There are so many websites and Instagram accounts out there that post photos of delicious dishes that are claimed to be easy to make. The problem is that half of the time these easy to make dishes are actually not so easy to make. You need an hour or two of prep plus another hour of cooking time, but throwing it all together just takes a few minutes.
This can be disheartening to say the least to those trying to change or improve their eating habits. But, there is such a thing as a healthy lunch that is actually easy to make. In fact, there are lots of them and I am going to share some with you right now. Please bear in mind, however, that these recipes aren’t exactly cordon bleu. They are designed for efficiency rather than wow factor.
Bulghur Wheat Salad
Perhaps one of the easiest recipes I’ve ever encountered, bulghur wheat salad is healthy, delicious and stress-free. On Sunday night cook up a big pot of bulghur wheat – throw in a stock cube to give the wheat a bit of extra flavour. That is virtually all of your prep done. Each morning scoop a few spoons of wheat into a Tupperware and chuck in whatever else you have in your fridge. I usually add chunks of avocado, tomato, feta, spinach and chorizo, but really you can throw in whatever you want. Chop it up all up, throw it in, and drizzle it all with lemon and olive oil. Boom, you’re ready to go in about five minutes.
Eggs and Spinach
Are you ready for a protein boost? This simple lunch is packed full of it and it’ll take you a maximum of ten minutes to make. Boil some eggs and while they are cooking, chuck some spinach, avocado and tomato into a Tupperware. When the eggs are done, throw those in there too. Add sweet chilli sauce or salad dressing – whatever takes your fancy and then garnish it with some sunflower or pumpkin seeds.
Chicken and Brown Rice
For this recipe you will need to a tiny bit of cooking. The night before boil up a pot of brown rice and grill some chicken seasoned with whatever spices you have in the cupboard. That’s all you have to do for now. In the morning, put a scoop of rice into your Tupperware along with the chicken (I recommend slicing it first). Add some shredded cabbage and carrot and a few cherry tomatoes and you’re good to go. Drizzle it all with lemon or balsamic vinegar and olive oil.
Roasted Veg, Salmon and Couscous
Perhaps the most complicated of all the recipes in this list, this dish will still only take you half an hour or so from beginning to end. I recommend roasting a tray of vegetables (you can choose whichever veg your like) the night before. Then, in the morning, grill your salmon and cook your couscous. Throw it all together in a tub and add whatever seasonings and dressing. Sesame seeds make a good topping, as do a few whole cherry tomatoes. This dish is delightfully low-fat and fabulously tasty.
