Bring your lunch to work week - no frozen foods

msjamartin

This my challenge for next week for myself. I have gotten lazy and have been bringing frozen weight watchers/lean cuisine/healthy choice meals most of the summer. Not completely bad but not the best. So, I'm headed to the store and stocking up on better choices and pre-making as much as I can this weekend.

Join me?
Suggestions?

kikimichelle88

Great idea! But i am a SAHW so i make all my lunches anyways

scott1024

I live on those things, so I'm gonna watch this thread too.

leeka77

I will most definitely join you...This is a brilliant challenge both on the body and on the wallet....

mageepilot

Tuna salad, salad, leftovers, taco soup, ham, turkey, cheese, grapes, crackers, tortilla wraps. Great idea! I think taking my lunches has really helped my weight loss and I'm sure it's healthier - and cheaper! :drinker:

gianna42

I'll join you! Last weekend I made a big batch of soup and took it to work a couple of days. This weekend I will do the same and plan on having soup with fruit,crackers, cheese - whatever. Maybe a salad some days?
Great challenge - I always feel better when I pack my own food.

lizthawizvargas

shake n bake chicken = leftover goodness and its pretty healthy.

bry_all01

I do that every week anyway. Good luck and enjoy!

thefreemans28

I pack every day. You can look at my food diary for what I eat during the week. This week has been pretty boring... but what I like to do is make extra dinner and bring it as leftovers for lunch. Some of my favorite easy lunchs are 1/2 a can of tuna with 1 tablespoon light miracle whip, 1 teaspoon of mustard and relish and a dash of garlic. put it all in a pita pocket with baby spinach and tomatoes. have it with a little side salad. quick, easy, yummy.

MadeToCraveHIM

Try making your own lunchables....for example, pre-cut lean & low sodium meat, cheese and get some low fat wheat crackers and pre-package them yourself. Then, you can grab them on the go w/ some veggies or fruit. You'll be surprised how filling they are when you make them yourself w/ leaner ingredients.

gatorflyer

1. Make a salad with some kind of protein (chicken, turkey, fish) on top
2. Low calorie sandwich with sara lee wheat bread (90 cals/2 slices), healthy heart deli meats and condiments of your choice. Fresh fruit
3. Leftovers from a previous healthy meal (you said no frozen foods, not no microwaveable ones )
4. Grilled/broiled vegetables and some form of protein (meat, cheese, etc)
5. Cottage cheese, fruit, vegetables, skinny cow cheese

P.S. Don't forget to bring in healthy snacks as well.

Benji49

Great idea! I'm getting bored by lunch.

Lunch today was a green salad, yogurt, a pear and 6 almonds. Total calories: 239

WPoppysmith

I have been doing that for the past week, plus friend brought tons of home grown tomato's in which was fab, why does home grown stuff taste so sweeeeet!!. Today was the only hiccup and I just didn't have time to make a packed lunch (I confess I slept in a little) so it was grab a dried noodle pack out of the cupboard (just add hot water) and it was the most gross meal I have had all week!
I take grapefruit to work with me for breakfast, then graze on fruit salad during the morning and then usually have some form of salad for lunch.
Looking for other ideas so will keep an eye on this thread!

shar140

Make food ahead of time, as much as possible - make extra servings at dinner, then pack leftovers for another meal. I've made my own frozen dinners before, out of leftovers - just be sure to label what you freeze so you know later what it is! :laugh:

You can cook up chicken breasts (any protein, really) ahead to make fajitas, or top a salad, or sandwich, burrito, taco, stir-fry, etc. Make a big batch of chili or other soup/stew, take leftovers for work or freeze for later. Or any casserole works too.

Edit: I have taken my lunch to work every day except 1 for the past 5 months (since I started a new job). I always pack my lunch & snacks the night before, so all I have to do is grab it in the morning - quick & easy!

asyouseefit

Great idea! I'll join you! I've been good this week (you can check my diary for ideas) but all too often I slack and end up buying a greasy sandwich!

msjamartin

I always pack up my food the night before and I include yogurt, fruit and other snack items for the day. My biggest lazy option though is my main lunch entree. These frozen meals are simple but not really the best for balanced nutrients. I was better until this summer. Normally I would only bring the frozen meals 1 or 2 times a week. So that is why I'm challenging myself. To break the habit and get back to healthier options, moving the pre-packaged frozen meals for last resorts/emergency/where did my day go situations.

Love the suggestions. Keep em comming!

Oselj

Frozen foods are definitely my downfall. I try to cook on Sunday and bring leftovers during the week like vegetable soup or whole wheat pasta and broccoli.

wedjul05

I make all my own lunches for work, stick in fridge in work and then microwave in the canteen.

I make big batches of things and freeze:

- chiccken curry
- spicy lentl stew
- sausage casserole
- chilli con carne
- turkey spagbol

I always have tins of tuna/sweetcorn in the press. Bought baby spinach leaves during the week with rocket, had this twice with olives, cooked salmon fillets and other salad items. Very filling.

