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healthy bag lunches?

Adelfa

Veteran

Jenava's post decided me to ask for help. I hate packing my lunch. So I often don't. The result is that I get into trouble, and I will draw a veil over the precise nature of the trouble I get into.

What I want to know is: what are some of your go-to bag lunch items? This would include snacks as well as lunch, because it's amazing how much you have to pack to get through a day healthily! Anything extra easy or extra satisfying?

Thanks for your ideas!

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20 replies

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elpgal

Veteran

My lunches are usually leftovers and snacks are fruits but I don't get bored of eating this same thing again. My husband likes to eat out everyday but I pack yogurt and fruit topped with honey and cereal most days. It satisfies his sweet tooth and keeps him full.

MNsara

Veteran

My favorite lunches are dinner leftovers! Especially if they need microwaving, then I don't eat them mid-morning! It's usually meat and vegetables, maybe with half of a sweet potato.

My afternoon snack is a bag with roasted (no salt) almonds and a few dried apricots. It really fills me up and lets me last until dinner.

Also, I started baking an egg casserole (with bacon, spinach, and cheese) that I cut into squares and refrigerate or freeze for breakfasts. I can heat it up and eat it in the car if I have a long drive, I can bring to work and microwave, or just eat at home before leaving.

Jeanie

Veteran

Something with a little protein usually helps curb hungries better than carbs for me. Carrots or cucs with hummus or celery with a dab of peanut butter, a boiled egg or some nuts.

Isabel

Veteran

I absolutely love the site http://www.planningwithkids . She has some great ideas for lunches. Granted, we are bigger than kids, so we have to up the amounts. But she has given me great ideas for when I am out and about and for my kids.

I really like the tarts:

http://planningwithkids.com/20.....t-recipes/

and the egg muffins :

http://planningwithkids.com/20.....uten-free/

They are great cold too with a little salsa or marina on top. I load mine with spinach, mushrooms, red pepper. You can top with avacoda. It is a great basic recipe . She has lots of wonderful ideas. You can use egg whites.

The following is the only cooking site I use. I LOVE this too.

http://www.cookinglight.com/fo.....000077720/

Happy eating.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I don't have a fridge, so my lunch has to be able to sit from 7 am to noon, or sometimes 1 pm. I also don't have access to a fridge. I used to bring left overs, but my GI tract has said that is a no-no.

I usually bring a combination of: assorted fruits and veg (usually an apple and tons of cherry tomatoes, because they are so yummy), with a small treat (I like the 100 calorie fudge bars because they are candy - haha).

I typically go out for lunch though; I like warm soup.

Isabel

Veteran

Lyn*, this is a version of an aladin thermos that I have, my sister has, and I sent one to Maya a couple of years ago when she was still on the forum. This thing is amazing. My daughter has also taken it to school with her.

microwave your food in it ( soup included ) , then put the lid on , and you have hot food for hours.

http://www.amazon.com/Aladdin-.....pd_sim_k_3

Diana

Veteran

I take dinner leftovers, but I do have access to a microwave. What I do is make an extra portion at dinner and sometimes I'll pack it up even before we eat dinner (especially if j is looking especially ravenous, lol. Although he knows I get super cranky if I have no leftovers for lunch the next day, so he's usually pretty good about asking before he eats all the extras.)

If you don't have microwave access, Japanese bento style lunches are meant to be eaten at room temp. I like this site for inspiration.
http://justbento.com/

Lyn*, I got J the mr. Bento lunch container for Christmas, and it's fab for non microwave lunchers. You can have hot soup and cold food together!
http://www.amazon.com/Zojirush.....B000246GSE

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

OOooooooh, Zojirush appeals to my asian side

Thanks!

Louise

Veteran

I'm doing weight watchers at the moment so lunch is usually a big bowl of salad with a bit of meat added http://www.johnlewis.com/siste.....mcampid=73 stored in one of these containers. Then I usually take fruit and a yoghurt. I'm not very adventurous when making lunch though I love buying lunch boxes! X

ETA wraps are great too x

ETA I love cold pasta too. Cook 2 handfuls of wholewheat pasta, a couple of squirts of low fat mayo and tuna or chicken. I love it with pineapple chunks in too. I always find I never feel hungry till tea time on pasta days. I must try rice too x

Raisin

Veteran

Well for me a salad is the main thing. It doesn't have to be complicated, but I make it big, with chopped chicken, sometimes a hard boiled egg, chopped bacon and some nuts or seeds. I always use EVOO with vinegar as my dressing. There has to be enough fat and protein to make it filling. Then I just grab some fruit, or nuts for snacks.

I pack my son's lunch everyday, and for him he gets a sandwich, wrap or leftover pizza as the main dish. Then I add things like, a hardboiled egg, grape tomatoes and carrots, berries or a piece of fruit.

Raisin

Veteran

I forgot, another snack I really love, which you could easily put in a lunch or eat anytime. I just peel a banana and then smear some peanut butter or any kind of nut butter on it. I'm pretty liberal with the nut butter, and it makes for a very satisfying snack. I do choose only natural nut butters with nothing added though. I think you have to be more careful with regular peanut butter, it's more of a treat since it's loaded with sugar.

Anyway, it's awesome, and it's so quick and easy!

Kristin L

Veteran

I like to bring beans and rice for lunch or a frozen dinner of some sort (lately it's been Trader Joe's Indian dinners). I also pack some fresh fruit veggies for snacks or dried fruit and almonds. Last week I was bad and never made my rice, but this week I'm going to bring my lunch so I'm not tempted by baked potato chips.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I second cold pasta. Love it to pieces. NOM NOM NOM.

Adelfa

Veteran

Thanks for all the suggestions, ladies, and the links too! I'm going to make a shopping list now.

Diana, when younger DD was at home she would get SO cranky if there were no leftovers for the next day! Memories.

Mona

Veteran

I have been making this salad for some time now for my lunch and find it so easy and flexible. http://www.dinneralovestory.co.....rry-salad/

Deborah

Veteran

I only work three days so I don't need a lot of variety:). In winter my go to lunches are pre packaged individual serves of gluten free soups. Just microwave in the office and ready to go. I also take fruit with me for my snacks. In summer I really enjoy a salad off smoked salmom and snow peas. I add a little of what ever other salad veg I have and it makes a very tasty salad:)

anne

Veteran

I like those individual serves of tuna in a can

ramya

Veteran

Indian dinner made in large portions packed and saved for lunch the next day. So I alternate between rice and roti/naan bread. I guess being vegetarian s with large appetites we cannot afford to have dinner leftovers the next day. For DH salads are merely accompaniments with lunch or dinner. So I need to cook lots:)

ClaraT

Veteran

The key step for me is shopping right and planning ahead. I buy great bread from the bakery and freeze it after cutting it into sandwich sized portions. I also get cheese. Tasty flavorful cheese means that a small portion id very satisfying. Making a sandwich on frozen bread means that the sandwich doesn't need refrigeration (and it thaws perfectly by lunch). A favorite: gruyere on focaccia with olive spread and tomatoes.
I love the resources others have posted.

Anonymous

A low fat mozzarella cheese stick and about 20 almonds.