When you’re working from home and lunchtime rolls around, it can be easy to fall into a rut of the same old uninspired sandwiches and bland salads.

Lucky for you, we’ve got some lunch recipes that will help you whip up something equal parts healthy, easy, and delicious that will power you through that notorious mid-afternoon slump!

What follows are some of our very favourite easy lunch ideas. Or, if you haven’t had breakfast yet, here are some ideas to try out.

Healthy lunch 101: style up your salads

Ask anyone to name some healthy lunch ideas and salads are going to run away with the top spot pretty much every time. And with good reason, because what could be healthier than a big plate of greens? But because of their high marks for healthy, salads have a bad reputation for being boring and bland.

Lucky for you, we have a few pointers for styling up your salads:

Don’t force yourself to eat something just because it’s healthy. The diversity of nutritious yet delicious produce available means that you shouldn’t be stuck eating something you hate, even if it’s deemed to be a “superfood.” We’re looking at you, kale!
Eat a rainbow. Ask any dietician or doctor for nutritional advice, and they’ll likely encourage you to eat as many different colours of fruits and vegetables as you can in a day.

This not only ensures a wide variety of nutrients in your daily diet but also guarantees you won’t get stuck in that salad rut. And as an added bonus, you’ll have some colourful content to post on your Instagram at lunchtime!

Become a master dressing mixologist. What big salad dressing doesn’t want you to know is that pretty much all of the salad dressings you’ll find in the aisle of your local supermarket — yes, even the so-called “healthy” ones — are packed with sugar, preservatives and other processed ingredients.

The good news is that you can make a delicious, healthy vinaigrette with just three or four ingredients that you likely already have in your kitchen.

Just mix your favourite olive oil with freshly-squeezed lemon juice or balsamic vinegar. From there, just let your creativity and taste buds take over!

Try this lunch recipe: a big bowl of goodness

Whether you call them goddess bowls, buddha bowls, poke bowls or even burrito bowls, there’s no denying the fact that this humble kitchen serving vessel has experienced a major glow-up over the past few years.

We’ve covered just a few of the trendy names that fall under the umbrella of this culinary phenomenon, but before you get overwhelmed, the idea is very simple!

Start off with some sort of base, such as brown or white rice, noodles, or nutrient-packed superfoods, e.g. quinoa, bulgur or buckwheat.
Pick a protein like grilled chicken, salmon, or maybe some seasoned tofu or black beans as a vegetarian option.
Next, pile on a literal rainbow of veggie goodness: juicy tomatoes, shredded carrots, yellow peppers, purple cabbage and lots and lots of greens — avocado slices, spinach, broccoli, grilled asparagus or roasted Brussels sprouts, if you’re a fan.
Top it all off with a squirt of sriracha or teriyaki sauce or maybe a garlic-yoghurt sauce if you’re going for a more Mediterranean vibe.
Finish it all off with some sesame, pumpkin, or sunflower seeds for some healthy crunch and maybe a sprinkle of fresh herbs or sprouts.

It’s a lunch option that tastes as vibrant as it looks! Best of all, you can prep a whole batch of different ingredients at the beginning of the week so you can just assemble and enjoy when lunchtime rolls around.

Rethink your sandwich game

Sandwiches have long been a lunchtime staple due to their easy portability and the fact you don’t need any eating utensils — just a hand and a mouth.

The thing with sandwiches is that while delicious and versatile in many respects, the more traditional versions aren’t always that healthy. So, if you grew up with processed deli meat and cheese crammed between two mayonnaise-slathered slices of white bread, it may be time to rethink your sandwich game.

A healthy, whole-wheat wrap can be a great alternative to sliced bread. Wraps are also fantastically versatile and it’s easy and fun to come up with new ingredient pairings.

Vietnamese spring rolls are another easy lunch idea that comes with a fantastic opportunity to incorporate a pile of fresh veggies into your diet in a way that’s undeniably delicious. And if you’re trying to cut down on the carbs, lettuce wraps are all the rage as a carb-free vehicle for your favourite lunch recipes like tuna, chicken, or even seafood salad.

Out of lunch ideas? We’ve got you!

Got a packed workday? An empty fridge? Completely out of lunch ideas? There’s no need to go hungry if you let us be your workday hero! Fire up the Bolt Food app and you’ll find an array of healthy and delicious options from all your favourite local restaurants.

But the good news gets even better! Many local eateries offer special lunchtime promotions on the Bolt Food app, but you better hurry, because time and quantities are limited and they usually sell out fast!

Once you’ve made your selection, you can have a Bolt courier bring it to your door, or take a little break and go pick it up yourself. The choice is entirely up to you!

You deserve a nice lunch today! Download the Bolt Food app.