What do you eat for lunch at work?

24

Replies

  • MNA76
    MNA76 Posts: 1,541
    Today I packed a homemade roasted beet salad with goat cheese and balsamic vinegar and a wrap with hummus, black bean dip and spicy alfalfa sprouts. Also blueberries, blackberries and a Wallaby's vanilla bean yogurt (snacks).
  • mandy_lee86
    mandy_lee86 Posts: 103 Member
    I usually eat a Lean Cousine (approved by my trainer) It's between 250-300 calories and the sodium is low. Good eating!
  • jneenie
    jneenie Posts: 2 Member
    I like to cook on the weekends. I will make a big pot of chickidilla soup (tortilla soup) or sixteen bean soup. During the week I don't have to think about lunch planning it is ready to go
  • jneenie
    jneenie Posts: 2 Member
    MMMmm sounds good!
  • LusciousLady
    LusciousLady Posts: 43 Member
    So i go through phases ... i'll be good and make healthy sandwhiches/salads/fruit for lunch and then i'll get into pre-packaged Smart One's type meal mode.

    I am currently in pre-packaged mode :yawn:

    So let's here what you all eat for lunch at work so i can get some ideas and jump start my healthy make your own lunch mode again! Also, i'm not a left over person so that's not really an option for me since when i cook the night before or make something i make just enough for that moment in time.

    Thanks everyone for the ideas!! :drinker:


    I have this same issue.. Good to see some of the comments. As I type this I'm battling with the face that I brought a lean cuisine for lunch.
  • Chloe0602
    Chloe0602 Posts: 93 Member
    I usually eat either a Lean Cuisine, cup of soup, sushi or a sald along with either a banana, half of a large apple, or celery and pb.
  • stunningalmond
    stunningalmond Posts: 275 Member
    I have fun throwing different things together. Like a banana wrapped in a slice of bread with peanut butter on it, pulled pork sandwich with leftover pork tenderloin, sometimes cheese on a bun with pickles on the side... mmmmm... lol.
  • purplegoboom
    purplegoboom Posts: 400 Member
    Sometimes leftovers from my meal the night before, or what I also like to do is buy bags of those frozen steamfresh vegetables and a rotesserie chicken from Kroger or Walmart, cut the chicken up and portion it out in baggies. Take a baggie of chicken and pack of steamfresh vegetables to work and eat that (yes, the whole bag of veggies). If you don't want to eat the entire bag, take a tupperware with you and put half in there for the next day. Or potion some frozen veggies and a sweet potato to microwave. Raid fast food places and chinese places for things like soy sauce and hot sauce packets if you don't want to pack seasonings.
  • sarahharmintx
    sarahharmintx Posts: 868 Member
    1. Big salad with some kind of chicken (either popcorn chicken or rotisserie chicken). Usually consists of spinach, romaine, feta, cucumber, light raspberry viagrette, baby carrots, chicken and maybe craisins. Its a lot of food for not a lot of calories and it takes a long time to eat so it feels like Im eating even more.
    2. Healthy Choice meal. I know they arent exactly healthy but to me its better than fast food or vending machine if I cannot plan ahead. Some are quite tasty.
    3. Tuna with light mayo, relish, boiled egg and apple. Either with a few crackers or a sandwich thin (if I think ahead).
    4. Canned soup with crackers and maybe an apple.
    5. Leftovers (although that is rare and I tend to send leftovers with my husband).

    PS. I typically aim for 350-500 calories depending on the rest of the day. If I go really light, I tend to feel sick in the afternoon.
  • stunningalmond
    stunningalmond Posts: 275 Member
    And there are lots of microwave meals that don't have preservatives in them :) I'm tellin' ya, the Lean Cuisine has come a long way! :D
  • Alidecker
    Alidecker Posts: 1,262 Member
    I grill chicken or pork tenderloing on Sunday and slice it and use it all week for either a wrap with a La Tortiall Factory tortilla that is high in fiber, add spinach, onions, some mustard. Eat that along with some cherry tomoatos and an apple. Or I used the chicken in a spinach salad, not much difference in the two, but it seems to keep me from getting too bored. Another on is egg salad, use one or two whole eggs and a couple of egg whites mixed with olive oil and mustard...and I add celery and onion for crunch. It keeps me pretty full.
  • GeneveSparkles
    GeneveSparkles Posts: 283 Member
    On Sunday I made black bean burritos with zuchinni, bell pepper, and lots of yummy spices, salsa and just a sprinkiling of cheese wrapped in a 90-cal tortilla. I made enough for the week and wrapped them in tin foil so I could just pop them in the toaster oven at lunch. They were less than 300 calories!! I did a little side salad too: romaine, red bell, jalepeno, cilantro and a squezze of lime juice (no dressing).

