Spring-Inspired Weekday Lunches You’ll Love

The average midday meal can quickly become mundane and tasteless if you’re in a routine of rotating lunch options. If you’re a busy parent on top of a hectic office schedule, time is all too precious–taking the time to prep meals at home can seem like the impossible. Check out these lunch ideas and tweak to fit your taste preferences. You’ll learn to love spending the time in your kitchen with your kids in the background. It will take multitasking to a tastier level!

Veggie-packed pitas with ranch hummus

Chop or thinly slice veggies of your choice. Here are a few ideas: carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, zucchini, mushrooms, bell peppers, spinach, lettuce or red onion. Be sure to slice them small enough for them to fit into a whole wheat pita. Mix plain store-bought hummus with half packet of powdered ranch dressing mix. Spread along the inside of the pita and add the veggies.

BBQ pulled-chicken with celery and carrot slaw

Take leftover grilled or rotisserie chicken and mix a good quality bbq sauce over top. Let sit overnight in the fridge so the chicken really absorbs the bbq flavor. Thinly slice celery stalks and carrots on the diagonal. Mix about a cup of the veggies with one tablespoon of plain non-fat Greek yogurt and one tablespoon ranch or bleu cheese dressing. Serve together on a wheat bun or warm the chicken with a side of slaw.

Spring veggie salad with grilled chicken

Make a chopped veggie salad that include crispy romaine lettuce, mixed micro greens, tomatoes, avocado, cucumber, carrot, celery and bell peppers. Choose the dressing of your choice or make a simple lemon vinaigrette using one part lemon juice, one part olive oil and squirt of good dijon mustard and salt and pepper. Whisk together. Grill chicken seasoned with salt and pepper to an internal temperature of 155 degrees.

Cranberry turkey sandwich with arugula

Spread store-bought cranberry spread on two slices of whole wheat bread. Pile thinly sliced roasted turkey and a handful of arugula on top. Add a mild cheese slice if you desire.

These satisfying lunch ideas are simple, but very tasty and you’ll want to make them over and over again.