Healthy Recipes Health Conditions Diabetes-Appropriate Diabetic Lunch Recipes 27 Diabetes-Friendly Lunches That Are Perfect for Spring By Sadie Schulte Sadie Schulte Sadie Schulte is EatingWell's editorial apprentice. She attends Iowa State University, where she is a senior studying advertising and fashion communications. During her time at college, she has worked as a reporter at the campus newspaper, the Iowa State Daily, where she writes about culture and lifestyle. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Updated on February 28, 2024 Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Jessica Ball, M.S., RD, is nutrition editor for EatingWell. She is a registered dietitian with a master's in food, nutrition and sustainability. In addition to EatingWell, her work has appeared in Food & Wine, Real Simple, Parents, Better Homes and Gardens and MyRecipes. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Trending Videos Close this video player As the vibrant days of spring approach, dive into these colorful and flavorful lunch recipes. These meals are packed with a rainbow of veggies, complex carbs, whole grains and are lower in saturated fats, so they’re suitable if you follow a diabetes-friendly eating pattern. Plus, these recipes star seasonal produce like leafy greens, carrots and strawberries. Recipes like our Open-Face Goat Cheese Sandwich with Tomato & Avocado Salad and our Chipotle-Lime Cauliflower Taco Bowls are tasty and satisfying ways to celebrate the changing seasons. 01 of 27 Open-Face Goat Cheese Sandwich with Tomato & Avocado Salad This simple lunch comes together in just 10 minutes, making it a great option for busy days. View Recipe 02 of 27 Falafel Pita Sandwiches with Tzatziki This delightful vegetarian sandwich boasts tons of flavor from the yogurt sauce and quick-pickled veggies, and it's only 400 calories! You can make the pickled vegetables, falafel mixture and tzatziki sauce ahead of time for easy meal-prep lunches or dinner later in the week. View Recipe 03 of 27 Cauliflower Grilled Cheese Sandwiches Turn a comfort food classic into a healthier low-carb version packed with veggies. We use cauliflower rice to make gluten-free toast that holds together this green chile grilled cheese sandwich for a delicious and healthy dinner. View Recipe 04 of 27 Stuffed Potatoes with Salsa & Beans Taco night meets baked potato night with this simple recipe for loaded baked potatoes with salsa, beans and avocado. This easy, healthy family dinner comes together with just 10 minutes of active time, so you can make it on even the busiest of weeknights. This recipe is just as delicious with sweet potatoes in place of russets. View Recipe 05 of 27 Chipotle-Lime Cauliflower Taco Bowls A bold, smoky marinade elevates roasted cauliflower in this meal-prep version of our popular Chipotle-Lime Cauliflower Tacos by Carolyn Malcoun. To cut down on prep time for these healthy taco bowls, look for precut cauliflower in the produce department. You can also save time by using microwaveable quinoa pouches (you'll need one 8-ounce pouch for this recipe) instead of cooking quinoa. View Recipe 06 of 27 Vegetarian Italian Hoagies Traditional Italian subs feature meat but this delightfully easy sandwich packs a punch with artichoke hearts, red onion and zesty pepperoncini instead. We love it for dinner as well as lunch. If you're packing the hoagies to take along, keep the ingredients separate and assemble right before eating to avoid soggy bread. Serve with tomato and cucumber salad. View Recipe 07 of 27 Farro Salad with Arugula, Artichokes & Pistachios Precooked farro makes this dish come together in no time. And you can make it in the same bowl you serve it in, minimizing cleanup! View Recipe 08 of 27 Shredded Chicken & Avocado Nacho Salad Jennifer Causey; Styling: Lindsey Lower Dinner doesn't get any easier than this five-ingredient salad. And it's bursting with Super Bowl Sunday potential. View Recipe 09 of 27 Spinach & Strawberry Meal-Prep Salad One of our most popular salad recipes, Spinach-Strawberry Salad with Feta & Walnuts, gets a makeover in these simple yet totally satisfying meal-prep spinach salad bowls. They require minimal prep and can be customized to your taste. Swap in roasted salmon for the chicken thighs, and almonds or pecans for the walnuts, and use any fresh berry that looks good at your market. View Recipe 10 of 27 Vegan BLATs (BLTs with Avocado) Roasted shiitake mushrooms doused in soy sauce with a dash of smoked paprika become a natural, vegan alternative to bacon. Try them in this vegan version of a classic BLT with creamy avocado and eggless mayonnaise or on top of a salad as a substitute for