    I try to pre make my lunches for the week on Sundays so I don't have to worry about it during the week. Sometimes that plan doesn't work out and I too fall into the Smart Ones trap, but the Santa Fe Style Rice and Beans is soooooo good for being a frozen meal!!!
  • frankyk89
    frankyk89 Posts: 173 Member
    i just started cooking on Sunday's for my lunch for the week.... I bake chicken breast or tilipia or both. and bake some asparagus and sweet potatoes. then i get out 5 containers and pack them for the week. so nice to grab and go in the morning on my way to work. also, i have cans of tuna in the pantry so i can fall back on that also. oh, and i boil eggs on sunday for the week also. just some ideas...
  • KatieD060982
    KatieD060982 Posts: 41 Member
    Thanks for this thread. I am in the exact same place, I'm sick of my boring Lean Cuisines. I think I'm going to grab some low sodium soups and get some tortillas for some wrap sandwiches..... again thanks!
  • SageGoddess320
    SageGoddess320 Posts: 2,589 Member
    BASx7dQCAAAhNwKjpglarge_zpscb53e3f1.jpg

    Eat Some Sushi!


    mmm. You evil little she-devil. <drools>
  • Eve23
    Eve23 Posts: 2,352 Member
    I usually eat leftover from dinner. Sometimes I make up rice, lentils, add salsa, lettuce, and if you eat cheese you can add that for a yummy filling lunch you can make ahead. I also slice up cucumber and make up some chicken salad or tuna to eat togethor. That was a great lunch. Sometimes I have breakfast as well.

    Recently another member suggested taking ham or other meat and putting them in a cupcake pan, adding the vegies you like and then egg.. Bake for about 25 to 30 minutes and you have a tasty breakfast or lunch.
  • Corkline
    Corkline Posts: 107
    Why are you against leftovers? Especially if you do frozen meals, it's the same concept.

    I do a lot of leftovers, from dinner, or weekend cooking. I don't mind eating the same thing twice, but like to mix it up for the third day. Plenty of left over pasta with veggies, PB&J, cut vegetables/fruit, string cheese...

    I make my lunch the night before, and it all sits in a specific place in the fridge. Then I just throw in the bag and move on...
  • feelgoodnic
    feelgoodnic Posts: 66 Member
    I usually have a wholemeal pita bread, stuffed with salad leaves, tomato and some cheddar cheese. And a hard boiled egg. I really like bread so this is a way of getting my 'fix' for the day.

    I'd then usually have an apple and some almonds for a late afternoon snack.
  • bren998
    bren998 Posts: 92 Member
    Salads
    Progresso Light Zesty Santa Fe Chicken
    Oscar Mayer turkey breast on Flatout Foldit Flatbread with spicy mustard & spinach
  • RhonndaJ
    RhonndaJ Posts: 1,615 Member
    I'm pretty boring as I'll eat the same thing for ages. 1/2 a tuna on whole wheat sandwich and mixed fresh fruit salad.
  • fitnesspirateninja
    fitnesspirateninja Posts: 667 Member
    I'm also a leftovers person.

    But sometimes I bring some Aidells chicken sausage (my favorite is the pineapple bacon), brown rice, and baby kale. I cut the sausage into small slices and microwave it with the brown rice, then stir in the baby kale (or spinach, whatever floats your boat) until it wilts a little bit. It's tasty and hearty.

    A nice salad with some lean protein is another go-to for me.
  • purplegoboom
    purplegoboom Posts: 400 Member
    Just a note: I had a trainer that told me if you have to have a frozen dinner like smart ones for lunch, eat some extra vegetables with it, like a salad or a serving of frozen veggies you can microwave.
  • Car0lynnM
    Car0lynnM Posts: 332 Member
    whatever I have for dinner, make extra, put in individual containers, and put in freezer or fridge. Ready to take to work and reheat. Done.
  • capnlizard
    capnlizard Posts: 73 Member
    Chicken salad sandwich made with Greek yogurt instead of mayo, full of fresh herbs, and an apple, yogurt, etc.

    Another easy make-ahead meal is to cook up a big batch of black beans and rice (recipe found on the back of a can of Goya black beans). Ends up being about 230 calories for 1/3 of the recipe. Eat that and a can of soup for a good meal :)
  • schlagers
    schlagers Posts: 58
    I'm all about the Green Giant Steamers. They have a bunch of different kinds and it's enough to fill me up at lunch.
  • erinpooh
    erinpooh Posts: 90
    Usually a Weight Watchers Steamers and some extra veggies. Today it was peppercorn beef and extra broccoli. Also, a four-pack of Nutter Butters, which is my daily treat for the day.
  • mwooderson
    mwooderson Posts: 254 Member
    Usually I prepare a salad with loads of veggies and salmon or tuna. Or veggies with 1% cottage cheese and salmon. If I wasn't organized the night before and am rushing the next a.m. for work I'll throw various veggies and fruit with a soy cheese. Like today lunch is grape tomatoes, 2 baby cucumbers and Lasantti jalapeno cheese...its Friday.
  • RaineMarie
    RaineMarie Posts: 158 Member
    I usually cooked 2 or 3 meals on the weeknds portion them out into individual containers and freeze them - then I choose whatever I want to eat for lunch or dinner. I know they are healthy because I cooked them, and I have a little bit of variety - I dont mind eating the same thing for a few days during the week. And it saves on buying lunch. Occassionally I will get a lean cuisine or healthy choice meal, but I prefer my own cooked food - I am not a huge fan of the lean cuisine/healthy choice options these days. I also pre-pack snacks for the work day so that I know they fit into my calorie goals by the end of the day.
  • lovethebeach16
    lovethebeach16 Posts: 7
    Next week I'm having mini pizzas on English muffins with a salad.

    Some other ideas:
    Soup: chicken noodle, vegetable, beef and barley, minestrone
    Wraps: fajitas, tacos, veggie, enchiladas, blt, caprese, roast beef and cheddar
    Other: chili, sloppy joes, mac and cheese, sliders, etc.
  • yoovie
    yoovie Posts: 17,121 Member
    coffee

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