5 LUNCHES WE ACTUALLY LOOK FORWARD TO

Because a sad desk salad has never improved anyone’s afternoon. Five easy lunches that are fresh, filling and good enough to become part of the rotation.

01. THE CRISPY RICE SALAD

Crispy rice, avocado, cucumber, edamame and something spicy on top.

Start with leftover rice, you can prep this the night before. Fry it until crispy, add sliced avocado, cucumber and edamame, then finish with soy sauce, sesame oil and as much sriracha mayo as your afternoon can handle.

Add salmon, tuna or tofu if you want some extra protein.

The important part: don't rush the rice. Crispy means crispy.

02. THE SANDWICH THAT REQUIRES TWO HANDS

There is a time and place for a sensible sandwich. This isn't it. :)

Good sourdough or focaccia, pesto, mozzarella or burrata, tomato, rocket and prosciutto. Add olive oil, salt, pepper and a little balsamic.

Then press it together, accept that half the filling will escape while you're eating it and enjoy yourself.

Optional but highly recommended: eat it somewhere sunny. Get that vitamin D, baddie!

03. THE BIG BOWL

The formula is simple:

Something green.
Something crunchy.
Something filling.
Something creamy.
A very good dressing.

Think roasted sweet potato, quinoa or couscous, greens, cucumber, avocado, feta, toasted seeds and a lemony tahini dressing.

The trick is making it feel like an actual meal rather than a collection of virtuous ingredients.

Nobody wants to be hungry again at 3 PM.

04. THE TEN-MINUTE PASTA

Lunch pasta deserves more respect.

Cook your favourite pasta the night before, then add cherry tomatoes, a generous spoonful of ricotta, lemon zest, olive oil, basil and plenty of black pepper.

That's basically it.

Eat warm immediately or make extra and have it cold the next day.

And yes, pasta for lunch on a random Tuesday is allowed. Carbs are not the enemy, this is not the nillies.

05. THE “THERE'S NOTHING IN THE FRIDGE” PLATE

Arguably our favourite category of cooking, just below girl dinner.

Open the fridge and assemble.

Hummus. A boiled egg. Tomatoes. Leftover vegetables. Cheese. Olives. Crackers. Fruit. Half an avocado that needs to be eaten immediately or face its inevitable fate.

No recipe. Barely any cooking.

Just put everything on a nice plate so it looks intentional.

Suddenly it's lunch.

ONE LAST THING

Lunch doesn't have to be perfectly balanced, beautifully plated or worthy of being photographed from above. But taking ten minutes to eat something you genuinely enjoy? We can get behind that. Close the laptop. Sit somewhere else. Use the good plate. Your inbox will survive.