40+ healthy and cheap lunch ideas for work (2023)

bowl of veggie grains in a glass takeaway container

40+ healthy and cheap lunch ideas for work (1)

A healthy lunch doesn't have to be expensive. Cooking your lunch at home can help you stay on a budget. With over 50 easy and healthy lunch ideas for work, there's something for everyone. From meal prep recipes like Chopped Veggie Grit Bowls with Turmeric Dressing to Southwestern Black Bean Pasta Salad Bowls, these lunch recipes are both approachable and delicious.

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Chicken Caesar Salad Cups

Chicken Caesar Salad Cups

40+ healthy and cheap lunch ideas for work (2)

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Upgrade your work lunch with these delicious Caesar Salad Cups. This Caesar salad recipe gets a healthy makeover thanks to homemade Greek yogurt dressing.

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Southwest Black Bean Macaroni Salad Bowls

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40+ healthy and cheap lunch ideas for work (3)

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Cook delicious, filling, fiber-rich lunches for a week with just 5 simple ingredients and 20 minutes. In this Southwest Macaroni Salad, we use black bean pasta to boost the fiber to an impressive 14 grams per serving. Paired with seasoned chicken strips and a tasty corn salad—shortcut ingredients you'd often find at your local grocery store—this meal prep lunch is one you'll look forward to.

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Cereal bowls with chopped vegetables with saffron sauce

bowl of veggie grains in a glass takeaway container

40+ healthy and cheap lunch ideas for work (4)

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In about 10 minutes, you can make a week's worth of lunch with 4 simple ingredients from your local supermarket. To minimize prep, we use a blend of pre-cut fresh vegetables and frozen quinoa (which microwaves in less than 5 minutes). These crunchy chopped salad bowls are high in fiber but low in calories, making them perfect for anyone following a low-calorie diet.

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Chickpea salad "Chicken".

Chickpea salad "Chicken".

40+ healthy and cheap lunch ideas for work (5)

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This chickpea salad is a vegetarian version of a classic chicken salad and can also be eaten. Let's be clear: it doesn't taste like chicken, but it's a delicious (and fiber-rich) vegetarian alternative! Plus, it's easy to carry, perfect for picnics, and is sure to brighten up your dreary table lunch.

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Chicken Curry Bowls for Preparing Meals

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40+ healthy and cheap lunch ideas for work (6)

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Curries don't need to be prepared for hours. Using our Skillet Meal Prep Chicken (see attached recipe) and some cooked whole grains, you can whip up these Skillet Meal Prep Bowls in just a few minutes! Store them in the fridge for an easy dinner on a busy weeknight or a healthy weeknight lunch.

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Chicken Salad with Avocado

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40+ healthy and cheap lunch ideas for work (7)

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Avocado makes an exceptionally creamy and healthy dressing for this chicken salad. A little pickled jalapeno hot sauce enhances this lunchtime classic. Serve on a slice of whole-wheat toast for an open-faced sandwich or in a salad bowl for a low-carb lunch.

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mediterranean wrap

mediterranean wrap

40+ healthy and cheap lunch ideas for work (8)

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This wrap is stuffed with chicken breast fillet and couscous with a slice of lemon and a healthy dose of fresh herbs. Save leftovers to pack for an easy lunch. Serve with: Mixed green leaf salad and a glass of toasted white wine.

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Tuna, white bean and dill salad

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40+ healthy and cheap lunch ideas for work (9)

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Take canned tuna to new heights by adding cannellini beans, red onion and dill, tossing it with a lemon pepper Dijon dressing and serving it over a canned beet spinach salad.

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Cup of spicy ramen with noodles

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40+ healthy and cheap lunch ideas for work (10)

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Make your own cup of instant soup at home with this vegetarian ramen recipe. Pack several jars at once to take to work as an easy weekday lunch.

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Chickpea Quinoa Mediterranean Bowl

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40+ healthy and cheap lunch ideas for work (11)

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Quinoa and chickpeas fill this vegetarian cereal bowl with plenty of plant-based protein. Whip up a batch of these Mediterranean dishes and store them in lidded containers to keep in the fridge all week for an easy, healthy, on-the-go lunch.

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Frozen Bean and Cheese Burritos

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40+ healthy and cheap lunch ideas for work (12)

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This copycat version of store-bought frozen burritos is perfect for meal prep. Make a big batch to keep in the freezer for a healthy, boxed lunch or quick camping meal.

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Chipotle Quinoa Chicken Burrito Bowl

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40+ healthy and cheap lunch ideas for work (13)

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This tasty burrito bowl features grilled chicken topped with a tasty chipotle glaze. Loading it with veggies and using quinoa in place of rice adds nutrients for a healthier dinner.

