Think outside the (lunch) box!

  • Like many others I sometimes fall into a rut and get bored with what I am eating.

    Here are some lunch ideas I found at ivillage.

    I would substitute some of the items for the lower fat versions of the same - i.e. low fat cream cheese for regular cream cheese.

    10 Change-of-Pace Lunch Ideas

    1. Date-Nut Bread with Cream Cheese, Celery Sticks, Whole Apple, yogurt-Covered Raisins, Milk

    2. Pasta with Pesto, Cherry Tomatoes, Pear, Milk

    3. Peanut Butter and Apple Butter on Whole-Wheat Bread, Banana Chips, Vanilla Yogurt, Orange, Milk

    4. Baked Chicken Pieces, Baked Tortilla Chips, Red Pepper Strips, Seedless Grapes, Milk

    5. Bagel with Cream Cheese and Tomato, Baby Carrots, Fresh Strawberries, Milk

    6. Whole Wheat Ham Sandwich with Mustard and Lettuce, Pretzels, Melon Cubes, Milk

    7. Tomato and Mozzarella on a Hard Roll, Whole-Wheat Crackers, Nectarine, Milk

    8. Turkey Breast, Sprouts and Honey Mustard on a Sub Roll, Baked Potato Chips, Banana, Milk

    9. Hummus and Pita Chips, Assorted Fresh Veggies (Celery or Carrot Sticks, Pepper Strips), Peach, Milk

    10. Tabbouleh with Tomatoes and Diced Chicken on Pita Bread, Yogurt, Dried Pineapple Slices and Apricots, Milk

    Does anyone else have any ideas for "brown bag" lunches?
  • Some of those sound yummy.

    I am big on bring tuna, cucumbers & pita, with a bit of ff ranch dressing.

    If I am lazy, I will bring a frozen dinner.
  • Yeah- I like carrots and dip or cucumber and dip, fruit slices with fat free yogurt dip are excellent options too.

    Today I have Ceasar salad with leftover grilled chicken from last night's dinner, a pear with some low fat cheese, and chocolate soy pudding.
  • Some of my favorites for breakfast and lunch when I am at home:

    breakfast:
    fruit smoothie made with a banana, 1c. frozen strawberries, and a splash of apple juice in a blender...YUM. (use the whole frozen strawberries in the bags, not the sliced frozen strawberries with sugar added-you can also replace that with other frozen fruit in bags)

    light vanilla yogurt with 1c. of sliced strawberries mixed in

    lunch:

    quick burrito wrap-grilled chicken breast, lettuces, and salsa thrown in a pita or tortilla. (If you are bagging a lunch-you may want to assemble the wrap, and put the salsa in a little container to add right before eating.) Add some fresh fruit or veggies on the side.

    This is easiest using the prepackaged grilled chicken, or if you make grilled chicken the night before-make an extra and dice it up the night before to use for lunch the next day. This is a wrap that tastes great cold-so you can keep it all in a lunch container with an ice pack.
  • That date nut bread with cream cheese sounds divine!
  • Anybody got any new ideas for portable lunches?