Packing Lunches for Work
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Black Bean Salad: black beans, corn, tomatoes, peppers, lime juice & olive oil.
French Potato Salad: steamed red potatoes, steamed green beans, red onion, diced ham, Italian dressing.
Bulgur Wheat + protien + steamed vegetables
Fried rice (heavy on the vegetables, light on the rice)
Those all sound sooo yummy!!!0 -
Sushi, fresh veges and something with some crunch!0
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There are soooooooooooo many great ideas posted here! I am definately going to use many of them. Thank for the ideas....oh, i am so hungry now lol0
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Bump! for later0
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So many great ideas!!! YES! I haven't tried hummus but it sounds like I should give that one a try with some veggies.
When you guys do yogurt that isn't the little individual kind, what kind do you use? I was thinking of mixing in my own granola or fruits or something... I'm just not sure it is worth it. May just as well use the premixed individual cups?? What do you think?
I only eat plain, nonfat Greek yogurt and what I usually do is place some berries in a bowl and top with yogurt, sometimes I add honey. It will separate a bit by the time I eat it, so I just mix it all back together, kind of mashing up the fruit, and it tastes yummy. Sometimes I also pack a baggie with a bit of sliced almonds to sprinkle on top.
As far as other lunch ideas go, I am pretty boring. I eat lots of sandwiches and cut veggies, salads with chicken, and leftovers (homemade soups, stir fries with rice, noodle bowls). I also re-purpose leftovers into wraps or tacos...just pack a few tortillas and things like cooked meat, beans, veggies and a bit of cheese and heat it all up and assemble. Lots of whole fruit too (I work long days and commute 1.5 hours each way, so I almost always need to pack morning and afternoon snacks, in addition to lunch).0 -
You could probably fit a beer in the large compartment, a bunch of hershey's kisses in one, and some apple slices in the last one.
From one teacher to another, I know what teachers need. LOL0 -
I'm really a fan of leftovers. If I make baked chicken, then I save some for lunch the next day. You can redo it anyway you want-in a sandwich or wrap, salad, whatever.
Then couple it with a few veggies, fruits, and throw some healthy dips or greek yogurt in the little containers.0 -
I try to eat as much raw fruits and veggies as possible. Cucumbers, carrots, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, etc. Many choices.0
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I always grill on the weekends and make enough to bring for lunches during the week. I just cut the meat up and freeze in indiviual portion sizes. Cut up veggies (mostly carrots, celery, peppers, jicama, and green onions) fresh berries and melon. Sometimes the small cans of tuna. Rice crackers and light laughing cow cheese wedges.
This week I have a black bean and quinoa salad that I will probably be eating all week (it made a lot).
Raw walnuts, filberts and almonds.
Pistachios.
Popcorn made in a hot air popper.
We have salads M-T for supper, so I never eat lettuce salads for lunch, but that might work for you.
I make sun tea (chia and green citrus) and usually bring some in a thermos. I use fresh mint in it.0 -
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My friend taught me this delicious lunch i make on the regular. First you cut up 3 pieces of bacon and start browning them, then throw in 3 cloves of garlic and some veggies like carrots and cucumbers. Let those heat up and then put a splash of white wine which gets the bacon flavor off the pan. Finally, put in a whole bunch of mustard greens, mix it up and then put a lid on it for a minute so it starts to wilt.
I usually have that on quinoa or boiled sweet potato. around 360 calories depending what you put it on and it's a ton of food.
Also, you could also substitute fresh baby spinach for the mustard greens. Just let it barely wilt--don't overlook. If you don't want to use bacon, you could put small cubes of silken tofu in with the veggies. The tofu will pick up the flavor of the garlic and white wine--I might put a splash of soy sauce in there too.0 -
Everyone has great suggestions, but what I would to know is: Where did you find the cubby lunch kit? I wouldn't mind having one myself.
***OOPS! I just saw your post. ⊙_⊙0 -
So many great ideas!!! YES! I haven't tried hummus but it sounds like I should give that one a try with some veggies.
When you guys do yogurt that isn't the little individual kind, what kind do you use? I was thinking of mixing in my own granola or fruits or something... I'm just not sure it is worth it. May just as well use the premixed individual cups?? What do you think?
I'd suggest going with a flavored hummus to start - roasted red pepper is a good one - plain hummus could turn you off the first time (but that's more of a texture thing than anything else)
As far as the yogurt goes, It's more economical to buy the large container & portion it out yourself - the large container of plain or vanilla yogurt makes it possible for you to add in your own stuff like fruit or the granola you mentioned (I like to sprinkle grape nuts or honey bunches of oats on mine)0 -
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bump to read ideas later!0
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So many great ideas!!! YES! I haven't tried hummus but it sounds like I should give that one a try with some veggies.
When you guys do yogurt that isn't the little individual kind, what kind do you use? I was thinking of mixing in my own granola or fruits or something... I'm just not sure it is worth it. May just as well use the premixed individual cups?? What do you think?
