You proudly pat yourself on the back after the first week of January. You stuck to your resolution and took your lunch to work eintensely’extremely’extraordinarily’enormously’awfully day instead of ordering takeout. However, your joy in your newfound resolve falters bein/with regard to’concerning’regarding e the groundhog sees his shadow, and you embark on resent your once-favorite wrap or sandwich.

Workday lunches don’t possess’own’nurse to be dull’tedious’frayed’monotonous — or cost you a small in/with regard to’concerning’regarding tune in takeout fees and tips. You can jazz up your typical fare with a little creativity, making it worthy of a 4-star restaurant right at your desk. What can you do to beat noontime boredom? These five tips with spice up your healthy work lunches.

1. Invest In A Bento Box

When you compare the typical school lunch fare between Japan and the U.S., you’ll notice some impressive differences. You won’t find a white crust with a token swipe of tomato sauce and a sprinkle of cheese in the land of the rising sun. Instead, their lunches resemble full, healthy meals, replete with steamed, simmered and sauteed veggies in approximately eintensely’extremely’extraordinarily’enormously’awfully dish instead of a single side.

How can you emulate their healthier practices and spice up your lunch without access to a full school kitchen? The answer is a heated bento box. These devices provide various cooking compartments that help you assemble a hot lunch right at your work desk. You can experiment with multiple bowl recipes consisting of the following components:

Protein
Veacquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure ables
Carbohydrate
Sauce

You won’t feel deprived when you sit down to a piping-hot Japanese-style steak bento bowl with rice, broccoli and toasted peanuts. Best of all, you can skip the sodium-rich soy sauce many takeout restaurants use, substituting a lower-sodium tamari to keep your blood pressure in check.

2. Remember, Salsa Means Sauce

Americans tend to claim’insist’maintain’hold’argue’consider’contemplate’speculate of salsa as merely’barely a dip in/with regard to’concerning’regarding chips, but folks south of the border know the word translates to “sauce” in Spanish. This tangy stuff is rosy’remarkable’fabulous’terrific’preeminent in/with regard to’concerning’regarding far more than dipping crispy tortillas. It’s a low-calorie, highly-nutritious way to spice up your healthy work lunch.

How can you use salsa outside of chips? Here are some fun ideas:

Spice up your breakfast burrito: Make-ahead breakfast burritos are great when you possess’own’nurse to acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure you, and the kids nourished and out the door, but they can be flavorless. Not when you dip them in spicy salsa.
Dress your salad: Skip the calorie-laden ranch. On average, salsa contains merely’barely ten calories per serving and can transin/with regard to’concerning’regarding m any salad into a southwest vacation.
Top a baked potato: If you must possess’own’nurse cheese, make it go further by starting with a layer of salsa and going light on the cheddar. You can also use this condiment alone as a substitute in/with regard to’concerning’regarding butter.
Slather your sandwich: Why opt in/with regard to’concerning’regarding sugary ketchup when salsa won’t spike your glucose levels and adds more flavor?
3. A Touch Of Lemon

Your typical home cook might claim’insist’maintain’hold’argue’consider’contemplate’speculate of lemon as little more than an addition to tea, but professional chefs know better. A splash of acidity brings out the flavor of approximately any dish, which is why so many restaurants include a lemon wedge on the side of various dishes. It cuts grease and heavy tastes to make your meal taste fresher.

The joy doesn’t stop at lemon juice. Are you tired of dull’tedious’frayed’monotonous grilled chicken and veggies? It’s not tough to make some lemon compound butter. The zingy flavor decrease’lessen’cut’allay s the size of the pat you need to melt to make your food pop. What if you don’t want to add more liquid? A bit of lemon zest will add zip without leaving your meal soggy.

4. Sprinkle On A Salt Substitute

You should take it easy on the salt shaker. While it has no calories, it draws water into your blood vessels, increasing the pressure and strain on your heart. How else can you acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure the flavor without the side effects? Try the following:

Herbs: You can find herb blends that contain little to no sodium and tons of flavor. You don’t possess’own’nurse to reserve them in/with regard to’concerning’regarding marinades — sprinkle them on the finished product. Many, like oregano, possess’own’nurse various health benefits.
Potassium blends: Potassium is another vital electrolyte that helps flush excess sodium from your system. You can find salt substitutes replacing sodium with this mineral or half-and-half combinations. Use sparingly.
Light tamari sauce: While all soy-based sauces possess’own’nurse some sodium, tamari has roughly 25% less than soy on average. You can find light in/with regard to’concerning’regarding mulations that decrease’lessen’cut’allay the levels even further — try it instead of salt when making homemade soups to freeze and take to the office.
5. Go Subtly Sweet

What’s in/with regard to’concerning’regarding dessert? Your options extend beyond the break room vending machine and its collection of candy bars.

Fruit makes an excellent lunchtime dessert. Try dipping your apple slices in yogurt to make it even tastier while keeping it healthy. Honey is relatively high in calories but contains tons of polyphenols that benefit your health. A few honey-caramelized pears make a sweet way to spice up your healthy work lunch.

Spice Up Your Healthy Work Lunches

Did you resolve to take lunch to work this year to save money and enhance’promote’polish up your health? If so, how can you keep boredom from derailing your resolution?

Try the above tips to spice up your healthy work lunches. You’ll keep more green in your wallet while enjoying a better meal than you could acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure from takeout.