Hosting a luncheon can be overwhelming with many people, and you’re bound to encounter people with unique dietary needs. This can make setting a menu and food choices for your luncheon challenging. If you want to host a healthy luncheon but need to cut back on the budget, we have compiled a list of our top 8 affordable ideas for serving healthy foods at a luncheon. Try incorporating a few of these ideas into your luncheon planning to host a successful and health-conscious luncheon that your guests will love!
1. Fresh Fruit Platter
The fresh fruit platter is one of the most popular and oldest options for luncheons. These also look great if you choose a colorful assortment of fresh fruits. You can add berries, grapes, melons, pineapple and other citrus fruits to your platter for a nutritious and affordable solution. Arrangement matters here, so attractively place the fruits on the platter to entice guests.
2. Hummus Paired With Vegetables
Hummus is a delicious, healthy and affordable option for luncheons. An array of crunchy vegetables, such as cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, snap peas, carrots and bell peppers, are available. Hummus, made from chickpeas or tahini, olive oil and lemon juice, provides healthy fats and yummy protein for guests.
3. Soups
An excellent, affordable option and easy-to-serve for luncheon places with little space is bean or vegetable soup. You can warm guests up with hot, delectable soup choices from black bean soup, white bean soup or vegetable soup.
There are so many seasoning choices for soup as well as herbs and spices for new flavors. One of the healthiest toppings is fresh Nature Jim’s sprouts, which are rich in fiber, protein and amino acids!
4. Whole Grain Sandwiches and Wraps
Swap out the standard white bread for whole grain and add lean proteins with plenty of vegetables. You can use grain tortillas or whole-grain wheat bread as the base and add slices of turkey, grilled chicken, tofu or tuna. Add lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, cucumbers and sliced grapes for extra nutrients and flavor. If you want to create a smaller footprint, you can cut the sandwiches and wraps into bite-sized pieces so they can double as a finger food.
This is another great opportunity to amp up the overall nutrition with fresh, Nature Jim’s sprouts! Simply add them with your veggies or mix the sprouts into any condiments you’re using.
And don’t worry about using up the leftovers before they go bad—keeping sprouts fresh for days is simple. Just make sure they’re dry before they go in the fridge.
5. Water Alternatives
Adding water alternatives to your luncheon menu can help improve guests’ overall dining experience. Try to avoid added sugar alternatives and look for more naturally flavored options.
6. Mixed Green Salad
Keep it simple with a mixed green salad. Offer a few different dressing options to make the meal customizable and make guests feel as though the food is more expensive than it is. Make sure that you have various topping options, too, like seeds, nuts, crumbled cheeses and Nature Jim’s sprouts.
7. Stir-Fry
A stir-fry dish can be made with or without meat, but it is the perfect quick, easy-to-throw-together meal for your luncheon guests. Stir-fry the vegetables with a small amount of oil to keep them healthy and add in slices of lean meat as well as soy sauce, ginger and garlic.
For a little more crunch and flavor, toss in some Nature Jim’s Mung bean sprouts during the last minute or two of cooking.
8. Greek Yogurt Parfaits
Crafting a Greek yogurt parfait for your luncheon is a great way to offer something that is both nutritious and feels like a dessert or snack. You’ve just created a delicious, protein-rich food item with dessert elements by layering fresh Greek yogurt with granola, berries and a bit of honey or whipped cream.
Serving healthy and affordable foods at a luncheon is more than possible if you bring some planning and creativity to the process. By incorporating fresh fruits, whole grains, vegetables and lean proteins into your menu, you can provide guests with nutritious options without breaking the bank. After you have your healthy menu decided, you can focus on other aspects of the luncheon such as the keynote speaker and decorations.
About the Author
George Reynolds
Nature Jim's Sprouts Owner and CEO
Since 1996, George has been working hands on with all thing’s spouts, sprouting and sprouting seeds. He is also a natural health and well-being enthusiast who believes in the power of good health habits. George’s focus on healthy food, nutrition and exercise aligns perfectly with his many years of professional experience as the President of Nature Jim’s Sprouts and Reynolds Industries.
George firmly believes in the health benefits of sprouts and makes them a part of his daily diet. His favorite way to eat sprouts is raw and on sandwiches and salads.
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