinach, cranberries and pecans. ...
  4. Protein Salad. ...
  5. Loaded Vegetable Sandwich. ...
  6. Lentil vegetable soup. ...
  7. Chicken burrito bowl with rice and beans.
Aug 30, 2023

What do you feed 20 people for lunch? ›

Feed-a-crowd recipes
  • Spiced salmon with traybaked sag aloo. ...
  • Chicken dopiaza. ...
  • Chicken Provençal. ...
  • Chicken gyros. ...
  • Sharing bavette with blue cheese, beef dripping wedges & ranch salad. ...
  • Sticky tamarind tomato & spinach whirl. ...
  • App onlyChard, feta & sesame pie with olive oil pastry.

What are the 5 food groups for lunch? ›

You can add variety to their lunch bag without adding time to your morning or evening routine. Try packing what I call a "snack meal." This is a meal comprised of three to five food groups, including grains, vegetables, fruit, dairy and protein.

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