Lunch Suggestions?

MrHat48

Ever since I started my new job, I have run into issues with lunch and began adding lbs.

I've always worked with companies that had a break room with an average sized refrigerator, which allowed me to pack a light lunch or leave leftovers in from previous meals. My new company is much smaller and they have a rented office space that has a tiny break room, that also passes as the copy room. In this room, we have a mini-fridge that is pretty packed with everyone's random food/condiments. Another downside is that the mini-fridge is old and does not cool very well - the "freezer" section often pools water that should be ice. A few other points - I am surrounded by fast food places, which are usually where I end up. These add temptations and unhealthy options. I typically take lunch around 1pm, where most people go at noon, so a freezer bag might not keep foods cold long enough.

Now, with that picture painted, what healthy lunch options would you suggest? I'm curious if anyone has healthier alternatives that do not require refrigeration (for too long) or can make it 5 hours into the work day without making me sick. Eating fast food is really getting old Thanks in advance!

kellyraesmik

Go for veggies/beans/grains/tofu/fruits (no meat or dairy) and you can just keep your tupperware at your desk and not need the fridge. I don't eat meat or dairy and I've done this many times with my leftovers.

babystepsforward

Make sandwhiches the night before and refrigerate along with soem fruit, when you take them out in the morning they will be fresh, it's super quick and they will be perfect by your dinner time/ have stayed fresh.

You could look up alternatives to the unhealthy stuff at the fast food chains, msot like mcdonalds have to offer 'healthy' options now so if you maybe look at the menus online you could pick some 'safe' meals.

Soup in a flask is another good one or cereal and refrigerate the milk.

tehzephyrsong

I assume that, since you said your current workplace rents their facility, you can't get your own mini-fridge and keep it in your office for personal use. Have you considered an insulated container for your lunch so you can just keep it at your desk, rather than worry about fridge space? Zojirushi makes some really good insulated lunch containers, which I've provided links to below. Zojirushi is a little more expensive, but you get what you pay for.

http://tinyurl.com/ceju8n9 - the "original," as it were, the Zojirushi Mr. Bento vacuum insulated lunch jar set. Comes in a few different colors and contains 4 bowls that stack inside the vacuum-insulated jar. The product page has a more detailed description.

http://tinyurl.com/crpbpkr - Zojirushi also makes a "Ms. Bento" set; it's the same sort of product as the original Mr. Bento, just smaller, for people who don't necessarily need a four-part lunch. It has three compartments. This particular page only has the product in the silver color, but if you run another search for "ms bento," you'll get some more colorful options; one of them is linked below.

http://tinyurl.com/crvq7jp - Light blue Ms. Bento set.

gaylynn35

They have very small ice chests, I took one to work with me at one of my jobs. They are big enough to fit your lunch and not too bulky to carry. You could put a small ice pack in with the food to keep it cold.

I_love_frogs

I was going to recommend a small insulated pack with the resusable ice packs. They work great! I use one that is made for a 6 pack of soda, but I use it for my lunch box instead and use the ice packs, and it keeps things very cold and it is wonderful. Nice thing is it washes easy too!

Firefox7275

Ever since I started my new job, I have run into issues with lunch and began adding lbs.

I've always worked with companies that had a break room with an average sized refrigerator, which allowed me to pack a light lunch or leave leftovers in from previous meals. My new company is much smaller and they have a rented office space that has a tiny break room, that also passes as the copy room. In this room, we have a mini-fridge that is pretty packed with everyone's random food/condiments. Another downside is that the mini-fridge is old and does not cool very well - the "freezer" section often pools water that should be ice. A few other points - I am surrounded by fast food places, which are usually where I end up. These add temptations and unhealthy options. I typically take lunch around 1pm, where most people go at noon, so a freezer bag might not keep foods cold long enough.

Now, with that picture painted, what healthy lunch options would you suggest? I'm curious if anyone has healthier alternatives that do not require refrigeration (for too long) or can make it 5 hours into the work day without making me sick. Eating fast food is really getting old Thanks in advance!

Buy a mini insulated cool bag AND some reusable freezer blocks and carry lunch, this really does keep food cool for a while: some things can be frozen taken out that morning then will be defrosted by lunchtime. You can even have stuff like prawns and rice that obviously do not want to sit around in the warm by taking them to work frozen, get a cheap refrigerator thermometer and run a test if you are concerned.

Honestly you can be too paranoid about getting sick because most stuff that infects us prefers to be at about 37C which is way higher than an insulated cool bag full of cold foods plus a freezer block, if they are not at that temperature they grow slowly. The important thing is to keep your immune system healthy including your gut flora, it's more than capable of dealing with a certain amount of invading microorganisms, after all many people's mouths are chock full of bacteria. You might take a course of freeze dried probiotic capsules every so often, watch that your diet is rich in prebiotics, vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids as normal.

Don't carry cash and cards you don't NEED to work, only take them the day you need gas and groceries say and you can't buy fast food.

limesublime

Get yourself an insulated lunch box. I have one that keeps cold stuff cold until the end of the day.

rduhlir

Get a lunch bag that is big enough to put in an ice pack. That way you don't have to worry about the fridge and can leave the bag at your desk. I can usually cramp a lot of stuff into mine and still have room for an ice pack. Mine is actually a heat/cold ice pack for my leg that I use.

dan_IRL

http://www.laptoplunches.com/

MrHat48

Much appreciated! I've never heard of the Bento jars/boxes and they look pretty handy for more than just lunches at work. Thanks again for your suggestions!