5 Awesome Lunch Box Ideas for Adults (Perfect for Work!)

Name: 5 Awesome Lunch Box Ideas!
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 1 fresh mozzarella; 2 fresh tomatoes; 2 teaspoon pesto; 1 teaspoon pine nuts; 1/2 cup green and black olives; a handful of basil; 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil; 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar; a pinch of salt; a pinch of pepper; 1 slice of bread; red and green grapes; 1 small cucumber; 1/2 cup chickpeas; 1 cup cherry tomatoes; 1/2 cup brown rice; a handful of fresh parsley; 1/2 cup green and black olives; 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil; a pinch of salt; a pinch of pepper; 1 avocado; 1 lemon wedge; carrots and celery sticks; 3 tablespoons hummus; 5.3 oz Greek yogurt ((or coconut yogurt for vegan alternative)); 1 tablespoon maple syrup; 1/4 cup mixed nuts - almonds, walnuts, and cashew nuts; 1 cup mixed berries; 1 apple

Updated: December 30, 2021

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Looking for something quick to prep? These 5 easy lunch box ideas are ready in less than 30 minutes: start your week with these awesome and healthy work lunch recipes!

Top view of 2 lunch box ideas — If you love these containers as much as I do, you can get them **here**!

I know, I know!

You all love those very expensive sandwiches from the deli next door!

I do too! Guilty!

But guess what? Making an awesome packed lunch box is a great way to save money! And before you object, I know that packing lunch every day can be tough. But a bit of planning goes a long way.

And remember!

It’s not just about saving money. It’s also about eating healthy food rich in protein, fiber, and no processed fats!

And once you check out these quick and easy lunch ideas, I am sure you’ll be more motivated to try them out and stick to this new habit. When I eat a healthy lunch, I feel fuller and more energized throughout the day. Plus, I save a lot of money! Yeah!

These lunch box ideas for adults not only look delicious, but they are super easy to make ahead! They all take between 10 to 30 minutes and are cheap and easy to make, even if you are not a great cook in the kitchen.

And if you are, even better! You’ll pack these lunch boxes so quickly that you’ll have plenty of time to relax and count the money you saved from buying lunch!

Plus, kids will love them too!

So, what are some good lunch recipes?

These 5 Healthy Lunch Box Ideas!

And here we are! My quick and cheap lunch boxes, perfect on the go and all ready in less than 30 minutes!

1. Italian Lunch Box

PREP TIME: 10 minutes

With my Italian roots, I had to have an Italian Lunch Box! I love all Mediterranean food, and this healthy lunch box reminds me of the sunny Italian summers, with the smell of fresh basil and pesto!

Ingredients:

A fresh mozzarella
A couple of fresh tomatoes
Basil
Pesto
Pinenuts
Green and black olives
Dressing: extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper
A toasted slice of bread
Red and green grapes

2. Vegan Lunch Box

PREP TIME: 20 minutes

If you are looking for a healthy plant-based lunch, this delicious make-ahead vegan lunch box is perfect for you.

Ingredients:

Vegan salad: cucumber, chickpeas, cherry tomatoes, brown rice, fresh parsley, green and black olives, extra virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper
An avocado
A lemon wedge
Celery and carrot sticks
Hummus

3. Energy Boost Lunch Box

PREP TIME: 5 minutes

If you have a sweet tooth or prefer to snack instead of having a proper lunch, you need to try this energy-boost lunch box! You can prep this box in record time, either in the evening before you go to bed or in the morning before you leave the house.

Ingredients:

Greek yogurt or Coconut yogurt (for vegan alternative)
Maple syrup
Mixed nuts: almonds, walnuts, and cashew nuts
Fresh berries
A sliced red apple
A tablespoon of peanut or almond butter

4. Protein Lunch Box

PREP TIME: 25 minutes

With roasted chicken breast, boiled eggs, and peanut butter, this lunch box is rich in protein!

Ingredients:

Roasted chicken breast
Cherry tomatoes
2 boiled eggs
A sliced red apple
A tablespoon of peanut or almond butter

5. Greek Lunch Box

PREP TIME: 15 minutes

Another Mediterranean-inspired lunch box, filled with a delicious Greek salad, brown rice, and grapes!

