Romanticise Your Lunch Break with These Three Nourishing Meals

A question I’m constantly asked is ‘what do you eat for weekday lunches?’ And I suppose this is a side effect of being a corporate girlie with a hybrid schedule. My colleagues are always amazed that I pack a home-cooked lunch box every day; I am less amazed, knowing it’s a necessity because I can’t always guarantee I’ll find a nourishing, vegan meal when I’m at work, competing with some 2,000+ people at the campus restaurants.

In fact, I’ve cooked and packed my own meals for lunch almost since day dot. I took them when interning at fashion magazines in London, when working full-time in London and Hong Kong, then fell in love with making a fresh lunch daily when I ran my own freelance copywriting studio. Cooking must be one of my love languages.

Anyway, to answer a very frequently asked question, here are three of the nourishing meals I make for weekday lunches. Romanticise your lunch hour! Pack one of these in a glass Tupperware, add it to your cutesy lunch bag with a cutlery set, some fresh fruit and a portion of nuts. Grab a book and enjoy a cosy break in the middle of the day.

Smoky Beans on Toasted Sourdough

One of my favourite breakfasts, I often eat this for lunch at home. It’s filling, packed with protein, and great to make ahead. The avocado mayonnaise (you could replace this with smashed avocado) adds a creamy, healthy fat. It keeps for up to four days in the fridge, and I actually think it tastes better after sitting in its sauce for a few days.

Ingredients

  • 400g can of cannelloni beans
  • 1 small red onion, diced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tbsp tomato purée
  • 200g tomato passata
  • Handful of spinach
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp avocado oil (or other neutral oil)
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 slices sourdough
  • Optional: avocado mayonnaise

Method

  • In a medium-sized pan, fry the diced red onion on a low-medium heat until beginning to turn translucent. Add the minced garlic cloves until fragrant.
  • Toss in the paprika, soy sauce and tomato purée, as well as some salt and pepper.
  • Drain the can of beans and add to the pan, stirring to coat. Turn the heat to low.
  • Add the passata and spinach, and cook through until it thickens (about 8-12 minutes).
  • Toast two slices of sourdough and spread avocado mayonnaise, if using. Top with beans.

Brussels Sprout Fried Rice

A new addition to my arsenal, this fried rice is delicious and a great way to use up leftover rice and vegetables. Again, it’s filling without making you feel lethargic – perfect for a working day. If you don’t like sprouts, you can of course use any veggies; broccoli, kale, pan choi, and even lettuce works great. This one transports great for office days.

Ingredients

  • 175g steamed jasmine rice
  • Handful peeled Brussels sprouts, halved
  • 50g The Tofoo Co. tofu scramble
  • Half small red onion, diced
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2cm ginger, minced
  • 1 tsp kecap manis
  • 1 tsp vegetarian oyster sauce
  • Drizzle sesame oil
  • 1 tbsp avocado oil (or other neutral oil)

Method

  • In a wok, fry the Brussels sprouts flat side down in some oil.
  • Once starting to brown, add in the red onion, garlic and ginger. Stir-fry until fragrant.
  • Add your rice. Top tip: leftover cooked rice is best as it gives a great bite and crunch. Freshly cooked can also work, but cook it with slightly less water so it isn’t soggy.
  • Add in the kecap manis, oyster sauce and sesame oil.
  • Stir-fry until combined, then crumble in the tofu scramble.
  • Once warmed all the way through, serve in a bowl.

Roasted Tomato and Garlic Orzo

I’ve raved about this recipe from Cupful of Kale for years now and cook it at least once a fortnight. Like the other recipes, this orzo tastes better overnight, it transports great for office packed lunches, and is a really wholesome, comfort food for midweek dinners too. For added protein, I like to top mine with paprika roasted chickpeas.


What do you like to eat for lunches, at home or at work? Share your top meals below!

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