4 Healthy Lunch Ideas Ready in 5 minutes

Last week, we focused on breakfast, and why it is essential to keep things well-balanced for your first meal of the day. This week, we will be taking a look at some healthy lunch ideas that incorporate wholesome, plant based ingredients. Lunch is important because, if breakfast is our way to set up success for the day, lunch is our means of keeping the body and the brain working efficiently for the afternoon. With today’s fast-paced lifestyle, it can be difficult to carve out time to make a hearty lunch filled with nutrients. So we have compiled a short list of recipes that you can use for an easy, healthy lunch for work. Simplistic, yet still enticing, these recipes can be thrown together in no time.

We are focusing on a few plant based lunch ideas in keeping with our mission of having high-quality ingredients with no additives. You might be asking why plant based diets are good, and to be honest, it would take a much longer blog post to cover the myriad benefits. Not everyone can be 100% plant based, but suffice it to say, plants are filled with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytochemicals that keep your cells happy, and your body balanced. So no matter what lifestyle you follow with food, it’s important to incorporate a variety of plants in your meals every day. And an easy way to make plant based lunches? Order some of our gluten free bread online! Our bread is a flavorful addition to any sandwich, and the protein, fiber, and low carb count will keep your gut happy for the rest of your work day.

Avocado Toast Rolls

Avocado toast is always a great way to start the day, but you can always get creative and use it as your midday pick-me-up. Avocados contain high levels of healthy fats, and are a great source of vitamins C, E, K, and B6. The fiber content keeps you fuller for longer, so this easy-to-make sandwich will easily get you to dinner with no temptation to snack!

Ingredients:

• Plantiful Kitchen Dinner/Breakfast/Slider Rolls

• ½ ripe avocado

• Radishes, thinly sliced

• Microgreens

• Salt and pepper

• Topping: chives, cilantro, and lime wedge

Directions:

1. Toast rolls to desired level of crispiness.

2. On each half of the roll, add smashed avocado, red onion, microgreens, salt and pepper, chives, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime juice. Enjoy!

PB, Banana, and Chocolate Sandwich

This sandwich is delectable, and yet still healthy believe it or not. Our cinnamon spice bread with walnuts is warm and luscious, and teaming with vital nutrients. Follow that up with some velvety peanut butter (try to find a brand with no additives), bananas and chocolate, and you have yourself a temptation that is too amazing to resist. You might scoff at the addition of chocolate, but did you know dark chocolate is packed with essential minerals. Most of us are aware that dark chocolate is better than its alternatives, but if you find some with a high cocoa content, you get antioxidants and minerals that help prevent heart disease. Decadence and health! Quite the treat.

Ingredients:

• Plantiful Kitchen Cinnamon Bread Slices

• 2 tbsp peanut butter (or other nut butter)

• ½ banana, sliced

• 1 tbsp dark chocolate chips

• Hemp seeds

Directions:

1. Toast two slices of the cinnamon spice bread to your desired crispiness.

2. On each slice, layer the peanut butter, bananas, chocolate chips, and finish with some hemp seeds. Bon appetite!

Smoked Salmon on Plain Bagel

Now, you might be confused with this recipe as it is not plant based. However, when consumed in moderation, smoked salmon is quite beneficial. It’s high in protein, omega-3 fats, and various vitamins and minerals. Which is why this particular sandwich made the cut! However, if you want to keep things vegan, there are many alternatives for this recipe. For example, you can try salted carrot with some liquid smoke. Or try chopping papaya and putting it in a smoky marinade. Feel free to get imaginative with this recipe.

Ingredients:

• Plantiful Kitchen Plain Bagels

• 1 tbsp Monty’s plant based cream cheese

• 4 oz. smoked salmon

• ¼ red onion, diced

• ¼ cup fresh arugula

• Mustard (optional)

Directions:

1. Toast bagel to desired crispiness.

2. On each half, spread cream cheese. Layer the bottom half with smoked salmon, and top with radishes and arugula. Add mustard to top half if desired, and make your sandwich.

Tomato and Basil Bagel Sandwich

Our last recipe mimics a caprese salad with the sharp, tangy flavors of tomato and basil. Rather than using mozzarella, the creaminess in this sandwich comes from plant based cream cheese. Quick, refreshing, and an easy lunch without cooking, this recipe will become a new staple for those of us who need something nutritious in a hurry.

Ingredients:

• Plantiful Kitchen Everything Bagels

• ½ tomato, diced

• 2 tbsp Monty’s cream cheese

• Handful of arugula

• 1 tsp EVOO

• Freshly ground pepper

• Fresh Basil Leaves

Directions:

1. Toast bagel to desired crispiness, or leave untoasted for soft, chewy goodness.

2. On each half, layer the cream cheese. To the bottom half, add the tomato, spinach, and basil leaves, then top with pepper and a drizzle of olive