Quick Protein-Packed Lunch to Sustain Energy through the Afternoon: Ready in Just 10 Minutes!
Crank up your midday meals with these tasty and nutritious lunch ideas to power your work-from-home days! We tapped Amy Shapiro, the lead nutritionist for ButcherBox, who's spilled the beans on the perfect lunch formula: 4-5 oz of lean protein, plants, and healthy fats for a winning meal that'll keep you fueled and satisfied all afternoon.
Say goodbye to sluggish afternoons, as omitting protein from lunch can lead to lower satiety—meaning you'll get the munchies sooner—and volatile blood sugar levels, a recipe for headaches, cravings, mood swings, and fatigue. So, grab that protein-packed protein and mix it with some greens and good fats to hit the sweet spot!
Here's one of our favorite recipes: Baked Salmon Over Cauliflower Rice. It's not only delicious but also boasts 4g of fiber and essential omega 3 fatty acids! Here's the deets:
Baked Salmon Over Cauliflower Rice
Instructions
- Set your oven to 400°F and pop that salmon on a baking sheet, drizzling it with 1 tsp of olive oil. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt, pepper, and whatever seasonings make your taste buds dance.
- Whack that salmon in the oven, skin-side down, for 8 minutes.
- While your salmon cooks, warm up your cauliflower in the microwave. Put it in a bowl, stick it in the microwave, and hit start on high for 3 minutes. Stir it halfway through. If you've got time to sauté it, go for it! Just remember you'll end up with more dishes to wash 😏
- Take your cauliflower out of the microwave and drizzle the rest of that olive oil, along with a good pinch of salt and pepper, over the top.
- Once your salmon's had a quick rest, dive it onto your cauliflower rice and squeeze as much lemon juice as your heart desires. Enjoy!
Ingredients
- 5 oz of salmon
- 2 tsp of olive oil
- ½ lemon
- 2 cups of cauliflower rice (frozen)
- Salt and pepper
- Any additional seasonings (optional)
Amy Shapiro, the brains behind the nutrition advice for ButcherBox, is a renowned nutrition expert who guides clients to optimal nutrition, weight, and overall wellness. With more than 15 years of experience, she is a leading proponent of individualized, lifestyle-focused approaches. These approaches yolk together realistic food plans, smart eating habits, and active living. So, you can trust that her tips are tried and true!
- Amy Shapiro, the lead nutritionist for ButcherBox, advocates for a balanced lunch formula that includes 4-5 oz of lean protein, plants, and healthy fats for optimal health and wellness.
- Incorporating protein into midday meals is crucial to maintain satiety and prevent fluctuations in blood sugar levels, thus avoiding headaches, cravings, mood swings, and fatigue.
- One of Amy's favorite recipes is Baked Salmon Over Cauliflower Rice, which offers 4g of fiber and essential omega 3 fatty acids, ensuring a wholesome and healthy lunch.
- Cooking the Baked Salmon Over Cauliflower Rice is a simple process involving baking the salmon, warming up the cauliflower rice, and seasoning with olive oil, salt, pepper, and lemon juice.
- Adopting Amy Shapiro's nutrition advice can lead to improvements in overall nutrition, weight, and lifestyle, as she promotes individualized, realistic food plans, smart eating habits, and active living for long-term wellness success.
