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Whether you’re looking for a healthy lunch for work or a lunchbox for the kids, these delicious, healthy lunch ideas are all the inspiration you'll need. See more healthy recipes.
Upgrade your beans on toast with this delicious Greek-inspired dish. Packing in three of your 5-a-day, this healthy dish makes a lovely lunch, light dinner or even a weekend brunch.
This spicy sausage ragu with spirali is a flavour-packed family-favourite
Savoy cabbage is popular for its deep green, tender leaves and mild, earthy flavour. Sautéed and partnered with a refreshingly zesty dressing, it makes for a delicious, healthy lunch or side dish and can be rustled up in just twenty minutes.
Beans on toast but make it fresh! This zingy, flavour-packed dish makes a lovely healthy brunch or light lunch. Frozen soya beans are boiled until tender and smashed with lemon, kefir yogurt and fresh dill. We've topped ours with smoked salmon and toasted pumpkin seeds for crunch, but you could easily omit the smoked salmon to create a veggie dish.
Make these colourful egg pots ahead of time and you'll have 4 nutritious breakfasts for the week. Each pot provides 2 of your 5-a-day, vitamin C and a hit of protein for an energising and delicious start to the day.
This braaibroodjie is the ultimate cheese toastie. Inspired by South African cuisine, our sharing version is filled with tomatoes, onions and apple chutney then barbecued over hot coals until slightly charred and melty. It's great for a casual barbecue and kids will love all the cheese pulls!
Fill fluffy bao buns with sweet and sticky glazed hoisin aubergine. Bursting with bold and complex Chinese flavours, these delightful bites make great party food (they're vegan-friendly) or an interesting snack, lunch or even breakfast!
Chef and food writer Omar Foster uses his Pakistan heritage to create his signature fusion cooking style. 'Chapli kababs conjure up such fond memories from childhood. I could – and still can – eat platefuls! Typically, these kababs wouldn’t be eaten as a burger but these feel like a more flavourful version of a classic patty', explains Omar. These mini sliders would make epic summer party food.
Full of fresh summer flavours, these simple fritters make an interesting appetizer or side. The cherry vine tomatoes give a burst of sweetness that balances well with the zesty lemon and tangy salad cheese. Serve with new potatoes and tzatziki for a filling lunch or dinner.
Baked fish makes such a lovely quick dinner – it's easier than you think to cook too, you just need to pack in the flavour when using white fish fillets. Step in our punchy seed and courgette pesto that creates a tasty and crunchy topping. Serve with a dressed salad of potatoes, tomatoes and rocket for a light and healthy summery meal.
Bánh mì is a delicious Vietnamese baguette sandwich, stuffed with quick-pickled veg and juicy chunks of meat. Start by making the pickles: mix the carrot, spring onion and cucumber with sugar, vinegar and fish sauce. Next, grill the meat after rubbing it in delicious spices. This could fast become your new favourite lunch!
This classic Italian salad gets an upgrade with the help of crispy, skin-on chicken breasts, salty olives and capers
Slow-roasted until mouthwateringly tender and rubbed in a blend of fragrant herbs, this Italian-inspired pork is perfect for elevating your classic Sunday roast.
These crispy stuffed olives are seriously worth the hype. Make a garlic and cheese sauce to fill your olives, then coat in golden breadcumbs. We like to use an air-fryer to cook these to get them extra crispy.
A delicious seafood starter for a springtime weekend lunch. Satisfying and fresh, these crispy sourdough bruschettas are made with thinly sliced fennel, sweet crab, lemon and olive oil. Top tip: if you haven't any dill, use the fennel fronds instead.
This quick and easy pasta sauce recipe is perfect for a speedy midweek meal. Arrabbiata is a classic Italian spicy sauce made of tomatoes, chilli and garlic. We’ve added black olives and a sprinkling of basil and Parmesan to make it that bit more special.
A summer party just wouldn't be complete without a selection of delicious finger sandwiches. Taking just 10 minutes to make, these savoury snacks are packed with herby cream cheese, refreshing cucumber and punchy Marmite and will keep guests coming back.
Make family dinner a flavour fiesta with this simple chorizo frittata. We've used tinned potatoes because they have a great bite to them. Serve alongside chopped tomatoes and homemade garlic mayo for dipping.
‘Chow is a street food snack that’s common in Trinidad,' says food writer Riaz Phillips. 'It’s a nice palate-cleansing "dessert" that isn't overly sweet. You could also add garlic and serve it as a side dish.'
We've taken the bold and fragrant flavours of a classic Greek salad and turned it into a filling meal with baked baby potatoes. We've swapped traditional feta for reduced-fat salad cheese that's baked whole with herbs, seeds and spice – the result is a lovely, healthy summery meal you can enjoy for lunch or later.
Chilli and lime is a classic combo for barbecued prawns and these skewers can be griddled or cooked over the coals, making them a versatile summer dish. This recipe includes baked potato wedges, try adding a green salad or seasonal veg for a balanced family meal.
This fresh and flavoursome salad is a true celebration of spring, with a trio of seasonal veg including British asparagus. Homemade croutons add a simple, yet special finish touch, while the charred veg and raw, shaved asparagus provides an interesting mix of textures. What a great alfresco lunch.
If you love anchovies on pizza, you'll go mad for this delicious and easy recipe, made with shop-bought sourdough pizza bases and loaded with bold Med flavours. There are Kalamata olives, capers, cannellini beans and plenty of vibrant veg – this is a pizza and a half! What's more, you'll have leftover veg for a tasty jambalaya (see step 4, below).
Try something new with your roast this Sunday by making our air-fryer roast potatoes
Avocado and spinach make a great purée for babies, full of green goodness yet deliciously creamy. This baby food recipe is suitable for weaning from around 6 months* and you can purée all the avocado or cut one into wedges to serve as finger food. Freeze portions in an ice cube tray for nutritious baby food whenever you need it.
Hearty and wholesome, this sweet potato and lentil dish is great for babies from around 6 months* or you can shape into balls, bake and serve as a finger food. This is a great weaning recipe for batch-cooking – store in the fridge or freeze for future meals.
Looking for lunch ideas for a 7 month old? These tasty mini fish cakes are ideal for little eaters, suitable from 7+ months weaning stage*. Made with just 5 ingredients in just over half an hour, they're quick and easy too. You can serve them as mash, if you prefer.
These little omelette bites make ideal baby weaning food, suitable from 7+ months stage*, but toddlers will love them too. Protein-rich with some hidden veg, these are great for a quick and tasty lunch or even a picnic. You can even air-fry them if you want or bake them in the oven.
Cauliflower purée is a brilliant, nutritious baby weaning food to serve to little ones from around 6 months* and you can reserve some florets to serve as finger food, if you want. Just grab a cauliflower head and in 10 minutes you'll have a lovely creamy purée. You can freeze portions too.
Puréed broccoli is an excellent, nutrient-rich baby weaning food to serve to little ones from around 6 months*. You can purée the whole broccoli head or save some florets to steam and serve as finger food. You only need one ingredient and 10 minutes and you have a great dish for little ones and you can freeze leftovers too!
A tapas classic, pan-fried prawns are quick, easy and bursting with flavours of the Mediterranean
Prepare the light, delicate flavours of the Mediterranean in just 25 minutes with this sea bass and potato salad dish
You can rustle up this healthy, Mexican-inspired burrito bowl in just over half an hour. Using frozen veg and rice, it's quick and easy to prepare, ideal for a tasty midweek meal or relaxed weekend food. Serving six, there's plenty to go round or save some leftovers for lunch the next day.