Healthy packed lunch ideas

Recently, I’ve gone back to taking a packed lunch to work with me. I vowed to avoid dried up old sandwiches this time and have been on a mission to come up with lots of healthy packed lunch ideas. All I need to do now is remember to take said packed lunches (or as we Midlands’ folk call them – pack ups) to work with me… Doh!

I’d recommend starting with a decent lunch box! I love these Systema lunch cubes because they have sections for different bits. Alternatively, try a Tupperware with good strong clips on it, like these. Try and avoid old takeaway tubs as they aren’t usually BPA free and could be leaching plastics into your food. Not good!

Green Cous Cous

Ok, first up this idea is really simple, tasty and most importantly – healthy!  I make my couscous using half a vegetable cube in boiling water (instead of just water) and season well with black pepper and sea salt. Once it’s cooled and you’ve fluffed up the grains with a fork, simply add diced celery, cucumber, mint, parsley and coriander. Spring onion also goes well. Really, any green veggies you fancy – spinach, rocket. Customise it with what you have in!  This is a great healthy packed lunch idea. Before eating, dollop on some creme fraiche or mayonnaise.

Glorious Soups – SkinnyLicious range

What a find! These are delicious and so good for you! A little more expensive (around £2) than some of the other soups you’ll find in the fresh section but worth every penny. These soups are filling and come in some really interesting flavours.

Try the San Antonio Fiesta flavour – but be quick, it’s a limited edition! I loved the smoky heat to this soup which is essentially a veggie bean chilli. Plus, if you can portion yourself to half a tub (a correct portion) at only 99 calories you can afford a buttered bread roll on the side! Winner!

Rice cakes & hummus  

Ok possibly not the most creative or interesting lunch but a classic, you’ll agree! These Kallo Quinoa & Seeds rice cakes are great – and believe me, I’ve eaten a lot of cardboard bland rice cakes to get to these. The seeds add a nice texture and the cakes themselves are nice and chunky so you actually feel filled up. I buy those hummus snacking pots too to help with portion control. A salad on the side, a satsuma, and a handful of nuts; you’ve got a great packed lunch.

And the best of the rest healthy packed lunch ideas… including a round-up of some of my fellow blogger’s suggestions: 

• • Cheese & Lime Pickle Sarnies – Yes really!! This is a discovery I made around the end of the month when my bank account was looking a little empty. Such a simple thing but really tasty.
    
  • Green Goddess Salad Bowl with Tilda rice from The Veg Space.
  • Mini Baked Frittatas from Recipes From a Pantry.
  • Quinoa, Watercress, Walnut and Blue Cheese Salad with Roasted Asparagus from Tin & Thyme.
  • Tuna Sandwiches Three Ways from The Hedgecombers