These anti-inflammatory lunch recipes make lowering your cholesterol a delicious endeavor. They’re packed with ingredients like dark leafy greens, legumes and whole grains to help combat symptoms of chronic inflammation like digestive issues, joint pain and mental fog. Plus, each meal is low in saturated fats and contains at least 6 grams of fiber per serving, which not only helps you feel full but also helps support healthy cholesterol levels. Recipes like our Green Goddess Chickpea Bowl and our Easy Bean Salad With Herby Salsa Verde are flavorful and nutritious lunches you’ll keep coming back to.
01 of 17
Tuna & Veggie Grain Bowl
Credit: Photographer: Greg Dupree, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimme.
This vibrant grain bowl combines nutty farro, roasted root vegetables and canned tuna for a balanced meal that’s both hearty and fresh. Roasting the beets, carrots and parsnips brings out their natural sweetness, while a quick lemony yogurt sauce adds brightness and creaminess.
02 of 17
Green Goddess Chickpea Bowl
Credit: Photographer: Greg Dupree, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer.
This veggie-packed chickpea bowl features hearty chickpeas and quinoa topped with an herby green goddess dressing made creamy with Greek-style yogurt and avocado. It’s a satisfying vegetarian lunch or light dinner that delivers fiber, protein and fresh flavor in every bite.
03 of 17
Easy Bean Salad With Herby Salsa Verde
Credit: Photographer: Greg Dupree, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer.
This refreshing bean salad gets a lift from a quick homemade salsa verde packed with fresh herbs, jalapeño and lime. A mix of creamy beans, crisp radishes and smoky corn makes it hearty enough for a light lunch or easy dinner.
04 of 17
Swamp Soup
Credit: Photographer: Greg Dupree, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer.
This swamp soup, named for its vibrant green color, is made from a combination of spinach and parsley blended into a silky base, with fiber-rich white beans, shredded chicken and brown rice stirred in for a satisfying texture. A sprinkle of fried garlic and crushed red pepper adds savory crunch and gentle heat to each spoonful.
05 of 17
Chopped Salad with Italian Vinaigrette
This chopped salad is a crisp, colorful mix of veggies. It’s tossed with a zesty homemade vinaigrette, while chickpeas bring on the plant-based protein and fiber. Everything is chopped small for the perfect forkful every time.
06 of 17
High-Protein Butternut Squash & Lentil Soup
Credit: Photographer: Morgan Hunt Ward, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer.
This hearty, plant-based soup is packed with protein from lentils and gets cozy flavors from warming spices like cinnamon, cumin and coriander. A swirl of tangy Greek yogurt and a sprinkle of fresh parsley finish each bowl with brightness and creaminess. Serve with lemon wedges for an extra pop of flavor.
07 of 17
Marry Me White Bean Salad
Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Hannah Greenwood.
This Marry Me White Bean Salad is a bright, flavor-packed dish that’s hard not to fall for and pulls inspiration from Marry Me Chicken. Tender white beans are tossed with sun-dried tomatoes, fresh basil and a creamy dressing that soaks into every bite. It’s quick to throw together and perfect for meal prep, picnics or pairing with grilled meats.
08 of 17
Lemony Orzo & Tuna Salad with Broccoli
Credit: Leigh Beisch
This pasta-salad and tuna-salad mashup gets a boost of color and texture from broccoli. Plenty of Kalamata olives add a briny bite. Be sure to monitor the pasta-cooking carefully, as orzo can go from al dente to mush in a minute. If in doubt, drain it a little early—it’ll soften further in the lemon dressing.
09 of 17
Herb-Marinated Veggie & Chickpea Salad
Credit: Photographer: Jacob Fox, Food Stylist: Sammy Mila, Prop Stylist: Joseph Wanek.
This herb-marinated veggie-and-chickpea salad is a refreshing, no-cook dish packed with fresh flavors. It brings together crisp raw vegetables and fiber-rich chickpeas, all tossed in a zesty herb dressing that infuses every bite. Since it requires no stove or oven time, it’s perfect for warm days, meal prep or busy weeknights when you want something quick.
10 of 17
5-Ingredient Avocado & Chickpea Salad
Credit: Photographer: Jake Sternquist, Food Stylist: Sammy Mila, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco.
This avocado-and-chickpea salad is a fresh, flavorful dish that comes together in minutes. Made with just five ingredients, it’s as simple as it is satisfying. Creamy avocado pairs perfectly with hearty chickpeas for a filling, plant-based meal. With no cooking required and minimal prep, it’s a perfect quick lunch or dinner.
11 of 17
Salmon-Stuffed Avocados
Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Lydia Purcell
Canned salmon is a valuable pantry staple and a practical way to include heart-healthy, omega-3-rich fish in your diet. Here, we combine it with avocados in an easy no-cook meal.
12 of 17
Anti-Inflammatory Farro & White Bean Salad
Credit: Heami Lee, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christine Keeley
This Mason jar grain salad is the perfect grab-and-go lunch. Building a salad in a Mason jar makes it easy to prepare and take along, keeping the ingredients fresh and crisp until you’re ready to enjoy it. This colorful salad layers together farro, bell pepper, beets and arugula, all of which offer fiber and antioxidants that can help lower inflammation in your body. White beans add some plant-based protein to help you stay satisfied throughout the afternoon.
13 of 17
High-Protein White Bean Salad with Feta & Lemon-Garlic Vinaigrette
Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen
This white bean salad with feta and lemon-garlic vinaigrette is quick and requires no stove time. White beans bring plant-based protein and fiber to help keep you full. Creamy feta cheese provides a tangy, salty contrast to the bright vinaigrette. Tossed with fresh herbs and toasted walnuts, this salad is perfect for a light lunch.
14 of 17
Stuffed Sweet Potato with Hummus Dressing
Credit: Ali Redmond
Hearty yet simple to prepare, this stuffed sweet potato with black beans, kale and hummus dressing is a fantastic 5-ingredient lunch for one!
15 of 17
Garlicky Cabbage Soup
Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
This garlicky cabbage soup is pure comfort in a bowl. Warm, hearty and nourishing, it’s rich with the aromatic flavor of garlic and tender-sweet cabbage. Packed with veggies and a savory broth, this soup is perfect as a light meal on its own or as a starter.
16 of 17
Green Goddess Salad
Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Lydia Purcell
This gorgeous green goddess salad combines fresh shrimp, cucumber, artichoke hearts and cherry tomatoes with homemade dressing.
17 of 17
Chopped Salad with Sriracha Tofu & Peanut Dressing
Prep four days’ worth of high-protein vegan lunches using just four store-bought ingredients, including a veggie-heavy salad mix and a spicy peanut vinaigrette. Because this salad mix is hearty, you can dress these bowls up to 24 hours before serving to allow the flavors in this healthy chopped salad to marry. If you can’t find a hearty mix, go with broccoli slaw or shredded Brussels sprouts.
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