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10 Clean Eating Cold Lunches – Easy, GF, Vegetarian & Vegan

Last updated on February 21st, 2018 at 10:51 am

Eating clean is a pain in the taste buds. But these healthy cold lunch ideas will solve all your clean eating problems.

If you feel sick every time you think you need to eat “lean protein with veggies”, (especially when you’re vegan, vegetarian or pescatarian)…

If you look at that pale chicken breast with soggy broccoli you packed for lunch 3 days ago with nothing but disgust…

I’m here to let you know:

There’s hope, my friend. There is hope.

Like Shakira said, you can have it all – flavor, healthy body, free time and hips that don’t lie. (just so you know – usually hips are huge liars)

These cold clean eating lunch ideas will make you feel good and not like the universe hates you. They’re not boring and take 30 minutes or less to make.

They’re also:

high-fiber
high-protein
actually super healthy (unlike soggy broccoli with chicken breast)
rich in flavor
DELICIOUS

And they’re also Gluten-Free, Vegetarian, Most even Vegan

One of the recipes calls for eggs, but everything else – can be made completely vegan. And they’re all gluten-free.

Now if you say: I need a piece of meat with this, then use these dishes as a side or throw in some “lean meat” in there. Your choice.

A word of warning: Do not be afraid of whole grains, cause they’re your gut bacteria’s friend (you know that thing that’s really important for your immune system and overall health?).

Same with lentils, beans and chickpeas.

Cold lunches are also great, if you don’t have a microwave at work or are afraid that the microwave will turn your food into a radioactive mess. I’m just sayin’ – you can read all kinds of stuff on the INTERNET. And as we know, if it’s on the internet, it’s probably true, no?

So, COLD lunches it is.

Okay, I’ll start.

Vegan & Vegetarian Gluten-Free Healthy Cold Lunches To Keep You on Track

If you don’t already own any, I recommend investing in a good non-leaky lunch box like these. These come in 10 pack and are BPA-free, duh you see the picture.

3 compartment food containers for meal prep, work or school

Most of the lunches on this list keep in the fridge for up to 3 days, because they use a lot of fresh ingredients that spoil fast (therefore 5 days might be a little too long). So if you’d like to meal prep – do this twice a week. For example Sunday evening and Wednesday evening. With salads – add condiments right before eating.

Almost Raw Lettuce “Tacos”

Almost raw lettuce tacos – recipe here.

The big surprise of the millennium is that I LOVE, I repeat, I LOVE raw lettuce wraps. Well, these are almost raw.

Made with nuts, seeds, herbs, spices and vegetables + some tomato paste (the only not raw thing) – these have become one of my favorite recipes lately.

If you’re looking for a quick lunch or dinner, these almost raw lettuce tacos are also low-carb, super flavorful and done almost immediately, because you basically put a bunch of stuff into a food processor and then wrap it in a lettuce.

Now if you’re taking this to lunch, you might wanna get rid of the garlic, or at least use a little bit of garlic powder to smell fresh and clean like a flower after you eat them. They keep in the fridge about 3 days (add tomatoes later). Wouldn’t freeze them though. For lunch – pack about 3 lettuce leaves and the mixture separately in a lunch box.

Healthy Mashed Chickpea Salad

Mashed Chickpea Salad, recipe here.

This is a low-carb vegan lunch, that is packed with antioxidants and is high-protein and high-fiber to make sure you feel satisfied and don’t binge eat later. This salad keeps in the fridge for up to 3 days and is good for lunch as is. When it’s lunch time – wrap in lettuce or put on a toast.

Quinoa Detox Salad

Avocado Quinoa Salad, recipe here.

This is a super healthy quinoa salad with avocado and tons of antioxidants. By far, my favorite quinoa salad. I have a similar quinoa salad here, but this one is to die for.

I wouldn’t do too much meal prep with this, since the ingredients are very fresh, but to make this quicker during the week pre-cook your quinoa. The rest you can slice and put together in the morning (takes about 7-8 min). Pack dressing (olive oil, lemon juice) separately from the salad and mix it all together right before it’s time to eat.

