8 Healthy And Different Lunches To Take To The Office

Sometimes the latter is not easy with the frenetic pace of life we lead. Even more so if it's about organising those small meals in between times; and it's even worse if you have to go to the office. So if we want to do something about it, we must look for options that, in addition to being healthy, are easy to prepare. That's why we've thought of making it easy for you with these ideas for healthy and different lunches to take to the office.

“Taking a short break in the middle of the morning to eat something should not be understood as an obligation, but it can be very beneficial in some cases, explains nutritionist Patricia Ortega, who helps you eat healthy with what you have at hand. For example, if you don't eat breakfast in the morning or you have a physically active job and you need to replenish energy or, due to your schedule, you usually eat very late (and you arrive really hungry for food); then that mid-morning break will be great for you.

And, as Patricia adds, “more important than the total number of meals you eat per day is that they are made with 'real hunger', with raw materials of nutritional quality and that all of them meet your energy requirements”.

Mid-Morning: Yes And No

Mid-Morning Snack — Photograph: (Photo by Wasa Crispbread on Unsplash )

You can choose sweet, saltier, crispier, spoon options...but the important thing is that you prepare them with fresh, local and seasonal ingredients, thus giving added value to your lunch. Ekilu's nutritionist considers fresh fruit to be ideal ingredients to include in your lunch, thanks to their large supply of water, which makes them refreshing, satiating alternatives full of vitamins and minerals.

“Also dehydrated fruit without added sugar such as dates, raisins and blueberries. These types of ingredients contain naturally occurring sugars and a high fibre content in their composition, so they become a good energy source as well as a satiating one,” explains Ortega. “Natural or roasted nuts are highly recommended for their healthy fat content and energy supply that will keep you satiated for longer during those endless working mornings,” he adds.

For Ekilu's nutritionist, fresh and pickled vegetables, such as pickles, can also be very interesting and nutritious options. “Their crunchy texture, providing water, fibre, vitamins and minerals, makes them great snacks.” “And, of course, cereals and whole grain derivatives. The mythical sandwich with good whole wheat bread and, preferably without sausages, can be a great option.”

But above all, Ekilu insists, the consumption of ultra-processed foods should be avoided as much as possible because of their high load of added sugars, refined flours and poor-quality fats. From this app, they offer us these 8 great ideas for those small breaks in the middle of tomorrow that are sometimes so necessary for us.

Avocado And Hard-Boiled Egg Sandwich

Avocado & Egg Sandwich — Photograph: (Photo by Joseph Gonzalez on Unsplash )

A small snack of whole wheat bread with ingredients as nutritious and filling as avocado and hard-boiled egg can be the perfect lunch.

Recipe Information (For One Person)

Ingredients

1 Avocado
1 Egg
Whole Wheat
Pinch Of Salt

Preparation (15 Minutues)

Step 1

Put cold water in a saucepan, place the egg in it and leave it over medium heat until the water boils.

Step 2

Cook for approximately 10-12 minutes.

Step 3

Remove it to a container to cool.

Step 4

When it is cool, remove the peel, peel it and cut it into slices.

Step 5

Open the avocado, extract its flesh and mash it with a fork.

Step 6

Add a pinch of salt to it and stir.

Step 7

Toast the bread.

Step 8

Spread some avocado on top of each loaf, place several slices of egg and put a little more water again.

Oatmeal, Carrot And Ginger Cookies

Orange, Carrot & Ginger Cookies — Photograph: (Photo by Blake Carpenter on Unsplash )

Homemade cookies with quality ingredients are the best option for a lunch in the middle of a hectic day. They have nothing to do with the ones you might find in the supermarket or the vending machine. Don't hesitate.

Recipe Information

Ingredients

1 Carrot
1 Egg
1 Teaspoon of Ginger
100gm of Oat Flakes
70gm of Oatmeal
1 teaspoon of Yeast
2 tablespoons of Virgin Olive Oil
1 tablespoon of Honey
1 tablespoon of Cinnamon

Preparation (25 Minutes)

Step 1

Peel the carrot and a piece of ginger, and grate both ingredients.

Step 2

In a bowl, mix the oat flakes, oatmeal, carrot and grated ginger, cinnamon and baking powder.

Step 3

In another bowl, pour the egg and beat it.

Step 4

Add the oil and honey, and stir well.

Step 5

Pour the beaten egg and other liquid ingredients into the container containing the dry ingredients and, with a little patience, stir well until all the ingredients are integrated. It may take you a couple of minutes.

Step 6

With your hands, make balls out of the dough and place them, a little bit apart from each other, on baking paper in a baking tray.

Step 7

Crush the balls a little (they will be shaped like a cookie) and bake them at 200°C for 15-20 minutes.

Step 8

Keep an eye on them because they are done very quickly and can burn you.

Step 9

As soon as you see them golden, turn off the heat, take them out and place them on a rack to cool.

Mushroom Cupcakes

Open your tupper and find these small cupcakes can be perfect for replenishing energy thanks to the protein in the egg and the nutrients in the mushrooms.

Recipe Information

Ingredients (For One Person)

100gms of Mushrooms
2 Eggs
A Piece of Onion
1 Tablespoon of Virgin Olive Oil
A Pinch of Salt

Preparation (25 Minutes)

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 200°C.

Step 2

Wash the mushrooms and cut them into slices or not very large pieces, as you like.

Step 3

Cut the onion into strips.

Step 4

In a skillet with a little oil, sauté the onion and mushrooms for 8-10 minutes.

