Do you pack a lunch?

coliema

I bring my lunch with me everyday to work, I've noticed I bring quick things that are high in calories and all of that. I'm sick of eating a sandwich everyday, it get's old!

Does anyone have any ideas on what I could bring for lunch that is easy to make and not high in calories, yet filling?

I've started to bring veggies with ranch dip, instead of the cookies/chips I was bringing. Now I just need something to put in place of the everyday sandwich. Sometimes I'll bring a salad but that get's old quick as well!

Thank you for any help :flowerforyou:

londongirl2012

wraps, pasta salad, couscous, normal salads with roasted veg/meat/beans, jacket potato, soup, last nights dinner? anything really depends if you have a microwave to warm up food or a fridge as meat/dairy can go off quickly in warm weather.

katiej122

I pack lunch every day, I got sick of sandwiches pretty quick too though, now on the weekend I make a big batch of soup, or anything I can freeze, portion it out into 4-5 containers, and take one to work and heat it up in the microwave.
Salads are still good, try putting chicken breast or boiled eggs or low fat cheese in them to make them more filling, or even some pasta.
Wraps are good alternatives to sandwiches too, and really good if you can toast them rice cakes too!...not toasted though
You can have anything really Leftover dinners are the best!

MrsDutt

Just want to BUMP this threat cause I am also a sandwich queen and need new ideas :-)

JoolieW68

I pack lunch every day, usually a salad, but on rare occasion will bring a frozen Lean Cuisine.

I cut up a bunch of romaine lettuce and keep it in a large container in the fridge, so in the morning I just have to put some in a smaller tupperware and add other veggies and lean turkey deli meat or grilled chicken.

cramernh

Bulk cooking helps. Even a busy scheduled individual can make some time to cook on grocery day!
I make plenty of soups (different varieties).

We were a household of three, but we now have an empty nest - I still make four portions. One for dinner for each my husband and I. An extra for me for lunch the next day and an extra that my husband can have either as seconds, or for his breakfast the next day.

coliema

Thanks for the ideas everyone :flowerforyou: Keep them coming!

I love the idea of making a big batch of soup and bringing it all week. I used to do that with chili! Mmmm.

thekarens

When I make dinner the night before I always make enough for the next day lunch. I also occasionally have a sandwich or salad.

Kris1997

Progress light soup, many flavors and filling.

JLervold86

I pack leftovers from the previous nights dinner (about 4 oz of protein and a half a cup of a carb) and a peice of fruit. We have a microwave so I just reheat whatever I ate the night before--Today is steak and a half a cup of mashed potato with an apple!

sashanicole88

I pack Progresso soups, lean cuisines, salads (with grilled chicken or turkey), sometimes I'll make some brown rice and veggies the night before and pack them for lunch lot's of choices! I almost always bring a low calorie yogurt as well for my "dessert"

bio_fit

Today I had houmous with carrot sticks and baby sweetcorn as a snack - lunch was salad with tzatziki and lamb - delicious!

Other tasty lunches have been 3 bean salad (kidney beans, borlotti beans and cannelini beans) with a drizzle of oil, fresh mint and lemon juice. Dressed lentils with feta (green speckled/puy lentils - great for protein), chickpea salad with smoked mackerel... the list is endless! Ooo, nice one I had the other day, mustardy puy lentils with beef. Om nom nom. Puy lentils are great - they cook in about 15 minutes, not like those lentils that take forever..

HauteP1nk

I bring a lunch every single day - except Wednesday when our cafeteria has this fabulous Salsa Chicken and salad dish.

Anyways, I usually bring left overs from my previous nights dinner. I always try to make extra so that I can just pack a small portion to bring for lunch.

I also pre-cut all my veggies on the weekend so I can just grab them and go.

I bring Tomato-Cucumber Salads, yogurt, a banana or mixed berries, and a lean protein such as a boiled egg/omelette, or piece of chicken.

shibainugal

My Fit Foods are tasty low calorie meals if you have one in your area. You keep them in the fridge and microwave them for two minutes. They have small/medium/large meals. I usually get the small. Another fairly healthy option I like are Amy's frozen meals. They are all organic. They also have soups.

naomi8888

I bring lunch every single day and often it is a salad.

