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What’s the one thing most of us work for?
Food, shelter, and clothing, right?
Regarding food, lunch is one of the most important meals of the day as it provides the body with energy and nutrients to keep the body and brain working efficiently throughout the day.
Packing lunch is a daily activity that provides nutrients and energy to keep the body running. The quick lunch ideas allow you to exercise control over which ingredients you wish to include.
But what happens when you skip lunch?
Most working people think they can ride through the day by skipping lunch. But that’s not as simple as it might seem. Skipping lunch is like going on a fast which might cause hunger pangs and mood swings.
Your body has evolved to survive, and going without eating one of the three important meals will make you crave and think about food all day long. This will lead to deterioration in your performance at whatever task you put yourself to.
Glucose is the exclusive fuel of the brain, and it often gets compromised within four to six hours of skipping lunch. That’s because glucose stored in the liver as glycogen runs out during this time, and when the blood glucose dips too low, the glycogen gets depleted, and the body turns to less efficient fueling.
Moreover, skipping lunch entails binge eating, unhealthy snacking, or overeating by evening. Skipping lunch will catch up with you in the form of weakness and make it difficult for you to regulate your weight.
A well-balanced lunch consists of protein, sources of fiber, carbohydrates, vegetables, and healthy fats.
Why do people skip lunch?
If you are working, you know getting out of bed and dragging yourself to work is a task; where do you get the time and energy to make lunch from? Unfortunately, most working individuals are so focused on making it to work on time or balancing work and routine that they don’t make time for lunch.
While for some, planning what to make is a tedious process. Need more time and lunch ideas? We got you with our five-ingredient lunches recipe!
Here are 15 quick lunches ideas that you are five ingredient lunches recipe:
1. Spinach Parmesan Pasta
This pasta with spinach and parmesan is legendary. Ask Popeye, the sailor man, if you don’t trust me. I’m confident he approves!
All you need for this dish is spinach, garlic, butter, Parmesan, and the pasta of your choosing. Despite being vegetarian, even meat lovers will become addicted to this five-ingredient spinach parmesan pasta.
2. Taco casserole
We are introducing this wonderfully filling and enticing taco dish. It has all of the taco favorites and more.
Think of this dish as a casserole that combines tacos with pizza. Ground beef taco mix, salsa, and cheese are the toppings, and the shell is composed of crescent roll dough.
Although this recipe calls for six servings, we will be okay if you eat it yourself!
3. Rice and Coconut Curry
Coconut curry is quick to make and is one of the best quick lunch ideas. It is a creamy dish with chickpeas, broccoli, carrots, coconut curry sauce, and rice. You can also add some chicken on the side for extra flavor.
The flavors of this curry are so simple yet complex that most people are surprised it can be made with just five ingredients.
4. No-peek chicken
This 10-minute, 5-ingredient quick lunches idea is easy, delicious, and perfect for lunch! The five main ingredients of this recipe are chicken, rice, mushroom, celery, and onion soup or onion gravy to give it a powerful, aromatic, delicious punch.
5. Drumstick leaves paratha
Made with drumstick leaves, spices, green chilies, whole wheat flour, and curd, this paratha recipe is protein-rich and great for quick and easy lunch with high nutrition.
6. Chicken with sweet potatoes
Caramelized sweet potatoes, red onion, rice, chicken, and mixed greens make for the perfect quick, nutrient-packed lunch with five simple ingredients.
7. Dal tadka/ Spiced Lentils
You have yet to learn how delicious and easy to make a dal tadka can be for lunch. Take some lentils, garlic cloves, red chilies, cumin seeds, and onions in a pressure cooker. Add some spices and adequate water and close the lid. Let it cook in the steam and serve with piping hot rice. It’s one of the most straightforward yet delicious Indian lunch recipes.
8. Potato curry
You need potatoes, tomatoes, onions, cumin seeds, spices, and ginger-garlic paste to cook this delicious and nutrient-rich recipe. Served with either roti or rice, potato curry is a cult favorite lunch recipe in India as one of the quick lunches ideas.
9. Lemon rice
Healthy carbs are essential, and what better than rice to incorporate your daily carbs during lunch? Lemon rice is a south Indian staple recipe that can be easily made with rice, mustard seeds, curry leaves, lemon juice, and split black gram. Garnish the rice with chopped coriander, and add some green chili for that extra taste.
10. Sweet and Savory puffed rice
Puffed rice is also poha, a breakfast staple in western India. However, sweet and savory puffed rice is perfect for lunch as it won’t make you feel dizzy or heavy and can be prepared with just five ingredients in 15 minutes.
All you need is some puffed rice, onion, grated coconut, green chilies, and jaggery. The onion and spices will be counterbalanced with jaggery, making this a light yet filling lunch combination.
11. Vegetable sandwich
The beauty of a sandwich is that it can be had for breakfast, lunch, or dinner! It is an easy and versatile recipe for which you can use healthy brown bread, vegetables of your choice, mayonnaise for binding, cheese, and butter. It is healthy fats and is filling to get you through the day.
12. Vegetarian Omletee (Besan ka cheela)
The ingredients required for this tummy-filling lunch recipe are chickpea flour, chopped tomatoes, green chilies, salt, and onions. Mix these very well with water and cook on a pan with as little as a spoonful of oil. This five-ingredient lunches recipe is a cult favorite!
13. Egg roll
Two eggs, chapatti/roti, chopped onion, capsicum, salt & pepper can go a long way to extinguish your hunger and make for a nutritious and yummy lunch recipe. All it takes is beating the eggs with onions and capsicum, putting it on a pan with roti, and rolling it into a tasty roll.
14. Fried Rice
Fried rice is the perfect combination of vegetables, healthy fat, and carbohydrates. You can make this five-ingredient lunch recipe using rice, spices, onions, beans, and carrots, and whisk in an egg for protein. You can also use brown rice to make it healthier.
15. Quinoa
Who says Mexican food is always loaded with sour cream and cheese? Instead, you can make healthy, filling Mexican quinoa with spice and tang while satisfying your body’s protein needs. In addition, Quinoa is a calcium-rich rice alternative if you feel droopy after rice consumption. All it takes is quinoa, tomatoes, green chilies, corn, and beans.
Final Buttering Words!
Amongst other quick lunch recipes, you can opt for porridge, rice and lentil curry, healthy salads, tacos, and quesadillas. We hope this blog encourages you to make savory, healthy lunches with these ideas. Happy cooking, happier eating!
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