5 quick and easy meals to make Al-Desko Dining a Delight!
Eating healthily at work can be difficult, especially when you only have about 30 mins or so to grab something and go, which usually results in a soggy sandwich.
Here are 5 food ideas that make al-desko dining delightful! They are quick, easy and delicious- perfect for eating at your desk.
Mason jar salad
Putting any kind of food in a mason jar can make the dining experience more exciting, and the healthy pop of colour can brighten up your day. This is a great lunch recipe as you can use any left over chicken or pasta from dinner and prep it the night before so it’s just ready to grab and go the following morning.
- Simply layer up a mason jar with:
- Some peppers
- Chicken (seasoned however you like)
- Diced roasted sweet potato
- Another layer of chicken
- Mixed leaf lettuce
To jazz this recipe up try adding some avocado, cheese or even subbing the chicken for some tofu or pasta.
It’s a delicious twist on the bog standard ‘salad-in-a- tub’ and is totally instagram worthy! Guaranteed to make your co-workers envious of your colourful lunch.
352 calories
OverNight Oats
If you’re strapped for time in the mornings and don’t have time to eat breakfast try switching up the instant porridge in a pot for some tasty, healthy, easy-to-make overnight oats that will keep you going until lunchtime.
- Mash up half a banana and mix well with some oats and almond milk.
- Add in a teaspoon of flaxseeds and chia seeds and layer them up in the bottom of a jar or container.
- Add in some berries and let the oats sit in your fridge overnight.
- In the morning just mix it all up and add in some more fruit to create a refreshing and delicious start to the day.
Try adding some nuts, a drizzling of honey or even a few cheeky chocolate shavings to make your office breakfast even more delicious.
270 Calories (per ¾ cup serving)
Winter Warmer Lunch Bowl
As the season is getting a little bit chillier and the summer sun is leaving us, this lunchtime treat is perfect for warming you up and getting you ready for the colder season with a wonderful mix of root veggies and rice.
- Dice some sweet potatoes, parsnips, broccoli and chicken, season with salt and pepper and roast them up the night before.
- Use your office microwave to heat up some instant rice and pop it into a nice big bowl. Then warm up your pre-prepared veggies and pop them into the bowl with the rice.
- The small diced vegetables are easy to spear with a fork so you can eat with one hand and work with the other.
587 Calories
Speedy Pasta
Pasta is an al-desko classic, but the pre-packaged ones from your local supermarket will pale in comparison to this speedy, homemade pasta recipe. You can whip it up in a jiff the night before or in the morning if you have a bit of time.
While cooking the pasta, as per the packs instructions, whiz together:
- 1 chopped carrot
- ½ an onion
- 6-8 ripe plum tomatoes
- A teaspoon of oregano and pesto until it’s a smooth sauce.
Mix in the pasta with the sauce, sprinkle with cheese and pop into a tub to go.
You can also add some garlic or some freshly chopped chillies to give this dish a little flavour kick.
344 Calories per serving
Microwave Quesadillas
Fun to say and fun to eat.
All you need are:
- 2 tortilla wraps
- Refried beans
- Cheese
- Simply spread the beans out evenly on one of the tortillas and sprinkle with cheese.
- Then place it on a microwave safe plate, cover with a paper towel and microwave for about 1 ½- 2 mins (depending on the power of your office microwave)
Alternatively, you can whip these up quickly and easily at home in the morning and bring them along to enjoy later in the day.
386 Calories
A few extra tips to make Al-Desko dining a little bit more enjoyable:
- It may be worth bringing in your own cutlery to the office- it’ll make the eating experience a lot easier without snapping a plastic fork when trying to spear that piece of chicken or lettuce.
- Planning your meals for the week will most definitely help you when you’re trying to eat healthily- this can help you figure out what dinners that can double up for leftover lunches as well as helping you save a lot of time in the morning.