Lunch

40 healthy lunch ideas you’ll actually be excited to eat

Say goodbye to boring sandwiches and freshen up your midday meals.
Healthy lunch ideas

Many of us have a handle on healthy meals but can become a little uninspired when it comes to that all important midday meal. You have your favourite salads and dinners to turn to but come up stumps when trying to think of what to make for lunch. The complication comes as we often need to bring them along to work as well. Stop buying $20 salads from the cafe near work.

So if you’re sick of the same boring sandwiches or uninspired salads for lunch, know that we are too. We scoured our archives and pulled together a selection of our lunch ideas that not only taste great, they’re guaranteed to jazz up any lunchbox and make your midday break something to look forward to.

Try our filling, nutritious soups during the cooler months, or brighten up your day with one of our deliciously fresh salads.

Healthy lunch ideas

01

Miso chicken with broccolini and asparagus

Miso chicken with broccolini and asparagus

This tasty chicken and rice salad is good for your gut (and your taste buds).

felafel burgers

02

Falafel burgers

Falafel burgers

Made with a chickpea falafel patty and a tahini yoghurt between turkish bread, these vegetarian falafel burgers are a healthy and hearty choice.

CHICKEN KOFTAS WITH FIG & SEED PILAF

03

Chicken koftas with fig & seed pilaf

Chicken koftas with fig and seed pilaf

These spiced chicken koftas are served with a fresh and fragrant fig and seed pilaf for a lovely Middle-Eastern style meal for the family to enjoy.

LAMB & LENTIL SALAD

04

Lamb and lentil salad

Lamb and lentil salad

Say goodbye to boring salads with this hearty lamb and lentil favourite.

grilled chicken with barley pilaf

05

Grilled chicken with barley pilaf

Grilled chicken with barley pilaf

This low-GI grilled chicken with barley pilaf will satisfy everyone from the health conscious, to the just plain hungry.

larb tofu

06

Larb tofu with meal prep variations

Larb tofu with meal prep variations

Larb tofu, traditionally made with ground chicken, is a spicy Thai appetizer.

Chicken, asparagus and kale caesar

07

Chicken, asparagus and kale caesar

Chicken, asparagus and kale Caesar

This tasty caesar salad recipe has been given an extra health boost with chicken, kale, asparagus and green goddess dressing for your workday lunch.

quiche primavera

08

Quiche primavera

Quiche primavera

This fresh quiche is made with a whole heap of seasonal vegetables including beans, asparagus, peas and zucchini and finished with a hint of mint.

09

Corn and buttermilk fritters

Corn and buttermilk fritters

These tangy corn fritters are delicious served crisp and warm from the frying pan with roasted tomatoes.

Quinoa, zucchini and fetta salad

10

Quinoa salad with zucchini and fetta

Quinoa salad with zucchini and fetta

This healthy quinoa salad is great for weekday lunches. You’ll love the added crunch thanks to roasted hazelnuts.

Tuna and soba noodle salad

11

Tuna and soba noodle salad

Tuna and soba noodle salad

Light and fresh, this seared tuna and soba noodle salad is packed full of flavour from the zesty coriander dressing.

12

Dukkah lamb cutlets with smashed beetroot

Dukkah lamb cutlets with smashed beetroot

With only 5 ingredients and a few staples these lovely lamb cutlets make a tasty meal.

Asparagus and fetta frittata

13

Asparagus and fetta frittata

Asparagus and fetta frittata

Breakfast, lunch or dinner – a fresh frittata is sure to deliver.

pasta primavera with poached salmon

14

Pasta primavera with poached salmon

Pasta primavera with poached salmon

Bust this spring pasta out for the ideal light meal that really satisfies.

Vegetarian quiche

15

Leek and pumpkin quiche

Leek and pumpkin quiche

With a crumbly pastry case and silky filling this leek and pumkin quiche is great for meal prep. Make on Sunday and eat for lunch all week.

Miso and sesame salmon with soba noodles

16

Miso and sesame salmon with soba noodles

Miso and sesame salmon with soba noodles

Marinated and roasted salmon and green onions with snow peas on a bed of delicately dressed soba noodles for a delicious midweek meal.

17

Greek salad lamb pitta pockets

Greek salad lamb pitta pockets

Ideal for picnic or lunchboxes.

18

Zucchini and haloumi slice

Zucchini and haloumi slice

It’s the classic slice you know and love with a tasty vegetarian twist.

Roast pumpkin, spinach and feta salad

19

Roast pumpkin, spinach and fetta salad

Roast pumpkin, spinach and fetta salad

You’ll love this simple, yet perfectly balanced flavour combination.

corn, zucchini and chickpea fritters

20

Corn, zucchini and chickpea fritters

Corn, zucchini and chickpea fritters

Crunchy fritters make a perfect snack or light meal when served with a salad.

21

Minestrone soup

Minestrone soup

This hearty Italian soup is the ultimate in comfort food. Packed full of beans, celery, carrots, stock, pasta and tomatoes it’s guaranteed to satisfy.

