Packing a lunch - ideas?

hawkermurray
hawkermurray Posts: 10 Member
edited September 25 in Recipes
I know that packing my lunch every day is better for my waistline and my wallet. But I'm pretty much out of inspiration! I'm good about packing the apples, carrot sticks and other "sides" but need ideas for the main dish. Anyone have favorite recipes? Ideally with high fiber and vegetable protein?

Replies

  • foolismcgee
    foolismcgee Posts: 11
    not sure if you have a microwave available to you, but making a little extra for dinner and bringing leftovers for lunch works for me.
  • Miss_Chievous_wechange
    Miss_Chievous_wechange Posts: 1,230 Member
    I usually take leftovers to work or eat a PB&J sandwich, or a Boca burger with avocado.
  • Thorneapple
    Thorneapple Posts: 154
    Right about this time of year I start with the salads ....

    Spinach with sliced almonds strawberries and balsmic vinegar

    Romaine with sliced pear, blue cheese and walnuts

    Mixed greens with dried cranberries, sunflower seeds and feta
  • dancingnancies
    dancingnancies Posts: 255 Member
    turkey sandwich on a high fiber wrap with lettuce tomatoe and roasted red peppers (light mayo or mustard too)

    my fav!!
  • teachparents
    teachparents Posts: 225 Member
    chili or soup , spinach salad, tortillas filled with veggies and small amount of meat/fish ......
  • Blondie1984
    Blondie1984 Posts: 75 Member
    I bring my lunch almost every day now : )

    One of my favorites and you can freeze it so its very easy, is to make Fajitas. I just fry up chicken, green peppers, yellow peppers and onions. Then add in a package of Fajita mix and put in seperate bags for lunches. Of course heat them up the next day and put on a tortilla.

    Or you could make 3 can rice just google - body for life 3 can chicken and rice - and take leftovers the next day.

    Also make sure to have a few hand to go soups in your cupboard for lazy lunch days.

    Hope this helps.
  • Claudia007
    Claudia007 Posts: 878 Member
    I like boca meatless spicy chicken pattys. I chop one up and put it into some lettuce/spinach. Or, a wrap? You can use whole-wheat tortillas and put anything you like in them from turkey and cheese to chicken and corn. Also, I use hummus instead of mayo/mustard on a sandwich since I'm not a fan of either. good luck!
  • moxleymama6
    moxleymama6 Posts: 532 Member
    Hummus to dip vegetable strips, peanut butter to spread on the apple or banana, 18 almond in asnack size bag (I make thse up at the beginning of the week so they are grab n go. 2Tbsp raw sunflower seeds (mix in 8 60% cacao chips if I need a chocolate fix), plain Greek yogurt mixed with 1Tbsp of low sugar strawberry preserves my mil made last summer Yum!
    These are a few of my favorite things. For lunch!
  • joybell32
    joybell32 Posts: 252 Member
    can of tuna and some salsa or a tsp of mayo or something. Also, buy some gordons fish and nuke it with some veggies for lunch. I do the tuna packets and pair with some veggies.

    I'm also looking for ideas too!
  • larandac
    larandac Posts: 6
    I have a 3 section lunch container...I make a "delux sandwhich" by putting sliced tomotoe, onions, and lettuce in one compartment, my meat in another compartment, and bread and cheese in another. I usuallly start off by warming the meat up then melting the cheese and warming the bread at the same time...aftwards, adding the onions, tomatoes, and lettuce. I usually have it with baked lays, and sliced peaches or mixed berried (no added sugar) from Walmart. I'll pack a light and fit yogurt and granola bar just in case I get hungry before the end of the day...hope this helps!
  • sweetheart03622
    sweetheart03622 Posts: 928 Member
    Cook some chicken on the weekends, shred it, and make a bunch of stuff with it. I usually do some with rice and black beans or with buffalo sauce (for a wrap)... the rice and beans I do the most, with some avocado and salsa, about 550 calories, so it's kind of high, but whenever I bring this I can't eat the rest of my food because I'm so full!
  • lmdurst
    lmdurst Posts: 5 Member
    I have been chopping up veggies - romaine lettuce, carrots, mushrooms, snap peas and any others that I might have around - and I keep it in a large tupperware container. In the morning I put some of the salad mixture in a 5cup tupperware container and mix with a can of either tuna or chicken to add protein. This is also moist enough that I don't need to add dressing. This plus 2 different kinds of fruit come with me - something crunchy like an apple and something moist & sweet like a mandarine orange or a container of watermelon.
  • meggonkgonk
    meggonkgonk Posts: 2,066 Member
    I try to make a big batch of a new recipe on the weekends and keep it in my fridge for during the week. I use a lot of recipes from ohsheglows.com - this week I did Shepherd's pie.
  • carlybarley22
    carlybarley22 Posts: 197 Member
    I just made a phenomenal sandwich today. I made a mixture of one can of chickpeas, one 5 oz can of tuna, 1 tablespoon full fat mayo, 1 tablespoon of honey mustard, and one cup of chopped red peppers. I put about 2-3 tablespoons of that along with about a half cup of baby spinach and a couple tomato slices on one Arnold Sandwich Thins 100% whole wheat with flax seed (or whatever it's called haha) and it was absolutely delicious!
  • maconk22
    maconk22 Posts: 18
    There are quite a few good recipes on this site for lunch. It you go to the recipe log. My favorite is the buffalo chicken wrap. I love it (got the recipe off this site). Its very low in calories also!
  • herbalgirl011
    herbalgirl011 Posts: 21
    You can try shakes or bars. The key is to switch it up with food every now and then.

    http://free2bclean.myshaklee.com/us/en/category.php?main_cat=WeightManagement

    if you need more info let me know.. :0) good luck
  • dadsgirl87
    dadsgirl87 Posts: 33
    I take a turkey sandwich on whole wheat sandwich thins or a whole wheat, low fat, tortilla wrap.

    I sometimes take a salad with chopped hardboiled egg, cucumber, and sunflower kernels. Topped with light dressing!
  • Charli666
    Charli666 Posts: 407
    i make whole wheat wraps a lot, anything you like in them, i usually go for salad with red onion and chicken. Soup is always a quick and easy one and if you have a microwave left-overs a great too! If you do have a microwave and find that you want more for lunch, you could always take a small potatoe in and bake it in the microwave, then add half a can of tuna, mixed with peppers, sweetcorn, cucumber, a tiny bit of black pepper, and a spray of vinegar, i love this!
  • lfcutie
    lfcutie Posts: 103 Member
    i am bad at lunch so this week i roasted a turkey breast and divided it into 3oz portions (90cal) and a tortilla (55cal) and made tacos with lettuce and salsa(i make my own) ...it gives a nice mix up instead of lean cuisine or salad everyday :)
  • LuRox
    LuRox Posts: 520 Member
    Each Saturday I make a pound of dried beans and I bring 1 cup of beans everyday to eat. It's full of protein and fiber. I usually bring fruit to supplement that. Also, sliced turkey sausage is GREAT to add to the beans too! YUM!

    I need to find the buffalo chicken wrap recipe...that's sounding yummy to me!
  • popsicle33
    popsicle33 Posts: 108 Member
    Not only is bringing your lunch healthier, it's cheaper than take out!

    Sometimes I use last night's salad as a sandwich the next day (some people think that's gross). I second the notion of bringing leftovers because it gives you a reason to not eat everything you made for dinner. Since I'm single I often have leftovers.

    I also like the occasional can of soup w/ 1/2 a bagel and lowfat cream cheese. Progresso makes a good high fiber minestrone soup that is suprisingly good, and the sodium isn't bad if you are the kind of person who tends not to go over her daily sodium intake.

    Hummus with sprouts on 12-grain bread is a good sandwich, particularly with sliced tomatoes. Lots of fiber there!

    Good luck!
  • hawkermurray
    hawkermurray Posts: 10 Member
    Thanks everyone! So many great ideas that I can't wait to try!!
  • sheffie
    sheffie Posts: 1 Member
    there are these great pita sandwich pockets at the grocery that are 100 calories...I fill mine up with some hummus, cucumber, dijon mustard, lettuce, half a slice of provolone and some chick or turkey!! this is my favorite thing ever...if I have veggies that are about to spoil I'll throw them in and it's super tasty and easy to eat at work if you don't have a microwave
  • DeenaSteelerGirl
    DeenaSteelerGirl Posts: 421 Member
    I have a selection of Lean Cusines in my freezer at home. I usually will have one of those and a small salad. For a snack in the AM I will eat a yoplait yougurt. And if I need something additional during my 8 hour work day I keep raw almonds and will have a few here and there. I also am big on salads. I love adding a pack of tuna in water to a salad. I eat a salad with lunch almost everyday of the week. When my garden takes off this season I love making a tomatoes / cucumber salad with fresh dill. And just a drizzle of light Ital. dressing. So good. Also when the season arrives I love watermelon and catalope. Hope this helps.
  • Cbeth80
    Cbeth80 Posts: 49
    I have become the queen of packing my lunch. here are a few of my favorites:
    grilled chicken breast and spinach spring mix salad with fat free Italian
    homemade chicken salad ( i have a great recipe if you want...)
    turkey sandwich on rye with Kettle Brand Tias (chips)
    Veggie Lasagna leftovers
    tuna wraps (one can of tuna, fresh spinach, lettuce, chopped roma tomatoes, bell pepper,lite mayo, pepper, red onion, whole wheat tortilla or pita)
    Mexican Bean soup (corn, black beans, kidney beans, navy beans, or any other bean you like, 1 can of rotel, can of diced tomatoes, taco seasoning, and a little water, season to taste) and a little shredded cheese on top if you have the calories to spare
    all of these are 300-400 cal. meals that i like
  • ladybg81
    ladybg81 Posts: 1,553 Member
    Sandwiches or leftover are the easiest for me. DH and I are both on this adventure together so I always pack both our lunches the night before and we can grab it and go. If I do not pack the night before, you can pretty much forget me doing it in the morning. So that is my biggest peice of advise, get everything ready to night before.
  • Cbeth80
    Cbeth80 Posts: 49
    making a pack of chicken and using it through the week works best for me. you can use it in so many dishes from salads to sandwiches to soups or wraps
  • jbond80
    jbond80 Posts: 356 Member
    I make this all the time and take it for lunch, it"s filling too!

    Cucumber & chick pea salad.
    3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
    2 tbsp lemon juice
    2 tsp chopped fresh oregano or 1tsp dried
    4 cups peeled & diced cucumber
    1 can chick peas rinced
    2/3 diced red bell peppers
    fresh ground pepper
    1/2 cup feta cheese
    1/4 cup slivered red onion
    2 tbsp black olives

    Whisk oil, lemon juice , oregano & pepper in a large bowl until combined. Add cucumber, chick peas, bell pepper, feta cheese, onions & black olives, Toss to coat. Serve chilled or at room tempature.
    160 calories per serving.
    Its a family favorite around my House =)
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