6 easy dishes to pack for lunch

Nutritionists and food content creators suggest these healthy and convenient recipes

- Cherie Lok

After all the revelry and feasting comes a time for introspection. As a new year slips in, so does the urge to reinvent oneself.

Perhaps this will be the year you finally start eating healthier or saving money. You may have a good shot at eating healthier, thanks to the proliferation of clean eating options, as well as an expanded Nutri-Grade labelling system that flags food with high levels of sodium and saturated fat.

But with the price of food continually on the rise, keeping costs low might prove a challenge in 2025.

One possible hack? Pack lunch instead. The Sunday Times has compiled six lunch recipes, contributed by nutritionists and food content creators. Simple and healthy, these can easily be packed for work, school or wherever 2025 takes you.

LENTIL SALAD WITH TUNA

The star of this recipe is one oftoverlooked food group: pulses, a type of superfood that includes lentils, chickpeas and beans.

"They're high in fibre, a good source of protein and carbohydrates, and packed with antioxidants. They also act as prebiotics, feeding the good bacteria in the gut," says freelance nutritionist Charlotte Mei, who contributed this recipe. Her culinary creations are shared on her website The Charlotte Mei.

Unlike a bed of greens with insufficient protein, this salad is meant to fill you up and leave you satisfied until your next meal. It can be enjoyed cold or warmed up in the microwave.

INGREDIENTS

● 1/2 can lentils, drained

● One-third can black beans, drained

● 1 can tuna flakes in water, drained

● One-third can corn, drained

● 1 handful of arugula or rocket leaves, roughly chopped

● 1/2 yellow capsicum, diced

● 1/2 pear, diced

● 10 roasted almonds, coarsely chopped

● 1 Tbs fresh flat leaf parsley, chopped

● 1 Tbs fresh basil, chopped

● 2 Tbs cottage cheese