Packing Lunches for Work

1Cor1510 · August 2012

Bump

schaskes · August 2012

If you have time/like to cook on weekends, two recent discoveries are zucchini tots (from skinnytaste.com) and individual lasagna cupcakes (from cruftbox.com). Both of these are small and packable. I'm also a big fan of leftovers and fruit. Good luck from a fellow teacher!

Erisad · August 2012

I pack a sandwich on multigrain bread, trail mix, and yogurt. Some sort of cracker or something for my first break. I work 10 hour days in a warehouse so I gotta have something that holds me all day. I take leftovers too sometimes and heat it up in the microwave for something different.

deedeetris · August 2012

One of my favorites is a portabello mushroom sandwich on a ciabiatta bread (did I spell that right?) Anyway, I grill up a portobella the nght before, then I top it with a slice of tomato and a little bit of red onion (got to watch the breath for the kids) and top it with a little sub sauce or italian dressing. It is very good and the lo cal mushroom allows for me to enjoy a thicker, more robust bread. Love it!!

lindsay0515 · August 2012

*Turkey Reuben on Pita: Whole grain pita pocket, deli sliced turkey, 1 slice reduced fat swiss cheese, sauerkraut and fat free thousand isalnd dressing. Zap the whole thing in the microwave until the cheese melts

*Egg Salad Salad: Homemade Egg Salad (2 eggs, 1 tbsp. dijon, 1 tbsp. mayo w/ olive oil, salad cubes and a dash of cayenne), over shredded lettuce and topped with 1/4 cup of diced roasted red peppers

*Enchiladas: Fat Free refried beans, reduced fat shredded cheese and diced chiles wrapped in a whole grain tortilla and covered with enchilada sauce, once again, zapped in the microwave until cheese melts

*Pasta w/ Tomatoes: Skinny Taste Easy Garden Tomato Sauce over 1 cup of whole grain pasta

Lessa77 · August 2012

Bump I'm a teacher too and not looking forward to lean cuisines again

asyrinsgirl · August 2012

I don't know if it's been mentioned, but I love bento-style lunches. I'll pack veggies and hummus, tuna sandwiches, yogurt and fruit, all kinds of things. I think it's really fun to have lots of little portions of things, and it leaves room for snakcs throughout the day when things are arranged in little "pods."

lacewitch · August 2012

imagination required . here is an assorted list of the kind of things i have for lunch
last week i had a lentil beetroot pecan and goats cheese ( about 350cals) with a snack of hummus on oat cakes ( at 11 or 3pm which ever i needed more) and a portion

this week i have oriental slaw with turkey and a (homemade) tortilla if i need it ( carrot white & red cabbage, pepper and radish with a bit of EVOO, some sesame oil chili, lime juice, mint and coriander as a dressing) then i have cream cheese and wafer thin ham on oar cake / rice cake as my snack and a piece of fruit

also yogurt (Greek 0% no added sugar if you can get it) with a bit of maple syrup / vanilla essence some nuts and fruit is a great snack/ pudding ])

steamed vege salad - cauliflower, asparagus, courgette and sugar snap peas with a portion of protein

the world is your oyster in terms of what you can throw in that lunch box

try things like pea prawn and herb salad with lettuce and homemade white wine vinaigrette/ Dijon mustard dressing
or as a desert figs with natural yogurt, honey and pistachios

grilled peaches

chargriilled courgette, fetta and tomato salad.

guacamole

salsa

pate (e.g smoked salmon, or smoked mackerel ( light made with cream cheese) yum yum and crackers and side salad

hope this helps and makes sense
LW x

taylor3176 · August 2012

Go to a health food store, they have all kinds of 100 to 150 calorie items, that a organic and healthy.::bigsmile

wsungasong · August 2012

I found a great site for lunchbox ideas:
http://easylunchboxes.smugmug.com/The-Best-Lunchbox-System/Yummy-Lunch-Ideas/10136835_YSuyb#!i=696914291&k=YxmUd

