Quick, packable lunch ideas needed!

BeckySBowen
BeckySBowen Posts: 59 Member
in Recipes
I'm sick of sandwiches and I'm trying to stay away from frozen meals, but they are so easy to grab in the morning. I'm packing for myself and getting three kids ready for school.

You guys always have the best suggestions!
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Replies

  • hunter624
    hunter624 Posts: 252
    carrot and celery sticks.
  • Slove009
    Slove009 Posts: 364 Member
    I know you said sick of sandwiches, but I love nutella! I actually made myself 2 nutella sandwiches today (breakfast and lunch) with some Fiber One honey squares to snack on. I add some cinnamon to the nutella sandwiches and sometimes fruit, like strawberries or bananas! It's tasty and filling and kids will love them too!
  • mooglysmom
    mooglysmom Posts: 319 Member
    I have to make my son's lunches every day for school. I hate buying GF bread, so I try to come up with subs. Keep in mind though, he's also dairy free, so it makes it a little harder.

    Crackers and (ham, pepperoni, turkey, tuna fish), boiled eggs, salad, applesauce, yogurt, carrots, celery (with PB to dip in), apple slices, healthy muffins (blueberry, cinnamon, etc), blueberries, raspberries, grapes, mandarin oranges, water or juice.

    Today his lunch was: a cinnamon muffin, 2 hard boiled eggs, grapes, applesauce and a juice box.

    Also, for ease, I make lunches at night. It's just easier that way! And he's PICKY.
  • efarester
    efarester Posts: 135 Member
    My hubby has been packing leftovers the night before - or making something the night before. He does a lot of stir-fy/one pot type dishes with rice. Salad is also a great option - you can pack some chicken/egg to go with it. I think packing the night before is really what makes it easier!! :)
  • BeckySBowen
    BeckySBowen Posts: 59 Member
    Good ideas!

    I should have clarified...the lunches are for me. :smile:
  • Its_Nat
    Its_Nat Posts: 184 Member
    Nothing easier than a salad: cabbage, carrot, cucumber, capsicum, baby tomatoes, beetroot, light cheese and some shredded chicken. I make them up for the week ahead. Cook a roast chook on a Sunday, chop it up, and divide it into 45gm portions (without the skin) and freeze. Then take out a pack each morning to put in the lunch box and it's defrosted by lunchtime. Add a little canister of fat free dressing and you're done.
  • Caffeinewitch
    Caffeinewitch Posts: 110 Member
    NPR just did an aritcle on using rice wraps as a sandwich substitute - I find them to be so light and almost sweet I can't compare them to a sandwich at all!
    http://www.npr.org/2012/09/25/161752021/a-roll-for-all-seasons-wrapped-in-rice-paper

    take a look!
  • BeckySBowen
    BeckySBowen Posts: 59 Member
    NPR just did an aritcle on using rice wraps as a sandwich substitute - I find them to be so light and almost sweet I can't compare them to a sandwich at all!
    http://www.npr.org/2012/09/25/161752021/a-roll-for-all-seasons-wrapped-in-rice-paper

    take a look!


    This looks tasty!
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    I never pack sandwiches. They always getting soggy. =(

    I tend to pack fruit, cheese, and crackers. It's one of my favorite "easy" lunches.
  • GardenDelight
    GardenDelight Posts: 71 Member
    Although this IS a sandwich, it's pretty easy to make and SUPER nutrient filled. It's the avocado sandwich. I posted the recipe recently. If you can't find it, let me know and I'll zip the recipe to you! Hope you're day is wonderful!
  • tripn404
    tripn404 Posts: 109 Member
    meat loaf muffins! veggie steamers! chicken wraps! crock pot chili/soup!
  • BeckySBowen
    BeckySBowen Posts: 59 Member
    Although this IS a sandwich, it's pretty easy to make and SUPER nutrient filled. It's the avocado sandwich. I posted the recipe recently. If you can't find it, let me know and I'll zip the recipe to you! Hope you're day is wonderful!


    Sounds good! Thanks
  • mommajoans
    mommajoans Posts: 13 Member
    If you don't mind cooking ahead, I like to make soup for lunch. An easy one that is a staple to my diet is :
    chicken broth, frozen mixed veg for soup, frozen chopped spinach, garlic powder, black pepper and hot pepper flakes. I often will eat a cup of this along with a lean cuisine for dinner or by itself for lunch. For a heartier version add some quick cook barley for the fiber fix that will keep you full and/or stir in some cooked chopped or shredded chicken or beans.
    At work it just needs a quick zap in the microwave. If it is too thick I add another can of chicken broth. Pair it with some fresh fruit and you are good to go.
  • BeckySBowen
    BeckySBowen Posts: 59 Member
    meat loaf muffins! veggie steamers! chicken wraps! crock pot chili/soup!


    They all sound yummy. Great ideas!
  • BeckySBowen
    BeckySBowen Posts: 59 Member
    If you don't mind cooking ahead, I like to make soup for lunch. An easy one that is a staple to my diet is :
    chicken broth, frozen mixed veg for soup, frozen chopped spinach, garlic powder, black pepper and hot pepper flakes. I often will eat a cup of this along with a lean cuisine for dinner or by itself for lunch. For a heartier version add some quick cook barley for the fiber fix that will keep you full and/or stir in some cooked chopped or shredded chicken or beans.
    At work it just needs a quick zap in the microwave. If it is too thick I add another can of chicken broth. Pair it with some fresh fruit and you are good to go.