My food diary is open if you want to look at it.

AveryWays

The only frozen food I bring into work are all the Steamable veggies: california blends, cut green beans, broccoli, cauliflowers, etc. I usually grab a few of these items and normally are on sale any where between $1.49-$1.99. I love spinach so I buy a big huge bag ($3.99) and put about 2 cups of spinach in a designated plastic container toss a handful of cranberries, mandarin oranges, or grape tomatoes. For Protein: I bring a box of a dozen pre-boiled eggs on Mondays. If I had time to grill some chicken breast during the weekend, I normally would bring those for lunch. Other option I got are those Perdue Short Cuts: Chicken breast. I bring a bag of those or those albacore tuna steaks in a pouch. Toss in some fresh peaches, kiwis, bananas or grapefruit and those are the staple I have available for me at work. My carbs is either a medium sweet potato or small red potatoes which I baked in the microwave for 3-5 mins. I have those Minute Ready to Serve Brown rice cups kicking around as back up. I eat 3 meals while I'm at work: mid-morning, lunch and mid-afternoon. Plus I normally work out during my lunch hour for a good 30 mins or more. It's important that I have everything planned out ahead of time :happy:

reyna99

Good Luck to y'all!!!
I usually cook my chicken breast on sunday night, or have hubs grill me turkey burgers or some tilapia. I'll do veggies with it or as a wrap or a burger with veggies....salad or just by itself
after seeing how much sodium is in one frozen meal, I stay away from the those

Vivalebeaver

I mostly take salads into work. Big tub of mixed leaves with some balsamic vinegar on it, then some ham and a couple of boiled eggs. Or sometimes brie and grapes instead of eggs and ham.

Now it's getting colder I plan to make more vegi soup such as carrot and lentil and take it into work hot in a thermos.

chrissaucier

Bringing my lunch keeps away the temptation to order out with the gang and reminds me my goals!

Spedden

I make a large pot of soup on the weekend and freeze in serving size containers to take for lunch. Lots of good recipes on fatfreevegan.com. I always put a little extra cayenne pepper in the recipes - very satsifying. And baby carrots for a snack. Beans are very filling, but if you don't cook your own, check the labels, because some have a lot more sodium than others. Nature's Promise beans have far less sodium than other brands.

un4gvn2

I have the single serving Pyrex dishes and just pack up my lunch when I am cleaning up after supper. Homemade spaghetti, meat & veggies ( today was a slice of meatloaf and serving of peas), chicken chili, fajita leftovers, etc ....

I Love the Pyrex !! Freezer, microwave, dishwasher + single serving size = just like the frozen meals, but with your "healthy choices" !

I love tuna w/ diced pickles, onions, dill weed, garlic & little miracle whip with some Wheat Thin Fiber crackers when I want something crunchy ! Great snack !!

Arnold Sandwich Thins with favorite deli meat & red leaf lettuce leaves is another quick easy make ahead favorite. Paired with a piece of fruit or a veggie - all set !!

Good Luck & Keep Up the Great Work !

asyouseefit

Anyone started yet? I don't work on mondays so day 1 will be tomorrow!

msjamartin

So...did my shopping and I think I won't have to grab any of the frozen stuff this week for either lunch or dinner. Well mabye one of my homemade white chicken chill containers that I have in the freezer but that doesn't count.

Today was large salad with 3oz's of chicken that I cooked up last night. Looked at the pre-cooked chicked (the Hormel and the Tyson brands that are pre-cooked at the store) and didn't like the sodium level at all plus I had frozen chicken breast so why waste the money. Salad contained mix spring greens, cucumber, tomatoes, radishes and carrots. I also have a nectarine and some celery w/ laughing cow chees for snacking.

Breakfast was my normal high-protein breakfast bar before working out and greek yogurt with banana after.

Dinner is up in the air, but I'm thinking a turkey and light swiss wrap heated up (so no need for mayo/dressing) with a small salad. Don't want to over do the salad as I can get tired of it so we shall see.

Good luck everyone.

msjamartin

Well the week is pretty much over. I hope it was successful for all of you, no matter what your plan was for the week.

I met the challenge and have eaten fresh lunches everyday. Mostly salad and yesterday I did a wrap. A couple of my co-workers joined in with the lunches as well (after a lunch out where they both ate WAY too much and wanted to be "healthy" for a couple days.)

Now if only my pocketbook can make it until payday without resorting to the back up meals in the freezer.

NovemberJune

great job!! i take my lunch about 4 days out of the week and then do a freezer lunch or go to subway about 1 day per week. :-)
some of my coworkers EAT OUT everyday! i don't how how they afford it or how they stay at a healthy weight.... lol

i do a lot of wraps and a lot of leftovers.

shar140

Great job!! :flowerforyou: