Working women and Lunch

my tips: plan ahead/prepare ahead.

I do't know what you like to eat - but here is what i do (90% of my meals are made at home from scratch).

1. On the weekends or when you have the time - make a big batch of chicken breast, meat, chicken patties, fish, veggie burgers - whatever you like. I usually make chicken breast and chicken patties and once a month or so i'll make a batch of veggie burgers as well. all go in the freezer (I put them in ziplock bags. after they are almost frozen, take it out, break them up and refreeze, that prevents clumping).
2. also, make batches of beans - i use my slow cooker for this, i usually make one big batch of chickpeas and one of vegetarian baked beans. also get portioned out into baggies and frozen in one container or ziplock.
3. also, make sure you have fresh veggies. i make a cabbage salad that lasts for 3-4 days at a time. lettuce - wash, dry, wrap in paper towels. wash your other vegetables (tomatoes, cucumbers peppers etc).
4. now all you ahve to do is assemble: the ngiht before, put some cabbage salad in a box, and refrigerate, or make a lettuce salad. in the AM, pull out one of your protein options and you're ready to go. At work, i leave the box out till lunch time (it works for me - if you prefer you can refrigerate), then i zap the protein in the fridge and i'm good to go.
5. additional salad options: "mexican" - add black beans, avocado, sour cream to the lettuce salad. Greek - add cubes of low fat feta cheese, drizeel with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Nicoise - add tuna, egg, boiled potato. etc - use your imagination.

What is the difference between being a stay at home mum and a working mum when it comes to lunch? I pack the kids' lunches and then eat much the same myself. Everything is plus a piece of fruit or carrot sticks...

Edgells four bean mix, a couple of handfuls of bag salad, Red Kelly's salad dressing.

A couple of cups of cous cous made with diced onion, diced carrot, frozen peas and chicken stock.

A burrito made with some beef mince, some capsicum, some cheese and some salsa wrapped inside a tortilla, baked the night before.

A chicken salad and avocado sandwich.

Chicken mushroom pasta in white sauce.

A piece of corn microwaved and wrapped in foil, with some naan bread, goat's cheese and olives.

Tomorrow looks like: left over steak and salad sandwich One kid will take an onion omelette.

I've started having sort of antipasto lunches. I just keep a bag of deli turkey and a container of cherry tomatoes, olives, roasted peppers, artichoke hearts and mozzarella balls in olive oil and herbs in the work fridge.

I cheat. I take Healthy Choice steaming entrees, or something similar and add some fruit and a protein shake later in the day....

My favorite go-to lunch lately has been veggies and hummus.

I also really like salads (mine generally have mixed greens, spinach, carrots, cucumber, 1/4 avacado, grilled chicken, and light balsamic dressing (40 cal for 2tbs).

I've also made avacado chicken salad (1 avacado, 2-3 breasts of chicken--cubed or shredded, 1/2 onion chopped, juice of 1 lime, salt and pepper to taste) and made sandwiches with that.

Depends on what i'm in the mood for. I either cook some chicken in a marinade on sunday, I bring everything into work and keep it in my work fridge and make fresh. I make either a salad with chicken in it or I will use wraps and make a salad and a sandwich or a salad wrap. Depends on my mood. Its usually green leaf lettuce or baby spinach, olives of some kind, lite dressing if I'm in the mood, some kind of cheese for fat (pick either sandwich or salad to put it in, not both) varies from fresh mozzarella to aged cheddar to parm, cucumbers, tomatoes.

Leftovers

We are all here for a common goal - to get healthy and stay that way. If we were able to afford me being a stay at home mom, I would in a heartbeat but alas I have to work full time to support my family. I have been trying to make healthier choices but sice my co workers like to eat out several days a week I hav ebeen eaing alone and need more lunch ideas. (I don't mind eating alone it is the only quiet time I get and I spend my lunch hour reading ) I am looking for ideas of good healthy lunches I can pack to take with me. I would like to avoid frozen meals that I have to microwave. Any ideas are welcome. I need to expand my taste uds

It's not your choice, but you shouldn't be embarrassed about working. Women who stay at home and lose all their skills often get screwed if their spouse dies or leaves. Why don't you use the time for a brisk walk?

I also second the walking idea if at all possible. I also walk every day, I get an hour lunch so I go for a 30 minute walk and 30 minutes for lunch. It's only about 1.5 miles a day but they all start adding up over the month if you do it mon - fri

I also second the walking idea if at all possible. I also walk every day, I get an hour lunch so I go for a 30 minute walk and 30 minutes for lunch. It's only about 1.5 miles a day but they all start adding up over the month if you do it mon - fri

I third this - I have an office job so i'm sitting on my backside for 8 hours a day, so every lunch time I get myself up and go for at least a 30 min walk. I use Runkeeper to track it so the calories burned are added to my MFP stats and it's amazing how they soon start to add up.

Most days I have a sandwich made with 'thins' as they are called here, they're basically paper thin slices of bread with very few calories, and I fill it with low fat cheese (Philly) and ham etc. Soup is also very good, and will be back on the menu now the winter weather is drawing back in.