Lentil Potato Salad

Lentil potato salad, recipe here.

Instead with mayo, I made this salad with something like a lentil hummus and it’s super tasty, high-fiber and filled with good stuff like turmeric, red peppers and herbs.

You can just pack it like this and eat like is, wrap in lettuce, tortilla or on a toast.

Quinoa and bean lettuce wraps

Quinoa and bean lettuce wraps, recipe here.

This recipe is so underrated. It’s one of my favorites and it’s the very reason, why I, till this very day, believe lettuce wraps work.

Made with quinoa, a spicy bean dip, a basil avocado dip and a fresh “salad” this is absolutely delicious. This recipe does use garlic in the bean dip, so if you don’t want to smell like garlic – either don’t add any or add a little bit of garlic powder.

Pack dips and quinoa separately + 3-4 lettuce leaves. Alternatively you can also place everything into a bowl and eat like this, but I prefer the lettuce wrap thing.

Healthy Avocado Chickpea Salad

Avocado chickpea salad, recipe here.

Salads with chickpeas are so filling and so tasty. This one is not completely vegan, but if you get rid of the feta cheese – you’re good to go. It’s filled with fiber and antioxidants and is a very tasty, refreshing healthy lunch.

I prep the ingredients the night before and then throw them all together in the morning with the dressing. Keeps well like this until lunch.

Spicy Lentil Omelette

Spicy Lentil omelette, recipe here.

Now this is the only recipe that actually requires animal products – eggs. And lentils with eggs might sound disgusting if you’ve never tried it, but it’s the other surprise of the millennium for me. Super satisfying and super tasty. If you know how to make a frittata without breaking it apart – then do it. I don’t so I usually just pretend I can and scramble everything together and call it frittata.

Other than that, this filling can make it into muffin cups. Then it’s easy and ready to go – 2 muffins would usually be enough.

This healthy lunch idea is gluten-free, vegetarian, high-fiber and high-protein.

Quinoa Sushi Bowl

Quinoa sushi bowl, recipe here.

This is an easy, throw together, sushi bowl and uses quinoa instead of rice, because quinoa is more nutrient-dense and pretty awesome. You can pack dressing, veggies and quinoa separately, but if you make this in the morning – it’s not gonna spoil until lunch even if you put everything together.

Bean, corn and spinach salad

Beans, corn and spinach salad, recipe here.

This is another super easy, throw together lunch salad you can make in the morning if you prep everything in the evening (drain beans and corn, slice veggies).

Spicy Lentil Mini Pitas

Spicy Lentil Mini Pitas, recipe here.

All you really need to do is prep the spicy turmeric lentils and the vegan cream cheese, slice some veggies and get the pitas. This will work also with lettuce for a low-carb/easy gluten-free version or just mixed as a bowl. For lunch – put all the components separately in a lunch box like this one until it’s time to eat and then enjoy!

And that is it, 10 healthy cold lunches that are vegetarian and gluten-free and you can take to work or wherever you go.

Hope you enjoy these healthy ideas and if you do, subscribe to my email list for more healthy recipes, ideas and tips!

See you next week 😉

Oh and if you’re looking for healthy snacks, check these out.

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Grilled Veggie Pita

My favorite things in this whole world come together in this grilled veggie pita:

Grilled veggies (duh!)
Pita (double duh!)
Hummus (now we’re talking)
Tahini sauce (oh)
Tomatoes and cucumbers (alright then)
How about some greens like, I don’t know – parsley? (Ok, fine…)

This is so so so delicious. I devoured it in like a nanosecond.

In Defence Of White Bread

I know people expect me to not eat white bread, but this one’s as white as my legs are right now. Yes, it’s summer and I’ve been avoiding the sun like the plague. This year I went to the beach once after 10am and I got sunburnt.

via giphy

My wrinkles are still thanking me. No more sun for this little vampire who eats garlic for breakfast.

#garlicforbreakfast

So, white bread.

I know it’s also not popular right now, but I crave white bread sometimes. Like every day. And when I got these pitas they were hot. As experience has thought me, you never say no to hot white bread, because it’s delicious.

