12 lazy girl lunches that are actually good for you

Bare-minimal effort required

21 March, 2018

12 lazy girl lunches that are actually good for you

1. Frittata

God's gift to simple meal seekers, the humble frittata makes an excellent healthy lunch option pretty much regardless of what you put in it. Whisk up however many eggs you've got left in the cupboard with a splash of milk (factor in about two per day you want to feed yourself) then stir through some lean meat and leafy greens like spinach – or for something with a bit more 'bite', bulk your 'tata out with slices of cooked potato or root veg like butternut or parsnip. Bake the mixture in an ovenproof dish until set and golden on top, then cut into wedges and revel in the glory of saving £3 per serving on meal deals and enjoying it way more than that soggy sandwich.

A photo posted by Elly Curshen ? (@ellypear) on Jun 18, 2015 at 4:24am PDT

2. Mason jar salad

Salads in Tupperware tend to get a bit limp and disappointing, but with the layering facilities of every food blogger's go-to, the mason jar, you can keep all of the ingredients fresh and tasty til grub time – and they're just as basic to make. Put the dressing at the bottom, then add the ingredients that won't get soggy in the liquid – grated carrots, tomatoes, and chickpeas or other beans all work well. Top with crunchy veggies like cucumber, peppers or radishes next, put in your leaves, then finish with protein such as chicken, egg, cheese or nuts. Pour into a bowl, et voila! Like you've just made it from scratch.

A photo posted by Aimee - MyBelovedStyle (@missaimeefleur) on May 7, 2015 at 1:19am PDT

3. Bruschetta

The sweet, juicy structure of tomatoes is crammed with a bunch of nutritional goodies, but it can get dull just eating them in pasta sauce. To enjoy toms in all of their fresh and tasty glory, especially when they're in season in summer, stick 'em in a blender with red onion, garlic, basil, a splash of balsamic vinegar and a swig of olive oil, and serve with slices of baguette (or for extra health points, wholemeal rye or sourdough) for a super easy, delicious lunch. You can make a big batch of the tomato mixture and leave it in your fridge to marinate, because it actually tastes better the longer you leave it (chop once, eat for days) However, if you're eating al desko, remember to pack the bread and veggies in separate tubs and assemble when you're ready to eat to prevent Depressingly Soggy Bread Of Doom.

A photo posted by Saira (@summer_brownie1985) on Jul 30, 2015 at 8:00am PDT

4. Lazy sushi

Sushi is one of the best known healthy lunches out there, and handrolled sushi looks awesome – but anyone who's ever invested in one of those fiddly bamboo mats and tried their hand at making it knows that it's an absolute pain in the butt to prepare at home. Simplify its healthy benefits with lazy sushi – all of the key components, including veggies, rice, fish and nori, but served far less ceremoniously. Don't forget a sprinkle of protein-rich sesame seeds, and a dash of soy sauce for flavour (grab the low-sodium version if you can).

A photo posted by nicky (@nickywashier) on Nov 15, 2014 at 11:41am PST

5. Baked sweet potato

It genuinely doesn't get much lazier than this. Put a sweet potato in the oven, cook until soft, devour. That's honestly it. Of course, if you're feeling fancy you can top with protein like tuna or chilli, or serve with a handful salad. But for days when you seriously CBA, a baked sweet potato's dose of vitamins, minerals and fibre make it a decent midday pick me up regardless. FYI, you can bake it the day before and reheat in the work microwave if you need to, and it'll still be nice and fluffy.

A photo posted by Wild Friends Foods (@wild_friends) on datetime="2015-07-29T16:28:16+00:00">Jul 29, 2015 at 9:28am PDT

6. Pizza rolls

No, not those frozen American pockets of weirdness – actually made-by-your-own-fair-hands pizza rolls that will satisfy your Domino's cravings and do your body some good simultaneously. Use a large wholemeal tortilla wrap, and layer with diced fresh tomato, some finely chopped veggies and and a little bit of cheese. Roll up, slice into 'pinwheels' and then bake in a hot oven until the cheese is melted and bubbly. They're another one that'd good for lunchboxes, cos they're just as yummy cold, but this concept also works flat as a pizza tortilla under the grill if you're eating at home.