Pumpkin, ricotta and rocket quesadillas

22

Pumpkin, ricotta and rocket quesadillas

Pumpkin, ricotta and rocket quesadillas

These delicious vegetarian quesadillas are great for lunch or an afternoon snack. The kids (big and small) will enjoy them. And they’re suitable for diabetics, too.

Pasta with spinach, mushrooms & almonds

23

Pasta with spinach, mushrooms and almonds

Pasta with spinach, mushrooms and almonds

This delectable vegetarian pasta is packed with mushrooms, pecorino and crunchy almonds. Delish! It’s also good for diabetics.

PEA AND HAM BROWN RICE SALAD

24

Pea and ham brown rice salad

Pea and ham brown rice salad

teriyaki chicken rice salad

25

Teriyaki chicken rice salad

Teriyaki chicken rice salad

Healthy, fragrant and authentic Japanese teriyaki chicken rice salad.

The green turkey burger

26

The green turkey burger

The green turkey burger

Take this delicious lettuce wrapped burger to the next step and veg it up! Replace turkey patties with pan-fried haloumi or fried flat mushrooms.

spinach and cheese quesadillas

27

Spinach and cheese quesadillas

Spinach and cheese quesadillas

Tamarind beef stir fry recipe

28

Tamarind beef stir fry recipe with kohlrabi salad

Tamarind beef stir fry recipe with kohlrabi salad

This tamarind beef stir fry recipe is full of aromatic ingredients in Vietnamese mint, coriander and chilli served with a refreshing kohlrabi salad.

29

Tex-Mex pork

Tex-Mex pork

This fragrant salad of Cajun-spiced pork and fresh vegetables makes a delightful low-carb lunch.

cauliflower fried rice

30

Cauliflower ‘fried rice’ with mushrooms and ham

Cauliflower ‘fried rice’ with mushrooms and ham

This healthy and tasty cauliflower fried rice recipe is low in carbs and calories, perfect for the 5:2 fasting diet.

Brown rice and roast pumpkin salad

31

Brown rice and roast pumpkin salad

Brown rice and roast pumpkin salad: This bright and crunchy salad combines the sweetness of roast pumpkin with plenty of nuts and fresh leafy greens.

Tomato and white bean puree salad

32

Tomato and white bean puree salad

Tomato and white bean puree salad: Bright, colourful, tasty tomatoes with a lush white bean puree. This is one light lunch that won’t result in the 3pm munchies.

Spiced vegetable, chickpea and ricotta salad

33

Spiced vegetable, chickpea and ricotta salad

Spiced vegetable, chickpea and ricotta salad: Eating lunch at your work desk isn’t such a depressing thought when you have these golden caramelised vegetables, tossed with baked ricotta and warm chickpeas beckoning.

34

Chai roasted pumpkin soup with honey walnuts

Chai roasted pumpkin soup with honey walnuts: Creamy soup with an added walnut crunch, what could be better?

Korean beef lettuce cups with pickled vegetables

35

Korean beef lettuce cups with pickled vegetables

Korean beef lettuce cups with pickled vegetables: Spicy, fresh and delicious! These beef slices make a great low-carb dish.

Australian Women's Weekly soup recipes

36

Barley and vegetable soup with crunchy seeds

Barley and vegetable soup with crunchy seeds: Keep warm this winter with this beautiful, filling soup with a nutritious seed topping.

Beetroot & lamb flatbreads with tahini yoghurt

37

Beetroot and lamb flatbreads with tahini yoghurt

Beetroot and lamb flatbreads with tahini yoghurt: Spice up your life (and your lunch) with this Turkish-style pizza, with chunks of beetroot, cherry tomatoes, and tahini yoghurt spooned on top.

Kale and walnut tarts

38

Kale and walnut tarts

Kale and walnut tarts: These vegetarian tarts are a healthy green substitute to pastry.

Pea, tarragon, prawn and almond cakes

39

Pea, tarragon, prawn and almond cakes

Pea, tarragon, prawn and almond cakes: Packed full of green goodness, these vege-quarian patties can be made a day ahead so one for the meal prep-ers among us.

40

Pumpkin and feta free-form tart

Pumpkin and feta free-form tart: Sure it looks a little rough around the edges but the beauty of this tart lies within, with crumbly feta and creamy pumpkin working together to ensure your lunchtime is one to remember.

41

Roast corn and quinoa chowder

Roast corn and quinoa chowder: Quinoa is one of only a handful of vegetarian ingredients which contains all nine essential amino acids, making it a perfect meat substitute. Veg it up by leaving the chicken out of the guacamole.

42

Pumpkin and corn quesadilla with fresh tomato salsa

Pumpkin and corn quesadilla with fresh tomato salsa

Fresh, wholesome dinners are always the most satisfying! Just like this pumpkin and corn quesadilla dish with fresh tomato salsa – healthy, nourishing and so delicious! Suitable for the 2-Day Fast Diet.

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