Back to work: 5 healthy and tasty ideas for your lunch break

Between new beginnings and good habits, September is the month that marks a return to various activities for the whole family. Work, school, sports, hobbies: the calendar gradually starts to fill up again, and after a rejuvenating summer break, family members can look forward to their upcoming commitments with renewed enthusiasm.

And nutrition?

For many, the end of summer vacation coincides with a return to a healthy, wholesome, and balanced diet, bidding farewell to our holiday indulgences. This transition is not always an easy one, but we can approach it in a positive manner by choosing healthy, tasty, and light dishes that satisfy our tastebuds, make us feel good, and give us the energy we need to tackle our most grueling days.

Here are 5 light, tasty and healthy recipes for your September lunch break, perfect for making in advance and taking with you in to-go containers!

1) Light, tasty recipes for your lunch break: cold pasta with seared tuna

Cook some penne pasta and let it cool. Season with extra virgin olive oil, cherry tomatoes, olives, and a pinch of pepper. Add slices of fresh tuna, lightly seared in a pan... et voilà! A satisfying, healthy dish with all the macronutrients you need that provides you with energy throughout the afternoon without weighing you down.

Extra tip: if you can't resist a bit of fruit at the end of a meal, you can add a peach, an apricot, or a slice of watermelon.

2) Orecchiette with homemade pesto and green beans

Summer is the perfect time to stock up on homemade basil pesto: light, fragrant, and perfect for lunches away from home. Use it to season the orecchiette, adding some steamed or boiled green beans. A simple, nutritious, and irresistibly fresh dish.

3) Panzanella with garden vegetables

A traditional Tuscan peasant dish, panzanella is conquering an increasing number of hearts and tastebuds thanks to its extreme simplicity and use of fresh and leftover ingredients.

The dish's central ingredient is stale bread, which is cut into slices, moistened, and left to rest. It is then crumbled and mixed with a variety of your favorite vegetables, such as onion, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and zucchini. The resulting mixture is then garnished with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, vinegar, a pinch of pepper and salt, and a few leaves of fresh basil.

For the protein component, we suggest cubes of Grana Padano or Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, small balls of mozzarella, or a vegetable protein such as lentils, chickpeas, peas, or beans.

Try it and see!

4) Chicken salad

A timeless classic of Mediterranean cuisine, chicken salad is a perennial favorite that appeals to young and old alike. To make it, you only need a few ingredients: grilled chicken cut into strips, lettuce or other salad greens, celery, cherry tomatoes or other vegetables of your choice, extra virgin olive oil, coarsely grated Grana Padano cheese, croutons, a drop of lemon juice, and some olives (optional).

For a balanced meal, you can pair it with two slices of rye bread.

5) Melon and prosciutto crudo with croutons and almonds

A symbol of summer, the classic pairing of melon and prosciutto crudo can be made even more delicious for your lunch break with croutons and almonds. A contrast of textures that will make the dish even more nutritionally complete and satisfying.

For the grain element, you can opt for whole wheat crackers or breadsticks as an alternative to the croutons.

With these light and tasty suggestions, getting back to work will be much easier...even when it comes to meals!

Enjoy your meal!