A photo posted by Jasmine Nell (@jasminenell) on Jul 28, 2015 at 11:07am PDT

7. Baked egg and avocado

To make this bloody MASTERPIECE, you simply crack an egg into the space where the avocado

pit once sat, then cook until you reach a level of gooey eggy perfection. Wholewheat soldiers for dunking are optional but highly recommended – with the combination of the avo's healthy fats, the eggs' muscle-boosting protein and the energy giving carbs, you'll be ready to SMASH the rest of your day. Sidenote, but avocado is also one of the most popular foodie hashtags on the whole of Insta, so you'll rack up those 11 likes in no time with this baby, and we all know that's what home cooking is really about anyway.

A photo posted by naenae kyukyu lee (@callmenaomi) on Jul 22, 2015 at 4:57am PDT

8. Quinoa stuffed ANYTHING

Quinoa salad is nice, but quinoa baked into a veggie is even nicer, and keeps your lunch menu from becoming an absolute barrage of grain, leaves and boredom. The easiest way to do these is to have them for dinner one night, as you can make several at once and see out lunch for the rest of the week. Peppers are the obvious choice, but you can mix it up with Portobello mushrooms or hollowed out courgettes as well.

A photo posted by c.reyes ? (@iiciarey) on Jul 2, 2015 at 11:39am PDT

9. Cauliflower steak

Cauliflower is the current golden child of the health food world, because you can use it to make anything from rice to pizza, (praise be to the internet), but not everyone yet knows that when sliced into fat chunks, seasoned and roasted, it actually makes a rather good 'steak' too.

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Serve yours in a lunchbox with a base of your favourite salad leaves, or a nutritious grain like buckwheat or quinoa – even hardcore carnivores can become converts when the combination of spices on their cauli is just right.

A photo posted by Eryk Wałkowicz (@ervegan) on Jul 25, 2015 at 6:51am PDT

10. Mezze

If you choose the healthiest elements of mezze, it can become properly midday meal. Team a generous dollop of hummus with strips of wholemeal pitta, chunks of cucumber, olives, rocket salad etc, and even toss in a spoonful of shop-bought tabbouleh if you like. Now you've got yourself an extravagant-feeling lunch that's overflowing with good stuff, and you didn't even have to switch on the stove.

A photo posted by Elizabeth Kelso (@elizadomuch) on Jul 29, 2015 at 10:53pm PDT

11. Homemade soup

Okay, so it's ever so slightly more effort than opening a tin of Heinz – but at least you know exactly what's in it (and it ain't no added salt or sugar). All you have to do is cook up whatever veggies are in your fridge - we like butternut with onion and garlic, or a classic tomato and basil - with some stock and seasoning, and blend until you get the consistency you like. Adding a pulse like lentils or beans will make the soup feel more satisfying and quell your instinctive longing for a massive wedge of bread and butter on the side.

A photo posted by Rita Alexandra Ferreira (@byritaferreira) on Jul 30, 2015 at 2:25pm PDT

12. Slow cooker chilli

Beans? Good. Tomatoes? Good. Lean mince, peppers, onions and spices? Really bloody good – both tastewise, and for you. Chilli, when made without too much fatty meat or oil, is an absolute nutritional powerhouse, with just the right balance of protein, carbs and veggies - and the best part of all? You can make it in your slow cooker (if you identify as lazy in any way and don't have one, investing will change your life). Casually fling all of the ingredients in the pot on a Sunday morning, let it do its thang all day whilst you watch Netflix and spend your life

savings on ASOS from beneath your duvet, and come nightfall you'll have a weeks worth of healthy, easy to transport lunches that you barely even had to stir to create. And if that doesn't deserve a lazy girl pat on the back, we don't know what does.