Work lunch ideas

Auntiezozo81

Hiya,

Just wondered what people have for lunch at work that is healthy and filling? As much as I really don't enjoy rice cakes.. Any info would be great?

leooftheyear

cranberry feta salad or cranberry chicken salad with hummus on naan and cheese/almonds.

pinterest has come really good salad ideas!

rebelchelle

I make my own tuna salad with chopped celery, chopped green onion with celery seed, sea salt, mayo and a little Dijon mustard and mix it up and put it in romaine lettuce leaves and top with cherry tomatoes that have been halved...tuna salad boats is what I call them and I eat two and they are really filling.

Katiebear_81

I picked up a bento box from the grocery store (it has one large compartment, an ice thing, two small containers and one medium sized one). I fill it with a half cup of cottage cheese, about 100 calories worth of high protein yogurt, lots of veggies, and some lower calorie lunch meats (like natural selections turkey) or hardboiled eggs. I'll also have some crackers, and will substitute some protein powder if I'm hungry after that.

Alternately, I'll cook extra food at night and measure out an appropriate serving for my lunch the next day.

wkwebby

Pork chop/mozzarella/tomato leftovers from dinner. One chop does it. Most of my lunches are just leftovers from dinner (preportioned) so that I don't have to go out to eat and spend a ton on food that isn't as good or filling. Other ideas are bacon wrapped chicken stuffed with boursin cheese. If you haven't noticed, I'm doing low carb. I try not to eat pasta, rice or bread. The fruit is ok, but I don't overdo it.

AlisonH729

I usually try to have leftovers from dinner that I can bring for lunch. Sometimes I make a salad, or other days a just a sandwich. I've started bringing sides of frozen vegetables that I can warm up in in the microwave.

I bring breakfast too, usually cottage cheese & fruit, or plain Greek yogurt with berries, & a new addition to the rotation: peanut butter yogurt dip (2 oz yogurt + 1 tbsp PB, weighed so 16 grams of PB, actually) and a sliced apple.

For an afternoon snack I pack an oz of nuts, or an applesauce, today I have mango salsa & 1 oz of tortilla chips. All of these things could be incorporated into lunch.

emmyjo1981

Feel free to add me as a friend and look at my diary I work Sunday-Wednesday and those days, eat breakfast and lunch at work. I try to make my meals the night before, that way I am not tempted in the morning to throw in whatever sounds good while I am hungry in the morning lol

fairy2b

Lately I stick with one thing for lunch and repeat throughout the week. I either do:

2 oz smoked salmon
half avocado
apple
low fat string cheese
baby carrots
hard boiled egg

OR

1 can tuna
non fat cottage cheese
raw spinach with cherry tomatoes and red onion
lemon juice/salt/pepper
hard boiled egg
apple

katdell

One of the new things I have started to make is Salad in a Jar, they are lovely and a bit different to usual lunches. I found it on youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRemVme-3wU see what you think

Julz519

I eat a lot while I'm at work. Every time someone walks past my desk I hear 'are you eating again??'
I bring things like greek yogurt, hummus, quest bars, rice cakes with either almond butter or flavored lowfat cream cheese and for lunch I usually have chicken with sweet potato. I'm pretty routine which can be kind of boring for some people but it works for me

dawne000

I'm doing the 21 Day Fix and this is a recipe that I LOOOOVE!!! (It sounds weird but it somehow works)

-1/3 c Chopped/Shredded Chicken (I buy rotisserie chicken and use the breast meat - quicker/easier)
-1/3 c Fat Free Greek Yogurt
-1 Small Apple Diced
-1/8 c Chopped Walnuts
-1 tsp Garlic Powder
-1 tsp Lemon Juice

1 Protien, 1 Fruit, 1/2 Healthy Fat.
Mix it all together and it REALLY does taste like chicken salad! Have it in a wrap, pita, crackers or plain.

Lots of protein so it fills you up.


Also, try Tuna Salad made with Avocado instead of mayo...
-1 can of light tuna
-1/2 Avocado
-Purple Onion to taste
-Lime Juice
-Salt/Pepper

I also add diced tomatoes to get a veggie serving in there!

Queenmunchy

I make a variety of soup, stew, chili, stuffed peppers, meatballs, etc and freeze them in individual containers on weekends. If I don't pull out a freezer meal in the morning, I usually make a salad the night before. I plan ahead.

