Forty-five minutes. That’s the actual time most workers in Vincennes and eastern Paris have to eat lunch between appointments. Finding a quick, healthy lunch within this timeframe often involves a compromise between a sandwich wolfed down on the go and a brasserie where the bill doesn’t arrive until 2 pm.
At Mây Bay, we’ve designed our lunch menu around this specific requirement, offering 100% vegetarian and vegan Vietnamese cuisine that’s fresh, prepared on the premises, served quickly and light on the stomach. Here’s how to put together a lunch break that delivers on both nutritional and time-related promises.
A quick and healthy lunch in Vincennes: our set lunch menu
Reading time: ~9 mins
- What makes for a quick and healthy lunch for a busy professional?
- Nutritional guidelines for a truly filling lunch
- Why healthy fast food isn’t like fast food
- Our 45-minute lunch set menu in Vincennes
- Eat in, takeaway or click-and-collect
- Avoiding the afternoon slump
- Plant-based Vietnamese cuisine designed with the neighbourhood in mind
- Take your quick, healthy lunch to the next level
- Frequently Asked Questions
What makes for a quick and healthy lunch for a busy professional?
A quick and healthy lunch, a complete meal
A quick, healthy lunch is not a low-calorie meal, nor is it a dreary salad. It is a complete meal served within a reasonable time, providing sufficient protein, dietary fibre, complex carbohydrates with a moderate glycaemic index, and healthy fats.
A service designed to save time
Speed should never come from simplifying the dish, but from the organisation of the kitchen, with the basics, stocks and light sauces prepared in advance, followed by a quick plating-up.
For Marie-Laure and Patrick, architects based in Saint-Mandé, there are two main constraints. They arrive around midday to avoid the crowds; they have between forty-five minutes and an hour; and they want home-cooked food, great flavour and attentive service. For Stéphane, an engineer on assignment in Vincennes, the approach is different: he orders by phone as he leaves his tutoring organisation and collects his ready-made meal within a few minutes. Both are looking for the same thing: a balanced meal for busy professionals, without having to choose between quality and the time of their next appointment.
Nutritional guidelines for a truly filling lunch
The four pillars of a balanced quick meal
A quick, balanced meal at work is based on four key elements. The first is protein intake. In a plant-based diet, this is achieved by combining tofu, soya, pulses and grains, which together form complete proteins.
The second pillar is fibre, which is provided by raw and cooked vegetables, fresh herbs and pulses. These slow down digestion and keep you feeling full for longer, which helps prevent snacking between 4 pm and 8 pm.
The third pillar concerns carbohydrates, with rice noodles, rice and vermicelli providing a steady supply of energy rather than a spike followed by a crash. The fourth pillar centres on fats, which should be limited and carefully chosen, with short cooking times, minimal frying and light sauces rather than rich emulsions.
Good to know
Nutri-Score, which is designed for pre-packaged products, does not apply to dishes served in restaurants. When eating out, the real indicators remain the freshness of seasonal produce, the proportion of vegetables on the plate and the lightness of the sauces.
Why healthy fast food isn’t like fast food
Eating lunch away from home has become the norm for a large proportion of the working population. According to research presented by the Snacking Conference, nearly 78 % of those surveyed visited at least one venue outside the home for lunch, of whom 57 % visited an outlet offering snacks. The Xerfi’s research into the lunch break market confirm this fragmentation between canteens, bakeries, fast-food outlets and traditional restaurants.
Within this landscape, one movement has emerged: that of the slow snacking. The concept is simple: eat quickly but well, with home-cooked dishes, locally sourced ingredients where possible, and a deliberately fast service.
The difference compared with traditional fast food isn’t about speed; it’s about the ingredients, the cooking method and the nutritional value. A hearty soup or a bowl of vermicelli prepared on the same day is a world away from a rehydrated product, even if it’s served in three minutes.
Our 45-minute lunch set menu in Vincennes
Our concept is based on combining a place where guests can enjoy fresh, healthy food with a contemporary, relaxing atmosphere. In practical terms, this means a quiet dining room, smooth service and a balanced lunch menu comprising a starter of the day, a main course of the day and a dessert of the day, complemented by our classic dishes.
Light starters to kick off the meal
Light starters such as the Goi Mây Bay, our vegetable salad, or the Ha Cao, steamed vegetable dumplings, arrange the food on the plate without overfilling it.
Complete and filling meals
As for the main courses, the Bun Cha Gio, our rice vermicelli with crispy vegetable spring rolls, remains the go-to spot for anyone looking for a quick, protein-packed lunch with a crisp, fresh flavour. The Mây Bay Delight, homemade satay soup with vegetable stock, rice noodles, tofu and shiitake mushrooms, serves as a complete meal in a bowl. The Ba Dung stew, Vietnamese-style curry Served with plain rice; ideal for those with a hearty appetite.
