I don’t know about you, but I have been in a major lunch rut lately. When things get busy, I have a habit of falling into the ‘same lunch everyday’ trap and I eat the same thing until I am blue in the face and can’t take it any longer.
My rut as of late has consisted mainly of hummus and veggie wraps. For almost everyday for the past two months, I have had a wrap as part of my lunch because they are quick, mindless, and easy. They take 5 minutes to whip up and can be consumed in even less time!
But, it is time to change it up and spice up my lunches once again. A girl can only stay in a lunch rut for so long before she snaps. ;)
I seriously cannot fathom eating another wrap for a very long, long time.
Please tell me I am not the only one who wears out foods like this. :)
Today I have a delicious, healthy, and super quick black bean salad recipe that makes a wonderful lunch, either as the main course or as a side dish. If you are looking for a way to change up the everyday fare, this is it!
Easy Avocado-Lime Black Bean Salad
I fell in love with this black bean salad as soon as I tasted it. It is like no other black bean salad I have ever made before. The hint of lime and spicy kick from the cumin makes for an addicting and healthy salad full of protein, healthy fats, and flavour.
Adapted from The Kitchn.
Ingredients:
- Two 15-ounce can black beans
- 1 lime, juiced
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
- 2 small shallots, diced
- 1/2 tbsp olive oil
- 3/4 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4-1/2 tsp Kosher Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 large avocado, chopped into 1/2 inch pieces
Directions: Drain the beans thoroughly and rinse. In a large bowl add the beans and toss with lime juice, cilantro leaves, diced shallot, and ground cumin. Season to taste with salt and black pepper. Peel and slice an avocado, and serve the beans at room temperature, with chopped avocado on top or mixed throughout the salad. Note that I did not have any cilantro on hand, but it still tasted delicious! Makes 3-4 servings.
Notes from original recipe: The beans will last for several days in the fridge. You can easily take this salad for lunch and bring along an avocado to chop up just before serving.
The beauty of this lunch is that it is not only healthy, packed with protein and healthy fats, but it is whipped up in a jiffy, leaving you lots of time for life’s other daily tasks.
Lunch rut, be gone.
I think I threw together this lunch in 5 minutes flat. It also makes enough for a few servings so the leftovers can be enjoyed throughout the week.
I wasn’t sure how I would like the cumin + lime flavours together, but it was actually wonderful. I could not get enough of this dish!
I had the salad with a couple slices of Ezekiel bread and some fruit for dessert. It was so filing, well-rounded, and super energizing. If you are looking to break out of a rut, I highly recommend this delicious lunch. It is going to be on my regular rotation for easy & quick lunches. :)
Are you currently in a lunch rut? Do you enjoy mixing it up for lunch or do you rely on the same foods most of the time?
I have been in a lunch rut too! Actually more of a dinner rut. I usually ask friends on Twitter and Facebook for suggestions, or make a list of what is sitting in my pantry and fridge. WE are actually have tostadas tonight with black beans and avocado!
i WISH i had time for a lunch like that, right now i am drinking a meal replacement for my lunches
I stay out of a lunch rut by making extra large dinner dishes and then freezing the leftovers in individual portions. I have so many different dishes in my freezer that I can pull out and heat up at work. It’s a total time saver too!
I am pretty boring with lunches – roasted veggies, salad, Instant Colcannon, or soup most of the time. And leftovers. I think it’s easy to get in a lunch rut because you’re usually only making it for yourself and I make all my meals just for one so it’s even easier to get in a food rut overall.
I am TOTALLY in an all around food rut :( Last night I sat down with my dinner and couldn’t even finish it because it was so lame! I think my brain is so overloaded with school work that when it comes to making my meal, I have no creativity left. The beans look tasty though! Very fresh. I have all of the ingredients so I think this might be my dinner tonight :)
oh angela, my lunches have been sucking lately. i love roasted veggies, but i’m just about done with them! this sounds like the perfect cure to the lunch-rut woes :)
One word – yum!!! Thanks for the idea. I am frequently in a lunch rut – I mean, I eat healthily, but sometimes there’s only so much roasted red pepper and tomato soup a girl can take :)
Your butternut squash casserole was on the menu for dinner this week, but I can’t find any b-squash . . seriously! They’re all out @ the two supermarkets nearby. Definitely next week!
Yes I am in a lunch rut — I usually have leftovers from the night before. Sometimes that is good, but sometimes it is super boring :(
And I know you are sick of wraps, but I think this salad would taste good in a wrap :)
Lunch is the hardest thing for me. I have to have something quick and easy so I usually end up doing the same thing. I’ll have the same quick, easy meal for weeks on end so I don’t have to think. And then get in a rut and switch to something else…which I repeat until I’m sick of it.
I can totally relate – I make almost the same lunch salad so often, that I am actually starting to get sick of feta! When you love something, it’s easy to eat it so often you get sick of it!
YES, I am in a major lunch rut. I have eaten a PB & banana sandwich for lunch at work nearly every day for about 3 months. I can’t stop making it because it is fast and easy and it definitely tastes good…but it’s getting to the point where I am just not excited to eat midday anymore. I’m feeling a little under the weather today so I brought some leftover veggie & barley soup I made in the crockpot this weekend. I am so excited for something different that I’m literally counting down the minutes till lunch time!
Lunch is the hardest meal for me sometimes! I often feel like I’m in a rut!
I am going to make your crispy chick pea bites today… then I’ll have to try this recipe later this week!
I used to get in lunch ruts all the time, but I think blogging really helped me learn to switch things up. I still have my favorite dishes though!!
I’m in a lunch rut too..but it’s not so bad. I’ve been making a mama pea recipe for the past 3 weeks. But I like this dish. Maybe I’ll have to add it to my current lunch rut menu ;)
I make a black bean and avocado salad that is very similar to this one. I also add corn, red onion, tomatoes and cilantro. I just love it, so addicting!
The lunch that I just ate would definitely indicate that I’m in a lunch rut. I always try to make a large dish for dinner and then eat left overs for lunch to save time and money. Sometimes it works and sometimes it just leaves me feeling bored. Booo.
Your salad looks great! I’ve been on an avocado kick lately, so I will def have to try it!
Mmm, this looks fab! I’d totally throw in a tomato and go to town! My rut has been breakfast for a while…it’s been Clif bars + coffee + a piece of fruit pretty much every morning for two weeks!
mm, that salad looks delicious!
I easily fall into the sandwich rut. Since I normally eat lunch at work sandwiches are just a quick easy thing to bring with me and don’t need to be refrigerated or anything. I try to switch up the fillings but it doesn’t always work.