This is not me after eating bread (via giphy)

How To Make The Grilled Vegetable Pitas

I actually used roasted vegetables. I know, I mislead you and now you hate me forever.

5 Refreshing Detox Water Ideas, Because Drinking Coke Is Just Sad

Here are some refreshing detox water ideas, because it’s hot outside and drinking coke is not an option anyone should consider.

I don’t know how it happened.

I fell down that coke hole and could’t get out. Last month for a few weeks in the afternoon, when it got like, inhumanely hot…I was getting cokes.

Now you might be like: OMG you write this blog about healthy lifestyle and you drink coke? What a jerk.

Well, define healthy lifestyle however you want.

To me it means eating more fruits and vegetables and not obsessing over small fall offs.

Except…

I realized coke can’t be a part of a healthy diet or lifestyle in NO WAY. I can’t make excuses for it, I just fell. And then I wanted more and more and more…It got crazy.

I had seen this infographic a million times and it meant nothing to me.

5 detox water ideas because drinking coke is just sad.

via The Renegade Pharmacist

The Mindset That Will Keep You Motivated To Eat Healthy and Exercise

Raise your hand if you’ve ever said you need to eat healthier and exercise to lose weight or change something else about the way you look.

Okay, I can’t type with one hand, but yeah me too.

This is true for my mother, my sister, my friends, every woman I know. Every woman I know has something about her body she doesn’t like and has tried to change with diet or exercise. I’m no exception.

We do what we can for a week, we eat healthy, we drag ourselves to the gym, we beat ourselves up when we can’t follow “the rules” and fall off that damn wagon, then we just continue with our lives until next time. While of course still blaming ourselves we’re not perfect and obviously unable to keep it all together.

Why doing it to lose those stupid 10 pounds in one month doesn’t work.

Losing weight, improving your skin, getting toned are not real reasons to eat healthier or to exercise every day. And unfortunately being healthy isn’t it either.

You know why?

Because there are “easier” options to achieve all of those things.

Why waste all that precious time and energy to achieve something, when you can do so without much effort and time invested?

It sounds easy enough to eat better for 3 weeks and drop 10 pounds. It’s not hard…but those 3 weeks, you’ve got to get through them, right?

You know what’s easier?

Not doing it.

The truth is, today, you can always look better or lose weight even if you don’t put in the effort or change anything about your lifestyle (at least for a brief moment). Here are some options:

plastic surgery
make up
diet pills
detox teas
go to a massage instead of doing exercise
body wraps
starve yourself instead of eating in moderation

Shortcuts don’t bring lasting change, but we try anyway

I remember, when I was a kid, my mom and dad even got some ab thing that would electrocute your abdominals, so you get abs…The infomercial showed a happy couple sitting there watching TV while getting their abdominals electrocuted. Then they smiled and showed their ripped bodies.

My mom: “I seriously can’t think of a reason how this would not work???? We obviously HAVE TO buy it.”

She didn’t put it this way, but they really got this ridiculous thing. And surprise: None of us got abs. Yes, I was 9 and I also tried it.

Trust your feelings and go for them, not for numbers.

Now, if not for weight loss or changing the way you look, why else would you want to eat healthier, exercise and live a healthier life? Here’s a reason:

To change the way you feel and the way you live your life. Every. Single. Day.

Not just the way you feel in a dress 5 months from now. But how you feel today.

I talked about this here and here, but eating healthy and working out have an immediate effect on the way you feel.

Appreciating the difference in how you feel is key to staying motivated.

So even if you don’t see changes right from the first day or week, you’ll feel different. Maybe nothing major, but if you pay attention, you’ll notice a difference. This difference in how you feel is key to staying motivated. Those feelings are going to pull you toward what you want. They will make you do what you have to do every day to get to your goal. And to stay there.

It’s frustrating when you’ve been putting in effort for a week and see just one sad pound go away. That’s why you’ve been working so hard?

Peach Smoothie – 3-Ingredients and Super Delicious

Last updated on August 15th, 2018 at 04:48 am

Got some peaches and don’t know what to do with them? Make this delicious peach smoothie!

