5 Healthy & Tasty Lunches for People Who Hate Salad

Today’s guest post is from Kathy Mitchell, a writer and avid researcher on beauty, nutrition, and wellness. She is a regular contributor a Consumer Health Digest. Thank you Kathy!

For most people, a salad represents the perfect choice for a quick lunch. However, if you are not a fan of salad, it is quite clear that you need to find other lunch ideas. To come to your rescue, here are five healthy and tasty lunches, which will help you get through the rest of the day. These contain only the best ingredients, so you do not have to worry about affecting your diet. Moreover, they are rich in taste and colorful in presentation, so you can have a nice meal each and every day.

#1 Burrito bowl with chicken, fresh veggies, and rice

For this recipe, which can be easily integrated into the best diet plan, you will require the following ingredients: olive oil (2 tbsp.), chicken breast (1/2), salt and pepper (to taste), salad dressing (1/3 cup), brown rice (4 cups, cooked), tomatoes (2), black beans (2 cups), corn (2 cups), avocado (1, ripe), cheese (1 cup, shredded), lime (1, juiced), fresh cilantro (3 tbsp.). The recipe is intended for four portions (bowls).

You can begin preparing this recipe by cutting the chicken breast into pieces and seasoning it with salt and pepper. Cook the seasoned chicken breast in a heated skillet, to which olive oil was previously added. Set the cooked chicken breast aside and assemble your bowl. Add, in each of the four bowls, the cooked brown rice, diced tomatoes, black beans, and corn. The avocado slices should come on top, as well as the cheese and cilantro. Add lime juice and salad dressing. Serve and enjoy!

#2 Zucchini noodles with kale pesto

This recipe is intended for two portions, requiring the preparation of both the zucchini noodles and kale pesto. These are the ingredients you will require for the kale pesto: kale leaves (3 cups, chopped), fresh basil leaves (3/4 cup), salt (1 tsp.), olive oil (1/3 cup), pine nuts (1/4 cup), garlic cloves (5, chopped) and Parmesan cheese (3 oz., grated). For the zucchini noodles, you will need zucchini (4, medium), olive oil (2 tbsp.), cherry tomatoes (2 cups), salt and pepper (to taste), Parmesan cheese (2 oz., grated).

You can begin preparing the kale pesto by mixing the kale leaves with the basil and salt, using a blender or a food processor. Incorporate the olive oil and continue mixing. Add the chopped garlic and pine nuts, mixing for a little bit more (you should obtain a grainy texture). Last, add the grated Parmesan cheese and mix until it is well integrated into the pesto.

Prepare the zucchini noodles with the help of a spiralizer, and then cook them in a heated pan, together with the pesto and tomatoes. Add the parmesan and cook everything for a little bit more. Serve and enjoy!

#3 Roasted salmon with herbs and potatoes

This recipe is intended for two portions. These are the ingredients you will require: lemon (1, juiced), sea salt (1 ½), potatoes (2 oz.), olive oil (3 tbsp.), black pepper (to taste), salmon fillets (2), tarragon sprigs (2), parsley (3 tbsp.), basil leaves (8), garlic clove (1). You can also prepare a delicious dressing, using: watercress (1 cup), mixed greens (1 cup), parsley (1/2 cup), orange (1/2, zest & juice), lemon (1/2, zest & juice), mustard (2 tbsp.), olive oil (1/4 cup), salt (to taste), black pepper (to taste).

You can begin the preparation of this recipe by coating the potatoes with sea salt, black pepper, lemon juice and olive oil. Roast these in the oven, until they are golden and tender. Season the salmon fillets with salt and pepper, then prepare the herb mixture and cook the salmon in the oven. Set aside and prepare the dressing, combining all ingredients. Serve and enjoy!

#4 Soba noodles with chicken (spicy)

This recipe is intended for four portions. These are the ingredients you will require: soba noodles (1 package), oil (for cooking), tamari soy sauce (2 tbsp.), Chinkiang vinegar (4 tbsp.), sugar (1 tsp.), salt (to taste), chili oil (4 tbsp.), garlic (2 tsp., chopped), spring onion (5 tbsp., green), chicken (cooked & shredded), fresh red chili (2 tsp.).

You can begin preparing this recipe by cooking the soba noodles, by the instructions on the package. Place the noodles in a bowl, then add the rest of the ingredients and mix well. Add the shredded chicken on top, serve and enjoy!

#5 Creamy mac & cheese

This recipe is intended for four to six portions. These are the ingredients you will require: whole wheat pasta or gluten free (8 oz.), cheddar cheese (8 oz.), yogurt (1/2 cup, Greek), fresh spinach (2 cups), salt & pepper (to taste), onion powder (1/4 tsp.), garlic powder (1/4 tsp.).

You can begin preparing this recipe by cooking the pasta, according to the instructions on the package. Wilt the spinach and transfer it to the pot, together with the drained pasta. Add some of the pasta water, the cheese, yogurt, and rest of the ingredients. Serve and enjoy!

These are some of the recipes that you have to try, in case you are not a fan of salads. As you have seen, these are not difficult to prepare, and they contain only healthy ingredients. If you want to obtain optimum health, you can also consider adding supplements for nutrients that are difficult to get from food alone.

References:

Image source: Shutterstock

https://www.buzzfeed.com/nataliebrown/21-healthier-eats-for-people-who-hate-salad?utm_term=.pbA9VRMO5#.pi431nV0g

http://cookingalamel.com/2013/08/creamy-greek-yogurt-mac-cheese.html

Author Bio:

Kathy Mitchell is a writer and avid researcher on the subject of Beauty, nutrition and general wellness. She likes to go out with her friends, travel, swim and practice yoga. In her free time, you can find Kathy curled up reading her favorite novel, or writing in her journal. She is regular Contributor at Consumer Health Digest. To know more about her follow her on Google+, Facebook and Twitter.