    Yum!

    I should not have posted this between meals...all of this talk about food is making me hungry! :laugh:
  • demonlullaby
    demonlullaby Posts: 499 Member
    bring pretzels and hummus as a side or even carrots and hummus.. hummus fills me up a lot! i also reccomend soup! soo good for lunch.
  • mommajoans
    mommajoans Posts: 13 Member
    Referring to the rice paper wraps: How do you know which are higher in tapioca? Are there typically directions for use in english on the wrapper? I certainly like the idea. wondering about the calorie count too.
  • karlos988
    karlos988 Posts: 27 Member
    I never pack sandwiches. They always getting soggy. =(

    I tend to pack fruit, cheese, and crackers. It's one of my favorite "easy" lunches.

    Wrap your sandwiche in a piece of papertowel, I find this absorbs any excess moisture without drying out the bread.
  • lizchristine
    lizchristine Posts: 42 Member
    I like baked potatos with chili, broccoli and cheese (you can usually find these in the frozen veg section), or black beans and salsa. You can bake the potatos ahead of time in the microwave and oven and then heat up at work.

    I also like greek yogurt with fruit, cereal or granola, and some nuts. (Pack separately and mix at work).
  • Frozen300
    Frozen300 Posts: 223 Member
    Spring green salad with whatever veggies you want, with 3oz of chopped chicken breast. For extra calorie reduction I bring lemon juice in a separate container to use as dressing. I make these in advance in glad ware and they are great for me.
  • michelledanny
    michelledanny Posts: 23 Member
    On Sundays I try to cook up some chicken breasts (skinless - boneless) and put them individual containers so they are ready to go the whole week - can put on salads or steam up some veggies for a side! I try to do alot of preplanning on Sunday - so my lunches are good to go for the week! I also plan on my dinners - sometimes I will make extra so there is enough for lunch the next day!
  • Tbias78
    Tbias78 Posts: 120 Member
    bump for later - some good ideas here!
  • aakaakaak
    aakaakaak Posts: 1,240 Member
    Leftover lunch is always good as long as you have a microwave handy.

    If you're super creative and have free time you could start making pretty bento box lunches.
    http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/creative-and-interesting-bento-boxes/
    http://www.techeblog.com/index.php/tech-gadget/10-ultra-creative-and-geeky-bento-box-lunches
  • BeckySBowen
    BeckySBowen Posts: 59 Member
    Leftover lunch is always good as long as you have a microwave handy.

    If you're super creative and have free time you could start making pretty bento box lunches.
    http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/creative-and-interesting-bento-boxes/
    http://www.techeblog.com/index.php/tech-gadget/10-ultra-creative-and-geeky-bento-box-lunches


    OMG...these are too cool! Being an artist, would love to find the time to make some of these. Too bad, I almost always have a paintbrush in hand!
  • BeckySBowen
    BeckySBowen Posts: 59 Member
    I wish we had a "thumbs up" option on responses...like Facebook. Great ideas here! Thank so much.
  • MVY_
    MVY_ Posts: 253 Member
    I always make my lunch and pack it that night for the next morning. It gives me more time in the morning to get myself ready. Here's a link of what i made just yesterday:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/752199-easy-recipe-asian-seasoned-ground-turkey-tofu-salad
  • stacdjen
    stacdjen Posts: 52 Member
    I pack 5 lunches every night - myself, husband, and 3 kids. I usually eat a salad for myself sometimes sandwiches but not very often. I throw in a can or pouch of tuna for something extra on my salad. For cheese I cut up a low fat cheese stick. I love my cheese on salads. :) I also enjoy wraps. I get the chipotle mayo from Kraft and it makes it so yummy. Add a fruit salad or applesauce maybe some fresh veggies and you have yourself a good lunch. :)
  • alpine1994
    alpine1994 Posts: 1,915 Member
    A serving of reduced fat triscuits with a wedge of laughing cow cheese

    starkist to go tuna pack (comes with pre-made tuna salad and crackers, it's really good)

    cold cut and cheese roll ups or use iceburg lettuce for "bread"

    bag salad (I cut up cukes and other veggies and throw them right in the bag at the beginning of the week so it's easy to pack)

    soup

    leftovers from dinner

    cut up veggies and put them in baggies at the beginning of the week and just grab one each day
  • apriltrainer
    apriltrainer Posts: 732 Member
    I soak some bread in some egg and then shape them so that they fit in muffin tins. Fill the muffin tins with liquid eggs(I use about a 1/4 of a cup for a 6 count tin) and chopped up already cooked sausage and put it in the oven for 350 and then just wait till the eggs are all done.

    Yum!

    I will grab about 2 or 3 with lunch and grab some cut up veggies(like broccoli) to go with it that I already have in a ziplock. YUM!
  • pawoodhull
    pawoodhull Posts: 1,759 Member
    Like they said, packing the night before helps a lot. I can't eat a lot of bread (gastric sleeve) so I get the smaller tortilla shells and make my own wraps. Turkey, ham and sometimes roast beef (Castle Woods Brand) and use about a teaspoon of low fat mayo or some form of mustard. You can add vegies if you want too. That's just enough to fill me up. Salads with some of the same meat chopped on top or some diced meat that's left over from dinner. Again, you can oack the salad the night before and keep the meat and cheese in a separate container.

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