Adult lunch box lunches

[disney_me]

I pack my lunch 5 days a week. Been trying to do a healthier kinda "clean eating" lunches the last 2 weeks. Lost 5lbs so far just curious what everyone else packs?

 

[havaneselover]

I exercise a lot (for stress relief) so I eat a lot. I pack:

a turkey sandwich with mozzarella on a whole wheat sandwich round
tortilla chips
a milky way (I really need to cut back on sugar)

I bring a diet pepsi and a water bottle. I also pack ritz peanut butter crackers for an afternoon snack to ward off temptation to buy a cookie from Jimmy Johns.

My budget is very tight and I pack 5 days a week.

 

[Monykalyn]

it is that time of year when us gardeners cant pay someone to take all the extra zucchini, squash, tomatoes off our hands Take all the extra you can from work friends and roast up a bunch at home-then use those roasted veg to top a salad. OMG are roasted veg the way to bring zing back to a salad!! Where I work the base (lettuce) is very very cheap so I get a huge bowl of that and top with my own dressing and toppings...tons of flavor and little calorie or cost. I am not fond of leftovers but I find if I can "repackage" them it is better. like taking leftover pot roast and veg and rolling it into a wrap sandwich I will eat it

 

[disney_me]

I always take my leftovers for lunch. Tonight dinner leftover will be turkey sausage link with roasted potatoes and green beans. My " there are no leftover" lunch tends to be hummus with celery,carrots and English cucumber and a hard boiled egg. I will back a yogurt for the afternoon. For a morning snack I will take some pretzels.

 

[StephMK]

I need some new ideas this year! I usually take some combination of the following. Sometimes I will pack an extra item or two to eat on the way home so I don't get to the starving point. I teach so I pack stuff I can eat quickly and I hate packing lunches so it's grab & go stuff.

Sargento Low fat cheese stick
Small handful of nuts - cashews, almonds, or pecans
granola bar
yogurt - greek or lowfat
carrot sticks
grapes
banana
cut up veggies - tomatoes, cucumbers
pretzels or wheat thins

If I really get motivated, I'll put some frozen berries in a container. It thaws by lunch and I mix in a little granola and a container of vanilla yogurt. So yummy and satisfies my sweet tooth.

 

[Teresa Pitman]

I'm vegan. I usually make a big pot of soup (with beans and vegetables) on Sunday and then I have leftover soup to take for lunch all week. I have several hearty soup recipes that I like. If I don't have any soup, hummus with vegetables to dip in it (pepper slices, cucumber slices, baby carrots, etc.) is another option I like. Or celery sticks filled with peanut butter and raisins. For a snack I sometimes take a trail mix with nuts, seeds and dried fruit, and I usually have some fruit to snack on as well - apple, clementine, grapes. Or cherry tomatoes of various kinds.

Sometimes I make a salad with cooked quinoa and vegetables. I feel like a lettuce and veggie salad by itself isn't hearty enough - I am starving again by mid-afternoon.

TP

 

[ronandannette]

I eat both breakfast and lunch at work. When we have leftovers from last night's dinner I take them. When we don't I pack a pretty standard bag: Greek yogurt, 2 ham sandwiches, several pieces of fruit and/or raw vegetables. I keep a package of rice cakes in my desk for afternoon cravings. They have a satisfying crunch and a little salt (or sweet depending on the flavour) but they're not good enough to tempt me to over-indulge.

 

[megsoro]

My standard lunch: two fruits (apples, strawberries, grapes, for a treat fixed canned pears) a sandwich (pb&j, turkey on a roll) fruit snacks (usually the fruit/veggie medley) and something crunchy (pretzels, baby carrots or nuts) I keep oatmeal in the office for breakfast. I also drink 8oz of no sugar added fruit juice. I like to have a bigger lunch then dinner, so I try to fit in all my fruits/veggies for the day.

 

[sheetz]

I like pasta salads. I use whole wheat pasta, chopped vegetables, some kind of protein, and bottled salad dressing.

 

[dawnball]

Once or twice a week I take soup. If it isn't very filling soup (like tomato), I'll add crackers or maybe a piece of cheese.

I take a cold protein salad (chicken salad or tuna salad) about once a week. I usually take fruit with that.

I usually take leftovers once or twice - it depends on how that week's meals reheat in the microwave, because I only like to take pretty bulletproof things.

The rest of the week I take insta-meal. Something I can throw together from whatever is in the house. That might be lunchmeat and cheese rollups, ersatz fried rice, fruit and cheese plate, hodgepodge of leftovers on rice, pasta with stuff, etc. It's usually a little weird, but I eat it anyway.

I keep soup, crackers, apple sauce or pear sauce, ensure and v8 in the office in case I need a little more to add to lunches, or an afternoon snack.