I’m so excited for this recipe, guys! Like I actually think these pics look good and also this smoothie is taking over my life right now.

I’ve ignored peaches for a while now – I thought I’m allergic to them, plus didn’t really see the point in eating peaches when there’s watermelon right there.

Poor peaches have some competition when it’s their time to shine – strawberries, watermelon, melon, so so many delicious fruits during summer!

But this summer I found a place in my heart and mouth for peaches too – turns out I’m not allergic and they’re delicious!

Yogurt’s not cool anymore, but…

I know yogurt’s not cool anymore, but I used it to make this super simple tasty peach smoothie. And you know what? It’s my favorite smoothie right now.

If you can’t eat yogurt you can still make this smoothie with some coconut cream (top part of a coconut milk can) or coconut yogurt (other vegan/paleo type of your choice).

Have not tried this with cashews or nut butters, but might work as well.

Tomato Cucumber Salad – A Special Recipe

I don’t know how many tomato cucumber salads I’ve eaten in my life, but this one’s something special. It’s full of freshness and flavor, but also low-carb, vegan, paleo and gluten-free.

So, first of all, excuse this salad for the pictures, but it was dark while I was making it. My fault completely.

Second, don’t judge a book by it’s last page and don’t judge this salad by its terrible look.

Making a tomato and cucumber salad is pretty obvious right?

You chop tomatoes, cucumbers, some onion, add olive oil, vinegar and salt and you’re ready.

This one is different. It’s not your average tomato cucumber salad – it’s special. It’s spicy, it’s fresh and it’s flavorful.

Overnight Oats With Cherries, Banana & Nuts – Quick Vegan Breakfast

Make these easy overnight oats with cherries, banana and nuts tonight and wake up to a vegan breakfast that tastes like dessert tomorrow morning! This is the perfect on the go healthy breakfast recipe.

Been a while since I made overnight oats to be honest with you.

Probably because 2 years ago I couldn’t get enough of them. I was eating those soaked oats every single day and not just for breakfast!

No, no no.

Lunch, dessert, sometimes even a quick snack.

And I didn’t get sick of them. But then…

via Giphy

Winter came and all my overnight oats eating just stopped.

And the habit faded.

This summer, it came back and I’ve got a real easy and healthy overnight oats recipe to share.

It’s creamy overnight oats with banana, cherries, peanut butter and walnuts and it tastes like dessert. But it’s healthy. I love EVERYTHING about this recipe.

Oh the cherries… I’ve been having so many delicious sweet sweet cherries.

With peanut butter & banana this is definitely not the lightest recipe, but it’s healthy, high-fibre, high-protein and will keep you full longer.

It made me feel really satisfied and I didn’t need to eat that much later. Which, I’m trying to get fitter and control my overeating habit (especially while sitting at the desk!) – so this is BINGO.

Low-Carb Vegan Tacos Exist And Here’s The Recipe

Last updated on July 28th, 2018 at 07:55 pm

These are low-carb vegan lettuce “tacos” – soy-free, gluten-free and paleo. Yes, I created a monster. Super easy, but amazingly delicious!

Okay, everyone: relax, I’m alive.

That seagull scratch did not kill me. Try your luck somewhere else you crazy monster.

He did fly away with my pizza though. Up in the sky and left me embarrassed and paranoid to lick my wounds on the ground like an animal.

This is what I deserve? This is what I deserve after I’ve been feeding your whole family for years now?

Ungrateful jerk.

Now, back to the most important question in the history of the world:

Can you be vegan and low-carb at the same time?

via giphy

Friend, I don’t know about you, but these lettuce tacos certainly are.

And they’re so easy.

You basically put stuff into your food processor and pulse like crazy.

Or like a boss. (If I see another article about someone doing something like a boss I will vomit all over the internet)

So, these vegan wraps are ALMOST raw – no cooking and no heat.

I say almost because I used tomato paste and not sun-dried tomatoes for the nut-meat. I think soaking sun-dried tomatoes would cause me a lot of pain right now. Like when would I even think of soaking (or buying) sun-dried tomatoes?

I NEED FOOD AND I NEED IT NOW!