It’s wise to carry your packed lunch to the office or school. But the only question that applies here is what lunch you can pack that is both going to be safe to eat and will be new enough to let you relish eating it. There are so many brown bag lunch ideas that don’t need refrigeration.
Peanut Butter Sandwiches
A peanut butter sandwich is a classic brown bag lunch requiring no refrigeration at all. Spread peanut butter or almond butter onto whole-grain bread; drizzle with a little honey or top with sliced bananas—this simple sandwich will fill but does not require refrigeration.
Filled with protein, good fats, and fiber, this makes it one of the best foods for brown bag lunches that don’t need refrigeration. You can add a side of a fistful of baby carrots or apple slices to round out your meal.
Grain-Based Salads
Other good brown bag lunch ideas include quinoa, couscous, or farro salads. All are best at room temperature when mixed with your favorite chopped vegetables, beans, and your favorite light dressing.
Take, for example, quinoa salad with chickpeas, chopped bell peppers, and a vinaigrette—an energetic and highly healthful meal. This salad is great for no-refrigeration brown bag lunches since it’s chock-full of fiber and protein, along with the key amount of essential vitamins.
Wraps with Shelf-Stable Ingredients
Another great brown-bag lunch option that requires no refrigeration is wraps. Whether you buy whole-grain tortillas or make your own, you can fill them with other shelf-stable items, such as hummus, a can of tuna, or some roasted veggies. Add in some fresh spinach or shredded lettuce—crunchy and fresh without any chilling. Perfect for the hungry who want something in their tummies fast.
Cheese and Whole Grain Crackers
Some of the cheeses are safe to stay out at room temperature for several hours, like hard cheddar or gouda, so they really would work quite nicely for brown bag lunch ideas that don’t need refrigeration. Combine a couple of slices of this cheese with whole-grain crackers to have a filling mix of both carbs and protein. Add a handful of nuts or a piece of fruit, like an apple, and you’re good to go.
Fresh and Dried Fruits
Fresh and dried fruits go really well together. This can be considered one of the easiest non refrigerated brown bag lunch ideas for a lunch box. Apples, oranges, and bananas—obviously—can be taken along whenever you are on the go.
Raisins, apricots, and figs are some of the best-dried fruits that easily package up so you don’t have short ends. Pair those up with nuts or seeds for some balance—a nice mix of high fiber and healthy fats.
Homemade Energy Bars
Another great option for healthy brown-bag lunches that don’t need homemade energy bars made with oats, nuts, and dried fruits. They are pretty easy to prepare and don’t require you to keep them cold. They are an easily accessible source of energy and a great snack to see you through your day.
Packing a brown bag lunch without refrigeration doesn’t have to be that difficult. From hearty grain salads to simple sandwiches, there’s a myriad of non refrigerated brown bag lunch ideas to keep you satisfied all day.
