You don’t have to be a chef to be able to eat well; with the right ingredients, and a good recipe, almost anyone can prepare a good meal. The real challenge however is in finding a new menu for lunch every day. Here are a few recipes for lunch that are delicious, healthy and satisfying, and provide you the necessary variety. And some might even consider that there were made by chefs.

 Cold noodle salad

If you have few extra minutes than your usual time to prepare lunch, the rice noodle salad can be a tasty lunch item, especially during the warm weather. The balance of sweetness and sourness in it will give you a pleasant break to your palate. Rice noodles are cheap, and easily available in any supermarket. Dressing however is the key in this salad.

Procedure

Cook the rice noodles in steaming water for five minutes, and drain excess water. Grind two big-sized tomatoes, one clove of garlic, a handful of cilantro (coriander leaves), two chilies, and then mix lime juice, half a table spoon of sugar, and salt to taste. Add half a cup of roughly crushed peanuts for a nutty and crunchy flavor. Spring onions, shredded lettuce or cabbage are extra ingredients that can add more flavor to the salad. In order to prevent the salad from getting soggy, it is important to pack all the ingredients in separate containers and mix them only just before eating.

 Classic PB & J

The options are endless when it comes to peanut-butter and jelly. While many people savored the taste of peanut butter (PB) and jelly sandwiches as children, they gradually stop eating them due to the perception that they contain high amounts of fat. Many nutritionists recommend two tablespoons of PB as they give seven grams of protein. And high levels of protein makes you feel full for a longer period of time.

Procedure

Make a healthy choice by using brown bread. Spread two table spoons of peanut-butter on one side of it, and fruit jam on the other. Then scatter some toasted almonds or pistachios for extra crunch. Grill the bread for few seconds on both sides until it has a crunchy texture, which should last until your lunch time.

 Chicken sandwich

Packing a sandwich for lunch is easy, fast, simple and satisfying. Preparing a good sandwich is mostly about striking the right balance between moistness and crunchiness, and what you add in between the breads.

Procedure

Take a piece of fresh bread, and spread garlic mayonnaise (which can be prepared by grinding up half a clove of garlic in 3 table spoon of mayonnaise mixed with half tablespoon of tomato ketchup). Make your sandwich with left over shredded chicken, and lettuce, tomatoes, thinly sliced onions, and avocados. And then add slices of cheese. It is best to prepare the sandwich just before eating, otherwise it could get soggy.

 Wraps

A wrap is considered a sandwich without the bread. This savory item contains almost the double protein than a hard boiled-egg. Choose a meat of your preference, and add vegetables, even the leftovers in the fridge.

Procedure

Take a tortilla (a thin flatbread made of flour), spread the sauce on it, and layer it with pieces of chicken or any kind of meat. Add beans and other blanched vegetables, and simply roll it up tight.