Remember Lunch to Fuel Your Daily Protein Intake

With the kids’ practices and games taking what remained of your day after work, how do you fuel for the day and get your recommended daily protein intake? Remember to fuel up with milk for your busy schedule. Milk provides the protein you need to stay energized and focused throughout the day. 

Fuel Your Daily Protein Intake for the Day with a Great Lunch

To keep your energy up through all the to-dos, take time for lunch today. Whether you are making it in advance or using your lunch hour as a time to cook and get away from work, try these 5 easy lunches for busy days. 

Mini Toasted Open Subs with Cucumber Yogurt Dressing 

Make miniature turkey-cheese subs topped with a homemade cucumber-yogurt sauce in just 20 minutes. Preheat your oven to 350˚ F while you finish up a round of emails. Then, toast sliced French rolls in the oven with the cut side up until lightly browned. Top it with red onion, green pepper, sliced turkey breast, and Swiss cheese slices. Return it all to the oven and bake until the cheese begins to melt. 

While the sandwiches toast, prepare the yogurt sauce by combining plain yogurt, cucumber, and parsley. Then arrange these open-face sandwiches, topping them with Roma tomato slices and shredded lettuce. Spoon yogurt sauce over top of each sandwich and sit down to enjoy. 

Three-Cheese Tomato-Basil Pizza 

This easy veggie pizza is packed with protein from ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheeses, giving you energy for your midday slump. 

Preheat the oven to 450˚ F while you prepare the whole-wheat pizza crust on a baking sheet. Spread pesto evenly over the crust. Stir together ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, milk, and garlic to spread over the crust. Top with plum tomatoes and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake until the cheese melts. 

Remove from the oven, cool, and top with fresh basil. Cut and serve for a delicious pizza slice ready in 19 minutes. 

Sirloin Pita Salad Sandwich with Herb Yogurt Dressing 

Need a light, delicious lunch? Fill pita bread halves with mixed salad greens and tender pieces of steak drizzled in yogurt dressing. It is ready to enjoy in a half hour. 

Heat a skillet over medium-high heat while you rub sirloin steak with salt and pepper. Once heated, cook the steak and allow it to rest before slicing. Warm pita halves in a toaster. While they warm, create the homemade Herb Yogurt Dressing by stirring plain yogurt with garlic, parsley, chive, and oregano until well blended. Into each pita half, spoon the yogurt dressing, mixed salad greens, blue cheese crumbles, red onion, cooked steak, and cherry tomato. 

Whole Wheat Fettuccine Alfredo 

Is an already long day leaving you craving comfort food? Turn to a classic. Using Greek yogurt as the base for the classic alfredo cheese sauce gives not only a rich and creamy texture but protein as well. 

Cook whole wheat pasta. While pasta is cooking, melt butter and add garlic. Stir until softened and whisk in warmed milk. Remove from heat and whisk in plain Greek yogurt and parmesan cheese. Season with salt and pepper to your liking. Pour the sauce over cooked pasta and toss gently to coat. Top with remaining parmesan cheese and fresh parsley to serve, ready to go in just 20 minutes. 

Strawberry Brie Grilled Cheese Sandwich 

This grilled cheese sandwich is a cheesy spin on the classic spinach and strawberry salad. The store-bought basil pesto makes it a cinch to prepare in 13 minutes. It’s the perfect light sandwich for spring! 

Heat a pan over medium heat. While it warms, spread basil pesto evenly on each slice of bread, then top with Brie cheese slices, strawberry slices, and spinach leaves. Place the remaining slice of bread on top and firmly press down. Spread the top of the bread with softened butter and place buttered side down in the heated pan. Cook until lightly browned. While the sandwich is toasted, spread the remaining softened butter on top of the other slice of bread. Flip the sandwich over and cook until lightly browned. 

Fuel Your Daily Protein Intake the Right Way

Adding real cow’s milk and other dairy to your meals offers flavor and nutrients that other foods cannot offer. For more recipes (including lactose-free), visit our dairy blog.

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