Problem: I am sick of eating the same things for lunch every day. I need ideas for easy Paleo lunches.
This is a common question in the Paleo Recipes and Support Facebook Group so I compiled a list of the answers here in this post so you can read through responses from real people. Have your own questions? Ask them in the above group and see if they get featured in the Paleo Questions category.
Melissa D: I have a chicken salad for lunch every day
Holly F: I usually have a salad – easy to vary the ingredients/protein.
Nancy A: I often eat leftovers from previous meals, usually supper, because it’s just THERE and already prepared if needed!!!! Leftovers make excellent lunches!! If you’re not into that, I often keep either roast beef from the deli (I use Food Lion’s brand, not “processed” with all kinds of additives, not chopped and pressed!!), smoked turkey (not chopped and pressed, no additives) or smoked ham, lean (check the ingredients for additives). I just enjoy eating these by themselves!! Sometimes I roll up asparagus spears in the meat, especially ham, or dip them in some type of sauce with no/low sugar. Add some vegetable(s) of your choice and you have lunch. Or have a salad with tuna or chopped ham on top. A homemade broccoli salad is delicious, especially the crumbled BACON on top!! You can make a soup or stew with meat and veggies of your choice. Add spices that you love!!
Good luck!
Jeanne B: I make a lot of soup. Also, make tortillas to have around and use as a “bread”. Cashew butter and banana rolled in one. Very good. Tuna salad for chicken salad rolled in tortillas also I make my own taco seasoning for taco meat as well. Salads are good too.
Renee H: AIP flatbread w leftovers on it, or spread w lots of guac. I usually meal prep a favorite dinner and eat it 4 days for lunch. Also, cilantro vinaigrette makes everything, even boring lettuce, taste good…
Carla S: Renee H. cilantro vinaigrette sounds delicious! Can you share a recipe?
Renee H:
Carla S: Thank you!!!!
Maria F: I always freeze leftovers and use them for lunches…gives me a variety so I don’t get sick of eating the same old salad
Jill K: If you weren’t on Paleo, went to a restaurant, what would you order? think about that and then create a paleo-friendly version.
Christine H: Shrimp sautéed in garlic butter with the fat from a can of coconut milk added at the end and stirred until hot. Bake a spaghetti squash, and you have a delicious meal. Oh, my! It’s fabulous!
Allison S: a big fat salad with turkey, bacon, tomato & avocado w green goddess dressing
Jan H: I make up turkey burgers with cheese or cheeseburgers. I use gluten-free Panko, egg, salt, red pepper and onion powder. Burgers are 4 oz. they are good. No bun. Then I fix roasted broccoli, Brussels sprouts, a small salad, etc.
Problem: Jenna S: What are some easy lunches I can take to work? I’ve been trying to make freezer lunches and I’m burned out on curries and cauliflower fried rice.
Caroline J: We usually pack a hard-boiled egg, fruits, veggies, nuts, pickles, homemade muffins and buns
Ann B: I do dinner leftovers or do tuna, egg, or chicken salad and then a side green salad with dressing, a piece of fruit or cut up veggies, nuts…stuff like that. I don’t cook separate lunches.
Tawny A: I put ham and banana pepper slices between cucumber slices. Serve with baby carrots and dump ranch or apples with almond butter. I just got done eating this.
Lauren K: I just have to do a large enough dinner to make sure I have leftovers. Beef roast in the Crock-Pot/instant pot makes it easier to get a higher yield, and also spinach salad with boiled egg, avocado, and usually walnuts or almond slices – with homemade balsamic or a lemon vinegarette
Candee A: I eat a spring mix salad every day with leftover meat, and diced up veggies whatever I have on hand, topped with habanera ranch dressing…I never get tired of it- the meat changes the salad from day to day 😀
Melanie F: I love avocado chicken salad. (Basically a hybrid guacamole/chicken salad) and make up some paleo naan to have it on or wrap it in romaine leafs
Canda B: Another vote for salads. You can make enough leafy greens to last 2-3 days, then at work, top it with a high-quality tuna in olive oil, (pop-top can), add a squeeze of lemon, s n p. Yum.
