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Eating paleo offers tons of great health benefits. Going paleo is more than just eating like a caveman, it's about reclaiming your health by replacing processed foods and grains with more nutrient-dense choices. With these paleo lunch ideas, you won't ever get bored or go hungry.
Spicy Tuna Cakes (Nom Nom Paleo)
Spicy tuna cakes are great because they are easy, can be made ahead of time, and make great left-overs, too. To make the tuna cakes you will need a muffin tin and the ingredients listed below:
3 tablespoons melted ghee, divided
10 ounces canned albacore tuna packed in water, drained
1/3 thinly sliced scallions
2 tablespoons finely minced fresh cilantro
1 cup mashed baked sweet potato
finely grated zest from medium lemon
1 tablespoon minced jalapeo pepper
2 large eggs
teaspoon red pepper flakes
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
3 medium lemons, cut into wedges (optional)
Preheat the oven to 350 and grease the muffin tins with ghee. Take a big bowl and mix the tuna, scallions and cilantro. Mash up some sweet potatoes and add them to the tuna mixture. Add a zest of lemon, the minced jalapeos, the remaining ghee, and the eggs. Season with salt, pepper, and as many red pepper flakes as you like. Scoop the mixture into your muffin tin and flatten with a spoon. Finally, bake them in the oven for about 20 to 25 minutes. These make a great lunch when eaten with a large side of chopped vegetables.
Tomato Cucumber Salad (Cook Eat Paleo)
Another easy, great paleo lunch doesn't require cooking at all! If the previous lunch idea sounds like too much for you, try this tomato cucumber salad.
To make it you will need:
purple onion, thinly sliced
2 cucumbers, peeled and thinly sliced
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
4 large tomatoes
cup good olive oil
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
salt and pepper to taste
All you have to do is chop up the onion and cucumber and toss with red wine vinegar. Set aside. Next, slice the tomatoes into wedges and add to onion and cucumber. Top with mixture olive oil, salt, basil, and pepper.
Italian Sub Rollup (adapted from Sheknows)
For those who are missing sandwich-type foods, this meal can be a great option. To make the rollup you will need the following:
6 slices deli honey ham
2 medium-sized kale leaves
2 radishes, thinly sliced
1 large tomato, thinly sliced
6 thin slices uncured salami
1 banana pepper, sliced
mustard
pinch of oregano
Overlap 3 slices of ham (approximately 2 inch overlap). Top with kale, radishes, tomato, salami, sliced banana peppers, a pinch of oregano, and a little mustard. Roll the ham up. You can add or exchange the ingredients with all kinds of meats and vegetables. They all taste great!
Cuban Sandwich Bowl (Health-Bent)
Another great sandwich replacement, the Cuban sandwich bowl has everything you love about a Cuban sandwich, thrown into a bowl for your enjoyment. Sure, you could take the time and make the effort to create paleo "bread," but with this recipe you don't really need it. You will need:
1 pork tenderloin, about 1 1/2 lbs.
1/2 lb. thinly sliced deli ham
1/2 c. dill pickles, sliced into long strips
4 T yellow mustard
2 T honey
salt and pepper, to taste
Preheat oven to 450 degrees
Prepare pork with salt and pepper.
Combine honey and mustard in a small bowl.
Using the pork loin as the wrap, layer the ham, honey, and mustard on top. Add some pickle slices in between the meat layers, and roll it up. Tie the pork together with butcher's twine. Next, sear the whole thing in ghee or another healthy fat source, over medium- high heat, until a brown crust appears on both sides of the pork loin. Put the loin in the oven for about 25 minutes. Let it sit for a few minutes, then slice up.
It can be hard to come up with easy paleo lunch ideas. We are so used to grabbing something like a sandwich that requires very little preparation. But, by planning ahead and making some of these great items, you can have something ready to go every day. It can also be helpful to keep a supply of homemade paleo mayo and other sauces in the fridge at all times. Enjoy!
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