Auntiezozo81

Thanks all x

amgreenwell

Leftovers are your friend. For instance, today I had a chicken thigh (roasted last night), black beans and some blue corn chips. I try to make at least one chicken a week and spread it out through my five lunches. You can keep soups handy too...and use that same chicken to make them. I love salads and always try to put some kind of protein on top.
If all else fails I usually keep mayo, tuna and relish at work just in case I need a quick tuna salad.

paulaviki

My lunch this week is giant cous cous mixed with green olives, cherry tomatoes, sweetcorn, cucumber, mozzarella pearls and some balsamic oil/vinegar dressing. I've made a huge bowl which will last all week. Plus I take snacks like carrot, Apple and rich tea biscuits.

belinus

I recommend the tuna salad, but I would suggest swapping out the mayo for plain greek yogurt.

Psychgrrl

I put some frozen veggies with some protein on top in pyrex and microwave it. Veggies usually range from fav beans, spinach, kale, broccoli, cauliflower, and green beans. Protein is chicken, trader joe's mahimahi burgers, garden "chicken," morning star farms black bean burgers, tuna.

blackberryvodka

I don't have access to a fridge or microwave, so I bring a tin of John West Tuna Infusions, a pot of greek yoghurt, some fruit and a bag of Kelkin popcorn!

Sued0nim

I'm eating chicken cacciatore, rice and green salad right now

batch cook at the weekend - microwave to reheat .. or you can buy a food flask and heat at home

I also like butternut squash risotto or veggie stew, rice and cheddar or Innocent Vegetable pots over Watercress, Spinach and Rocket (Argula)

Liftng4Lis

I usually bring whatever I had for dinner the night before. In cases where that's not possible, usually a salad is my go to.

throoper

I make healthy soups and stews in our giant crockpot and freeze them in individual glass tupperware. Make sure the soup / stew is veggie-based (broth, diced tomatoes, etc) and heavy on the veggies with some lean protein added (chicken breast, lentils, etc).

Or, a big spinach or baby kale salad with grilled chicken breast, craisins, a bit of goat cheese or blue cheese, and diced veggies with balsalmic vinegar. Mmmmm!

Machka9

Go to your local grocery store and browse the aisles. Have a good look at what's available.

One of my favourites is a 1-serve package of Uncle Ben's Brown Rice mixed with chicken canned in springwater and topped with an individual serving of steamed veggies (Heinz or Bird's Eye) - steam in the bag.

LaZuppa soups - in the bowls - are also pretty good. Really quite filling and very low cal. I usually mix one with some noodles and/or steamed veggies.



Uncle Ben's Single Serve Rice ... I like the brown rice, but the others aren't bad either.
http://unclebens.com.au/products/single-serve-rice/

Heinz Steamfresh Veggies ... my favourite is the broccoli, carrots, and snap peas, but if the others are on sale, I'll go for them.
http://www.heinz.com.au/Our-Products/Vegetables?b=336DE02A0F7847A6AE08F54403CF2C3D

LaZuppa's bowl soups ... my favourite is the Spiced Red Lentil but the others are nice as well.
http://www.lazuppa.com.au/our-soup/bowls/

zdyb23456

I'm in the pre-portioned leftovers camp - I batch cook several recipes on the weekend and pre-portion them into Tupperware containers and eat them for lunches and dinners all week. I pre-log it all in MFP too so it's even easier.

I used to make salads for the week, but sort of burned out on them.

goblue8426

My husband and I both alternate between quinoa salads and sandwiches. Usually the quinoa salad is quinoa, feta, cucumbers, red onion, slivered almonds or pine nuts, and he adds a little olive oil and vinegar. I just salt the cucumbers to make them juicy. Sandwiches are usually homemade bread with an ounce or two of meat and a slice of cheese with lettuce, onion, and a little mayo. Otherwise, I'll bring a lot of snacks like cottage cheese, hard-boiled eggs, hummus and snap peas, snacky-type vegetables, fruit, or maybe leftovers from dinner.

And always a little something for dessert - a fruit leather or Ghiradelli square - and a sparkling water.

jonathansilas1984

half can of corn, half can black beans, big scoop of salsa...

Chilena69

I'm in the leftover camp, as well. For lunch, I might have leftover grilled chicken or salmon on top of spinach or lettuce, loads of other veggies added, with balsamic or Dijon dressing. My lunches rarely surpass 300 calories, and the salads are always filling and satisfying.

ajff

Deli turkey, an apple, raw veggies, laughing cow white cheddar wedge with 5 pretzel spoons, sugar free jello, a piece of chocolate; all this for usually 300 calories or less.