5 Lunch Ideas for Office (That Don't Smell!)
We’ve all been in this dreaded situation before. It's lunchtime, and your colleague eagerly heads to the microwave, ready to heat his leftovers of…fish and broccoli. While he may derive all the pleasure from eating a tasty and healthy meal, surrounding colleagues will offer death stares (at the least) for the unpleasant smells that will inevitably linger for the rest of the day.
Hence the dilemma of sharing a space with others: you want to pack a healthy and tasty lunch, but you don’t want to offend anyone with unpleasant odours. What should you bring?
5 Lunch Ideas for Office
We have some easy and simple ideas that take little time to prepare and are a joy to eat! There's one for every day of the week—and enough variety so you won't get sick of your lunch box. Best of all, there will be no lingering smells. (Sorry, hard-boiled eggs and hearty soups will have to appear on another list!)
1. Spinach salad with beef and avocado – packed in a mason jar
A mason jar will keep the leaves fresh and green while offering the most convenient way to combine everything in one container (yet keep the essential ingredients separate).
Layer the mason jar for a pretty and compelling effect. Ladle your salad dressing in first. Next, stir-fry the main proteins, such as eggplant or beef, and layer them on top of the dressing. The main proteins will marinate overnight to soak up all the yummy dressing.
Next, pack the salad leaves on top. Use a heartier green, such as spinach or kale, for full healthy effects! Last, sprinkle on top and add toppings you'd like: avocados, croûtons or cranberries for a colourful and complete salad.
2. Snap peas with chicken – rice optional
Snap peas are fast and easy to cook and can be tailored to individual tastes. Some might prefer snap peas with a crunch factor (hence the name), while others prefer a soggier consistency. In any case, this recipe takes only 20 minutes to prepare.
Purchase chicken breast and cut it into thin slices. Marinate in cornstarch, soy sauce and olive oil. Let it soak in the sauce for about 10 minutes. Then, heat all ingredients in a wok until the chicken browns, for around 10 minutes or so. Once the chicken is cooked, toss in the snap peas, adding by eye more sesame oil, soy sauce, pepper and sugar. Stir fry for 1-2 minutes on high heat.
This dish can be accompanied by rice if you have any leftovers and want a carb.
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3. Soba noodles with tofu – served cold
Prepare the soba noodles according to the instructions and set aside. For the tofu, it's easiest to buy extra-firm tofu and cut it into thin strips. Heat oil, scallions (if you have them) and some hot chilli in a separate pan. Gently fry the tofu in the oil until brown.
Toss the noodles with tofu and sprinkle extra oil on top. If you have something crunchy on hand—like pine nuts or radish—add it in there! This is best eaten cold. Sprinkle some extra oil on top to ensure the ingredients don't stick the next day.
4. Cold pasta salad with chickpeas, olives and ham – and whatever other toppings you'd like
This dish is not only easy but requires no actual "cooking." Prepare the pasta you choose – macaroni or spirals are fun and aesthetically pleasing – and set aside.
Combine canned chickpeas, olives, and cut-up pieces of ham. If you want more greens, defrost green peas and throw them in there.
Mix everything with the salad dressing of your choice, salt, and pepper, and pour it directly into the Tupperware you plan to bring your lunch in. Shake it to combine and leave it in the fridge to marinate. The next day, you'll have something light, tasty, crunchy, and soft—minimal dishwashing required!
5. Hummus platter with crackers and raw vegetables to your liking
With this chop-and-pack lunch idea, you can make it homemade or store-bought. Either buy pre-made hummus for minimum fuss or combine chickpeas and oil in a blender for the more homemade option.
Chop up any dippers you fancy the night before: pita chips, baby carrots, raw broccoli or cauliflower, bell peppers, cucumbers, and apples. Anything you fancy dipping works! As the main, we love using pita chips and crunchy crackers.
Pack the hummus and vegetables separately in air-tight Ziploc bags, and you'll have an enviable, healthy, and crunchy lunch.
Last, pack all the fruit and nuts you want as snacks to supplement lunch. No one ever complains about oranges, bananas, apples or pears stinking up a room!
