Healthy Summer Lunch Ideas for Work

When the summer months roll around we are always inspired to get healthier, detox our system and shed those extra pounds that we picked up indulging in the comforts of winter meals.

Summer brings with it more variety in fresh products, and the warmer weather makes salads and cold meals more enticing. Sometimes the idea of getting yourself organized and preparing healthy work lunches that keep you away from the canteen options can be a little daunting.

Healthy Summer Lunch Ideas

Here are some easy, healthy and balanced ideas to get you motivated. Start with your salad base and add daily variety with the protein, carb and fat options.

The Basic Green Salad

With the variety of fresh greens that become available during the warmer months, there is no reason why your basic green salad has to be boring. By making a colorful, tasty base salad, you will be able to get in all your essential nutrients every day and still have a variety to your lunches.

Use a different kind of leaf every day. Baby spinach, rocket, cilantro, fresh basil leaves and kale all make more interesting alternatives to standard iceberg lettuce.

Add color with bell peppers, fresh peas, corn kernels, baby tomatoes, sugar snap peas, radishes, red spring onions, cucumber, and celery. It all depends on your personal tastes.

Make Sure You Add Protein

Protein is very important in every healthy meal. Protein helps keep us satiated for longer, helps build lean muscle and animal proteins contain all the essential amino acids that are necessary for keeping our immune systems healthy.

There are many choices available for healthy protein additions to your salad base. Tuna, hard-boiled eggs, low-fat feta cheese, grilled chicken breasts, salmon, black beans, chickpeas, lentils, fat-free cottage cheese, and grass-fed beef.

Add a Little Whole Grains

Whole grains are also important for maintaining a healthy diet, and sticking to healthy carbs will not derail your diet or slimming efforts. In fact, many studies have proven that including whole grains in your diet will help with weight loss because their high fiber content keeps us fuller for longer making it easier to pass by the vending machine without stopping.

Some ideas for healthy whole grain carbs to add to your salad base are: wholewheat couscous, barley, brown rice, buckwheat, quinoa, and whole grain or 100% rye bread.

Hold The Dressing, But add a Little Healthy Fat

Pre-packed and processed salad dressings and mayonnaise are what always derail your hard efforts to eat healthy salads so stay well away from them.

Rather add a little healthy fat to your salad. Healthy unsaturated fats are proven to help aid weight loss and are packed with heart-healthy good-for-you minerals. Make your own salad dressing using extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, fresh herbs and a little chili if you like a bite.

Other ideas for healthy fat additions are avocados, raw seed mixes, raw nuts (such as cashew or almonds), olives, raw peanuts, and tahini.