Eating @ Work

CookNLift
CookNLift Posts: 3,660 Member
I constantly eat at my desk to get work done, and to catch up on blog reading during my lunch break, and going out for sushi or takeout is expensive and tough to calculate / portion control without my food scale.

I need some good ideas for stuff to pick up at the grocery store (aside from TV dinners / salad) that I can literally throw together and cook in the microwave or toaster oven while at work that doesn't require much cleanup or time to prepare.
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Replies

  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    I've been doing pulled pork sandwiches a lot lately. You can get premade stuff, rolls, cheese and assemble at work, or you can make your own pork to help keep costs down.

    Tacos/quesadillas also reheat well.
  • just_me_mindy
    just_me_mindy Posts: 210 Member
    I bake chicken every Sunday and Wednesday, portion them out and take them to work. Every Sunday I cut up veggies and fruit for the week and measure them and put them in bags in the fridge or containers. You could always make a wrap or a pita.
  • CookNLift
    CookNLift Posts: 3,660 Member
    Those are great ideas, however my only dilemma is today I forgot to prepare my food (it went bad), and I am looking for something to make at work on the fly, because I didn't have time to this morning on my way out the door. (Smelled the food and realized it was a bit sketchy since there was a whole in the container.)
  • micheleb15
    micheleb15 Posts: 1,418 Member
    I do a "Chipotle" bowl. I make my brown rice, black beans and chicken on Sunday and then each day make my own bowl for lunch with brown rice, black beans, chicken, shredded cheese, salsa and guacamole. That keeps me full until dinner.
  • RoyBeck
    RoyBeck Posts: 947 Member
    I bake chicken every Sunday and Wednesday, portion them out and take them to work. Every Sunday I cut up veggies and fruit for the week and measure them and put them in bags in the fridge or containers. You could always make a wrap or a pita.

    Works for me too. Weigh them and then I know calories etc and I'm done for the week.
  • tcunbeliever
    tcunbeliever Posts: 8,219 Member
    I do salads all the time at work, just grab from the fridge add the dressing (if needed) and good to go! I can chop up the lettuce and put it in individual containers at the beginning of the week with whatever toppings I want and then just grab one in the morning on my way out. I don't have time for assembly in the morning, but lettuce keeps fine for several days.
  • tmpecus78
    tmpecus78 Posts: 1,206 Member
    Prep food on Sunday for the next week. Weigh and portion everything out and place in tupperware. Then in the morning on the way out the door, just "grab and go!" Stop making excuses for your lack on discipline. Make time!
  • Jenny_Ren1
    Jenny_Ren1 Posts: 65 Member
    Hmmm. Thinking of something to actually make at work is tough... My unimaginative meals always end up being several snacks lumped together. I was in your situation Monday and I ended up having a piece of cheese, some beef jerky and cherry tomatoes! LOL. If I run to the store, the easiest thing is a sandwich or wrap. I'll just grab turkey at the deli, some veggies to much on and the wrap/bread of your choice. It's quick, healthy and I have food left over so the cost is justified.

    Of course, the best idea is to make great meals at home and package them for work! But I am like you, and find myself forgetting my lunch or grabbing the wrong thing. For example, yesterday I brought an awesome, well balanced lunch that I was excited for. But it was actually a bowl of ground beef I had pre-cooked for dinner. Oops!! :laugh:
  • CookNLift
    CookNLift Posts: 3,660 Member
    Prep food on Sunday for the next week. Weigh and portion everything out and place in tupperware. Then in the morning on the way out the door, just "grab and go!" Stop making excuses for your lack on discipline. Make time!

    I do not have a lack of discipline, and I'm not making excuses. Some days you just don't have anything to bring. I constantly prep my stuff for the week, and one of the things went bad, I don't have anything at work and I'm looking for something to make that's quick at work. Making something on Sunday and having it today would require time travel or a flux capacitor of sorts.
  • just_me_mindy
    just_me_mindy Posts: 210 Member
    I tend to eat the same thing every week for breakfast, snack and lunch..
  • CookNLift
    CookNLift Posts: 3,660 Member
    I tend to eat the same thing every week for breakfast, snack and lunch..

    lol ditto. I tend to change it up a bit, but I felt weird last time I tried portioning out spinach quiche for the week, even when it was frozen.
  • SmallMimi
    SmallMimi Posts: 541 Member
    Sort of hard to make recommendations for today if we have no idea what you have available
  • How about liquid egg whites. You can microwave them, throw some chopped frozen veggies in there and make a quick frittata type meal in a cup. Add a little cheese and viola. :)

    I work in NYC and every Walgreens/Duane Reade/CVS has a food section now. I am sure you can find similar items where you are.

