What do you have for lunch? Ideas needed please

[BercowsFlyingFlamingo]

For those of you who eat lunch (I anticipate a fair few "I don't eat lunch posts 🙄), what do you have?

I'm stuck in a total rut with lunch. I'm veggie but not a massive salad fan. I have to be in the mood for salad. I'm not keen on sandwiches (unless they are made with a baguette) or crackers either. In fact I think I've lost my appetite when it comes to lunch. I just grab tea and toast ie a repeat of breakfast.

I sometimes like a bagel with spicy cheese and vegan mayo (I don't do eggs 🤢) and maybe some lentil curl crisps. Or red pepper hummus with baguette. Or a toasted muffin but that's basically toast. Sometimes I'll put veggie ham on it though.

I need help! And more fruit and veg in my diet. I'm at home so do have time to make something.

I usually make pesto pasta for my work lunches, then just add whatever veg I have in that week

My current favourite is a Weight Watchers wrap - tortilla wrap, lettuce, sliced apple, celery, smoked cheddar (and turkey breast but you wouldn't).

We sometimes make little mini pizzas by cutting a pitta bread in half or using a wrap and putting tomato paste on then breaking mozerella on top and maybe olives or whatever you like and some oregano and put in oven for about 6/7 mins till all melted and have some salad with it. Really easy and quick.

Or sweet potato like a jacket potato with whatever filling you like.

I love salads... Have you tried experimenting - it doesn't just need to be cucumber and iceberg lettuce. I make a really tasty one with tomatoes, cucumber, peppers, squash, feta and bread that's a bit hard.

Or I sometimes make like a noodle ramen with soy and sesame and just add peas or spinach to get some veg in

During the week I just snack as my appetite seems to have shrunk, at weekends I'll have a main meal.

I do mexican bean salad and refried beans on lettuce. Tasty and filling protein that lasts a few days in the fridge.

Are you not a fan of salad because it's boring? The are endless recipes for different salads! I like Russian salad, like potato salad but with peas, carrots, cucumber and stuff in. Healthier options are available

Jacket potatoes are another lunch win - I'm guessing you could shove in oven since you are at home anyway but as another poster has said, the frozen microwaveable ones are nice too. Beans and cheese is my favourite, but houmous and pesto or roast veg and cream cheese are also nice.

I always go to pinterest for lunch inspiration. At the moment I'm all about carrot and ginger soup made with coconut milk to make it creamy!

Cous cous with roasted veg today. Soup - carrot & lentil, broccoli & Stilton, sweet potato chowder, tomato & apple, pea & tarragon. Hummus with carrot or cucumber sticks. Oatcakes and cheese. Falafel flatbread or with salad. Veggie burger and beans. That's all my non egg and not salad suggestions!

Quiche

Someone showed me this last week at work:

Couscous, in hot water with a stock cube.
Roast some chopped up red peppers in the oven.
Get a can of chickpeas and mix everything together in a big bowl with some mint leaves.

Its gorgeous heated up for lunch and can last in the fridge for 2 to 3 days so make a big bowl tonight and that's lunch sorted for the next few days.

But you really need the mint. Its lovely.

Usually veggie soup. Either root veg or lentil.
Sometimes humous and warm pita with salad.
Often have left overs from previous evening.
Sometimes want 'breakfast' at lunch time and have sugar free muesli with greek yoghurt and frozen berries
Mashed avocado on toasted seedy bread

Thanks everyone, that's lots of ideas! I did a decent sized shop yesterday and added a few new things to try along with things I like but haven't had for ages like falafel. IBS and falafel are not a good combination for me but I'll tolerate the bloated stomach.

I need to dedicate more time to self care and better nutrition this year. I'm always very tired and would benefit from a better diet.

Bagel with black pepper cream cheese
Toast with peanut butter and sliced banana
Cheese pasty
Wrap with hummus and veg
Tuna and cheese toastie

Homemade soup
Leftovers like chilli
Can of tuna with a can of butter beans in some low fat dressing
Roast vegetables

I branched out with a grilled cheese sandwich for lunch made with Mexicana cheese, some crisps, and an apple. I've had satsumas for snacks today. For dinner I made portobello mushrooms stuffed with white Stilton and red onion marmalade, and a bistro salad with balsamic glaze. I feel quite virtuous. Bloated but virtuous 😂 The mushrooms were very filling and it made a nice change from pasta.

I was going to say start with an avocado! Can’t get enough of them. Really good just mashed with black pepper on toast. My friend makes the most amazing couscous salad which I could eat by the ton. I’ll ask her for the recipe & come back to you. I seem to remember it’s got mint in it

Soups. Covert Garden Souos do a book of a different soup for every day of the year.

M&S italian ready meals are 3 for £7 and I take them to work sometimes. Theyre quick, easy and hot! Which is much needed when the heating has been broken for a 8 days and counting....

I have the same things for my lunch when at work (4 days a week)

Onion houmous
Cheese
Cottage cheese
Salami
Cherry tomatoes
Grapes
Apple

It sounds great written down but I'm ready for something else by Fridays!

I travel around a lot as part of my job so often just have bits and bobs.

Lunch is usually a mixture of
Portable cheese (babybell, cheese strings)
Nuts
Hard boiled eggs
Apple
Soup in a thermos

I eat a good breakfast and a decent tea so don’t need much for lunch.

Sausage sandwich

Soup ( tinned or home made if I can be bothered)

Cheese toastie

A portion of leftover dinner from the night before if it was something especially nice

Beans on toast

Cubes of cheese, breadsticks, hummus, cut up apple