Five healthy and easy lunch ideas that are work-from-home friendly

As the nation goes into lockdown, you can still have a healthy bite that’s easy to prepare for that all-important lunch break.

While routines, social lives and working methods adapt to our new lives indoors, so too must the way we eat lunch.

The midday break might offer a much-needed reprieve during the work day but when you’re at home it can become another thing to have to worry about.

It’s just another one of the perils of working from home (along with excess snacking, back pain and that familiar feeling of going stir crazy).

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So if you need some lunchtime inspiration, consider these five easy and healthy meal ideas. From a hearty rice bowl, easy san choy bau and a no-fuss frittata, these recipes offer tasty dividends for minimal effort.

1. A ‘chuck it all in’ rice bowl

Using microwave rice is completely allowed. Picture: Delicious

Super versatile, you can make your DIY rice bowl as simple or as complicated as you desire. Whether it’s a fail-safe mix of tinned tuna, salad leaves and chopped tomatoes or an at-home burrito bowl, there’s endless combinations to explore.

This version from MasterChef contestant, Hayden Quinn uses tofu, blanched broccolini and microwavable rice to save time.

2. Chicken and noodle san choy bau

You can really make this recipe your own. Image: Taste

A slight variation of a noodle salad, you can easily have the chicken noodle stir-fry for dinner before heating up the leftovers for lunch.

You could substitute the filling for whatever else is in your fridge. Barbecue chicken, minced meat, burrito mix or vegetable stir-fry also make great alternatives.

3. Easy peasy veggie meatballs

It couldn’t be easier to up your veggie intake. Picture: Taste.com.au

If you’re trying to eat more veggie-focused and plant-based meals, look no further than these chickpea-based ‘meatballs’. The freezer-friendly bundles of protein are perfectly suited to batch cooking and work just as well in a 'falafel-style' wrap, Bolognese or salad.

4. The classic sandwich

An amped up version of the lunch classic. Image: Delicious

We’re not talking about a rushed meal of Vegemite toast – although no judgment – but if you’ve got a bit of extra time, consider a more gourmet take on the desk-side classic.

To save time, pre-cut the salad and cook the protein the night before. This means all you need to do during your lunch hour is the assembly.

For some flavour inspiration, try these combinations:

– Mexican-style club sandwich

– Ham reuben sandwiches

– Roast pumpkin and spinach sandwiches

5. Salmon frittata muffins

Super tasty and oh-so-easy. Picture: Australia’s Best Recipes

If you’re still keeping up with your meal prep while in isolation, there’s no easier, or filling, recipe than a frittata. While this dish uses salmon, spinach, mushrooms and sweet potato, you can easily substitute them for whatever ingredients you have on hand.
Better yet, if you’ve got some leftover salad leaves or veg from your weekly shop, make a little side salad and you’ve got yourself a high-protein and vegetable-dense lunch.