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Lunch 03.17.09
Daily lunch.
It seems like a lot of you (including me sometimes) get bored with lunch at work easily! Or you get hungry too quickly/eat too much/etc. I have received so many emails asking for healthy lunch ideas for work that I have decided to just post my lunch every day!
*Note that every single work day I have an afternoon snack. It is always between 100 and 250 calories, depending on my hunger level. Also, my breakfast is usually between 300 and 500 calories.
Today’s lunch:
Part 1: filled my handy salad tupperware with two big handfuls of organic mixed greens (probably 2-3 loose cups worth?), 2 boiled egg whites, 1/4 avocado (37 g), and a drizzle of Annie’s balsamic dressing.
Part 2: A bread sample from Great Harvest! I have been neglecting that lovely place for a while, so today I went back to get a loaf of honey whole wheat bread (which you will see at lunch later this week). I couldn’t resist taking a sample of their St. Patrick’s Day special: Guiness gouda bread! I took out the cheesy bits and just had the bread portion. It was very chewy and delicious; it almost had a nutty flavor? Anyway, it went perfectly with my salad. I had planned on having a piece of bread with it but not St. Patty’s Day kind!!! It was a very nice change. I estimated it at 2 oz (is that a good estimate?)
Drink: Polar Pomegranate Seltzer.
Calorie estimate:
Calories: 300
Fat: 11 g
Carbohydrates: 31 g
Protein: 16 g
Fiber: 5 g
Basic Lunch @ Work Ideas:
1. Leftovers from last night’s dinner
2. Leftovers from last night’s dinner made into a wrap or sandwich to change it up
3. A big salad with these components: unlimited lettuce + 1 serving protein + 1 fat (less than 100 calories) + 2 veggies and little dressing
Example: spinach salad with 1/2 cup chick peas, 1 oz mozzarella, 1/2 sliced cucumber and 1/2 sliced tomato, and a splash of greek dressing.
How to Make it Work:
Always, always, always pack your lunch while making your dinner. That way you always have a lunch for work, and you don’t need to scramble in the morning to put something together.
Please share your lunch @ work tips!
I have a suggestion — I wish I had the skill/patience to execute it — but cooking and freezing batches of five different soups — so you have a different soup every day!
I’m a big leftovers girl! And salads too – they are just so versatile 🙂
Btw, I agree – packing lunch the night before is key, otherwise you may just throw random things into a bag that don’t go together or decide to go out instead. Not as nutritious and wallet friendly 🙂
Guiness Gouda Bread?! YUM!!
Fabulous tips! When people say they don’t have time in the morning to make lunches I always wonder why they don’t just do it at night?!
I definitely get bored with my lunches. Thanks for the tips 🙂 I’m giving away greek yogurt coupons if you’re interested!
I love GH bread. It has been so long since I have had any.
Great lunch tips.
This is a great post! The topic comes up again and again – and is something I struggle with from time to time. Some things that have worked for me:
1) Preparing at least two of my lunches on Sunday. I try and make something interesting and different to give myself variety and keep me out of the kitchen on week nights so I have time to relax.
2) Like you mentioned in your post, I pack my lunch during dinner. If I wait to pack it later in the night, I usually don’t feel like doing it. Then in the morning I’m rushed and it becomes a grab and go situation – not always good.
I can’t wait to read about more of your healthy lunches!
great tips for lunch! I also like to get my lunch ready the night before- so much easier! Also, during the weekends I sometimes make a huge pot of soup to take to work during the week. I also LOVE adding some juice to my selzer, yummy!