Also check out Pinterest ...visually seeing all your options is a fast and easy way to find a meal that appeals to you:
http://pinterest.com/easylunchboxes/easy-lunch-box-lunches/

minlyn22 · August 2012

bump

MogwaisGrandma · August 2012

I found a great site for lunchbox ideas:
http://easylunchboxes.smugmug.com/The-Best-Lunchbox-System/Yummy-Lunch-Ideas/10136835_YSuyb#!i=696914291&k=YxmUd

Also check out Pinterest ...visually seeing all your options is a fast and easy way to find a meal that appeals to you:
http://pinterest.com/easylunchboxes/easy-lunch-box-lunches/

There are some great ideas in these links

Thanks for posting them!

taylor3176 · August 2012

I agree! thank you for sharing.

sandyjeffery · August 2012

Great websites. Thanks for posting.

tammyj83 · August 2012

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 use Greek yogurt and top it with fresh berries and granola (sometimes homemade, sometimes store-bought). I like this WAY better than the individual premixed cups. Keep the granola separate until time to eat it, or it will get soggy.

misty5976 · August 2012

bumping to read later. i need to save money by not eating at the work cafeteria ... so these lunch ideas are gonna be great. I also HAVE to get me one of those lunch boxes.

debussyschild · August 2012

I find tupperware like that to be really limiting. Fruits and veggies, pb, yogurt, a sandwich, pre made meals, etc. can fit in there. I'm a teacher, too, so I get the time restriction. Most teachers I know invest in a private mini fridge (in addition to the one they put ice packs and juices and snacks in for their students) to keep in their classroom.... And it is WORTH every penny. You could prepare meals for your entire week, bring them in Monday morning early, load up your fridge, and be good to go. No cute tupperware necessary. Of course, cute tupperware doesn't hurt :flowerforyou:

BrewerFan2 · August 2012

Instead of bread, have you tried the Sandwich thins? or fat free flour tortillas? they make a great and fun alternative to bread. I don't care for carrot sticks either, but my favorite snack is cucumbers and cherry tomatoes. I peel the cucumbers completely a quarter and slice them along with the cherry tomatoes and maybe add a few leaves of mixed lettuce greens to snack on. Another great finger food is to buy the "shoots" of coleslaw mixed veggies already prepared in bags near the bagged salads at your grocery store. I like them this way as they are easier to chew and snackable for me.

sportyredhead01 · August 2012

Bump for later.

I love salad but I'm always looking for some ideas.

misfit34 · August 2012

Here is a link to "cubby based adult lunches": http://undressedskeleton.tumblr.com/Littlelunches
[/quote]

I looked up this website because I too have the lunch problem. She has some great ideas for lunch.

this was suppose to be a quote from a previous poster.

taylor3176 · August 2012

where did you get your cubby lunch box?

CDPhipps · August 2012

I like all these ideas!!

cecimaguina · August 2012

Hummus is my favorite!! yumm!! I also like to have special k cereal (dry) handy so every time I need crunch something is always there for me!
Have you tried mozzarella sticks? there's a kind individually wrapped, low moisture, and each has only 80cal....tried that on a whole wheat tortilla. I usually shred the cheese, put it on top of the tortilla, fold it, and to the oven for 1min......instant quesadilla! and only about 150cal!!....throw some grilled chicken....lunch!

Dozrzz · August 2012

I find tupperware like that to be really limiting. Fruits and veggies, pb, yogurt, a sandwich, pre made meals, etc. can fit in there. I'm a teacher, too, so I get the time restriction. Most teachers I know invest in a private mini fridge (in addition to the one they put ice packs and juices and snacks in for their students) to keep in their classroom.... And it is WORTH every penny. You could prepare meals for your entire week, bring them in Monday morning early, load up your fridge, and be good to go. No cute tupperware necessary. Of course, cute tupperware doesn't hurt :flowerforyou:

I would but our fire marshal would never let us do that. We have had teachers get in trouble for things like a mini fridge or a small personal heater (our building is always freezing!) Otherwise that would be very nice to have!