I have always been pretty good about preparing my lunch on Sunday for the week ahead, partly because I enjoy spending Sundays in the kitchen and partly because it means I can try out new dishes without my brother turning up his nose. That said, sometimes life gets in the way and instead I venture into the expensive streets of London to find my lunch.

I am lucky to work around so many good food places but it can often be difficult to find balanced lunches that aren’t just crayfish and avocado on wholegrain from Pret (no shade, I am a big fan of this sandwich). The moment I step food out of my office I am within 50 metres of a Shake Shack, two burrito places and a Crosstown Doughnuts. That said, carry on reading for my four favourite places for a healthy, on-the-go lunch in London.

Pilpel is falafel royalty in the City of London. There are a few branches scattered across the Square Mile and it is bloody delicious! For £4.99 you can get a pitta with 6 balls of crisp, perfectly flavoured falafel and a LOT of salad options and some of the creamiest hummus I have had. You can choose between pita, a salad, a hummus bowl and a sabbich and their sides are delicious! Pilpel offers very fast,very healthy and very reasonable lunches which is why it’s one of my favourite places to go. You can find Pilpel at Aldgate, Spitalfields, Fleet Street and St Paul’s.

Coco di Mama is a chain of Italian inspired fast food cafes. While I can’t say much about the pasta because I’ve only had it a handful of times, the sandwiches and salads are 10/10 for lunch. All of the food is made fresh in store every morning and it shows, the ingredients are well sourced and delicious. I love the chicken salad with avocado and the bambino caprese salad which I always get when I grab a sandwich (chicken and jalapeño mayo on sourdough please). Coco di Mama is a reasonably priced lunch option, with a salad adding up to around £6 and sandwiches between £3.50 and £4.50 but be quick, the queues are long (but fast) and once it’s gone, it’s gone. Also, if you fancy a mid morning pick-me-up their pistachio croissant is bloody gorgeous, it may not be good for your cholesterol but it is great for the soul.

In my opinion, K10 is Itsu 2.0.Their sushi is fresher and the fish just tastes better! K10 is a Japanese canteen which serves up sushi and cooked noodle dishes for the lunchtime masses. For £7 you can get a medium sushi box (the tuna and salmon assortment is delicious) with a drink and your choice of edamame, sweet chilli rice cakes or wasabi peas. This is my go to lunch in the summer. There are branches in Broadgate, Moorgate, Mansion House, Chancery Lane and Fenchurch Street.

Ahi Pokè offers Hawaiian pokè bowls with Californian vibes, it is the priciest option on this list but when you get a taste of the goods, you will see why. Ahi Pokè create my favourite pokè bowls in London with super fresh ingredients which come together to make a very healthy, very delicious lunch. What I love about this place is that you can build your bowl from scratch and there are lots of options at every stage. My favourite bowl includes noodles, ahi tuna, sesame shoyu, pickled ginger (obvs), edamame, fried onion, sweet potato, coriander (!) and avocado. If you’re stuck for choice they offer signature bowls which include gluten free, dairy free and vegan options. There are branches all over London including Cannon Street, Fitzrovia, Victoria and Canary Wharf.

Where do you love to go for lunch? Let me know in the comments!