15 ways to punch up lunch
Unlike dinner, making my work lunch isn’t a task that’s always prioritized. The result? I cobble something together at the last minute, and while it’s passable when noon rolls around it leaves a whole lot to be desired. I’m on a mission to change that, and I’d like to think I’m off to a good start.
The most important thing I’ve learned is that perking up your work lunch doesn’t have to take a whole lot of time, effort or extra money. With lunch, as in life, it’s the smallest changes that make the biggest impact.
1. Use a better lunch container. If you’re packing lunch, arm yourself with some decent containers, which can be the key to a well-preserved meal. Stick with large, light containers for salads, meal prep containers with snap lids, or a bento-style lunch box if you’re packing a medley of items.
2. Ditch the plastic utensils. Using real flatware makes lunch feel like a real meal and a little more grown-up.
3. Use a real plate or bowl. The same goes for real plates and bowls. It’s such a small thing that makes a big difference.
4. Pack a cloth napkin. It’s a little luxury that has a way of making even the simplest of work lunches feel fancy.
5. Step away from your desk. Whether it’s at the kitchen table or a bench outside, the change of location offers a reprieve and lets you focus on what you’re eating.
6. Add a pinch of fancy salt. A sprinkle of flaky sea salt will always make lunch better. I stash a tiny container in my desk so I always have it on hand.
7. Never underestimate a drizzle of good olive oil. Keep a small bottle stashed in your desk to drizzle on salads, grain bowls, soup or any type of leftovers.
8. Add an unexpected ingredient. Take a recipe (or lunch) you love and eat regularly, then mix in (or top it with) something unexpected. Maybe that’s adding crumbled bacon or toasted coconut flakes to your PB&J; giving tuna salad a banh mi-style twist with quick-pickled veggies, cilantro and Sriracha mayo; or topping salads and grain bowls with croutons that taste like pizza, tacos or Buffalo wings.
9. Whip up a sauce. Sauce can perk up even the drabbest lunches. Try green tahini, pesto, chimichurri and tomatillo sauce — all of them burst with flavor.
10. Swap the sliced sandwich bread for a good crusty roll. Not only is a crusty roll totally tasty, but it’s also less likely to get soggy than sliced sandwich bread.
11. Switch up your sandwich spread. Swap out mayo or mustard for a swipe of hummus, pesto, olive tapenade, rose harissa or aioli, and your go-to turkey and cheese instantly tastes a lot more exciting.
12. Saute some nuts. They make a salty, buttery, crunchy topping for your salads — you will wonder why you haven’t been doing it all along.
13. Heat up the dressing before adding it to your salad at lunchtime. Warm salad dressing — just nuke it in the microwave for a few seconds — does wonders for even the most basic green salad.
14. Pack a lemon. Along with smelling nice, a squeeze makes water and seltzer more exciting, brightens up leftovers and makes a great impromptu salad dressing.
15. Always pack a treat. A square of dark chocolate, a cookie, a few gummies — whatever your favorite treat is, it has the power to instantly make lunch feel a little more special.
Kelli Foster is associate food editor for TheKitchn.com.