What do you eat for lunch when working in an office?

kbonamission

It's so easy to grab something fast at lunch (and unhealthy). I could use some ideas on healthy lunches to pack. Any ideas out there?

annacole94

My usuals:
Leftovers from last night's dinner
Homemade soup (I freeze portions so I can vary what kind I eat day to day)
Lean Cuisine or similar frozen meal + fruit

ashleywright_0

I take dinner leftovers or make a chicken/turkey wrap with veggies if there are no leftovers. Making a little extra dinner seems to have been the easiest for me. I also make yogurt parfaits to take for my afternoon snack as it keeps me full until dinner.

fitoverfortymom

I prep my lunches for the week each Sunday and my lunch consists of 3oz lean protein (like fish or chicken), a mini bagel with 1/3 fat cream cheese, 100g veggie, 100g fruit.

I also pack breakfast which is Greek yogurt and Fiber One cereal (I mix it in like granola). I have an orange as an AM snack and an apple as a PM snack.

toxikon

I keep some flavored almonds at my desk for a quick snack. I also stock up the office fridge with pepperoni sticks and cheese strings for myself. Other than that, I bring leftovers! I usually make meals in bulk on Sundays so my fiance and I can both grab a tupperware and bring it for our lunches. Today I'm having ham & swiss quiche, yum.

cwolfman13

I pretty much always brown bag my breakfast, lunch, and snacks. Sometimes it's leftovers...often I make a big thing of quinoa or something on Sunday and I will take that along with some tuna or salmon and veg of choice...sometimes I make a sandwich.

kenzienal

My favorite to make is Tuna salad.
I just use a packet of tuna fish, caesar dressing, lettuce, and parmesan cheese. Its delicious.

I also try to meal prep. Lots of chicken type meals. Always some form of chicken, and a veggie.

JeromeBarry1

Use the search feature to find the "bento box" discussion. Good stuff there.

AmyOutOfControl

leftovers, sandwich, Buddha bowl (brown rice, canned beans, veggies and some type of salad dressing), salad with grilled precooked chicken strips

I pack my breakfast, lunch, and snacks the night before. I don't have the time, energy, or willpower to make good food choices early in the morning. If I have everything ready to grab and go my food choices are much better throughout the day.

Jshellhorn74

this week i have 1/2 baked potato w/ black bean salsa, kale, and greek yogurt for the "sour cream." i need something more filling than salad if i'm not going to eat all the office cookies. :-) super easy because you just bake the potatoes all in one go then throw it in pyrex containers with all the fixins and have them lined up in the fridge. more time for gym or movies in the evening.

Brandi_Allison

When I can, I like to prep ingredients for salads for the week. I will bake or boil some boneless, skinless chicken breast to make sure I am getting some good protein and also make hard boiled eggs. With everything already prepped I can make my salad in a matter of minutes in the morning, and I get to put in whatever I'm feeling for that day I also buy Progresso reduced sodium/heart healthy soup as a quick lunch. The low sodium is great considering how much is in all processed foods.

Tacklewasher

I pre-make some Wicked Thai soup and chili and alternate them. Covers me for 3-4 weeks. I do go for sushi once a week. I'm out so I picked up a couple frozen lunches. I have raw veggies and some fruit as well.

Nikki10129

Either leftovers, or I'll prep some things Sunday like salads, wraps, soups, sandwiches. Or if I'm especially unprepared I'll grab a packet of instant oatmeal and bring some yogurt, or I'll bring some bread and peanut butter to make toast with a banana or something

ellefox70

There was a MFP blog article on lunches that I found helpful, u can search within the blog to find it. Might give u some new ideas.

HGarcia1527

I tend to make crock pot fajitas on Sunday's to take a few days during the work week. (Chicken, onions, peppers) YUM!
Otherwise I pack a salad or a protein shake.

ceiswyn

I'm lazy, so unless I have a convenient portion of leftovers in my freezer I tend to default to soup and a roll. Does your office have a microwave?

deannalfisher

I found these great pre-packaged meals called Ready Chef Go at my local grocery store - they are chicken, vegetable (broccoli or asparagus) and a small pat of compressed butter with some kind of flavor (today's is garlic scampi) - cook for 6mins in the microwave and voila

elkhunter7x6

I usually take leftovers from super.

StaciMarie1974

kbonamission wrote: »

It's so easy to grab something fast at lunch (and unhealthy). I could use some ideas on healthy lunches to pack. Any ideas out there?

Sometimes leftovers from dinner the night before. Or I'll batch cook a pot of chili or potato soup and freeze them in servings for about 350 calories. Or peanut butter & jelly on light white bread with fruit or raw veggies. Or a frozen meal. Or a salad - either a veggie only salad along with something else, or something with meat to be a meal on its own.

fitoverfortymom

deannalfisher wrote: »

I found these great pre-packaged meals called Ready Chef Go at my local grocery store - they are chicken, vegetable (broccoli or asparagus) and a small pat of compressed butter with some kind of flavor (today's is garlic scampi) - cook for 6mins in the microwave and voila

Wow! Those look good! I just looked at the website and can get some at a small grocery store nearby.

Are the calories already on the package? What an awesome thing to have around for a quick meal!

midlomel1971

Lean turkey or chicken on an Arnolds multi-grain sandwhich thin, loaded with spinach and tomatoes, teaspoon of spicey brown mustard and an ounce of sliced cheese. I eat that with an apple and 1 serving of reduced fat CheeseIts. That's my go-to lunch. Sometimes I'll eat a salad on a bed of spinach with strawberries, some walnuts and a drizzle of balsamic vinegarette (that I make...no store-bought dressing for me.)

PrincessMel72

I either make a sandwich or bring a Lean Cuisine/Smart Ones frozen meal and some fruit

tinkerbellang83

I like a mixture of leftover crockpot meals (Thai Curry, Beef Strogonoff, Chilli etc) with some microwave rice or I meal prep a bunch of cold pasta dishes (Tuna & Sweetcorn, Egg & Spinach, Chicken & Bacon, Feta & Artichoke Hearts) on a Sunday.

dwntwn5

I take carrots and celery, turkey breast from the deli, prepackaged popcorn (80 calorie bag), and a banana or other fruit. I also always have 100 calorie snacks of beef jerky and almonds with me at. all. times. because I hate being hungry.

SFarris829

Oatmeal with protein powder is my go to.I buy the oatmeal packets and then just put a scoop of my protein powder in a container. Good boost of energy mid-day and by the time I go to the gym after work the protein is in my system!

newheavensearth

Meal prep every Sunday: a bag of frozen veggies, fish, chicken or seafood, and a carb on the side divided over 5 days. Or mason jar salads. Fruit and chopped veggies in a ziploc baggies or 100 calorie snack packs for snacks.

pinuplove

Leftovers, chicken or turkey wrap with avocado/spinach/tomato, Caesar salad with grilled chicken, Amy's frozen dinners (b/c they taste good - they're a bit light on protein and high in carbs though); if I'm stuck with fast food it's generally going to be a grilled chicken sandwich and side salad.

deannalfisher wrote: »

I found these great pre-packaged meals called Ready Chef Go at my local grocery store - they are chicken, vegetable (broccoli or asparagus) and a small pat of compressed butter with some kind of flavor (today's is garlic scampi) - cook for 6mins in the microwave and voila

Those sound good! I'm jealous.

nevadavis1

I make salads to bring.

BoxerBrawler

I food prep every Sunday and include breakfasts, lunches, snacks and dinner for me and my husband. I went out a while ago and got myself a really nice cooler lunch bag with appropriate sized containers and a little ice pack. Usually breakfast is scrambled egg whites and a chopped up banana with cinnamon. Lunch is always greens (spinach, kale, boc choy, broccoli, brussel sprouts) any green veggie, a lean protein (other than red meat), and a quarter cup of sweet potato or sometimes I skip the protein and potato and just bring a mixed green salad loaded up with veggies and a shake of protein powder mixed with water. Snacks are... piece of fruit, hardboiled eggs, almonds or another kind of nut, cottage cheese, string cheese... not all of that all in one day obviously but one or two of those things daily. There's a beautiful full service cafeteria, a restaurant and a café where I work so it would be super easy to just buy/eat out every day but that will become unhealthy and expensive in a hurry!

tekkiechikk

Never underestimate a bowl of cereal (for any meal). A portion of Wheaties, fresh fruit, and unsweetened almond milk is a regular go-to lunch for me.

fitzmonkey13

I usually bring soup, chili or leftovers that I parcel out and freeze. Sometimes I just bring a bunch of hummus and veggies and crackers and cheese to meet my calorie target for lunch.

For me the trick is my Lunch Crock. The office microwave is old and slow and doesn't heat evenly anymore (plus there is often a line for it if I'm eating at noon).

Lunch Crocks cost about $20 at Target or Walmart (or on the Crock-Pot website). They don't get hot enough to cook food, but they are perfect for heating food up. I plug mine in when I get to work and when lunch time rolls around my food is at the perfect temperature for eating, even if it came out of the deep freeze that morning.

I hadn't intended for this to become a sales pitch, but I honestly found it completely turned me around on bringing lunch to work and since I got it I am so much better about bringing lunch from home than I used to be.