{"id":8585,"date":"2026-09-25T10:31:30","date_gmt":"2026-09-25T08:31:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/maybayrestaurant.com\/?p=8585"},"modified":"2026-09-25T10:31:30","modified_gmt":"2026-09-25T08:31:30","slug":"healthy-quick-lunch-in-vincennes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/maybayrestaurant.com\/en\/archives\/8585","title":{"rendered":"A quick and healthy lunch in Vincennes: our set lunch menu"},"content":{"rendered":"

Forty-five minutes. That\u2019s 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\u2019t arrive until 2 pm.<\/p>\r\n

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At M\u00e2y Bay, we\u2019ve designed our lunch menu around this specific requirement, offering 100% vegetarian and vegan Vietnamese cuisine that\u2019s fresh, prepared on the premises, served quickly and light on the stomach. Here\u2019s how to put together a lunch break that delivers on both nutritional and time-related promises.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

A quick and healthy lunch in Vincennes: our set lunch menu<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Reading time: ~9 mins<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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  1. What makes for a quick and healthy lunch for a busy professional?<\/a><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
  2. Nutritional guidelines for a truly filling lunch<\/a><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
  3. Why healthy fast food isn\u2019t like fast food<\/a><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
  4. Our 45-minute lunch set menu in Vincennes<\/a><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
  5. Eat in, takeaway or click-and-collect<\/a><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
  6. Avoiding the afternoon slump<\/a><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
  7. Plant-based Vietnamese cuisine designed with the neighbourhood in mind<\/a><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
  8. Take your quick, healthy lunch to the next level<\/a><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
  9. Frequently Asked Questions<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    What makes for a quick and healthy lunch for a busy professional?<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    A quick and healthy lunch, a complete meal<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    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.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    A service designed to save time<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    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.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    For Marie-Laure and Patrick, architects based in Saint-Mand\u00e9, 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 St\u00e9phane, 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.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    Nutritional guidelines for a truly filling lunch<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    The four pillars of a balanced quick meal<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    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.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    \"a<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    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.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    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.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    Good to know<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    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.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    Why healthy fast food isn\u2019t like fast food<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    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<\/a>, 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\u2019s research into the lunch break market<\/a> confirm this fragmentation between canteens, bakeries, fast-food outlets and traditional restaurants.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    Within this landscape, one movement has emerged: that of the slow snacking<\/a>. The concept is simple: eat quickly but well, with home-cooked dishes, locally sourced ingredients where possible, and a deliberately fast service.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    The difference compared with traditional fast food isn\u2019t about speed; it\u2019s 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\u2019s served in three minutes.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    Our 45-minute lunch set menu in Vincennes<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    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.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    Light starters to kick off the meal<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    Light starters such as the Goi M\u00e2y Bay, our vegetable salad<\/a>, or the Ha Cao, steamed vegetable dumplings<\/a>, arrange the food on the plate without overfilling it.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    Complete and filling meals<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    As for the main courses, the Bun Cha Gio, our rice vermicelli with crispy vegetable spring rolls<\/a>, remains the go-to spot for anyone looking for a quick, protein-packed lunch with a crisp, fresh flavour. The M\u00e2y Bay Delight, homemade satay soup<\/a> with vegetable stock, rice noodles, tofu and shiitake mushrooms, serves as a complete meal in a bowl. The Ba Dung stew, Vietnamese-style curry<\/a> Served with plain rice; ideal for those with a hearty appetite.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    To conclude, the Che Chuoi, bananas with tapioca pearls, coconut milk and peanuts<\/a>, or a seasonal fruit salad<\/a> round off the meal without causing drowsiness. Details of the dishes can be found on our card<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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    Lunch break ideas and recommendations from M\u00e2y Bay<\/caption>\r\n
    Break scenario<\/th>\r\nAverage duration<\/th>\r\nOur recommendations<\/th>\r\nApproximate budget per person<\/th>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/thead>\r\n
    Lunch with colleagues at work<\/td>\r\n45 to 60 minutes<\/td>\r\nStarter of the day, main course of the day, herbal tea<\/td>\r\n25 to 30 euros<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    Business lunch<\/td>\r\n60 to 90 minutes<\/td>\r\nFull menu, table booked in advance<\/td>\r\n30 euros and above, depending on the package<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    Click-and-collect takeaway lunch<\/td>\r\n5 to 10 minutes on site<\/td>\r\nOrder placed 15 minutes ago, bag ready on arrival<\/td>\r\n25 to 32 euros<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    Working from home<\/td>\r\nVariable<\/td>\r\nDish of the day and dessert collected at around 12.30 pm<\/td>\r\n25 to 30 euros<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    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.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    Eat in, takeaway or click-and-collect<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    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<\/a>, as detailed on our page to take away<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    \"a<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    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<\/a>. For business meals organised by an assistant, confirmation the day before avoids any unpleasant surprises and allows us to plan the service in advance.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    Avoiding the afternoon slump<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    Putting together a meal to keep your mind sharp<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    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 M\u00e2y Bay<\/a> or a full salad.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    Here are some tips that will help you put together a balanced meal at a fast-food restaurant, whichever one you choose.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n