I know you said salad gets boring but there are so many different salads you can make. I always have a deent amount of protein in (I eat seafood but no other animals) so it could be tuna, salmon, smoked salmon, prawns (shrimp)... And there's Asian salads or Mediterranean style salads, a millions different dresings. If you post a thread titled "What's your favourite salad recipe?" you'd get a million different responses.

Otherwise another good option is frittata. You can make a big one or single serve ones in muffin tins. Again, there's a million different combinations

anhaab

I try to grill or bake several meats (chicken, pork, tilapia) on Sunday and then bring leftovers for lunch during the week. Sometimes will throw together a salad and then reheat some chicken to put on top.

valroys

Yes ,lunches can get boring but there are millions of ideas out there. Lunches depend on if you have access to a fridge or microwave. I found a great secret that can make your lunches more interesting, get yourself a dish that has sections in it, like the stayfit brands, mine even has a freezerpack built into the lid, as well as a slot with a fork and knife. in the sections (3 in this type) pack a variety of items that appeal to you ie. protein in one, carb in another, fruit or veggies, crackers or cheese,etc, the possibilities are endless, but variety keeps it interesting, I am a big fan of bento lunches and if you search the net under bento lunches or go on pinterest there are loads of ideas, lots for kids and also for adults to. Another company called www.laptoplunch:yawn: have whole systems for taking your lunch to work or school and they post tons of ideas on their site, their systems are pricey, but i think definitely worth the cost in the long run, ! Bon Appetit!

jts10

I make home made hummus that's good for 4 servings -- try bringing a serving of that and some carrot sticks as a side snack. I always include a really large salad in my lunch as well. Some other ideas are wraps, obviously, leftover soup from the dinner the night before, a veggie type burrito, or even a sandwich made with something different -- tons of veggies but adding something fun like avocado or hummus to it. (Yes, I'm a vegetarian but you can easily add meat to any of these, these are just typically things I bring with me). Hope some of these help!!

naomi8888

Today I had houmous with carrot sticks and baby sweetcorn as a snack - lunch was salad with tzatziki and lamb - delicious!

Other tasty lunches have been 3 bean salad (kidney beans, borlotti beans and cannelini beans) with a drizzle of oil, fresh mint and lemon juice. Dressed lentils with feta (green speckled/puy lentils - great for protein), chickpea salad with smoked mackerel... the list is endless! Ooo, nice one I had the other day, mustardy puy lentils with beef. Om nom nom. Puy lentils are great - they cook in about 15 minutes, not like those lentils that take forever..

Sophie, can I pay you to come and make my lunches please...?? :laugh:

HotMamaByVday

Dinner leftover. I also grill extra chicken during the week or make a big pot of beans or soup.

dreamshadows

I take a lunch most days. I build freezable meals, and vegetable pre-packs every few weeks.

LifeOnMars_

Hummus and pita bread is a nice snack or lunch, soup, wraps, pita sandwiches, if you have a toaster oven you could make mini pizzas,quesadillas, greek salads, left overs (make an extra chicken breast with dinner etc.)

SlimsLiftingMoreThanLipstick

I usually try to do meal plans for my whole week for work and home. It's hard but it really helps. I plan to have left overs of a couple dinners to take as lunch. I also do salads. Sometimes I eat a low carb wrap but I eat very little bread so I usually don't do sandwich. I do put anything I'd eat on a a sandwich over lettuce or in lettuce wraps. I also do a lean cuisine about 1 time a week. Now and then if I am feeling lazy I just eat oatmeal.

JenAiMarres

I bring jamie easons turkey meatballs! Yummmm!!!

I make a big batch on the weekend and separate them in baggies...super easy and I don't have to worry about prepping lunches every day!!

I also make home made muffins and protein bars that I won't feel guilty snacking on...

And of course some veggies...not raw though they don't really fill me up.