    I constantly eat at my desk to get work done, and to catch up on blog reading during my lunch break, and going out for sushi or takeout is expensive and tough to calculate / portion control without my food scale.

    I need some good ideas for stuff to pick up at the grocery store (aside from TV dinners / salad) that I can literally throw together and cook in the microwave or toaster oven while at work that doesn't require much cleanup or time to prepare.
  • CookNLift
    CookNLift Posts: 3,660 Member
    Sort of hard to make recommendations for today if we have no idea what you have available

    literally anything I can buy at the grocery store. I wanna have something I can grab there and throw together here.(the grocery store is 2 mins from my job, the only downside is we don't have a stove to cook on. - that would make this a no brainer) and I don't use the microwave often.
  • kari574
    kari574 Posts: 99 Member
    Are you planning on running to a store to buy fixings to make something at work? Do you have things at work, you just don't know what to make with it? I'm a tiny bit confused...

    *Nevermind :)
  • tmpecus78
    tmpecus78 Posts: 1,206 Member
    I do not have a lack of discipline, and I'm not making excuses. Some days you just don't have anything to bring. I constantly prep my stuff for the week, and one of the things went bad, I don't have anything at work and I'm looking for something to make that's quick at work. Making something on Sunday and having it today would require time travel or a flux capacitor of sorts.

    Go buys some cans of tuna and/or salmon, some unsalted nuts, some quest bars etc. and keep them are you desk for times you forget or don''t have time to run to the store.
  • MinnieInMaine
    MinnieInMaine Posts: 6,400 Member
    Is there a salad bar at your local grocery store? That's usually my go to option...make a big salad with a good mix of veg and protein (chickpeas, grilled chicken) and maybe buy one of those little packs of sushi in the deli section too if I'm hungry enough.
  • tambam69
    tambam69 Posts: 270 Member
    I do a "Chipotle" bowl. I make my brown rice, black beans and chicken on Sunday and then each day make my own bowl for lunch with brown rice, black beans, chicken, shredded cheese, salsa and guacamole. That keeps me full until dinner.


    This sounds like something I would like to try, thanks
  • bowbeforethoraxis
    bowbeforethoraxis Posts: 138 Member
    I tend to keep freeze dried fruit and veggies, beef (or pork or turkey) jerky, a few cans of soup and some fiber one bars in my car so if I end up with no time to make something or no way to run out and get food I have something healthy-ish ready to go. This is more of an emergency stash, since most of that stuff has tons of sodium, but in a pinch it's better to eat that than run to McDonald's or a box of crackers.
  • thrld
    thrld Posts: 610 Member
    Look up "Bento Lunchbox" or "Bento Lunchbox ideas" -- the box is designed to help you pack portion-specific amounts.
  • aggiekaren01
    aggiekaren01 Posts: 30 Member
    I keep salad stuff in the fridge at work but sometimes I don't have the time or the desire to make it. I also keep Annie's version of easy mac in my desk along with whole wheat bread and peanut butter in case I just want something quick. I also have yogurt, string cheese, etc in the fridge so I just grab whatever I see first.

    I tend to throw a lot of food away if I prep for more than a few days.
  • CookNLift
    CookNLift Posts: 3,660 Member
    I do not have a lack of discipline, and I'm not making excuses. Some days you just don't have anything to bring. I constantly prep my stuff for the week, and one of the things went bad, I don't have anything at work and I'm looking for something to make that's quick at work. Making something on Sunday and having it today would require time travel or a flux capacitor of sorts.

    Go buys some cans of tuna and/or salmon, some unsalted nuts, some quest bars etc. and keep them are you desk for times you forget or don''t have time to run to the store.

    Are quest bars any good? I keep reading people here talk about them and have no idea what they are / how they are.

    Thanks for the advice, I am so lethargic today, using salmon or tuna in can completely slipped my mind lol
  • tmpecus78
    tmpecus78 Posts: 1,206 Member
    Go buys some cans of tuna and/or salmon, some unsalted nuts, some quest bars etc. and keep them are you desk for times you forget or don''t have time to run to the store.

