Hi - when I am on plan, here is what helps me:
- Bars save me on busy days - they are super easy to have stashed in purses or desk drawers. Quest bars don't melt (if you are using those) so they are even fine in a car.
- RTDs another easy choice. If you have a fridge at work you could stash one there. If not, they are kinda gross when room temperature, so you could serve over ice or add to brewed coffee OR I happen to really like the chocolate and vanilla flavors warmed up, esp. in the winter. I often add cinnamon when I heat them up.
- the soup packets are easy to have on hand, if you have a hot water supply or microwave at work
- Veggies are harder to stash, unless you did something like kale chips and kept them sealed with a desiccant pouch (I save those from when I get dried seaweed snacks ... Actually - I thought "seaweed" used to be on the select veggies list? I don't see it on my version...)If I am really stuck somewhere I usually just give up and make up my veggies later in the day.
If you have time to plan ahead for a busy day:
- cut up veggies are the way to go if it is a day that you truly won't have time to sit down and eat... just grab the right amount before you head out to work. You could experiment with different IP-friendly dips/dressings
- If you would have time to sit down and eat, you could bring salad in a jar with appropriate dressing and/or protein included (dressing on the bottom if you include it and don't mix until time to eat).
Here is one link to that technique. I have been doing this for a while with a handheld vacuum tool and wide-mouth jar attachment for around $20 total (
like this). Works great!
RE: blending spinach into smoothies (I like kale too but it is a stronger flavor), I find that up to 2 cups loosely packed blends in fine. After that, I notice the flavor more. Not necessarily bad, just weird.
ETA: oh yeah the crisps/soy snacks are great to have stashed as well! and I like the idea of a jar of pickles in the fridge...