So I have a "too busy to eat healthy" problem.

darthjen

Most days I'm away from the house from seven in the morning to five in the afternoon, give or take. I've attempted taking my food with me but I'm a beginner with regards to what foods will spoil if not kept cold for an extended period of time. Thus far I've been able to work it out where I pack the following without problem:
apple, sunflower seeds, avocado, and almonds

I eat steel-cut rolled oatmeal with an egg every morning for breakfast before leaving the house. I'm also able to get a vegetable or two in mid-day thanks to the salad bar at school.

I'm trying to steer clear of most processed foods, dairy, bread and rice.

Will cooked broccoli and cauliflower keep alright in Tupperware for a couple of hours outside of the fridge? How about cooked barley, quinoa and amaranth? I know I could use an ice pack but given the amount of food I take with me there isn't really a lunch bag/box that can fit it all unless I lug around a small cooler everywhere. haha

CristinaL1983

If you have a microwave at school, you can take raw broccoli in a tupperware with some water and whatever seasoning. Then you can cook it in the microwave (a few minutes) and have fresh steamed broccoli (really good for any veggies, just an example).

You could also get a partitioned tupperware container and cook a bit more bulk on the weekends and portion it out to take with you. Chicken would keep for most of the day (after properly cooked), fresh veggies or fruits.

The no sugar added fruit cups are always convenient.

100 Calorie packs of popcorn (again if you have access to a microwave) they are pretty filling and good for a snack.

Fresh fruits

Egg beaters (put them in a microwavable tupperware) they have more staying power than fresh eggs and take about 30 seconds in a microwave

You could take oatmeal as a snack (put the oatmeal in a container and then add water and microwave later)

Yogurt. I like mine with a bunch of fruit so I buy the big bags of frozen fruit put some yogurt in a tupperware container add frozen fruit, by about mid afternoon the fruit has thawed but in the meantime it has kept the yogurt cold.

Just a few ideas

ETA sorry some of these are pretty processed and yogurt is definitely dairy

darthjen

That's OK, thanks so much for the suggestions. Not really sure if they have a microwave in the cafeteria but I'll ask.

CristinaL1983

That's OK, thanks so much for the suggestions. Not really sure if they have a microwave in the cafeteria but I'll ask.

My school has them in most of the student lounges or study areas and in the student activity center (I'm not sure I've seen any in the cafeteria). [Not sure if that's helpful at all but it would be another place to look]. Or you could buddy up with a grad student, they always know where the microwaves and coffee makers are

benol1

Most days I'm away from the house from seven in the morning to five in the afternoon, give or take. I've attempted taking my food with me but I'm a beginner with regards to what foods will spoil if not kept cold for an extended period of time. Thus far I've been able to work it out where I pack the following without problem:
apple, sunflower seeds, avocado, and almonds

I eat steel-cut rolled oatmeal with an egg every morning for breakfast before leaving the house. I'm also able to get a vegetable or two in mid-day thanks to the salad bar at school.

I'm trying to steer clear of most processed foods, dairy, bread and rice.

Will cooked broccoli and cauliflower keep alright in Tupperware for a couple of hours outside of the fridge? How about cooked barley, quinoa and amaranth? I know I could use an ice pack but given the amount of food I take with me there isn't really a lunch bag/box that can fit it all unless I lug around a small cooler everywhere. haha

Unless it is very hot where you live, most foods, outside of the refrigerator for a few hours, will not spoil. I regularly take left-overs in a plastic container with me for lunch.

thistimewillbedifferent

You joked about bringing a cooler, but I sort of do. A flight attendant showed me the ones they use (check out ebags.com): all sorts of compartments and room for both dry and cold items, as well as one or two water bottles, plus a shoulder strap. If you're traveling, it even slides over the back of your carry-on bag. Because of the shoulder strap, it's really easy to carry, and if you put an ice pack or two inside (or even ziplock bags filled with ice), it stays fridge cold all day long.

I completely disagree with the earlier statement that it is okay to keep chicken outside the fridge/cooler all day long as long as it is cooked. Very dangerous!

I, too, have very long days, plus I travel a lot. My cooler bag is a lifesaver. Here are some ideas. I've included a few options that you can't eat (dairy, for example) because I thought other readers might find the suggestions helpful, but I tried to make most of them ones you could use.

Also, if you do have access to a microwave, you can put cut broccoli and cauliflower (and other veggies) into a ziploc steamer bag with no water and they'll steam in the microwave. This also works with chicken or turkey breast which you can season before you put in the bag if you want. You can also put a raw egg in a small tupperware container and microwave for a short time (I think it's one minute, but I haven't done it in awhile, so you might want to experiment) to get a cooked egg for a sandwich. Uncle Ben's makes individual containers of brown rice that take only one minute to microwave, and my grocery store has individual portions of already-cooked black beans (in tiny boxes) if you don't have the time/inclination to cook beans/lentils in advance over the weekend.

Pouches of tuna and salmon are great and do not require refrigeration before opening; they also don't need to be drained, which cuts way down on the mess. You can spread natural peanut butter or almond butter on sprouted bread for a sandwich, or take small portions of hummus in which to dip raw veggies.

gobites.com has all sorts of ideas for portable snacks which don't require refrigeration, which are not processed, and which have good NI. gopicnic does, too. Not all of the choices are good ones, but lots of them are.