Kathy A: I do spring green salads too. I buy the big container at the store, put a couple of handfuls in a bowl, then add diced vegetables and tuna or chicken. You could dice up veg at the beginning of the week and add as needed. Switch up meats and dressings to keep it interesting! I do this every day.
Ann W: I saute broccoli onion mushroom and shrimp delicious
Christine F: I make soups and freeze in freezer bags. Just grab and go. Put in a good thermos if I don’t have a microwave. I’m also in love with lettuce roll-up sandwiches. Chicken Waldorf salad is so yummy. I always bring cut up veggies. A bag of trail mix, or pumpkin seeds and fruit of some sort. Do salad budda bowls.
Hanna S: I also like salads this time of year, but if you are looking for something that can be frozen I always go for lasagna. I use zucchini as the noodles (and I don’t get fancy with them and try to cut them to look like a lasagna noodle either). I cut the zucchini in rounds just like I would a cucumber and just lay them side by side as the layers. Then homemade cashew cheese for ricotta and a nice meat sauce. Kite Hill brand also makes a nice cream “cheese“ that could be added to the layers also if you want it more ”cheesy”. Can be easily cut into single portions and it makes a lot, so you would have plenty for weeks depending on how many days in a row you decide to eat it.
Hanna S: https://glutenfreeonashoestring.com/paleo-zucchini-lasagna/ I have not made this recipe, but it is similar to what I was describing. The béchamel sauce sounds interesting though. 🙂
Sandy A: Hanna Sweat I’m definitely trying the zucchini lasagna!
Problem: Sarah M: I am really struggling with lunch options and recipes. Also, kid-friendly lunch options.
I need something GF, casein-free, Dairy, hummus, and Egg-free.
I need something quick and easy. I tend to get tired of salads all the time. Help!
Corrin L: Meat rollups? I also like canned tuna on lettuce. I’m lazy sometimes and used bagged salad.
Denise K: For lunch today I had baked avocados with tuna, vegan mayo on. Was yum!
Adrienne: Do you mean sesame-free?
Sarah M: Adrienne no I have an allergy to chickpeas. 😞 Plus, a protein found in milk and cheese.
Adrienne U: Sarah M. You could do another type of bean. White beans? Let me know what kinds of things you like and I can try to figure some other ideas out for you. We often just do salad and a protein.
Adrienne U: Here’s a fave of ours Sarah McCarthy – try it w/ white beans. https://wholenewmom.com/…/pizza-dip-pizza-hummus-dairy…/ .
Adrienne U: We love this –easy to make up a bunch and have leftovers for days. https://wholenewmom.com/recipes/egg-roll-in-a-bowl/ . (from my blog)
Selana L: I like putting snack packs together for my daughters lunch! Peaches, almonds, tomatoes, chicken, and avocado (with lemon juice and salt so it keeps longer) for this week 😁 I made a chicken salad that I was planning on putting on top of spinach but I have the same problem as you with the salads lol
Snehal V: https://youtu.be/ZsrrU7kLnmk
Snehal V: https://youtu.be/3Hx4ypKh9yI
Brianna E: Leftovers! Whatever you’re making for dinner…make a couple of extra portions. Huge times saver
Kristina D http://www.poshpaleo.com/77-paleo-lunch-ideas/
Renee H: Any soups, but esp coconut milk, bone broth, lemongrass cilantro garlic ginger and whatever I have in the veggie drawer w leftover chicken… can send u recipe if u like
Renee L: it should say “coconut” oil, not cow oil. U can just chop the lemongrass cuz shredding it is a long process. Enjoy!
Chickpea Flour Pancakes Recipe
Emi Rojas
Hi!
where I can see or buy the recipes for kids
thanks
Rebecca
You don’t have to purchase them, simply click on the link for the recipes would like to view. 🙂
Sunny@andloveittoo
Rebecca,
What a great list! Thank you for putting this together.
xoxo,
Sunny