These satisfyingly creative, good for you refuellers will get you through even the most arduous of admin sessions…
GRILLED STRAWBERRY CHICKEN KEBABS
Pop some diced chicken and some fresh strawberries on a skewer, drizzle over a coconut oil and cinnamon dressing, season, grill, then serve on a bed of lettuce with some balsamic vinegar. Your colleagues will be agog at your barbecue-style brashness.
SALAMI AND CREAM CHEESE SANDWICH
Who needs New York delis when you can fake one of their legendary lunches at home? Dab grainy mustard on your rye bread and you’ve got a super sarnie.
LE FRENCH TUNA SALAD SANDWICH
Our European counterparts make a mean tuna niçoise, but this pan bagnat (the sandwich version of the salad) takes it to new levels. So satisfying, you’ll be able to skip that side of crisps at lunch.
HARISSA SPICED VEGGIE PITTAS
Simply roast some veg the night before, store in the fridge, then take to work alongside a pitta or two to toast. Construct your masterpiece in full view of everyone for best effect.
PEA AND CHICKPEA PASTA SALAD
Pasta salads make fantastic little lunch feasts – you can make a big batch and serve them up hot or cold. Rather than a heavy sauce, go for a cheeky squeeze of lemon juice and mustard for a lighter, lunch-friendly option.
VIETNAMESE PHO JAR
Meet the fancy pot noodle – a mix-up of rice noodles, miso, chilli, lime, beansprouts and spicy prawns. (Kilner jar optional – it tastes just as good from Tupperware!)
MINI FRITTATAS
Via tablespoon.com
Make a job lot of these and you can have them for breakfast, brunch and dinner (just maybe not on the same day). Spicy chorizo, mozzarella, protein-rich eggs… It’s the lunch of legends (and breakfast, and tea)…
INSTANT POHA
Not to be confused with pho, this is an Indian-inspired dish that uses curry leaves, lentils and poha (flattened rice). Just add hot water, fluff and scoff – perfect idea for lunch on the go.
AVOCADO AND CUCUMBER SOUP
This no-cook soup takes approximately two minutes to make. Blitz your avo and cucumber in a blender and serve chilled. Go crazy with toppings or add some sesame rice cakes on the side.
CRANBERRY, WALNUT AND CHICKPEA SALAD SANDWICH
Add some crunch to your lunch with this fruit and nut veggie filling. If you’re no-carbing it, wrap it inside some lettuce leaves for a more saintly alternative.
STACKED SALMON SALAD
We bet your peers never thought of swapping their thick sliced loaf for two salmon fillets. Layer with avocado, squash, sweet peppers and spinach for a healthy, restaurant-worthy dish that can be constructed any time, anywhere.
CAULIFLOWER TABBOULEH WITH RAISINS AND PISTACHIOS
Cauliflower is the trendy new grain replacement, so show your co-workers how ahead of the times you are with this zesty salad dish you can live off for a week.
CHICKEN AND HUMMUS WRAPS
It’s hardly rocket science but sometimes you don’t need a fancy-pants lunch for it to be delicious and tempting – especially when there are soft floury tortillas involved!
SWEET AND SOUR BROCCOLI SALAD
Say the word ‘salad’ and it can conjure up images of soggy lettuce, but not this broccoli-based bad boy. Its sticky sweet and sour sauce gives it the kick you need to machete through to home time.