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Chopped Cobb Salad

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40+ healthy and cheap lunch ideas for work (14)

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This single-serving Cobb Salad recipe swaps out the chicken for bacon, making it a great lunch protein source. If you prefer a different salad dressing, feel free to substitute our Honey Mustard Vinaigrette.

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Edamame and vegetarian travel stopover

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40+ healthy and cheap lunch ideas for work (15)

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The ingredients in this vegan grain bowl recipe can be prepared ahead of time to make an easy lunch for work. The tangy citrus sauce tastes refreshing with the sweet caramel of roasted leafy greens.

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Cucumber Salad Box Lunch, Hummus and Pita Bento

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40+ healthy and cheap lunch ideas for work (16)

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Enjoy this refreshing bento box idea on your lunch break, which combines cucumber salad, hummus, pita bread and more for a satisfying work lunch.

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Avocado and Black Bean Pie

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40+ healthy and cheap lunch ideas for work (17)

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A Mexican-style pie is like a burrito, except the "shell" is a hollow roll instead of a tortilla. Here it's loaded with spiced black bean puree and a quick guacamole. Take this vegetarian version to the next level (and add some calcium) by melting Monterey Jack cheese on the side of the bean sandwich. Serve with: Grilled corn on the cob or Spanish rice.

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Green Goddess Salad with Chickpeas

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40+ healthy and cheap lunch ideas for work (18)

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A healthy green goddess dressing is made with avocado, buttermilk and herbs in this Cucumber, Tomato, Swiss Cheese and Chickpea Salad recipe. The added sauce is delicious with grilled vegetables.

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Pizza-Salat-Wraps

Salad wraps on a plate

40+ healthy and cheap lunch ideas for work (19)

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Stay light and fresh when you're in the mood for pizza - these easy salad wraps have all the flavor with less carbs and calories.

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Tuna salad sandwich with sweet sauce

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40+ healthy and cheap lunch ideas for work (20)

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This sweet twist on a classic tuna salad sandwich makes a healthy, high-protein lunch that even your kids will love.

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Getreide Sushi Vegetarian Platter

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40+ healthy and cheap lunch ideas for work (21)

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Skip the hassle of making sushi rolls at home and choose this grain bowl. Start with a brown rice base and add veggies, dressing and creamy avocado for a delicious, easy meal.

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cold pasta salad

Peanut noodles with vegetables in a glass bowl

40+ healthy and cheap lunch ideas for work (22)

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This cold macaroni salad with peanut butter, pea pods, chicken and bell peppers is easy to make and grab for lunch.

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Avocados stuffed with chicken salad

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40+ healthy and cheap lunch ideas for work (23)

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Looking for a clean, packable lunch for work? This hearty homemade chicken salad served in an avocado instead of bread is ideal. Also, this recipe is enough for ready-made lunches for the week! If you have leftover cooked chicken, skip Step 1 and use about 2 1/2 cups shredded chicken in Step 2.

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Clean-Eating-Bento-Box-Mittagessen

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40+ healthy and cheap lunch ideas for work (24)

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Who says bento boxes are just for kids? Packed with clean, hearty foods, this healthy bento-style lunch is perfect for taking to work.

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Egg Salad with Vegetables

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40+ healthy and cheap lunch ideas for work (25)

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Crispy carrots, cucumbers and spring onions make a colorful addition to this vegetarian egg salad recipe. Stuff with crunchy crackers and tomatoes for a light, healthy lunch.

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Avocado, tomato and chicken sandwich

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40+ healthy and cheap lunch ideas for work (26)

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In this healthy chicken sandwich recipe, avocado is mashed into a healthy paste.

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Barbecue Chicken Sandwich

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40+ healthy and cheap lunch ideas for work (27)

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Toss leftover cooked chicken with barbecue sauce and crunchy carrots for a quick, healthy lunch.

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Rice bowl with sweet potato and cauliflower

Cuban Cauliflower Rice Bowl

40+ healthy and cheap lunch ideas for work (28)

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A simple citrus twist inspired by Cuban mojo completes these vegan rice bowls, perfect for lunch or dinner.

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Turkey, apple and cheddar sandwich

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40+ healthy and cheap lunch ideas for work (29)

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It only takes 5 minutes to make this hearty whole wheat sandwich with the classic apple cheddar combo that your kids will love.

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Make your own chicken tacos

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40+ healthy and cheap lunch ideas for work (30)

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This kid-friendly recipe keeps each taco element separate so your child can decide to eat them separately or have fun building their own mini tacos with their favorite toppings. Plus, it's perfect to pack in a bento box for a healthy school lunch.

