Easy Summer Lunch Ideas

What does everyone like to do for lunch? Sometimes I find myself so busy that I have to order in, grab something prepared from the grocery store or even forget about the meal altogether. There’s a really simple fix to this, though and it’s called having a plan! Meal prepping doesn’t just have to be for dinner. It works great for lunches, and another great option is just keeping really versatile foods in the house to throw together as a quick meal during the day to make sure you get the nutrients you need to finish out strong! The healthy lunch ideas are endless.

Here are some quick and easy recipes you’ll be loving the rest of the summer:

Spring Rolls

I know what you’re thinking: that sounds difficult to make. But what if I told you they aren’t! You can use foods that you already have in your house to make this– with the addition of the spring roll wrappers. Fill them with fresh herbs, bell peppers, crunchy veggies, fresh basil and rice noodles and you are good to go! These are also easily meal prepped to have the next day.

Recipe/Photography: Love & Lemons

Chicken Hummus Bowl

Buddha bowls and grain bowls are very in right now. And I’m not complaining because not only are they delicious and healthy, but they are so quick and simple to put together. This recipe pulls together great ingredients you already have at home such as chicken breast, hummus, avocado and spinach. Make it any way you’d like, but this recipe looks superb!

Recipe/Photography: Cassie Best, c/o BBC Good Food

Turkey Pinwheels

This is one of the simpler recipes for sure. And it’s comprised of staple foods you have in your fridge already that can be thrown together for easy lunches. Follow this recipe or easily amend it to what you have in your home, such as leftover turkey, swiss cheese, lettuce and tomato and roll it up into a pita or tortilla!

Recipe/Photography: Ahead of Thyme

Tuna Salad

This is another really simple and quick healthy recipe made up of basic ingredients, primarily canned tuna. I think what’s great about this is that it is so versatile while being full of protein. Top a salad with it, add it to bread and eat as a sandwich, make tuna melts out of it, dip crackers in it– the options are endless! Sometimes the quickest meals to make are the best lunch ideas.

Recipe/Photography: Downshiftology

Chicken Gyros

Sometimes a hot lunch is all we really want. This one is pretty healthy, too! Sometimes a hot lunch is all we really want. This one is pretty healthy, too! Baked or grilled chicken breast topped with red onion, red peppers, cucumbers, feta cheese, some delicious tzatziki sauce sauce and load it up on a pita! Voila!

Recipe/Photography: Recipetineats

Falafel

I had no idea this was simple to make at home! It’s made up of a few simple ingredients like chickpeas, olive oil, shallot, garlic, spices and fresh herbs. Throw it all together, bake it in the oven and eat with rice, salad or put it on a pita with hummus or tzatziki sauce!

Recipe/Photography: Love and Lemons

Chicken Garden Salad

Salads are a great healthy lunch recipe to make. You can comprise them of your favorite toppings and add cauliflower rice if you want for some grains. This recipe is full of fresh vegetables, chicken breast and you can put ranch on it or your a dressing of your choice, even a homemade dressing, such as a honey mustard dressing. I like a little olive oil and lemon juice sometimes. A salad will save you so much time because you don’t have to cook anything, it’s all easy to throw together.

Recipe/Photography: Ahead of Thyme

Sweet Potato Hash

How delicious and fresh does this look?! Breakfast foods can be eaten at any time of the day, by the way. This is a recipe that can be comprised of whatever you’d like! The sweet potatoes, eggs and fresh veggies make for some great healthy eating, though.

Recipe/Photography: Downshiftology

Lentil Soup

I know it’s summer, so it’s hot out. But when you’re sitting in air conditioning all day, sometimes soup is all we want. Lentils are super filling and this is a great recipe to make at the beginning of the week and enjoy the rest of the days.

Recipe/Photography: Recipetineats

Spirulina Sea Salad

When I saw this recipe, I was like tell me more! I think it sounds so unique and delicious! It’s full of the freshest vegetables, like watermelon radishes, cucumber, greens and the avocado and kelp noodles are a yummy touch. Spirulina is a great source of vitamin b, is anti-inflammatory and a great anti-oxidant.

Recipe/Photography: Feasting at Home

Salmon Pasta with Lemon and Capers

This is a super simple, yet really flavorful recipe! I love salmon and pasta cooks really fast, so if you meal prep the salmon, you are totally set for a quick and healthy meal.