To conclude, the Che Chuoi, bananas with tapioca pearls, coconut milk and peanuts, or a seasonal fruit salad round off the meal without causing drowsiness. Details of the dishes can be found on our card.
| Break scenario | Average duration | Our recommendations | Approximate budget per person |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lunch with colleagues at work | 45 to 60 minutes | Starter of the day, main course of the day, herbal tea | 25 to 30 euros |
| Business lunch | 60 to 90 minutes | Full menu, table booked in advance | 30 euros and above, depending on the package |
| Click-and-collect takeaway lunch | 5 to 10 minutes on site | Order placed 15 minutes ago, bag ready on arrival | 25 to 32 euros |
| Working from home | Variable | Dish of the day and dessert collected at around 12.30 pm | 25 to 30 euros |
The budgets shown are based on the average spend observed amongst our active customers in the sector, depending on whether they are having lunch as a couple, in a group or taking away several dishes.
Eat in, takeaway or click-and-collect
A healthy takeaway lunch requires reliable logistics. We operate through three complementary channels. Dine-in service, for those who want to sit down, have a chat and leave on time. Takeaway orders by telephone, used by regulars who ring about fifteen minutes before they arrive, and the online order, as detailed on our page to take away.
Booking remains the best way to secure a short break, particularly between 12 noon and 1 pm. You can book on our page at Contact and bookings. For business meals organised by an assistant, confirmation the day before avoids any unpleasant surprises and allows us to plan the service in advance.
Avoiding the afternoon slump
Putting together a meal to keep your mind sharp
The well-known 2 pm slump is largely down to the composition of the meal. A meal very high in cooked fats and fast-acting sugars places a heavy burden on the digestive system, leading to a drop in alertness. Conversely, a meal based on vegetables, wholegrains and plant-based proteins sustains energy levels throughout the afternoon without causing drowsiness. This is an effect our customers often describe after a bowl of Hu Tieu Mây Bay or a full salad.
Here are some tips that will help you put together a balanced meal at a fast-food restaurant, whichever one you choose.
- Check that all three food groups – vegetables, protein sources and starchy foods – are included before confirming your order.
- Ask for sauces on the side and opt for light vinaigrettes rather than creamy dressings.
- Replace sugary drinks with water, green tea or herbal tea, such as those we serve à la carte.
- Finish with a fruit-based dessert rather than a heavy pastry.
- Adjust the portion size to suit the afternoon’s activities, with the option to personalise the meal.
Key points
A healthy on-the-go lunch is judged as much by what it avoids – such as fried foods and hidden sugars – as by what it provides in terms of vegetables, fibre and protein.
Plant-based Vietnamese cuisine designed with the neighbourhood in mind
Vietnamese cuisine lends itself naturally to this requirement. It is low in fat, rich in herbs, raw vegetables and broths, and can easily be adapted to vegetarian and vegan versions without losing its identity.
This is what we stand for in Vincennes, on the edge of the woods and just a few minutes’ away from Fontenay-sous-Bois, Saint-Mandé and Montreuil, in a setting designed to offer a breather between meetings. Our approach is set out in detail on our page concept.
Take your quick, healthy lunch to the next level
For a quick, healthy lunch that fits into a forty-five-minute break, the formula is actually quite simple. A clear menu, fresh food prepared on the premises, efficient service and reliable takeaway options. Book your table or place your order in advance, and head off with the energy you need for the rest of the day.
In short: a quick and healthy lunch in Vincennes
An effective and balanced lunch break
Combining plant-based Vietnamese cuisine, efficient service and a range of ordering options, Mây Bay offers busy professionals in Vincennes a quick and healthy lunch that meets both their time constraints and their nutritional needs.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need to book a table for lunch on weekdays?
We strongly recommend visiting between 12 noon and 1 pm, as the restaurant fills up quickly during this time. Booking guarantees a table is available straight away and ensures service is tailored to your schedule.
How far in advance do I need to order a takeaway meal?
A phone call or an online order placed about fifteen minutes before you arrive is usually enough for dishes from the menu. For group orders for several colleagues, please allow a bit more time.
Is a meal without animal products filling enough for a working lunch?
Yes, provided you combine pulses, tofu and grains – a combination that provides complete proteins. The fibre in the vegetables and the complex carbohydrates ensure you feel full until the evening.
Can we get an invoice for an expense claim?
Yes, a receipt will be provided on request, whether you’re eating in or taking away. Please let us know when you pay or when you place your order.
Do you offer set menus suitable for business lunches?
Our menus are ideal for business lunches, in a peaceful setting that lends itself to productive discussions. For groups of several guests, booking in advance allows us to organise the service within the time slot you specify.
Can meals be adapted to cater for allergies or intolerances?
Please let us know about any dietary requirements when you book or place your order. As our dishes are homemade, we may be able to make certain adjustments depending on the dishes and the seasonal produce available.
