Healthy Living
Saturday, November 7, 2009
10 super simple things to pack in your work lunch bag
partner
Man, I hate to pack my
lunch for work, but I know that taking my
lunch can save me about a
$1,000 dollars a year and also, is about ten million times healthier than resorting to Fast Food Row. But you can only do the
PB&J so many times before you start to resent it, you know? Here are ten inspirations for your Bento box.
- Pair some Mexican bean salad
with a whole wheat tortilla sprinkled with a little colby/jack and
you're going to be satisfied until dinner time, without that
mid-afternoon insulin slump.
- Whip up some sun-dried tomato pesto
in about three seconds with a food processer and then assemble at work
with sprouts and fun bread, or use as a dip for more veggies.
- Got frozen pre-cooked shrimp
in the freezer? It will take about two minutes, tops, to throw them
into a little container, pair with another container with your dipper
of choice (cocktail sauce, wasabi, soy sauce, or lemon wedges), some
fresh strawberries, a chunk of dark decadent chocolate, some raw asparagus that you can steam in the microwave
and some sparkling spring water. If you're feeling motivated, once at
work, you can nuke the chocolate and dip the strawberries into it, but
I'm warning you right now, your coworkers will start referring to you
as "The Princess."
How about
you? What are your lunch packing
tips of brilliance? What are you eating for lunch today?
The comments want to trade their squished PB&J for whatever it is you're eating. No tradebacks.
Related Links from Elastic Waist and SELF:
[photo credit: Getty Images]
Related: vegetables, stawberries, lunch, leftovers, healthy lunch, gazpacho, diet and nutrition, cooking, bean salas, advice
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Posted by Stephanie Tue Jun 10, 2008 11:32am PDT
I hate packing my lunch too but I also wanted to eat healthy so I started packing things I could throw (literally) in my bag on the way out the door. I usually have a combination of the following: small Gala apple, low fat string cheese, dannon all natural plain yogurt, grapes (to mix in the yogurt, seriously it's good!), Laughing Cow Light cheese (to go on the apple), and then I throw in some carrots or a banana to get me through the rest of the day. Nothing fancy but it's cheap and one less thing I have to think about!
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Posted by Nicola Tue Jun 10, 2008 11:46am PDT
My husband and I usually cook a big meal on Sunday and have left overs until about wednesday (we both are ok with left-overs as long as they can last). I make sure to have loads of veggies in the meal, I also include at least 2 peices of fruits for snack, some string cheese and a granola bar.
For the rest of the week we either do salads or turkey burgers with fruit and someth other snack.
Here is a great website that can help organize lunch/dinners.
www.whatsforlunch.net
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Posted by PORKCHOP Tue Jun 10, 2008 11:54am PDT
I take my lunch to work everyday.. after a co worker and I figured we spent on average 6.00 a day on lunch out... and that was the low end of lunchs out! 6.00 for 21 work days = 126.00. Youch!
I buy the 10 for 10 campbells soups when they are on sale, or 4 dinners for 10.00 (Healthy Choice brand), whatever is easy and can be fixed up quick and is still satisfing... and I dont have to prepare (lazy)!! Throw in a fruit for mid morning break, a yogurt and laughing cow cheese or string cheese... I'M OFF!
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Posted by mandabear Wed Jun 11, 2008 6:46am PDT
I usually cook enough for dinner to have leftovers for lunch the next day. If I don't have leftovers, I'm a HUGE fan of the South Beach Diet wrap sandwiches. They are very filling and so yummy. Anything I can quick heat up in the microwave and take outside to eat when it's nice works for me! And then a Fiber One bar mid-afternoon and I'm set until dinner.
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Posted by pixie Wed Jun 11, 2008 12:12pm PDT
YUCK PULLING LOBSTER SALAS OUT OF YOUR DESD DRAWER!!!!
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Posted by Mon Jun 16, 2008 4:35pm PDT
To help curb my appetite during the day, I drink Enviga. It is the healthier and natural alternative and it gives me a kick without bringing me down. I have also lost about twenty lbs. drinking about 2 per day. One in the morning and one in the afternoon. There are 4 flavors that I am aware of. Good stuff.
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Posted by VERNALB Mon Jun 16, 2008 8:31pm PDT
I make lunches for me and my husband everyday. It is easier if lunches are made the night before, it cuts down on the morning rush. I make salads with lots of vegetables or healthy, low sodium soups. For snacks we have Fiber One bars, Laughing Cow or string cheese, or fruit. I avoid canned soups or frozen meals because they contain too much sodium even healthy options (Lean Cuisine or Healthy Choice) have high sodium counts.
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Posted by Jay Tue Oct 6, 2009 7:37am PDT
I just made a killer chili.
high fiber low in fat.
great over rice in tupperware for the work microwave
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