My favorite go-to lunch in the summer is the Jar Meal. Fill a 16-oz Mason Jar with a combination of fresh vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and additional protein (if desired) for an easy and portable make-ahead meal.

Use Ingredients You Love

My Jar Meals incorporate whatever I have on hand. I especially like cucumber, carrot, red pepper, corn, quinoa or wild rice, and garbanzo beans. Occasionally, I’ll add some diced chicken. Just put the softest ingredients on the bottom, as the Jar Meal will stay fresh longer.

Some Assembly Required

These are super fast to serve, but take a little more time to prepare. I usually create 3 or 4 meals at once for efficiency.

Dress for Success

Salad dressing can make or break what starts out as a healthy meal. Jar Meals are especially good with a creamy dressing like this Lemon Avocado dressing from The Lean Green Bean. (Note: I combine it in a blender vs. mixing by hand.) I’m often too busy to make a dressing from scratch, so I look for those in the refrigerated section, which will have far less preservatives than dressings on the shelf. Look for ones with low sodium and sugar, like Bolthouse Farms dressings.

Serve and Enjoy!

I like to serve these in an oversized pasta bowl. Not only is this a healthy meal—it is lovely to look at.