I buy the large size yogurts and portion it out into 1/2 cup containers. I add 1/2 c. fruit of some type (berries, melons, peaches, etc.) and 1/4 c. grapenuts in a small baggie which I add when I am ready to eat it. It looks and tastes like a purchased parfait. It's decadant, as well as a lot of food that holds you for quite awhile because of the protein, carb, fat ratio.0 -
leftovers from whatever you had the night before. I'm not really much help because whenever I bring my lunch, it's pretty much always a sandwich.... usually a turkey sandwich. Occasionally a pb&j lol. I would also make a chicken (or tuna) salad mixture and put that in one of those little cubbies and then bring a tortilla or piece of bread and put it on there and eat it that way. Other than that I don't have any ideas. For sides and snacks I would bring celery, carrots, grapes, watermelon, cantaloupe, an apple or banana... maybe some cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese, beef jerky............ that's all I got right now.0
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Oh my gosh, these are some awesome ideas! Definitely saving them for later. Seems perfect for sectioning off a salad for items you don't want to get squished or mushy though. I am going to go to Office Depot tomorrow!0
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I used to pack my lunch bento-style...I'm not very good at it, but it was fun and gave me an outlet for creativity.
For the small compartments...
green or black olives
baby carrots
radishes (add a sprinkle of salt= yum!)
almonds/walnuts/peanuts
raisins/dried cherries/prunes
pickles
hard boiled egg
deviled eggs made by mixing ff italian dressing with the yolk
hard boiled egg whites filled with hummus
mini spinach quiches (make in muffin pan)
crackers spread with peanut butter
string cheese chopped into pieces
grape tomatoes
celery with peanut butter
For the big compartment...
fruit salad
tuna salad over lettuce/spinach
chicken salad over lettuce/spinach
cottage cheese with canned pineapple/peaches/pears
whole wheat pasta w/marinara sauce
burrito with ff refried beans, light cheese, and onions
leftovers as others have said
pita sandwich-stuffed with vegetables/lunch meat/hummus/tzatziki/falafel
smoked fish (wrap in plastic wrap to avoid your container permanently smelling like fish)
roasted squash (butternut is good for this)0 -
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Greek yogurt with drIzzle of honey
cheese string
grapes strawberries or any other berry and melon
salsa with veggies for dipping
rice cakes
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Nothing says you can't make extra at supper and pack those cubbies when you are done. Who cares if you just have a little bit. Might as well use it up if you have it.
Hummus is another great thing I love to have with some carrots or whatever your fav veggies are to eat!
Good luck and do research the net..there are lots of great ideas!
Great idea about leftovers--some meals can be made ahead with that purpose in mind. For example, grilled chicken can be tonight's main course and tomorrow's sandwich.
Fresh fruit and veggies are good. Some whole-wheat crackers and cheese is also good.
Pasta salad (in small amounts) is also good. Pasta with sauce, while it travels well, shouldn't be carried in plastic.
Do you have someplace to store your lunch so it stays cold?0 -
I love love love low fat vanilla yogurt. You can put all sorts of things in it. Hummus is awesome too. It may take some getting used to,but there are lots of different flavors. I like the roasted red pepper and garlic.So many great ideas!!! YES! I haven't tried hummus but it sounds like I should give that one a try with some veggies.
When you guys do yogurt that isn't the little individual kind, what kind do you use? I was thinking of mixing in my own granola or fruits or something... I'm just not sure it is worth it. May just as well use the premixed individual cups?? What do you think?0 -
I'm also a teacher and getting ready for the trials of, "What do i have for lunch each day?" dilemma. Try almond butter on sliced apples in one compartment. Some dried fruit in another. Hummus and veggies is a great idea, so is baba ganoush if you like eggplant.
I eat the Greek Gods brand of plain yogurt with fruit or some low fat / high fiber granola. Hard boiled eggs are also really easy to pack in small containers.
Have a good year.0 -
You could probably fit a beer in the large compartment, a bunch of hershey's kisses in one, and some apple slices in the last one.
From one teacher to another, I know what teachers need. LOL
HAHAHAHA Mine would be a Margarita! But that is an AWESOME idea! Too bad I would never get away with that! lol0 -
Nothing says you can't make extra at supper and pack those cubbies when you are done. Who cares if you just have a little bit. Might as well use it up if you have it.
Hummus is another great thing I love to have with some carrots or whatever your fav veggies are to eat!
Good luck and do research the net..there are lots of great ideas!
Great idea about leftovers--some meals can be made ahead with that purpose in mind. For example, grilled chicken can be tonight's main course and tomorrow's sandwich.
Fresh fruit and veggies are good. Some whole-wheat crackers and cheese is also good.
Pasta salad (in small amounts) is also good. Pasta with sauce, while it travels well, shouldn't be carried in plastic.
Do you have someplace to store your lunch so it stays cold?
There is a fridge down the hall but I usually try not put keep my food in there if I don't have to. We have had too many instances of food "walking away." And the sad part is we think it is probably another teacher!0 -
I found that site the other day! Literally spent close to an hour going through the photos!!!0 -
First off, let me just bow to your lunch box. Secondly, I'm part Spanish, so forgive the bias. I would do fajitas: Grilled chicken, veggies, etc, add a couple of tortillas and brown rice, and you've got a seriously good meal, and you won't be starving by the time you get home. If you're looking for something cold, I'd do salad with all the trimmings, greek yogurt + fruit + granola. Hummus is good, if you like it.0
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Where did you get that awesome lunch box? I, too, am a teacher and always struggled with different things to take besides the usual. I am also trying to avoid eating the extra lunches the kids get completely this year, so that lunch box would help to vary my ideas. I don't want to do Lean Cuisines or other frozen meals either anymore.
Believe it or not, I got it at Office Depot while I was shopping for post-its and things for my desk! It just looked interesting and I bought a special insulating sleeve that fits over it to keep things cooler longer. Very cool!
I too as a teacher struggle with this and thank you for bringing the topic up .... what is the lunch box called or the brand ... I looked on the office depot website and CANNOT find it .... :-(0
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