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    Home ยป Recipes ยป Special Diet ยป Dairy Free ยป Lunch Ideas

    Lunch Ideas

    Published: May 24, 2012 ยท Updated: Aug 22, 2018 ยท This post contains affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    These easily adaptable salad shakers are the perfect make-ahead, portable lunch

    Recently I asked some of my friends if they had any requests or ideas for new posts.

    One friend suggested that I share some new lunch ideas.

    This is a perfect topic because lunch can get pretty boring, and it's so easy to get in a rut when it comes to your lunch. And I don't want you getting bored and deciding to go out for lunch instead, ya know?

    So, here is an idea for a lunch that is really easy to make; you can make more than one at a time; and you can change it up to add some variety to your lunch.

    Salad in a Jar

    It's genius, and I've seen it multiple times on Pinterest and other blogs. I was also inspired by the salad shakers at Whole Foods. The ones that I thought looked the best were the Asian salad shaker with rice and the Southwest with quinoa.

    Since I'm obsessed with quinoa, I decided to use quinoa for my salad shaker. You can honestly use any cooked whole grain - brown rice, whole wheat cous cous, bulgur, barley, whatever your little heart desires.

    The trick is to work in layers. You want to put the dressing on the bottom and then layer the ingredients according to their sturdiness {for lack of a better word}. Once you top it off with some lettuce and maybe a little nuts or cheese or avocado, you have a perfectly healthy & portable lunch.

    Make these on Sunday for the rest of the week, and forget worrying about what to eat for lunch - it's already made & it's healthy!

    Quinoa Salad Shaker

    These easily adaptable salad shakers are the perfect make-ahead, portable lunch
    Print Rate
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Total Time: 5 minutes
    Servings: 1
    Author: Meme

    Ingredients

    • 1/2 TBSP olive oil
    • 2 TBSP vinegar
    • 1/4 tsp salt-free Italian seasoning or any spices or herbs
    • pinch salt
    • 1/2 cup chickpeas or other protein
    • 1/2 cup cooked quinoa
    • 1 cup chopped vegetables like bell peppers, tomatoes, carrots, etc.
    • 3 cups chopped lettuce any kind

    Instructions

    • First, you make the dressing - Add the olive oil, vinegar, spices, and salt into the jar, and whisk everything together.
    • Next, you add your protein. In this salad, I'm using chickpeas. You can use cooked lentils, shredded chicken or turkey, any other beans.
    • Then, you add the quinoa or whatever whole grain you are using.
    • After that, you add the vegetables - the sturdy ones first {like carrots, peppers, celery, beets, tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, etc.}. Then add the other veggies that won't hold up as well if they are somehow touching the dressing {which is very unlikely, but just in case!}.
    • Finally, you add your lettuce. I like to do romaine and then spinach on top. Pack as much as you can in there. If you really want, you can also add a tablespoon or so of chopped nuts.
    • Now screw the lid on top, and stick it in the refrigerator until you're ready to each your lunch! Resist the urge to shake it until right before eating.
    • When you're ready to eat, just dump it onto a large plate or in a big salad bowl. Enjoy!
    Did you try this recipe?Be sure to leave a comment & recipe rating below. Bonus points for tagging @memeinge & #livingwellkitchen on Instagram! THANK YOU! xo
    Click here for Nutrition Facts

    *
    Nutrition Facts
    Quinoa Salad Shaker
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 380 Calories from Fat 99
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 11g17%
    Saturated Fat 1g6%
    Cholesterol 0mg0%
    Sodium 33mg1%
    Potassium 915mg26%
    Carbohydrates 55g18%
    Fiber 13g54%
    Sugar 13g14%
    Protein 14g28%
    Vitamin A 5390IU108%
    Vitamin C 195.4mg237%
    Calcium 92mg9%
    Iron 5mg28%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    *

    If I know I'm probably not going to have a refrigerator then I'll use beans or lentils and not chicken (or something sensitive to lack of refrigeration). But do try to keep it in an insulated lunch box, preferably with an ice pack or something.

    Hope this helps adds a little excitement to your lunch routine

    Have a great day!

    Meme

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    Comments

    1. MaryJane says

      May 24, 2012 at 7:01 pm

      Wow Meme!! This makes perfect sense!! Can't wait to try it!!

      Reply
      • memeinge says

        May 30, 2012 at 10:05 am

        Thanks! They're really easy to make, and I love having lunch ready for the whole week

        Reply

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    Meme (a brunette female) is holding umbrella and spinning around in front of the Eiffel Tower wearing a denim jacket, skirt, and blue shoesHi, I'm Meme -- a thirty-something girl from Alabama living in San Diego! Join me as I prove that living a guilt-free, healthy lifestyle can be budget friendly, delicious & fun!
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