5 Great 5-Minute Lunches

Courtesy of smarterer.comSarah-Jane Bedwell, SELF magazine

To celebrate National School Lunch Week, SELF decided to drum up five amazing lunches you can bring to class--or work, or pretty much anywhere. And since my clients always complain that they never have enough time to pack a well-rounded meal for themselves (or the little ones), I gave you quick, easy options that'll have you out the door in five minutes or less. Promise!
1. Delicious Dippers: Fill a large plastic container with at least 1/2 cup of three different types of veggies (baby carrots, mini sweet peppers and sugar snap peas are my faves), a single-serving packet of hummus, a single-serving packet of salsa and a hard boiled egg (look for pre-cooked and peeled eggs in the deli section of your grocery store). At lunch time, enjoy trying different dip and dipper combinations.

Related: Yoga Moves for Flat Abs

2. Tuna Lettuce Wraps: First, make the savory sauce for the wraps by stirring together 2 tbsp nonfat, plain Greek yogurt and 2 tbsp hummus with a few dashes of hot sauce. Put sauce in an air-tight container and add to your brown bag. Next, wash 5-6 large lettuce leaves and put in a plastic bag before adding to your lunch tote along with a small can of chunk light tuna, 1 cup grapes and half of a whole-wheat pita. When lunch time rolls around. Simple drain tuna and mix with the savory sauce. Then enjoy a spoonful of the tuna mixture on each lettuce leaf with the grapes and pita on the side.

Related: 20 Superfoods for Weight Loss

3. Souped-Up Soup: Open a can of your favorite lower-sodium vegetable soup. Add half of it to a microwave safe container with 1/2 cup of your favorite beans (rinsed and drained) and 1 cup baby spinach. Place the lid on the container and pack up with 6 whole-grain crackers and one piece part-skim mozzarella string cheese. When your stomach starts to growl mid-day, simply heat the soup in the microwave (according to the directions that were on the can) and enjoy with the crackers and cheese.

4. PB-and-Fruit Wrap: Spread 1 tbsp peanut butter on a whole-wheat tortilla and top with 1/2 of a banana (sliced), 1/4 of an apple (sliced) and 2 tbsp raisins. Roll up and pack in your brown bag along with 1 cup baby carrots. At lunch break, all you have to do is enjoy!

Related: Foods That Fight Belly Bloat

5. BBQ Chicken Potato: Pack about 3 oz of shredded rotisserie chicken in your lunch bag along with a medium baking potato (about the size of your fist), 1/4 cup of your favorite barbecue sauce and 2 cups bagged salad with 2 tbsp of your favorite light salad dressing. When the lunch hour strikes, puncture the potato several times with a fork and microwave for 5 minutes to bake. Let cool slightly and then slice in half and top with chicken and barbecue sauce. Enjoy with the salad topped with dressing on the side.

More from SELF:
6 Moves for a Great Butt
5 Simple Steps to Cellulite-Free Skin
3 CrossFit Total-Body Workouts
6 Secrets to Firing Up Your Metabolism