If you work away from home and don’t have the luxury or desire to purchase your food every day, it’s likely that you have some weekday lunch-making system. But leftovers and sandwiches can get old pretty quick, so here’s a new idea to try: salad jars. Better yet, make it a party!

Salad jar parties combine the best of healthy foods you love + an excuse to gather with friends.

And, if done right, the result will be a full week’s worth of healthy lunches ready to go as of Sunday night, saving you the time and hassle of doing it in the mornings.

So how does it work?

Start by inviting a few friends over on a Sunday afternoon or evening, telling everyone to bring several medium-sized mason jars and one, two, or three simple ingredients/dishes. You’ll be sharing all the food, so no single person has the burden of making too much of any one thing.

Here are some examples of what goes great in a salad jar:

1. Chopped leafy greens of any kind
2. Additional chopped veggies of any kind – prepped in separate bowls
3. Quinoa
4. Brown rice
5. Buckwheat
6. Cooked beans – black, kidney, or cannellini
7. Chickpeas – roasted and seasoned for flavor
8. Cooked chicken or other organic meats
9. Sunflower or pumpkin seeds
10. Dried cranberries or goji berries
11. Cooked eggs
12. Vinaigrette or dressing of your choice

You get the idea, keep it simple.

When your friends arrive, put out all the ingredients, give each other some high-fives, and get your jars ready!

Layer your ingredients starting with the dressing on the bottom. This is important, because it’ll help the rest of your ingredients not get soggy while they’re in the fridge waiting to be eaten. After the dressing, put in a layer of greens, and continue layering the rest of the ingredients, finishing with the “toppings” on top.

When you’re done, you should have several colorful jars of healthy, hearty salad ready to grab in the morning. When you’re ready to eat your salad, simply shake it up so that the dressing on the bottom covers the rest of the ingredients.

Want to learn more about holistic wellness and inspire others along the way? The Health Coach Training Program might be the perfect fit!

What's your favorite salad jar ingredient? Share below!