Seven Nutritious Weeknight Meals That Are Great For Tomorrow's Lunchbox!
More time. That’s what we all want right? More time and less stress. Below you’ll find seven of our favourite nutritious, weeknight meals that are easy to transform into a delicious lunch for the next day. By planning ahead a little and choosing versatile recipes, we can save ourselves a lot of time during the week and take away the stress of having to decide what to cook each day.
South West Chicken Meal Prep Bowls
These tasty bowls take around an hour to prepare but are relatively low-effort so you don’t have to sweat it out by the stove the whole time. They can be made ahead on the weekend too if that suits you better! Can be enjoyed warm or cold the next day.
Old favourite shepherd’s pie gets a twist here with sweet potato mash! It’s a little labour intensive with all that stirring and mashing, but it can be made in advance and stored in the freezer for up to two months. Best served hot with a fresh green salad or steamed veggies.
**Use lentils instead of beef mince to make it plant-based.
Crispy Chickpeas with Cauliflower & Yoghurt
Versatile chickpeas star alongside nutty roasted cauliflower and fresh fennel in this quick and easy dish that can be enjoyed on its own or as a side. Enjoy it the next day for lunch as it is or turn it into a wrap for a flavorful meal you can eat on the go.
This edamame and quinoa salad is a good source of protein and is full of fresh flavours, making it perfect for warmer weather. It’s a good salad to make ahead of time as none of the ingredients are likely to go soggy and you can keep a jar of the dressing in the fridge for up to three days. Easily add other ingredients like grated carrot, fresh tomato, diced cucumber or tofu if you want to turn it into a main course.
These lentil meatballs take a little over half an hour to prepare and can be served with a fresh tomato sauce and spaghetti or mashed potato. You could also serve them with a fresh salad or steamed vegetables. For an easy lunch add them to a wholewheat wrap with smashed avocado, spinach and fresh tomato. Make these versatile balls in a big batch so you have plenty in the freezer ready to go when you need a quick midweek meal.
Roasted Cauliflower Burrito Bowl
This burrito bowl is family friendly and takes just half an hour to make. Cut down on cooking time by using frozen cauliflower and tinned black beans. In the morning wrap the leftovers in a tortilla for a yummy lunch burrito.
One pan meals are great for those nights where you just need to chuck something on so you can get back to whatever else you’ve got on. This lemon spiced chicken is so easy- simply place the ingredients in a roasting pan, drizzle with the marinade and bake for half an hour. The leftovers would be great in a salad, roast chicken sandwich or just as they are the next day.