In addition to the oatmeal idea, you can bring some of those dehydrated soups that are already in a cup and just require the addition of hot water. You need to read the nutritional info carefully, though, as most of them don't have a lot of protein. I like the bean and lentil and split pea versions from brands like The Spice Hunter or Nile Valley. They don't even require a microwave, just hot water. I get the stewardess to add hot water when I'm traveling, but when I bring my lunch and don't have access to a microwave, I just pack a thermos of hot water and it's still fine by lunchtime.

I do a lot of wrap sandwiches using hummus and baby spinach and lots of veggies (and feta for those who eat dairy), or a lean protein such as chicken breast with some honey mustard and veggies. Sometimes I make a bean-and-rice bowl using brown rice (or quinoa) and black beans and a green salsa of some sort. Sometimes I add cheese, or red peppers, or fat-free plain yogurt.

I bring a lot of berries, grapes, cherry tomatos, baby carrots, sliced yellow squash with salt, cherries, cut up canteloupe, hard boiled egg whites with salt and pepper, roasted edamame, nuts, etc.

I hope this helps -- good luck with your planning and execution!

JessHealthKick

veggies are totally fine for a day, it's meat that can be a bit of concern. try to eat anything within 6 hours and you should be OK... as a previous poster said, look for a microwave! there's bound to be one somewhere

justlistening

I usually take leftovers also. Deli meat, or cooked meat, hardboiled eggs , cooked/fresh veges etc are ok in room temp for a few hours. If you leave them in the hot sun in a car for example that is a different matter.

blu_meanie_ca

Unless your school is with out climate control, you should be good with nearly anything, except mayo (raw eggs). Fresh veggies and fruit are fine, as with cooked veggies and meats. The texture of some things isn't quite the same at room temp, and pasta in soup gets pretty soggy. My husband takes leftovers to work with him nearly every day, and there have only been a few things that didn't keep well for him (quiche was not good, I've been told). Invest in some twist top containers, they hold sauce better, for less leaking. And, you can get wide mouth, short thermoses for things like soup, stew, or chilli. You can also buy containers with ice packs built into the lids to keep food cool if need be (like, if you wanted mayo).

CynthiasChoice

Do you like hummus? It's a staple for me, as a dip for carrots, celery, red pepper, cucumber or whole grain tortillas.
You can freeze the hummus in a small tupperware over night, and by lunch time it will be thawed. It will keep your veggies cold in the meantime.

Also, you can put some ice in a zip lock baggie, and use that to keep your food cold. The ice might only last a few hours, but that's really all you need. Almost any food is OK if left for two hours at room temperature.

TheConsciousFoody

You could also just eat the veggies raw.

katnord

I've taken cooked broccoli and cauliflower before and they stayed good. Raw broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and sugar peas travel well and stay good. Cooked sweet potatoes will last too, and taste good cold. String cheese works well, and cans of V8. I really like little cans and packets of tuna. My two favorite ways to use tuna at lunch 1. Bring a can of tuna, a potato and some salsa (if you have a microwave to cook the potato) and mix them together. 2. Bring a can of black beans, rinse them and add tuna and Tabasco. Good luck!

darthjen

Oh man, the coolers on ebags.com are great. Thanks all for the ideas. I live in Florida where it can get rather warm and humid. I travel between classes, work and home. I just wasn't sure as to how long pre-cooked food would keep outside of a fridge. The suggestions are great though.

jjrichard83

You could also just eat the veggies raw.

This!

Also 6pack bags are great!

The I"m too busy to eat healthy is just a excuse. We all go through it, and it does involve more planning, but as long as you are serious about your weight loss, you'll make the effort! Good luck~

paulachesher

i work outside so dont have use of a kitchen or anything at lunchtime, i usually take chicken rice and broccolli with soy sauce or roasted vegetable couscous and eat it cold oh and a piece of fruit for dessert x

neandermagnon

make big batches of healthy stuff you can freeze or keep in the fridge. put them in individual portions, freeze, or if you're going to eat them in the next couple of days, keep in the fridge. Microwave as needed. Home cooked meals ready in a few minutes for when you're too busy to cook

also cooking other things in batches to use in quick recipes, for example I boil eggs and chicken breasts in batches, keep them in a container then grab them as a snack, or to go in a salad or sandwich for a quick meal.

healthy dip recipes, I make them with low fat yoghurt, there are many things you can add, mustard, herbs, lemon juice, chopped tomato and onion, to make it into a dip. then dip carrot sticks, other vegetable sticks and strips of chicken breast (which are already in the fridge because you boiled a batch a couple of days ago) in it.

KANGOOJUMPS

this is common,,, but you must focus!!!!!!

bathsheba_c

If you don't want a cooler, you could do the frozen water bottle trick. Take a bottle of water. Pour some of it out so it doesn't explode, and put it in the freezer. Then, when you pack your lunch, include the water bottle. It will keep the food chilled AND you get water to go with it!

But I've basically found that fruits and veggies always stay good, as does meat. Even dairy is usually fine. I wouldn't risk it with fish, though.

kat5556

I'm going to throw in another vote to use a cooler. I have a Rachel Ray cooler bag (Target, $12) and then add a couple of cool packs and it will keep your food cold for several hours. This opens up so many more choices of what you can bring many which have already been mentioned.

evileen99

I'm with the poster who says food doesn't spoil if left out of the fridge for a few hours. I work 12 hour shifts, don't use a cooler, and have no acess to a refrigerator. I pack three meals and snacks in my lunch bag and haven't managed to give myself food poisoning in the past 20 years. If it was thorougly cooked, it's fine.

I know you want to stay away from processed foods, but you might want to consider taking a protein bar now and then