5 Great 5-Minute Lunches

Healthy SELF, SELF Magazine
Courtesy of smarterer.com
Courtesy of smarterer.com

Sarah-Jane Bedwell,SELF magazine

To celebrate National School Lunch Week, SELF decided to drum up five amazing lunches you can bring to class--or work, or pretty much anywhere. And since my clients always complain that they never have enough time to pack a well-rounded meal for themselves (or the little ones), I gave you quick, easy options that'll have you out the door in five minutes or less. Promise!
1. Delicious Dippers: Fill a large plastic container with at least 1/2 cup of three different types of veggies (baby carrots, mini sweet peppers and sugar snap peas are my faves), a single-serving packet of hummus, a single-serving packet of salsa and a hard boiled egg (look for pre-cooked and peeled eggs in the deli section of your grocery store). At lunch time, enjoy trying different dip and dipper combinations.

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2. Tuna Lettuce Wraps: First, make the savory sauce for the wraps by stirring together 2 tbsp nonfat, plain Greek yogurt and 2 tbsp hummus with a few dashes of hot sauce. Put sauce in an air-tight container and add to your brown bag. Next, wash 5-6 large lettuce leaves and put in a plastic bag before adding to your lunch tote along with a small can of chunk light tuna, 1 cup grapes and half of a whole-wheat pita. When lunch time rolls around. Simple drain tuna and mix with the savory sauce. Then enjoy a spoonful of the tuna mixture on each lettuce leaf with the grapes and pita on the side.

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3. Souped-Up Soup: Open a can of your favorite lower-sodium vegetable soup. Add half of it to a microwave safe container with 1/2 cup of your favorite beans (rinsed and drained) and 1 cup baby spinach. Place the lid on the container and pack up with 6 whole-grain crackers and one piece part-skim mozzarella string cheese. When your stomach starts to growl mid-day, simply heat the soup in the microwave (according to the directions that were on the can) and enjoy with the crackers and cheese.

4. PB-and-Fruit Wrap: Spread 1 tbsp peanut butter on a whole-wheat tortilla and top with 1/2 of a banana (sliced), 1/4 of an apple (sliced) and 2 tbsp raisins. Roll up and pack in your brown bag along with 1 cup baby carrots. At lunch break, all you have to do is enjoy!

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5. BBQ Chicken Potato: Pack about 3 oz of shredded rotisserie chicken in your lunch bag along with a medium baking potato (about the size of your fist), 1/4 cup of your favorite barbecue sauce and 2 cups bagged salad with 2 tbsp of your favorite light salad dressing. When the lunch hour strikes, puncture the potato several times with a fork and microwave for 5 minutes to bake. Let cool slightly and then slice in half and top with chicken and barbecue sauce. Enjoy with the salad topped with dressing on the side.

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