Ingredients:

Greek salad: cucumber, chickpeas, cherry tomatoes, feta, fresh parsley, green and black olives, extra virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper
Brown rice
A lemon wedge
Red and green grapes

And if you love Mediterranean flavors, check out these other 2 great lunch ideas:

1. Mediterranean Lunch Box ~ 2. Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

Other ideas for your lunch box

What do you pack in a lunch box?

Food in your lunch box should be easy and simple to prepare. You also need to make sure you pick food that will store well. No one wants a soggy salad or a sad-looking sandwich!

In my experience, these are the best types of food that are the perfect foods to use:

Fruit: always go for fresh fruit! Pick fruit that can last a few days stored in the fridge, and go for seasonal as much as possible (to help you save money). Apples are a great choice. I also love fresh grapes and berries!
Vegetables: opt for vegetables that are quick and easy to prepare, such as cherry tomatoes, carrot sticks, celery, and cucumber.
Rice, noodles, couscous, quinoa, and pasta: I prefer to go for brown rice and wholemeal pasta to add more fiber to my diet!
Legumes: a great source of fiber and great to fill you up. Legumes are perfect for your lunch box – chickpeas, lentils, beans are all great!
Cheese and yogurt: cheese like fresh mozzarella or a chunk of parmesan are great for energy and easy to prepare. Yogurt is great if you love a sweet alternative for your lunch!
Dips and nut butter: dips like hummus are a great addition to a healthy lunch. Rich in protein, they are perfect eaten with carrot and celery sticks and take no time to prepare. Peanut butter and almond butter are also great with sliced apples!
Chicken And boiled eggs: easy to prepare and a great source of protein.
Bread and crackers: I know many people these days prefer a low-carb diet, but I love to include a fresh slice of bread or focaccia in my lunch box. Crackers, pita bread, and rice cakes are great too!
Dry nuts: almonds, walnuts, cashew nuts, etc., are a great source of healthy fats and protein and are perfect for grazing while you start to feel hungry.
Dark chocolate: I know I am talking about healthy lunch ideas! But who doesn’t need a boost of energy in the afternoon? You can add a couple of pieces of dark chocolate to your lunch box for that much-needed sweet treat!

8 Tips & Tricks for making healthy lunch box ideas for adults

If you want to become a packed lunch expert, check out these smart tips & tricks! They’ll help you to create delicious lunch box ideas for work in no time.

1. Keep them simple!

The key to great healthy lunches is to keep them simple! Use real food, and prepare as much as possible ahead of time. Pick food that doesn’t need to be cooked or requires little effort and is easily stored in the fridge for a few days.

2. Keep them healthy!

Pack more fruit and veggies in your lunch box. This will help you lower your calories, eat less saturated fat, and have a much more balanced diet!

3. Use leftovers

If you don’t want to set time aside to prepare your homemade lunches, one of the best tricks that will save you time and money is to make a double portion of your dinner and use it as lunch as well!

4. Make enough for a couple of meals

If you don’t want to cook too many different recipes, make enough food for a couple of lunch boxes. This will help you to save time!

5. Cook in a batch on Sunday

If you don’t like the idea of leftovers, try to make ahead a big batch of lunch boxes on Sunday. You can meal prep all your lunches for the week and either refrigerate or freeze them. Then, just grab your lunch box in the morning, and go to work!

6. Or think about your lunch box ideas while preparing dinner

If cooking in a batch isn’t for you, but you want to optimize time in the kitchen, prepare your lunch box the evening before while you are cooking dinner. You already have all your essentials out (like chopping board and knife), and you can save on washing up time!

7. Get the right lunch box!

My favorite containers for healthy lunch boxes are made of glass. I prefer them to plastic containers for several reasons:

You can see what’s in them easily.
You can use them in microwaves.
They won’t alter the taste of food, even if it’s left in there for a few days.
When warming up your food, glass containers won’t release any chemicals at the hot temperature as plastic containers can.

If you do pick plastic containers, make sure they are BPA-free.

If you like minimalistic design, a great alternative to glass containers are these metal bento boxes. I love their simple design! Perfect for adult lunchables.

8. Keep some essentials at your desk

You want to make sure that eating lunch at work is as comfortable as possible. Keep some silverware and seasoning in your desk drawer: a small bottle of olive oil, salt, and pepper will make your lunch more attractive!

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