    Are quest bars any good? I keep reading people here talk about them and have no idea what they are / how they are.

    Thanks for the advice, I am so lethargic today, using salmon or tuna in can completely slipped my mind lol
    [/quote]

    yes they are amazing! Message me and I'll drop you a Coupon Code for free shipping
  • dodihere
    dodihere Posts: 490
    In the morning when I put coffee on I throw a sweet potato in the oven and put an egg on to boil. I will usually cook extra carrots in the evening or take spinach and throw in my pot with the egg in it after it is done boiling and let it set for a few minutes. Grab some fruit, peel the sweet potato (takes 2 seconds) pack up and head out. It is very systematic for me in the morning though.

    Cook a dozen eggs on the weekend and keep in the fridge if you dont have time to cook. Cottage cheese and fruit is great. Bake a chicken breast ahead of time saute it with spinach tomatoes and onions, literally take minutes and effort.
  • BlairCottier
    BlairCottier Posts: 171 Member
    I am a mom of two kids that is a planning a wedding and works full time, hence I have no time for anything, lol. So, while I would love to prepare my food on Sunday for the following week, I usually try to work out or spend time with kids instead. So, my usual method is go to the store thats 2 minutes away from my work on Monday during my lunch break and get a ton of healthy stuff for the week for my lunches. This is what is usually on my grocery list:

    - shredded cheese and reduced fat triscuits (put them together and pop in the microwave, YUM)
    - the mixed bag of veggies (usually carrots, cauliflower, and broccoli)
    - Bolthouse ranch dressing (45 cals/ 2 tblsp)
    - Greek yogurt (the Yoplait 100 cals are really good)
    - fruit salad (the already made ones that they put in the plastic containers)
    - almonds
    - protein bars (quest are good, but there are always so many different ones to try which makes it fun, lol)
    - chicken salad (they may not have this at a CVS, but I go to the grocery store and its really good there)
    - pretzals
    - baby bell reduced fat cheese (this goes great with apples for a snack)
    - Canned Tuna
    - Vanilla Almond milk and protein powder (makes a great snack together)

    Those are just a few ideas of some things you can fix up quickly. This is my life, so if you need any more tips, just ask, lol :)
  • yellowsnowdrop
    yellowsnowdrop Posts: 154 Member
    Things are different here in the U.K. in that we just don't have as much choice of products that you guys over the pond do. i tend to take the same lunch most day which is Lauging Cow light spreadable cheese on 2 low cal crackers and a sliced vine tomato with basil. Add a couple of snack boxes of raisins/sultanas/ apricots (all dried) and thatv usually does the trick.
  • Beccawho1977
    Beccawho1977 Posts: 3 Member
    Sabre makes hummus to go with pretzel chips...since you are thinking of stopping by the grocery story, you can get some lean deli meat (Boar's Head roasted turkey and oven baked chicken are yummy!) and then you'd have your protein covered. While there, pick up a cup of fresh sliced fruit and some vitamin water. :)
  • brixtonbanner
    brixtonbanner Posts: 71 Member
    I might suggest making some of those Harvest / granola bars
    dead easy and you can put what you like in which means they are better than those ones you see in the supermarket
    try
    http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/homemade-granola-bars-recipe/index.html
  • I bake chicken every Sunday and Wednesday, portion them out and take them to work. Every Sunday I cut up veggies and fruit for the week and measure them and put them in bags in the fridge or containers. You could always make a wrap or a pita.

    This is what we do in our house too. I have to make the majority of my food because of food allergens, and being able to do it twice a week and portion everything out ahead of time has been a real lifesaver. I eat lots of meats and rice, portion out fruits and veggies ahead of time, and even my protein shake mix for breakfast before I leave. I even pre-log it so then I'm more likely to stay on track, and make sure I have everything for the day (since I typically leave my house at 6:45 AM, and get home after 7 PM).
  • amandatapar
    amandatapar Posts: 246 Member
    I bring a turkey or ham sandwich on multi grain bread, Greek yogurt, baby carrots/raw cauliflower, boiled eggs, cheese sticks, fresh fruit eithe cut up into containers or whole, and protein shakes. Sometimes I bring peanut butter sandwiches on the same bread. I just vary what I bring counting these items.