Three years ago, a list of work-from-home meal recipes might have appealed to a small audience of remote employees and freelancers. These days, this applies to a much larger portion of the workforce. Data released by the US Census Bureau in September 2022 revealed that the number of people working primarily from home tripled between 2019 and 2021 (from 5.7% to 17.9% of the total workforce) – and that doesn’t even count those who work primarily in an office. but have regular remote work days.
The pros and cons of working remotely are many, but I think it’s fair to say that taking Zoom calls in sweatpants, being in the same room as your pet(s), and having access to your own Kitchen for lunch are among the biggest perks. . This means no need to spend over $12 on takeout or find something to pack the night before. This means that you have your entire kitchen at your disposal. And that means no more sad office lunches.
Of course, with great power (doing what you want) comes great responsibility (actually deciding what it is and having the ingredients). And, because decision fatigue is real, it’s all too easy to eat the same few meals over and over, bored, but not sure what else to try.
That’s where these five easy work-from-home lunches come in. These are mostly standards like salads and sandwiches, but they’re more interesting than turkey and cheddar cheese over wheat, or a mixed bagged salad tossed with dressing in a big bowl. Find one or two to add to your rotation next week and notice how much more excited you are for that midday meal.
Chelsea Kyle. Accessories styling by Amy Elise Wilson for Laird and Good Company. Food styling by Pearl Jones for Ashley Klinger & Co.
Air Fryer Chickpea Kale Salad with Raisins and Tahini Dressing
Cooking chickpeas in an air fryer only takes 12 minutes and makes them extra crispy, but you can also achieve a similar result in the oven in just over twice as long. Whichever method works for you, know that the only other things you’ll have to do for this recipe are chop some kale (or buy it pre-cut), mix a bunch of stuff together in a bowl, and to eat. Get the recipe.
