I have been a vegetarian for several years but always just take a frozen pre made dinner, like a lean cuisine or smart ones. I would like to get away from the frozen stuff. Does anyone have any easy ideas for stuff to bring for lunch? They are just so convenient but I know they aren't the best thing for me. Any ideas would be great! Thanks
I bulk cook soup on Sundays for lunches, with a salad. If I've been lazy on the weekend, I cook an extra serving at dinner and take that for lunch the next day.
Dinner leftovers. I have glass tupperware (glasslock) and when I make dinner, I make extra and when I'm putting food away, I package it up for lunches. Soups are excellent but just about anything will do.
Thanks guys... I usually don't take left overs because thats what I eat for dinner the next night. I think i just need to make something bullk on sundays and store it so its ready to go.
Soups/stews are great in the winter (minestrone, chili). In the summer, I like salads for lunch (not necessarily lettuce based - rice and/or bean based works well too).
Salads! I love to cut up all the veggies and put them in a tupperware (I put wet items in seperate plastic baggies and I also put my dressing in a plastic baggie. Then when I get to work at lunch I put it all together in the tupperware- shake it up till it's all coated- and enjoy!
I cut up salads 2-3 days in advance also so I don't have to do it daily.
Have you used Fit N Fresh products? They sell them on Amazon and elsewhere. They have compartments in them to keep wet/dry items separated. A fruit/veggie bowl with a compartment for dips, a breakfast bowl with a spot for milk, cereal and fruit, a salad container with a dressing dispenser, and chilled lunch containers that can have the cold ring removed so the rest can go in the microwave, etc. Nice stuff!
Alas, I still have problems packing a lunch. I think I'm going to start switching breakfast and lunch, and bring Kashi and almond milk to work. It's soooo easy!
My H and I have a problem because neither of us has a microwave at work for hot lunches ... so we have to do sandwiches or salads. I often make a brown rice and kidney bean salad, or a corn and black bean salad. H likes hummus spread on any kind of bread with almost any kind of veggies full to bursting. Almost any combinations will do. Avocado makes a great spread too.
I am being careful to NOT burn myself out on salad, so I wanted an option that is low in calories and high in fiber. I tried it today and it was so yummy! It is my healthy version of one of my fav sandwiches. The original is a plain bagel, toasted, with cream cheese, cucumbers, lettuce, tomatoes, alfalfa sprouts and red onion. I used to have the deli add bacon to it sometimes, too. (I'm not vegetarian, btw.)
I eat a TON of black beans and rice with taco sauce (no calories!). I make big bags of rice at the beginning of the week and just heat up cans of beans the day of to bring to work. Of course, I never get sick of beans. I love 'em! Most people don't share that sentiment.
I also bring pita, fruit and veggies to pair with hummus from the local farmer's market.
Sometimes I bring egg (whites) and (fat free) cheese on a whole-grain bagel. Pretty filling, and it's 400 calories.
Also, I find that eating a big breakfast and bringing lots of Crystal Light makes me not so hungry at work.
I roast veggies (tossed with balsamic vinegar and a little olive oil) on Sundays - A LOT! And then take them, with greens, for a delicious salad for lunch. Other things might be soup, lentils, canned veggie chili, or garden burgers.