Admittedly, there have been many times I’ve found myself hunched over my desk, eating spoonfuls of chicken and rice as I work through lunch. This is never the vibe, and I’m happy to say this is now a rare occurrence, especially since I’ve reframed lunchtime as a mini reset ritual. It’s when I can step away from my laptop and fuel up with something both nourishing and delicious. I work from home now, but I remember a time when packing my lunch also proved to be a challenge. How can you take your midday reset ritual on the go, while still romanticizing the moment?
I chatted with our Wellness Editor, Edie Horstman, to get her work lunch ideas that are not only delicious, but healthy and easy to assemble. Read on for a few of her tips and tricks, and of course, a few recipes you can try yourself.
Featured image from our interview with Sanetra Longno by Michelle Nash.
Assemble, Don’t Cook
If you haven’t made your way onto the meal prep train yet, now’s a great time to start. Horstman loves assembling her lunches for work, instead of cooking something new day to day. “Build lunches from prepped components: a protein (rotisserie chicken or deli turkey or baked tofu), a carb (roasted sweet potato or a thick slice of sourdough), a veggie (spinach), and a healthy fat (avo). Mix and match so it never gets boring,” Horstman shares.
Bowls are a perfect work-friendly lunch, and if you batch everything ahead of time, you can toss whatever you like into a bowl. Horstman recommends batching items like roasted vegetables, hard-boiled eggs, and rice cooked in bone broth. “This way, you can build a mini Sweetgreen at home,” she says. Cute!
Spicy Tofu Banh Mí Bowl
My favorite sandwich, in bowl form. Seriously, it has everything: crusty baguette, pickled veggies, and the best-tasting tofu you’ve ever tucked into a bowl. A truly transformative lunch awaits.
Go-To Grain Bowl
Crispy tofu, crunchy rice, fresh herbs—it’s the perfect combo.
Opt For Snack-Style Lunches
Simple work lunch ideas work best. Who wants packing a lunch to be complicated? To make the process easy on you, consider throwing a few essentials together and calling it a day. “Don’t underestimate a snack-style lunch: hard cheese, nuts, chopped veggies, hummus, and a protein like chicken salad or edamame,” Horstman recommends.
A snack-style lunch is essentially packing up your charcuterie board and adding a few more protein and fresh veggie options. Think of it like an adult Lunchable. “Ultimately, think in color for the snack-style lunch; i.e. tomatoes (red), edamame (green), carrots (orange), etc.,” Horstmas continues. If you find you love this kind of lunch, Horstman recommends investing in to-go containers with dividers as well. That way, you can portion your crackers, veg, fruit and protein so everything stays neat and tidy.
Fall Charcuterie Board
Who says charcuterie is just for parties? This fall-inspired board makes the perfect work lunch—think crisp apples, sharp cheddar, roasted nuts, and a little something sweet. It’s simple to assemble, endlessly customizable, and feels like a midday treat.
Mediterranean Tuna Salad
This salad is giving South of France. Totally delicious on its own or paired with a carb like crusty bread or crackers.
Always Have Grab and Go Items On Hand
We’ve all had that moment where we seem to have nothing to eat at home. Or worse, when there’s nothing to eat and you’re stuck at work. Horstman has a solution that requires just a little bit of planning ahead, but is perfect for when you’ve run out of work lunch ideas. “Keep “emergency” options on hand like individual Greek yogurt containers, apples, clementines, nut butter packets, meat sticks, individual packets of olives, and DIY trailmix—almonds, pumpkin seeds, and dark chocolate chips,” Horstman says.
While this isn’t necessarily a go-to work lunch, it’s a great tip. Keep a stash on your desk at work just in case! You’ll always have something healthy to snack on that you enjoy, and you won’t need to make a hasty DoorDash order.
Healthy Work Lunch Ideas
Finally, we’ve rounded up even more recipes that are perfect for packing up and taking with you to work. From soups, salads, and even more bowls—you’re sure to find a recipe you love to inspire your mid-day reset.
Broccoli Caesar
A Caesar salad with no romaine in sight? Trust us on this one! This has all the crunchy, cheesy goodness you can rely on, just with a shaved broccoli base.
Tomato and White Bean Soup
Healthy, delicious, and comes together in under 20 minutes.
Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette
It’s the crunchy, sweet, & zesty salad you’ll crave. Who says getting in your greens has to be boring? This salad is anything but.
Miso Sweet Potato Soup
We might as well call this comfort in a bowl!
Creamy Cauliflower Soup
A simple, nourishing recipe you’ll want to keep on repeat all fall. It truly proves simple can taste luxurious!
Beet, Farro, & Goat Cheese Salad
Prep it on Sunday—enjoy all week. The ingredients are hearty enough that this will keep in the fridge for a few days! Work lunch made easy.
Coconut Curry Red Lentil Soup
When cozy soup meets the bold flavors of curry, you get pure comfort. This lentil-based recipe—filled with sweet potato, kale, and warming spices—is hearty, nourishing, and satisfying for everyone at the table.
Vegan Butternut Squash Soup
This plant-based soup is my go-to reset—nourishing, creamy, and full of complex flavor. It’s wholesome without feeling like a cleanse, aka the perfect comfort soup.
Black Lentil Salad With Roasted Veggies
We’ve come a long way from the days of limp lettuce and bland dressing. This salad delivers on flavor and substance—roasted veggies add depth, lentils bring staying power, and it all comes together effortlessly.
Chicken Burger Lettuce Wraps
I used to roll my eyes at “lightened-up” burgers—if I wanted one, I was going all in. That changed when this recipe came along. Made with chicken, it’s satisfying without feeling heavy—perfect for a weekday lunch or your next burger night.
This post was last updated on October 14, 2025, to include new insights.
