17 Practical And Packable Lunches You'll Actually Be Excited To Eat
Get excited about what's in your lunch bag.
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Packing lunch is an easy way to save cash and eat more nutritious foods. Here are a handful of packable, practical, and filling lunches to take on the go that you'll actually be excited to eat.
1. No-Cook Greek Pita Bento Box
These no-cook bento boxes are filled with chicken, Greek salad, tzatziki, and pita bread. You can always swap the grilled chicken for turkey, shrimp, or roasted chickpeas. Get the recipe for the no-cook Greek pita bento box here.
Pack some tortillas on the side and turn this bowl into DIY tacos. Get the recipe for meal prep shrimp taco bowls here.
3. Korean Beef Meal Prep Bowls
This sweet and spicy Korean beef is cooked in garlic, ginger, soy sauce, and honey. Serve it over your favorite grains with these vinegary cucumbers or your choice of veggies. Get the recipe for Korean beef meal prep bowls here.
This cashew chicken comes together on a single sheet pan so you don't have to worry about extra clean up. Make a big batch of rice on the side for a filling lunch. Get the recipe for sheet pan cashew chicken here.
Another sheet pan meal that makes doing the dishes easy, these Indian-inspired tandoori chicken bowls are super filling, thanks to cauliflower, potatoes, and peas. Get the recipe for chicken tandoori meal prep bowls here.
These bowls call for spiralized zucchini in place of rice noodles. They're tossed in sauce made with fish sauce, peanut butter, and soy sauce, so you're still getting a taste of your favorite Thai flavors. Get the recipe for spiralized chicken pad Thai here.
7. 20-Minute Meal Prep Chicken, Broccoli, and Rice
Sometimes simple is best, like in the case of these chicken, veggie, and rice bowls. The chicken is cooked in a mixture of brown sugar, paprika, cumin, and garlic powder, so it's full of flavor. Get the recipe for 20-minute meal prep chicken, broccoli, and rice here.
Start with leftover salmon and turn it into a crave-worthy meal. Use lo mein noodles or spaghetti and your favorite Asian vegetables like broccolini, julienned carrots, snap peas, and scallions. Get the recipe for honey garlic salmon and noodle meal prep bowls here.
These noodle bowls are tossed in a tasty dressing made with tahini, soy sauce, sesame oil, and rice vinegar. Dress them up with your favorite protein — like chicken, shrimp, or tofu — and any veggies you have on hand. Get the recipe for sesame noodle bowls here.
These colorful bowls happen to be vegan, but they're so filling thanks to roasted sweet potatoes, rice, and creamy avocado mash. Get the recipe for meal prep sweet potato fajitas here.
11. Turkey Taco Salad Meal Prep Bowls
The key to these easy bowls is keeping the turkey taco meat separate from the lettuce in order to keep the veggies crispy. When you're ready to eat, mix everything together and top it with sour cream, cheese, and pico de gallo. Get the recipe for turkey taco meal prep bowls here.
Poke bowls may seem fancy, but they're so easy to prepare at home. Start with sushi grade salmon (or your favorite fish) and place it on top of a bed of grains or spiralized zucchini with your go-to toppings like avocado, radish, carrots, and sesame seeds. Get the recipe for cauliflower rice and salmon poke bowls here.
13. Pineapple BBQ Tofu Meal Prep Bowls
The perfect flavor combo of sweet and tangy, these bowls are made with pressed tofu, quinoa or couscous, canned pineapple rings, and your favorite roasted vegetables. Get the recipe for barbecue pineapple tofu bowls here.
You can always dress up the Caesar pasta salad with extra ingredients like avocado, mozzarella, roasted red peppers, or sun dried tomatoes. Get the recipe for chicken Caesar pasta salad here.
Make a big batch of meatballs — use whatever you want for the week, and freeze the leftovers for the future. Get the recipe for honey Sriracha glazed meatballs here.
16. Shrimp Fried Rice Meal Prep
The best thing about this classic takeout dish is its versatility. If you're not big on cauliflower rice, use any grain you like best. Then stir fry it with your favorite protein. Get the recipe for Sriracha fried rice here.
Rather than spend extra cash on buying lunch, you can make this popular Japanese-inspired takeout dish right in your own kitchen. Best of all, you can prepare it on Sunday night and enjoy it all week. Get the recipe for teriyaki chicken meal prep bowls here.
BTW, if you're trying to meal prep and pack lunch more often, here are some perfect bento lunch boxes to help:
A set of microwave-safe compartmentalized glass meal prep containers to keep your veggies, protein, and grains fresh and never soggy.
Get a set of four from Amazon for $24.99.
A stainless steel three-compartment bento lunch box perfect for DIY fajitas, pita pockets, wrap sandwiches, and more.
Get it from Amazon for $38.99. (available in four colors)
A stackable bento box that keeps your lunch neat and organized, plus a second compartment to hold your mid-morning or afternoon snack.
Get it from Amazon for $22.88.