20 Packable Lunch Ideas For People Avoiding Carbs

    So good you'll want it again for dinner.

    Michelle No
    by Michelle No

    BuzzFeed Staff

    Charlotte Gomez / BuzzFeed

    If, for whatever reason, you're trying to avoid carbs, then you probably think a salad is your only lunch option. I'm here to tell you that's not the case.

    While salads are a smart and practical way to prepare a quick meal, they're not the only way. And if you're on the keto diet and are starting to feel exasperated by all the restrictions, rest assured that the options are actually more abundant than you might've realized. From creamy chicken and avocado salads to pumpkin gnocchi with crema, here are some of the best low-carb recipes out there.

    1. Pumpkin Gnocchi With Crema

    lowcarb-ology.com

    You wouldn't believe it, but these gnocchi are made with cheese, almond flour, and pumpkin puree. Their mild pumpkin flavor pair perfectly with creamy, cumin-spiced crema. Get the recipe.

    2. California Club

    lowcarb-ology.com

    Almond flour, hemp hearts, and egg whites join forces to create this low-carb wrap you can stuff with Monterey Jack cheese and chicken, or any other low-carb combination of your liking. Get the recipe.

    3. Grilled Chicken Veggie Bowls

    picky-palate.com

    If you want to save yourself the trouble of prepping dinner every night, take a Sunday to batch-prepare one meal you can eat every day of the week. This chicken and veggies bowl is pretty simple, and can be spruced up with whatever dressing you prefer. Get the recipe.

    4. Zucchini Crust Pizza

    wholesomeyum.com

    Grating two cups of zucchini can sound super tedious, but you can make it short and easy by getting a sharp grater. Get the recipe.

    5. Mediterranean Zucchini Pasta

    theroastedroot.net

    To get your zoodles to taste the best, make sure to adequately dry them before tossing them with any sauce. You can pat dry them with a towel, or even dry them in an oven to save yourself the trouble of squeezing. Get the recipe.

    6. Chicken and Avocado Salad

    kalynskitchen.com

    You can also throw in some mixed greens in there to plump up the salad and some seeds or chopped walnuts to give it some extra crunch. Get the recipe.

    7. Spaghetti Squash, Chickpeas, and Hazelnuts Bowl

    mynewroots.org

    The sweet, crunchy, and fluffy perfection of spaghetti squash rivals that of no other salad ingredient. You'll love it so much, you'll want to reverse the ratio of salad green to spaghetti squash in your next iteration of this recipe. Get the recipe.

    8. Cauliflower Rice Tabbouleh

    This herb salad gets doesn't feel too different from the original recipe. With toasted pine nuts, it might even feel tastier than the non-low-carb version. Get the recipe.

    9. No-Bread Turkey Club

    madaboutfood.co

    The upside to wrapping your club with lettuce? You don't have to worry about opening your lunch box up to a soggy mess. Get the recipe.

    10. Beef and Cabbage Stir Fry

    budgetbytes.com

    Textural variety is key to creating a satisfactory low-carb recipe. This recipe combines green cabbage, ground beef, carrots, and sesame seeds for a stir-fry that's got crunch, savory chew, and snap in every bite. Get the recipe.

    11. Microwave Bread Grilled Cheese Sandwich

    craftymorning.com

    The secret to this low-carb grilled cheese sandwich lies is its 90-second low-carb bread recipe, which takes almond flour, egg, baking powder, and seasonings in a bread container to make bread. It'll taste best if you can crisp it on a skillet, but will work without the last step. Get the recipe.

    12. Pizza Casserole

    kimspireddiy.com

    Cauliflower rice provides a robust base for this casserole that is mostly cheese and pepperoni. If you have a microwave in your office, it'll definitely taste even better if your cheese is melting. Get the recipe.

    13. Peanut Noodle Salad

    sallysbakingaddiction.com

    A genius peanut sauce made with fresh ginger, peanut butter, and honey will have you downing spiralized zucchini, cabbage, carrots, and bell peppers by the several cupful. Get the recipe.

    14. Tofu Scramble With Spinach and Tomato

    thegardengrazer.com

    Tofu is fairly low carb and really good at mopping up whatever seasonings you throw into the pan, like this paprika, turmeric, and nutritional yeast mix which lends the dish both its depth of flavor and appealing bright color. Get the recipe.

    15. Satay Beef With Thai Peanut Sauce

    sweetpeasandsaffron.com

    Full-fat coconut milk and red curry paste go together like a charm and create a savory sauce that'll make sure you get enough healthy fats and protein to fuel you for the long day ahead. Get the recipe.

    16. Chicken, Pesto, and Zucchini Noodle Salad

    kalynskitchen.com

    Marinate the chicken for at least half an hour, or even longer, for the most flavor-packed protein. Get the recipe.

    17. Kohlrabi Pad Thai

    veggiesmadeeasy.com

    Have you tried kohlrabi noodles yet? They're made by grating the turnip cabbage known as kohlrabi, and are great as a low-carb noodle substitute because of their mild, almost nutty flavor, and high nutritional value. You can substitute the raw cane sugar in this recipe with a sweetener to keep it low-carb. Get the recipe.

    18. Egg Salad

    downshiftology.com

    This tried-and-true comfort food also makes the perfect weekday lunch dish. Pair it with a bed of greens or stuff it between slices of low-carb bread. Get the recipe.

    19. Ham and Cheese Crepes

    lowcarb-ology.com

    These buckwheat crepes have just three carbs per serving, and can be whipped up in under half an hour. You can even spread it with a nut butter for breakfast, or fill it sauteed mushrooms and melted cheese to make it vegetarian. Get the recipe.

    20. Lunch Box With Mix of Low-Carb Ingredients

    thekitchn.com

    And let's not forget, you can always pack a bento box with a mix of your favorite low-carb ingredients. Recipes are for people with time, and some weeks, you have all the will power to stick to your low-carb or keto diet, but none of the time to actually make it presentable. For those weeks, I present to you the cute bento box, the instant way to make any random mix of ingredients office lunch-ready.

    Get a three-tiered, leak-proof lunch for $13.45 from Amazon here. And browse other styles here.