Step 5

Add a little bit of salt.

Step 6

Whisk the eggs in a bowl and pour the mushrooms and onion that you just sautéed into it.

Step 7

Mix everything well.

Step 8

Fill some oven-safe molds with this mixture.

Step 9

Put them in the oven for 10-15 minutes or until poking with a toothpick, the toothpick comes out clean.

Pastrami Sandwich With Vegetable Crudités

Recipe Information

Ingredients (For Four People)

Pastrami
Arugula
8 slices of Sliced Bread
Mayonnaise
1 Garlic
2 Greek yogurts
Dill
Mint Leaves
1/2 Lemon
Radishes
4 Carrots
Cherry Tomatoes
4 Cucumbers
Dried fruits
Red Berries
Olive Oil
Salt
Pepper

Preparation

Step 1

Spread 4 slices of bread with mayonnaise.

Step 2

On top of these, place some slices of pastrami and arugula leaves.

Step 3

Cover with another loaf of bread and cut the sandwiches in half.

Step 4

Put olive oil, juice of 1/2 lemon, 1 clove of garlic, salt, black pepper, 2 mint leaves and 2 dill leaves in a blender glass; beat.

Step 5

Add the yoghurts and whisk again.

Step 6

Reserve in the fridge.

Step 7

Wash and dry vegetables.

Step 8

Cut the carrots and cucumbers into sticks; the radishes, into slices, and leave the tomatoes whole or cut them in half.

Step 9

Place the vegetables on a tray, with the yogurt sauce and a serving of various dried fruits.

Step 10

Wash and dry the red fruits (in this case, blueberries and raspberries) very well.

Step 11

Arrange the fruit on another tray, with the pastrami sandwiches.

Banana And Almond Shake

Banana & Almond Shake — Photograph: (Photo by Louis Hansel on Unsplash )

This shake rich in healthy fats and with a great energy supply will fill you up for a long time. And you practically don't even have to stop to enjoy it.

Recipe Information

Ingredients (For One Person)

1/2 Yogurt
1/2 Cup of Milk
1/2 A Banana
5gms of Almonds (a handfull)
A Pinch of Cinnamon

Preparation

Step 1

Peel the banana and cut it into pieces.

Step 2

Almonds must be raw. If they have skin, remove it.

Step 3

In the glass of your mixer, pour all the ingredients: yogurt, milk, banana pieces, peeled almonds and cinnamon.

Step 4

Grind very well and serve in a glass.

Zucchini, Carrot And Parmesan Cookies

Zucchini Cookies — Photograph: (Photo by Olia Gozha on Unsplash )

If you are more into savoury flavours, you can choose these nutritious cookies made from products as natural as carrots and zucchini, which are very easy to make. And a smart way to include vegetables in the middle of the morning!

Recipe Information

Ingredients

1 Carrots
1/2 a Zucchini
50gms of Grated Parmesan Cheese

Preparation (20 Minutes)

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 200°C.

Step 2

Peel the carrot and grate it.

Step 3

Wash and grate half a zucchini.

Step 4

Place it in a colander and press it hard to try to drain as much water as possible.

Step 5

In a bowl, mix the carrot and grated zucchini, and add the Parmesan cheese.

Step 6

Spread baking paper on a baking tray.

Step 7

With a spoon, place small balls of the mixture and crush them with a fork.

Step 8

Try to give them the shape of a cookie.

Step 9

Put in the oven for 10 minutes.

Step 10

After that time, turn off the oven, remove the tray and let them cool slightly. Ready!

Homemade Cereal Bars

We know, they are a classic, but cereal bars are wonderful because they provide you with energy and nutrients for your daily activities. But for them to be of excellent quality, take care of making them yourself with first-class ingredients.

Recipe Information

Ingredients

1/2 cup of Cereal
75 grams of Oat Flakes
1 and a half 1/2 tablespoons of Honey
1 and 1/2 tablespoons of Peanut Butter

Preparation (15 Minutes)

Step 1

Pour the cereals and oats into a bowl and stir.

Step 2

In another bowl, mix the honey and peanut butter, and microwave for 40 seconds.

Step 3

After that time, remove from the microwave and stir with a spoon.

Step 4

Pour the honey and peanut butter mixture into the cereal and oat container.

Step 5

Now it's time to make the bars.

Step 6

If you don't have molds (like us), use your hands to pick up a handful of the mixture and try to shape it into a bar.

Step 7

Repeat the operation as many times as you can if you mix it. Let them cool slightly and they are ready.

Spinach and Apple Juice

Spinach Juice — Photograph: (Photo by Monika Grabkowska on Unsplash )

If one day you want to change your piece of fruit for a juice, you can do it with this juice that we will bring you in which we combine fruits and vegetables. An option full of vitamins and minerals with which to cover that moment of hunger that comes in the middle of tomorrow.

Recipe Information

Ingredients (For One Person)

1 Cup of Spinach
1 Apple
1/2 Cucumber
1/2 Celery stalk
1/2 Lemon
Under half a cup of water

Preparation (5 Minutes)

Step 1

Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly and if you want, peel the apple and cucumber.

Step 2

Cut the ingredients into pieces and gradually add them to the blender.

Step 3

When they are ready, add the water (very cold) and stir to mix.

ELLE Collective is a new community of fashion, beauty and culture lovers. For access to exclusive content, events, inspiring advice from our Editors and industry experts, as well the opportunity to meet designers, thought-leaders and stylists, become a member today HERE.

Read the original article in ELLE SPAIN.