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Cauliflower Soup with Smoked Gouda

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40+ healthy and cheap lunch ideas for work (31)

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This hearty cauliflower soup recipe gets its great flavor from two smoky ingredients: paprika and gouda. A generous serving of crispy croutons fills you up.

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Edamame hummus wrap

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40+ healthy and cheap lunch ideas for work (32)

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Made with protein-rich edamame instead of chickpeas, this easy hummus recipe makes the perfect veggie topping for a wrap on the go. Or double the recipe and use hummus for a healthy snack with sliced ​​veggies.

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Cucumber, tomato and arugula salad with hummus

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40+ healthy and cheap lunch ideas for work (33)

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Tomato, cucumber, red onion and arugula with feta cheese in this quick salad. Served with a whole-wheat pita and prepared hummus, it makes a hearty yet healthy lunch.

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Wrap the spicy tuna

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40+ healthy and cheap lunch ideas for work (34)

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These tuna wraps were inspired by spicy tuna sushi rolls. We love the spicy watercress flavor, but other greens like arugula, romaine, escarole or even radish sprouts would work great in the stuffing. If you want to play with sushi inspiration, mix some wasabi into soy sauce for dipping and serve with pickled ginger. Serve with sliced ​​cucumbers and grated red onions mixed with rice vinegar, a little olive oil and a pinch of salt.

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Turquia BLT Wraps

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40+ healthy and cheap lunch ideas for work (35)

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This delicious kid-friendly twist on a classic BLT includes turkey. The added protein makes it a healthy and filling lunch for school or work.

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West Coast Avocado Toast

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40+ healthy and cheap lunch ideas for work (36)

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Hummus, sprouts and avocado on sprouted whole wheat bread in this healthy vegan lunch idea. Look for sprouted bread in the freezer section of the grocery store.

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spring roll salad

spring roll salad

40+ healthy and cheap lunch ideas for work (37)

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All the flavor, color and fun of an egg roll without all the work! This healthy salad recipe is bursting with rainbow colors with generous amounts of fresh vegetables, shrimp and whole grains, all topped with peanut sauce for the ultimate healthy salad.

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chicken club wraps

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40+ healthy and cheap lunch ideas for work (38)

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Whole wheat tortillas add a savory twist to this quick grilled chicken breast recipe that combines all the elements of a classic sandwich into a single wrap. Serve with additional napkins.

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Salmon Pita Sandwich

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40+ healthy and cheap lunch ideas for work (39)

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This quick lunch recipe is packed with heart-healthy omega-3s from canned sockeye salmon. If you're taking this sandwich for lunch, keep the salmon salad separate and stuff the pita before eating.

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Shrimp Salad

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40+ healthy and cheap lunch ideas for work (40)

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Cooked Peeled Shrimp are perfect for quick and healthy meals; here we use them in place of chicken in our Simplified Cobb Salad.

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Creamy pesto chicken salad with vegetables

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40+ healthy and cheap lunch ideas for work (41)

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For a healthy version of the Creamy Chicken Salad, we substituted half the mayonnaise for basil pesto. Serve over vegetables or make a sandwich for a healthy lunch.

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Classic Cobb Mason Jar Salad

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40+ healthy and cheap lunch ideas for work (42)

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Pack the classic Cobb salad "upside down" in a jar for a healthy lunch that won't get soggy from sitting in the fridge all morning. Or, pack your bags the night before for an easy to-go lunch in the morning.

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Turkey, Corn and Dried Tomato Wraps

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40+ healthy and cheap lunch ideas for work (43)

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Fresh corn, tomato and lettuce fill these hearty turkey burritos. This wrap is ideal for picnics or when you need dinner on the go. Add some feta cheese or shredded cheddar cheese for another layer of flavor. Serve with carrot sticks, sliced ​​bell peppers or other crunchy vegetables and your favorite creamy sauce.

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Kale and Apple Chicken Wraps

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40+ healthy and cheap lunch ideas for work (44)

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Using kale leaves instead of bread to wrap the stuffing makes this healthy chicken lunch recipe low in calories (and less carbs!). If you can't find kale lacinato (also known as Tuscan kale), try kale for your wrap.

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Cream Cheese and Vegetable Roll

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40+ healthy and cheap lunch ideas for work (45)

Photo credit: Jacob Fox

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With sliced ​​veggies, a whole wheat tortilla and baby spinach, these bagels make the perfect healthy lunch for your kids to take to school.

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vegan buddha bowl

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40+ healthy and cheap lunch ideas for work (46)

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This easy grain bowl has a lot to love: sweet potatoes, protein-rich chickpeas, creamy avocado, and homemade tahini sauce. Prepare the entire recipe over the weekend and pack it in individual containers for a ready-to-serve lunch all week long.

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