The summer months can do funny things to your appetite. For some, the heat can prompt an increase in appetite, but for others, it can slow it down. Although our appetites may vary, there’s one thing most of us have in common; an unmistakable affinity for good food.
Lunch offers the perfect chance to quench those fickle “midday summer taste buds”. Here are some super quick, yummy and healthy lunch options to add to your recipe “go-to” list.
1. Not Your Everyday Veggie Burger
Top veggie patty with 1/4 cup roasted red peppers, 2 tsp sriracha mayo, and 4 cucumber slices in a whole wheat bun. Red onions and lettuce are optional. Serve with 5 celery sticks 1 tbsp. peanut butter.
2. Mediterranean Salad
2 cups spring mix lettuce
1/4 cup of hummus
1/2 cup chopped cucumber
1/2 cup canned chickpeas
Partially toasted pita, torn into pieces
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice or low-fat greek salad dressing
3. Quick Burrito Bowl
Cooked brown rice topped with 1 cup of peppers and onions (simmered in 1 teaspoon of olive oil), 3 ounces grilled chicken, and 1/4 cup fresh salsa. Tomatoes and black beans are optional.
4. Sweet Potato Extraordinaire
Small sweet potato topped with a 1/4 cup of your favorite canned chili and a quarter of an avocado, diced. Paired with a 5-ounce portion of Greek yogurt and cranberries or raspberries.
5. Summer Squash Spaghetti
Stir 1/2 cup zucchini noodles, 4 large grilled shrimp, 5 cherry tomatoes, and 2 tablespoons of pesto into 1/2 cup of cooked whole-grain spaghetti.
Check out this recipe for Spaghetti Squash as well!
6. Barbeque Chicken Wrap
Fill a small whole-wheat tortilla with 3 ounces grilled chicken, 1 cup spinach, and 1 tablespoon barbecue sauce, paired with 4 carrot sticks with 2 tablespoons of your favorite low fat dressing.
7. Turkey Avocado Sandwich
Toast a whole-grain English muffin and fill it with 2 ounces sliced turkey, a quarter of an avocado and 1 cup of arugula.
Check out these Yummy Recipes to Fill Your Summer Plate!
• Arugula Shrimp Salad
• Curry Shrimp Kebobs
• Asparagus with Bacon
29 thoughts on “7 Healthy Summer Lunch Ideas to Make in a Snap”
Thanks for the lunch ideas. I’m going to make the sweet potato extraordinairre.
Oh! I’m so happy for this list! I always look for easy stuff to make that are healthy!
I love a delicious salad as a lunch during the summer months. I’ll have to try out some of your other suggestions.
I would love to try the BBQ chicken wqrap, sounds delicious. Thanks for the great list of yummy dishes.
These are some great quick and easy ideas for lunch! I’m always looking for new ideas so I definitely appreciate this post.
Burrito bowls are always my go to lunch when I can’t think of something to make. It really is a yummy idea!
These are some quick, worthy & healthy lunch ideas for summer. I always love taking different salads & the Mediterranean Salad sounds really good. And I would love that Turkey Avocado Sandwich as well.
I bet the arugula shrimp salad would be good
These are so cute! I love these ideas. I need some new ones for my husband’s work.
These all look so delicious. I am definitely going to try the Sweet Potato Extraordinaire.
I am always looking for creative and quick meal ideas. Thanks for this. I really need to try out the burrito bowl. Sounds wonderful
Babushka’s more of an “Old Cuban Cuisine” sorta gal, but these recipes you got here?? Que Rico!!! Gotta pin them to have on hand- especially during the Florida Heatwave days. Gracias y BB2U
The turkey avocado sandwich sounds amazing! I actually make a version of that quite often. I can’t wait to try some of you other ideas as well!
I love these ideas! I’m always looking for some great summer recipes that are easy and quick to make. Sometimes I just don’t have the time to make anything, so something quick is nice.
I see a few of these that I want to try out. I’m always looking for new inspiration in the kitchen.
I love burrito bowls for a quick and easy meal. It’s so easy to switch them up and put in whatever you have on hand.
Thanks for collating all these recipes. I love sweet potatoes and any other quick recipe that would be healthy and filling. I will checking these out!
Those sounds like very yummy lunches to make 🙂
Oh wow! Thank you for all the ideas, I’m running out of recipes to cook during this season. Everything on the list seems light enough for summer but also very filling.
absolutely love the sweet potato! I made a sweet potato tuna sandwich once. Not bad at all!
I will sometimes eat a sweet potato for lunch. They are delicious. I also use heat up meals.
A Mediterranean or fruit salad are so yummy. I love a light and refreshing salad in the summer.
I had a vegan burger topped with Asian salad tonight for dinner. It was amazing. I’ll try your sweet potato recipe because I’m crazy about those things!
#3 and #7 sound great to me! I wouldn’t mind either one of those right about now!
I feel like I am always in a rush, so I love all of your ideas. I will trying some for sure.
What a delicious and healthy line up!! Some of combinations are a little unique but they all sound delicious.
Make in a snap? Well the title right there makes me happy. These all look great! I could sure go for a quick burrito bowl right now! How delicious!
That Mediterranean salad sounds wonderful. I’m visiting Phoenix right now and I’ve been craving something cool and light. This has all my favorite things!
All of these sound great, but I’m drawn to the sweet potato. It’s my favorite starchy veggie.