bacon bits. View Recipe 11 of 27 Crunchy Veggie Wraps These vegetarian wraps pack perfectly for school or office lunches. View Recipe 12 of 27 Chipotle Ranch Egg Salad Wraps Put a Southwest spin on easy-to-pack egg salad sandwiches with this healthy wrap recipe. View Recipe 13 of 27 Tofu, Snow Pea & Carrot Wild Rice Salad Sesame oil and nori (dried seaweed) give this healthy grain-salad recipe Asian flair. Serve as a vegetarian main dish or as a side for grilled shrimp or baked chicken. View Recipe 14 of 27 Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad This scrumptious and healthy salad combines elements of Caesar salad, pasta salad and chicken salad for an easy weeknight dinner that comes together in less than 30 minutes (and most of the prep can be done ahead). Use your blender to whip together the tangy buttermilk-based dressing, which would also be great on a salmon or chickpea salad. View Recipe 15 of 27 Seitan BBQ Sandwiches Enjoy classic BBQ flavor with filling vegan seitan, or wheat meat. The sliced seitan needs time in a hot pan to turn brown and crispy; let it sear before coating it with the tangy ketchup mixture for the best texture. A side of sweet potato chips makes the perfect pairing for a fast weeknight meal. View Recipe 16 of 27 Anti-Inflammatory Beet & Avocado Wrap Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Styling: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster Packed with fiber and monounsaturated fats, avocados are one of the best foods to eat to fight inflammation. Combined with beets, which contain their own inflammation-fighting phytochemicals, you'll get a lunch that packs a healthy punch. The tahini-lemon mixture adds brightness and a nutty flavor to the wrap. To julienne beets, cut them into thin rounds, then slice the rounds into matchsticks. Or to save time, simply grate the beets on the largest holes of a box grater. View Recipe 17 of 27 Lemon Shrimp & Orzo Salad Consider making a double batch of this easy pasta salad--it's delicious the next day. The orzo will absorb the dressing as it sits, so add a little more olive oil and lemon juice if you'd like. View Recipe 18 of 27 Red Cabbage-Apple Cauliflower Gnocchi Tender cabbage and a vibrant applesauce-mustard pan sauce are the perfect pairing for pillowy low-carb cauliflower gnocchi. Add diced chicken-apple sausage for extra protein. View Recipe 19 of 27 Chipotle-Lime Cauliflower Taco Bowls A bold, smoky marinade elevates roasted cauliflower in this meal-prep version of our popular Chipotle-Lime Cauliflower Tacos by Carolyn Malcoun. To cut down on prep time for these healthy taco bowls, look for precut cauliflower in the produce department. You can also save time by using microwaveable quinoa pouches (you'll need one 8-ounce pouch for this recipe) instead of cooking quinoa. View Recipe 20 of 27 Quinoa Deli Salad This healthy version of a deli salad combines hearty quinoa and chickpeas with small amounts of ham and mozzarella, so you get all of the flavor without overdoing it on the sodium. This healthy quinoa salad is great as dinner and doubles as a delicious lunch the next day. View Recipe 21 of 27 Roast Beef, Arugula, and Pickled Onion Wrap Quick-pickle some onions the night before to put a delicious twist on your healthy lunch wrap. View Recipe 22 of 27 Salmon Pita Sandwich This quick lunch recipe is loaded with heart-healthy omega-3s thanks to the canned sockeye salmon. If you're bringing this sandwich for lunch, keep the salmon salad separate and stuff the pita just before eating. View Recipe 23 of 27 Lentil Salad with Feta, Tomatoes, Cucumbers & Olives Jennifer Causey This Mediterranean lentil salad, with chopped veggies, feta cheese and a light dressing, is perfect to have on hand for a quick lunch. View Recipe 24 of 27 Spicy Slaw Bowls with Shrimp & Edamame The quick 10-minute Spicy Cabbage Slaw serves as the low-carb base in this veggie-packed lunch recipe. Topped with high-protein edamame and shrimp, this satisfying lunch will help you power through the afternoon. View Recipe 25 of 27 Roasted Veggie Pitas Roasting brings out the sweetness of the vegetables in this vegetarian sandwich recipe, which is topped off with smoked provolone cheese. View Recipe 26 of 27 Green Goddess Salad with Chickpeas In this cucumber, tomato, Swiss cheese and chickpea salad recipe, a healthy green goddess dressing is made from avocado, buttermilk and herbs. The extra dressing is delicious served with grilled vegetables. View Recipe 27 of 27 Tuna, White Bean & Dill Salad Take canned tuna to new heights by adding creamy cannellini beans, fresh dill and a tangy Dijon dressing. View Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit