8 Dips + Spreads To Make Lunchtime Easier

Here’s my average food day: wake up and make Sid’s breakfast,* make my breakfast, recipe test for the cookbook, recipe test for the site, make my lunch, recipe test for the cookbook, make Sid’s dinner, make my dinner, and make + pack Sid’s school lunch for the next day.*
I’m sooooo exited about making the cookbook, and I obviously love eating. But some weeks, between food for my work, my baby, and my own tummy – it feels like I never leave the kitchen. Ever.
When it comes time to make lunch for myself during the day, I seriously cannot even deal with thinking about making some giant feast. And I also know that eating leftover cookies from recipe testing doesn’t count (THIS IS NOT LUNCH). I need energy and fuel and something to keep me going. But it also needs to be fast.
My solution lately has been dips and spreads slathered on a piece of bread/rice tortilla and loaded up with veggies. I’ve been making a couple simple spreads at the start of the week, so I actually eat and lunch doesn’t feel so frantic. And let me tell you, it’s the greatest thing ever to look in the fridge and see those little dips smiling at me – and knowing I have something ready to go.
This is a great solution for office life, too. Bring some chopped veggies, a loaf of sprouted/g-free bread or tortillas, and your spreads at the start of the week and store them in your office fridge. You’ll have lunch all week without even thinking about it.
I’ve rounded up some of the best dips and spreads around the web. And if you can’t find the time to make any of these, there are some really great ones you can buy at the store. No matter what, let’s just commit for the next week to eat something GREAT for lunch. Leftover cookies are cool. But having real-deal veggie fuel running through your veins is way more awesome + more productive too.
I’d love to see what you make! Share your awesome lunches, and make sure to tag #onepartplant so I can see them.
*I need to give credit where credit is due. D and I are a great team and we alternate mornings on making Sid’s breakfast and lunches. And he’s been helping me recipe test lots of dinners. It just sounded more dramatic to say I did it all. You know I love being dramatic.
{ 8 Easy Spreads To Make Your Lunchtime Easier }
1. Smokey Baba Ganoush from Me
2. Roasted Carrot, Chickpea, and Harissa Dip from The First Mess
3. Mediterranean Lentil Dip from Minimalist Baker
4. White Bean Garlic Rosemary Dip from Chew Out Loud
5. Avocado Dip from Pinch Of Yum
6. Muhammara Dip from 101 Cookbooks
7. Artichoke Olive Tapenade from Keeping It Kind
8. Pistachio Dip via Bon Appetit
Got any favorite dips, spreads, or ideas to make lunchtime easier. Please share with me in the comments!
And don’t forgot to share your lunchtime planty-ways on Instagram and tag #onepartplant.
6 Comments
Moira
January 20, 2016YES! This is great! I’m so lazy when it comes to making lunch, especially since I work in an office! I needed this really bad! I’m definitely going try that smokey baba ganoush! My dad makes a version of it on the BBQ.
Jessica
January 22, 2016Moria, how bad ass is your dad? I love the idea of doing this on the grill!
Michelle
January 21, 2016I need to get some spreads in my life. I don’t make my lunch for the office often because I get called into lunch meeting. There have been MANY a lunch wasted. Making up a batch of this to keep in the fridge + bread would be a stellar way to have options that don’t go bad immediately!
That smokey baba ganoush looks especially awesome (and easy)!
Jessica
January 22, 2016Michelle, me too! I feel like a lot of my lunches go wasted too. Let me know how your dip + spread week works!
lynn @ the actor's diet
February 1, 2016Fact – whenever I dip something, I sing “Dip it good” to the tune of Devo’s “Whip it” in my head. HAPPY MONDAY.
Kaileen Elise Sues
February 3, 2016A good spread can make all the difference — love this roundup! Thanks so much for sharing.