Switch up your lunch routine to keep from feeling lethargic by 3 pm. Try these nutritious, low-carb dishes for energy without all those carbs!
Bring gourmet chicken salads, hearty soups, wraps and other easy-to-prepare meals back into the mix for dinnertime enjoyment!
1. Chicken Salad with Pomegranate Vinaigrette
This healthy salad makes an excellent low-carb lunch choice as it includes leafy greens, protein and nutrient-rich ingredients like pomegranate. The sweet and tart vinaigrette perfectly balances its flavors to complement all these hearty ingredients – if pomegranates are not to your taste simply switch out their seeds for chopped walnuts or feta cheese instead!
Incorporating an array of herbs and spices, this lean pork dish boasts incredible flavor. Serve it alongside roasted veggies or cauliflower rice for an optimal nutritional and healthy fats intake.
Make-ahead meals can make your mornings easier by being prepared ahead of time and stored in easy-to-transport jars for convenient consumption on-the-go. From salads and soups, to casseroles and stir fry dishes – everything from salads and soups can last in the fridge up to several days, while casseroles and stir fry dishes taste just as great when heated back up later on!
2. Chicken in Peanut Sauce
Low carb lunch recipes should be simple, nutritious and delicious. Look for dishes you can easily prep in advance (like salads, soups or stir fries ) that you can store in the fridge as well as ones that fit comfortably into an adult lunchbox.
For this chicken-based recipe, skinless boneless chicken breasts are seasoned with salt, pepper and garlic before being baked with a peanut sauce to create crispy skinless boneless breasts with sweet flavors without using refined sugars.
If you prefer more spicy peanut sauces, add sriracha or chili garlic paste as an ingredient to spice things up a bit more. Or substitute chicken with shrimp or diced pork tenderloin for an Asian-inspired meal!
3. Salmon Chowder with Cauliflower Rice
Discover a delicious low-carb lunch option by mixing hearty salmon soup with creamy cauliflower rice for a low-carb lunch that’s healthy and delicious. Salmon soup provides omega-3 fatty acids (which reduce inflammation) and fiber to your diet, and adding herbs like dill or tarragon will bring out its full flavor while creating a warm and comforting meal!
If you enjoy cold soups, this tasty no-cook gazpacho recipe should definitely be on your radar. Packed with nutritious veggies yet boasting only half the carbs found in traditional gazpacho, this easy and no-cook dish makes an ideal healthy lunch option that works perfectly for work or school lunches!
This quick and delicious lean, protein-packed dish comes together quickly. Plus, its healthy fats make for a nutritious addition. Feel free to substitute shrimp or pork tenderloin if sausage isn’t your cup of tea!
4. Shrimp with Avocado and Cucumber
If you need an easy and nutritious low carb lunch option, look no further than this delicious salad! Creamy avocado pairs wonderfully with crisp radishes and greens while the shrimp provides protein-packed boost. Enjoy it as either a salad or inside crunchy lettuce wraps for maximum health benefits.
Bring your zoodle game up a notch with this delicious dish featuring spiralized zucchini and sauteed garlic shrimp served in an irresistibly flavorful sauce. Packed full of vitamin C and folate from the zucchini and omega-3s and potassium from the shrimp, this meal packs in all-around nutrition!
Roll lean protein and fresh herbs together into large collard green leaves before topping with shaved Parmesan cheese and zesty lemon dressing to create this healthy lunch option. A great way to use up leftover chicken, this will keep you satisfied until dinner time!
5. Turkey Larb with Coconut Cauliflower Rice
If you’re craving a crunchy salad that feels light yet filling, give this low carb lunch recipe a try! This refreshing mix of sweet berries and arugula paired with crunchy pistachios and goat cheese offers a tasty bite while being blood sugar friendly!
Coconut rice makes an easy swap for brown, and pairs perfectly with stews, sauces and stir fries – particularly African peanut stew or Thai peanut sauce roasted shredded chicken with vegetables.
This lemongrass chicken and veggie stir fry is an easy way to pack in plenty of veggies and protein for an energizing lunch, and makes an excellent make-ahead option that you can take on the go! Make a batch at the beginning of the week and eat throughout the week or pack leftovers; enjoy this dish’s flavors from takeout egg rolls without all of their carbs; this dish also works well as an alternative to traditional fried rice or noodles that often have higher carbohydrates levels!
6. Grilled Salmon with Parmesan Kale
Have you fallen into a meal rut and find yourself eating the same thing week after week? Spice things up by exploring these tasty options that have low net carb counts.
This delicious salmon salad features an easy homemade vinaigrette made with kale, Parmesan cheese and pumpkin seeds – an ideal low-carb lunch that can be enjoyed either hot or at room temperature!
Classic tuna salad often boasts mayonnaise as its main component; this lighter variation uses vinegar along with ingredients like avocados, tomatoes, radicchio, and kalamata olives to pack in flavor without adding extra calories – this healthy meal only contains 18 grams of carbohydrates per serving!
7. Summer Squash Salad with Almond Dressing
A delicious summer salad gets an update with this low-carb recipe! Crispy radicchio, sweet avocado and crunchy pepitas add crunch, while fresh kale, cucumbers, red onion and tomatoes provide crunchiness and crispiness respectively. A homemade dill pickle relish vinaigrette finishes off this healthy lunch option for an ideal healthy lunch option.
Switching out traditional ingredients for healthier ones is an effective way to control carbs. From swapping out buns for lettuce leaves or replacing rice with cauliflower rice or replacing pasta with zucchini noodles – these recipes keep carbs at a minimum and taste amazing.
Make these quick jar salads packed with protein and veggies as a quick lunch solution! Make a batch at the start of the week, store in your fridge, and grab and go. This savory chicken and veggie curry offers loads of flavor yet only has 6g net carbs per serving – enjoy over cauliflower rice or veggie stir-fry for a satisfying but light lunch option!
8. Beet and Goat Cheese Salad
When trying to cut back on carbs, finding filling meals that won’t compromise on taste can be challenging. These nourishing salads and wraps will definitely satisfy, plus they come ready-packed in easy-to-carry jars for easy transport!
Lean turkey makes for a delicious alternative to beef in this hearty recipe, enhanced with peppery arugula, roasted pistachios, and crumbled goat cheese for extra flavor! Even better is its short prep time: this healthy lunch can be ready in less than 30 minutes!
Creamy casseroles are surprisingly low-carb meals. Tender chicken breast and zucchini come together with an irresistibly rich sauce made up of Parmesan and garlic for an indulgent and comforting dish that can be baked ahead of time and portioned out as lunches for the week ahead.
This summer salad is an epic carb-free feast. Crisp heirloom tomatoes, pickled beets, crunchy mini seedless cucumbers and buttery Castelvetrano olives come together in this flavorful combination topped off with an irresistibly bright vinaigrette made of homemade dill pickle relish and mayonnaise for maximum deliciousness!
9. Grilled Shrimp with Avocado and Cucumber
This low carb lunch recipe offers a healthy alternative to takeout. Featuring grilled shrimp, rice vermicelli noodles, cucumbers and tomatoes with pomegranate vinaigrette as an addition, and ready in less than 20 minutes- it makes this quick meal prep option the ideal quick fix for busy days!
This satisfying low carb meal features portabella mushroom caps, sauteed spinach and Havarti cheese for maximum variety in flavors and textures. A delicious sauce made of dill pickles, shallots and lemon juice provides additional richness without additional carbs.
Make these recipes ahead of time and pack them for weekday lunches to reduce food waste and save time in the mornings! With low-carb lunch ideas like these, you are sure to lose weight, maintain stable blood sugar levels, and be full until dinner time arrives!