10acity

I'm big on convenience too, but I actually find that my excitement about my lunch is usually in direct proportion to how much effort I put into it. Last night I took the time to chop some grape tomatoes, cucumber, and sweet pepper and put them in a [homemade] balsamic viniagrette overnight. This morning I added spinach leaves, kalamata olives, and feta and I can't wait for lunch.

For dinner last night, I tried the "zucchini boat" thing, stuffing it with shredded chicken I had made in the crock pot, hot salsa, and some cheese-- broiled in my toaster oven [freakin' love that thing] and the half I didn't eat will be lunch tomorrow.

I love broccoli and mukimame with nothing but salt & pepper, so I also love the steam-in-bag veggies for work. They're kinda pricey if not on sale, but you can't beat the convenience. I'll pair them with a Flat-Out wrap filled with hummus and shredded chicken.

ablykins

I designate Sunday afternoons as my food prep day and I prepare all meals my husband and myself, portion them, and pack them for daily lunches and dinners. Taking one afternoon/evening makes meal planning soooo much easier for the week and actually saves you so much time. It also has meals ready do go should your schedule throw you a curve ball. I also always have 2 protein shakes and a shaker cup in my car in case I get stuck somewhere. Typically in a week I make low carb enchiladas with either chicken or turkey, turkey & black bean chili, sweet potatoes, baked chicken, baked tilapia, roasted garlic turkey burgers, roasted asparagus, brown rice or quinoa casserole, spaghetti squash, and/or low carb fruit and bran muffins. I have a cooking blog if you'd like to check out some of my on the go recipes. :happy:

http://squarepegs.typepad.com/whats_cooking/

katB_83

I normally bring some soup or a salad as I can't eat bread (intolerance to wheat) but sometimes, especially in the summer months i bring a nice fresh fruit salad, its still filling but the flavours are a welcome change from normal salads

Cillamail

I make a big batch of soup, or anything I can freeze, portion it out into 4-5 containers, and take one to work and heat it up in the microwave.

I do this too, I find it is a good way to get rid of those "almost too old" veges, I just use some vege stock, canned tomatos and lentils and it is a guilt free quick lunch. And way cheaper than frozen weight watchers meals. Or since it is coming into winter I am looking forward to making a big batch of pumpkin soup. If this doesn't fill you up enough, throw in a peice of bread/toast.

I also love turkey or salmon with rice cakes, add some avocado, tomatoe, cucumber or anything fresh.

Try mixing up the salads, I have a great womens weekly recepie book called "TOSS" which has some great recipes which I use as ideas. Thai beef salad is a fav, I make it for dinner and can't wait to have the left overs for lunch the next day.

I always cook up heaps of extra steamed veges and boiled potatoes for dinner, with a bit of sauce these are a quick easy lunch.

I look forward to reading everyone elses ideas. I need a bit of refreshing myself

Lyra89

Mmm I'm loving some of the ideas in this thread! Fed up of sandwiches too!

kyrstin__1188

Lately I usually get the frozen healthy choice lunches, or take leftovers.

This week I made salsa chicken in the crockpot over the weekend (chicken breasts, corn, black beans, jar of salsa) then shredded it and put into a big container in the fridge. Then each day I grab some of that, along with different things for my lunches. What I've had with it so far is tacos, burritos, & salad. For these you can add whatever else youd like, lettuce, tomatos, olives, cheese. I also did the chicken on top of mashed potatoes one day.

It was a super easy recipe, and goes great with tons of different things, so I haven't been getting bored with it. It's also pretty low calorie, but filling too.

Hope this helps!

Sweet_Potato

I bring lunch every day and it wouldn't even occur to me to bring a sandwich. I make sure there's something prepared the night before that I can take with me (today it's lentil soup that I made for dinner yesterday). I don't really understand why more people don't just take leftovers for lunch-- it's a lot easier than making something specialized. On the rare day that I'm ill-prepared there's usually something in the house I can grab, like half an avocado and crackers. I always have whole fruits that I can bring with me as well.