Our Best Healthy Lunch Ideas

Ah…the ubiquitous lunchbox. Whether you’re packing your own or one for every kid in the house, there are real challenges when thinking about your mid-day meal. We know you want healthy options that keep you full enough to stay away from the vending machine come mid-afternoon.

There’s also a real need for make-ahead recipes…why would those pre-packaged lunch packs and frozen meals be so popular if ease of prep wasn’t the primary goal (since nutrition and flavor certainly aren’t their claims to fame).

And most importantly: How can you keep your lunch tasting good day after day? After all, if it doesn’t taste good, vending machines, drive-throughs, and lunch table swaps are inescapable. Enter our lunchbox makeover. Look out for “Nutrition” “Prep,” and “Smart Packing” tips throughout the slideshow, offering our secrets to building a better lunchbox meal.

Southwestern Chicken Pasta Salad

Spice things up for lunch by using intense flavors in hum-drum dishes. There’s nothing boring about this pasta salad, packed with sharp Cheddar, sweet corn, and smoky chipotle. Fresh summer corn is sweet, tender, and juicy—enough so that it doesn’t even require cooking. If your corn is a bit past its prime, boil it for two minutes.

Prep Tip: Making stir-fry for dinner and have a half of this and that leftover? We call for green onions, red bell peppers, and tomatoes in this recipe, but any leftover veggies will work here. Use leftover grilled or roasted chicken or buy a rotisserie chicken.

View Recipe: Southwestern Chicken Pasta Salad

via Cooking Light