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Lunch ideas

littlelily613
littlelily613 Posts: 769 Member
in Social Groups
Any ideas for portable paleo lunches that don't need reheating? We have microwaves here, but I am trying to distance myself from microwaved food (no debate sought...this is just for me personally.) Leftovers was my usual go-to, but since most leftovers don't taste that good cold, I need some good ideas for lunches that are fine cold/room temperature. I work 5 days a week, and used to depend on either sandwiches or microwaved things.

Edit: Would also LOVE some ideas for paleo snacks as well. I do best when having a snack between meals, so actually eating more like 5-6 times a day rather than 3.

Replies

  • Roseygirl1
    Roseygirl1 Posts: 196 Member
    For lunches: an apple, an orange, a pear or other piece of fruit along with a can of sardines and a green salad with dressing on the side. A thermos of hot stew or soup. "Wraps" made with turkey breast or roast beef (or mashed canned tuna or salmon) in lettuce leaves.

    For snacks: banana with almond butter; nuts and raisins; another lettuce leaf "wrap"; apple slices with almond butter. Avocado slices with sliced turkey, or guacamole with kale chips.

    Rosey
  • Clothwright
    Clothwright Posts: 31
    It depends on what you think tastes ok when it's not hot. For me most things I cook taste ok to me at room temperature (out of the fridge in the morning, unrefrigerated until lunchtime). I have never had a problem with any unsafe food in the few hours between leaving the house and eating lunch. However, some cold options:

    tuna salad
    chicken salad
    any kind of veggies: roasted, grilled, sautéed, raw, coleslaws, salads
    some fish are fine cold, eg. salmon
    mini crustless quiches with your choice of veggies
    slices of lean meat that taste ok to you at room temperature (roast beef, turkey... I eat leftover meatloaf at room temp but based on your post I'm thinking that might not be an option for you?)
    no-grain granola
    nuts, if you can afford the calories

    if you want to get fancy you can google paleo lunches and you'll find things like peach slices wrapped in proscuitto and fish cakes and stuffed dates or prunes and so on. All great if you have the time to make them. I usually don't.
  • Sumiblue
    Sumiblue Posts: 1,597 Member
    Take poached chicken and mix in mashed avocado with some garlic (or garlic powder), squeeze of lemon. It's delicious! You can also replace the mayo with mashed avocado for tuna salad. The lemon juice helps keep the avocado from turning brown and brightens the flavor.
  • littlelily613
    littlelily613 Posts: 769 Member
    Thanks for the ideas! I should say that I never refrigerate anything at work (not even when I took frozen stuff...it all came to my desk...too many lunch thieves!) Tomorrow I am having a large spinach salad with roast chicken, 1/2 an avocado, 1 hard boiled egg, orange pepper, purple onion, and grape tomatoes with a tablespoon of olive oil as dressing. I'll be using other ideas another day, but I needed to use up some chicken I had in the fridge. If anyone else has any ideas I would love to have them!!

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