When packing a lunch for work, some of the main necessities tend to be portability, storability, and ease. It can be difficult to meet all of those requirements and still have a varied, healthy lunch in your brown paper bag. Here are five options to help you have a healthy lunch break.

DIY Lunchable

Pre-packaged lunch meals are popular because of their convenience. But, that convenience comes with a higher price than if you made it yourself. Put some whole-wheat crackers, your favorite kind of low-fat cheese, and your choice of deli meat into a Tupperware container to make a DIY Lunchable. You can even throw in a “sweet treat” such as a piece of fruit, a protein bar, or even a piece of dark chocolate. This option keeps lunch light, which can help prevent the afternoon crash you experience after a large, heavy meal.

Pita Bread Sandwich

Sandwiches are commonplace when it comes to packing a lunch. To mix things up a bit, try pita bread. If you’re unfamiliar, pita bread is a bread pocket and can be filled with a variety of toppings. Some of my favorite pita sandwiches include tomato mozzarella, chicken Caesar, and turkey avocado. The pita pocket makes packing a healthy lunch a breeze.

Mason Jar Salad

Packing a salad for work can be messy and complicated. The dressing gets everywhere and makes the lettuce soggy before you can even eat it. But, I’ve found that mason jars help prevent this kind of lunchtime disaster. Plus, the jar holds all the ingredients you need in one container. Tip: When packing a salad in a mason jar, put the dressing in first. It keeps it from seeping down to the rest of the ingredients until you are ready to mix it up and eat it. Next, add other non-absorbent ingredients such as cherry tomatoes or carrots, and top with lettuce to keep your salad dry and fresh until you’re ready to eat.

Pasta Salad

Pasta salad is a great option almost anywhere. Use whole-grain pasta, low-fat ingredients, and fresh meats and vegetables to make it an even healthier choice. Pasta salad is a great way to incorporate a carbohydrate, vegetables, and protein into a single meal.

Spiral Wrap

These pinwheels look far fancier than they are, so you can impress all of your co-workers with your “cooking” skills. Just put together your favorite wrap, using a whole-grain tortilla and any other vegetables or meats that you enjoy, then slice it up into smaller pieces. Voilà, you have a pile of pinwheels. You can choose whatever kind of wraps you like, so the possibilities are endless.

Packing lunch can be stressful when rushed, and it can be tempting to throw convenient items in a bag. However, if time is set aside on Sunday to prepare a batch of these go-to’s above, packing lunch can be simple, easy, and healthy.

Reynolds and Reynolds is committed to wellness as a way to help employees develop healthy habits that help them be more productive and engaged, both professionally and personally.