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Whether you’re in the mood for a hearty grain bowl, warm soup or towering sandwich, these lunch recipes are for you! These dishes are some of our most popular, so you’ll want to add them to your menu ASAP. Each serving has at least 6 grams of fiber, a nutrient that will help keep you satisfied longer, promotes gut health and can also support weight loss if that is your goal. With flavorful options like Chickpea & Sweet Potato Grain Bowls and Butternut Squash Soup with Apple Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, they’re so delicious, you’ll want to try them all.
Chickpea & Sweet Potato Grain Bowls
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman
This sweet potato and chickpea bowl will make your gut happy! This nutrient-dense bowl is rich in dietary fiber and antioxidants, which support a healthy digestive system. Sorghum, a gluten-free ancient grain, is packed with fiber and essential nutrients that aid digestion and support gut health; the deliciously tangy yogurt-based drizzle offers a probiotic boost.
Creamy White Bean Soup
Photography: Caitlin bensel, Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Prop Styling: Julia Bayless
This light, creamy white bean soup recipe is richly flavored thanks to plenty of beans, veggies and Parmesan cheese.
Butternut Squash Soup with Apple Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Layering apple slices into grilled cheese sandwiches adds a little crunch to a favorite soup dipper. And creamy butternut squash soup with ginger, cumin and turmeric is a nice change of pace from grilled cheese’s usual tomato soup partner. If you have a sensitive palate, you can cut back on the spices. Be sure to use seasonal squash for the best squash flavor. Serve the duo for a comforting and easy weeknight dinner for the family. The soup keeps well in the fridge, so save leftovers for lunch or dinner later in the week.
High-Protein Veggie Sandwich Formula
Ali Redmond
From beans to tofu to tempeh bacon, this high-protein veggie sandwich formula can help mitigate blood sugar spikes and keep you feeling full until your next meal.
Butternut Squash & Black Bean Enchiladas
A crisp, citrusy slaw contrasts nicely with the enchiladas’ creamy squash filling.
Veggie Wraps
Photographer: Brie Goldman, Food Stylist: Annie Probst, Prop Stylist: Joseph Wanek
These wraps are packed with veggies, including zucchini, bell pepper and spinach. The vegetables cook quickly in a skillet, so you can pull together this easy lunch in no time. Hummus adds plant-based protein and keeps the wrap from getting dry.
Weight-Loss Cabbage Soup
Photographer: Grant Webster, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Joseph Wanek,
Loaded with cabbage, carrots, bell pepper and tomato, this healthy cabbage soup recipe packs in lots of flavor and is ultra-satisfying. This easy recipe makes a big batch for lunch or dinner all week. Serve it with a slice of whole-wheat toast or side salad to make it a meal.
Roasted Cauliflower & Potato Curry Soup
Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food Stylist: Lauren McAnelly, Prop Stylist: Maura Timmerman
In this healthy cauliflower soup recipe, roasting the cauliflower first adds depth and prevents the florets from turning to mush. A little tomato sauce and coconut milk give the broth a rich, silky texture. Serve with a dollop of sour cream or yogurt, if desired.
Veggie & Hummus Sandwich
Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey
This mile-high vegetable and hummus sandwich makes the perfect heart-healthy vegetarian lunch to go. Mix it up with different flavors of hummus and different types of vegetables, depending on your mood.
Black Bean-Quinoa Bowl
Photography: Carson Downing, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Gabe Greco
This black bean and quinoa bowl has many of the usual hallmarks of a taco salad, minus the fried bowl. We’ve loaded it up with pico de gallo, fresh cilantro and avocado plus an easy hummus dressing to drizzle on top.
Veggistrone
Think of this vegetable minestrone recipe as a starting point for other healthy soup variations, too: toss in leftover chopped cooked chicken or whole-wheat pasta or brown rice to make it more satisfying.
Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato & Spinach Soup
Loaded with umami from tomatoes, creaminess (and fiber!) from beans and bright flavor and satisfying mouthfeel from lemon, this vegetarian-friendly soup is compulsively eatable. And it could be on your table in 30 minutes. Plus, it’s jam-packed with nutrients from spinach, and we cut the salt by using low-sodium vegetable broth and unsalted cannellini beans.
High-Protein Tuna & Chickpea Salad Sandwich
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
This zesty tuna sandwich gets an extra boost of protein from chickpeas. Smashing some of the chickpeas into the tuna enhances the texture and helps hold the filling together. The combo of garlic and Sriracha adds a delightful kick, but feel free to opt for an alternative hot sauce of your preference or skip it altogether for a milder flavor.
Sheet-Pan Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Styling: Lindsey Lower
Roasting the vegetables in the oven before blending them intensifies their flavors, resulting in a deeply rich and flavorful fall soup. We love the sweet and nutty flavor of butternut squash, but any winter squash with a similar texture, such as acorn, honeynut or kabocha squash, can be used in its place.
Stuffed Sweet Potato with Hummus Dressing
Ali Redmond
Hearty yet simple to prepare, this stuffed sweet potato with black beans, kale and hummus dressing is a fantastic 5-ingredient lunch for one!
Bean & Barley Soup
This hearty bean and barley soup tastes like it has simmered for hours, but actually it’s quite quick to throw together. Plus this recipe for healthy bean and barley soup freezes beautifully.
Lemony Lentil Salad with Feta
This delicious and healthy lentil salad comes together in just 30 minutes and makes a wonderful hot-weather meal. Serve with whole-wheat pitas, if desired.