6 Healthy Lunch Recipes That Won’t Ruin Your Diet!

Everyone says that breakfast is the most important meal of the day because it helps you stay focused and energized throughout the day. While I won’t argue with that sentiment, I will say that a healthy lunch will re-fuel you for the rest of the day without slowing you down for after work festivities.

[All animals take time each day for a healthy and nutritious lunch that won't blow their whole diet!]

Whether you choose to bring your lunch or eat out, you should be making healthy food choices that will help you lose the pounds, shed the fat, and feel greater than ever about how you look and feel. Now let’s talk about how you can get there…

PREP WORK

The most important aspect to a healthy lunch is preparedness. Making your lunch the night before will ensure that you make decisions based on what’s good for you, rather than a hungry screaming voice as you peruse the lunch specials.

Whether you choose something simple or a healthy gourmet lunch, preparing the ingredients before you make a mad dash out the front door will make your life much easier in the end.

SANDWICHES

An oldie but goody, sandwiches can be a healthy eater’s best friend. Sandwiches are a healthy way to get practically all of the food groups in one tasty lunch! But be creative with your options, using guacamole or pesto for flavor rather than mayo and mustard. And who says that a sandwich has to be all bread and meat?

Tasty Turkey Sammy
2 slices whole wheat or multi-grain bread
4 slices low-sodium turkey breast
2 tbsp basil pesto or guacamole
1 tomato, sliced
1 leaf of romaine lettuce

A healthy lunch means being creative. There’s no rule saying an all-veggie meal has to be gross. Grilled vegetables are a healthy and delicious sandwich filler!

Easy Veggie Sandwich
1 slices bread, the healthier the better
1 carrot, sliced lengthwise
1/4 onion, sliced
1 zucchini, sliced lengthwise
1/4 roasted red pepper
2 tbsp. olive oil

Directions: heat olive oil in skillet on medium-high heat. Add vegetables and cook until desired doneness. Toast bread until warm. Add pesto or guacamole to the bread if you desire, and enjoy!

SIDES

When you have a craving for something greasy, sometimes there’s just no ignoring it. When that happens, reach for one of the most nutrient rich vegetables in the produce aisle–sweet potatoes! Complete a healthy lunch by adding a small helping of sweet potato fries to go with your favorite sandwich.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Take one sweet potato, peel it and cut into your favorite style of fries. Season with salt and pepper (nutmeg goes great with these) as you like and bake in oven for 15 minutes or until soft.

They are ridiculously delicious, and unbelievably healthy! A half cup of sweet potato fries will cost you just 90 calories.

Next time you’re at a loss for the perfect side to your lunch, don’t hesitate to grab some fruit. A healthy berry salad will give you a taste of the right kinds of sugar and make you feel satisfied at the end of your lunch hour.

Basil Pesto Topper or Dip
3 bunches of basil
1/3 cup pine nuts
1/2 lemon, juiced
2 tbsp capers
3 cloves of garlic
1/3 cup olive oil

Directions: Add all ingredients except oil into food processor and blend until combined. When combined, stream in the olive oil until desired consistency is reached. Use as a sandwich topper or veggie dip!

SALAD

I know, I know. Every list ever created about foods for weight loss includes a long list of salads. Salad is full of vegetables that aid in digestion, have tons of nutrients, and satisfy your tummy. If however you’re one of those Negative Nancys that swears he or she “can’t” eat salad, consider this equally healthy alternative;

Tuscan Tuna Salad (eat for 4 days with this one recipe!)
2 cans of chunk light tuna, drained
1 can navy beans, drained and rinsed
10 cherry tomatoes
4 scallions, sliced
2 tbsp. olive oil
1 lemon, juiced
salt & pepper to taste

Directions: Combine all ingredients in a bowl until mixed and refrigerate. Serving size is 1 cup. Pack a cup with pita pockets, lettuce cups, or bread for a sandwich. Pair with whole wheat crackers to eat as a salad and enjoy!

Tuscan tuna salad is a healthy and easy lunch that requires no cooking and very little prep time…and doesn’t it look like you won’t hate yourself at 1:00pm?

SOUPS

No matter where you live and regardless of the weather outside, soup is an awesome healthy lunch all year round. Eating soup for weight loss has many benefits. The broth in soup makes you feel fuller without sacrificing nutrients that your body needs to get through the day. Cream soups, while tasty, will skyrocket your caloric intake for the day and wreak havoc on your weight loss efforts.

Choose soup instead of salad as a starter when you choose to dine out for lunch. It’s filling quality will ensure that you don’t pig out while you’re out.

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
1 butternut squash, chopped
1 onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves
2 cups broth
1 cup water

Directions: Heat oven on 450 and roast squash, onion, and garlic for 20 minutes or until tender. Transfer food and juices to food processor and blend until smooth. Add broth, water, and soup to a pot and cook until warmed through. Enjoy a cup for lunch with a salad or sandwich on the side. 1 cup of butternut squash soup is 155 calories and 5 grams of protein, making it a healthy lunch choice for weight loss.

Try this same recipe using 2 large sweet potatoes!

Get more information on eliminating poor food choices and unhealthy eating habits by reading our review of The Diet Solution Program. This product could help you learn to make healthy lunch recipes that won’t ruin your efforts to lose weight!