 

[threecrazykids]

Over the summer I can live on the Hickory Smoked Tuna packets. I mix one of those with either a little mayo or spicy mustard, or eat them over a salad. I also keep a packet of the whole wheat saltines in my desk in case to spoon the tuna on to as well.

Typically I am eating leftovers during the winter months. I plan my dinners to try and include (at least) 1 extra serving for my lunch. And the easiest way for me to do that is to take out my lunch serving before I serve the dinner. Works out very well...no one is tempted to eat that last serving "just because".

I also bring fruit, veggies, and salads (sometimes main dishes, sometimes a side) regularly also.

I keep packets of oatmeal, micro bags of popcorn and also bags of the SkinnyPop popcorn in my desk. It's so tempting not to eat the entire bag of that stuff...it's addicting!

 

[aprilchem]

I have a lot of dietary restrictions (no wheat, bread, grain, fruit, or sugar) because of a health problem, so a typical day for me is:

Morning snack - celery sticks with hummus and a can of V8

Lunch - a big salad with some sort of protein and some cheese & a low sugar dressing.

Afternoon snack - unflavored yogurt with 1 tbsp of unsweetened cocoa

Actually, that's pretty much what I eat every day. I sometimes skip the morning snack because I get busy but I never skip the yogurt because I love it

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I'll be going back to my school job tomorrow after a nice summer vacation. If I don't pack my lunch, the only choice is cafeteria food. That's motivation enough to pack it everyday!

I've been doing a good job cutting way down on processed foods. I do eat whole wheat bread and pitas, but no crackers, pretzels, cookies, etc. I often pack a couple of cheese sticks and lunchmeat to wrap around them. Then I will add cut up veggies and a low fat dip, plus fruit and yogurt. Sometimes I have leftovers such as chicken, brown rice and veggies, plus an apple or yogurt. Sometimes I take a salad with chicken or tuna. I also cut out my beloved diet soda a month ago. I just bought some bottled fizzy water. I also like unsweetened iced tea and will take that sometimes for variety. I've lost 9 pounds in the last 4 weeks and plan to keep it going!

 

[threecrazykids]

I'll be going back to my school job tomorrow after a nice summer vacation. If I don't pack my lunch, the only choice is cafeteria food. That's motivation enough to pack it everyday!

I've been doing a good job cutting way down on processed foods. I do eat whole wheat bread and pitas, but no crackers, pretzels, cookies, etc. I often pack a couple of cheese sticks and lunchmeat to wrap around them. Then I will add cut up veggies and a low fat dip, plus fruit and yogurt. Sometimes I have leftovers such as chicken, brown rice and veggies, plus an apple or yogurt. Sometimes I take a salad with chicken or tuna. I also cut out my beloved diet soda a month ago. I just bought some bottled fizzy water. I also like unsweetened iced tea and will take that sometimes for variety. I've lost 9 pounds in the last 4 weeks and plan to keep it going!

Good for you!! About 3 weeks ago I gave up my every-morning full fledged Mt. Dew...and I haven't lost 1 stinkin' pound! I thought for sure I would drop at least SOMETHING. I haven't eaten any more or drank anything else to supplement that calorie loss either! Everything stayed the same.

SO annoying. I am NOT a fan of 40.

 

[disney_me]

I'll be going back to my school job tomorrow after a nice summer vacation. If I don't pack my lunch, the only choice is cafeteria food. That's motivation enough to pack it everyday!

I've been doing a good job cutting way down on processed foods. I do eat whole wheat bread and pitas, but no crackers, pretzels, cookies, etc. I often pack a couple of cheese sticks and lunchmeat to wrap around them. Then I will add cut up veggies and a low fat dip, plus fruit and yogurt. Sometimes I have leftovers such as chicken, brown rice and veggies, plus an apple or yogurt. Sometimes I take a salad with chicken or tuna. I also cut out my beloved diet soda a month ago. I just bought some bottled fizzy water. I also like unsweetened iced tea and will take that sometimes for variety. I've lost 9 pounds in the last 4 weeks and plan to keep it going!

I have been trying to cut back on the processed foods too. My daughter and I gave up soda 6 months ago. I still need my caffeine so I make fresh brewed iced tea. My DH and I are the tea drinkers so I've been slowly lessening the sugar each time I make it. I've been adding lemons to sweeten it up. For breakfast I've started eating 1 cup of Special K with 1/2 cup of milk. I also have been making smoothies to drink on the way to work. I use 1 cup of milk, I small container of yopait Greek 100 cal yogurt with frozen mixed fruit. Lunch is either left overs or veggies and hummus with a hard boiled egg. Small snack in the afternoon of pretzels or triscuts. I will count out 6 of them. One or the other not both. When I get home I will drink a glass of water while getting dinner together. We have started meal planning 3 weeks ago so I'm able to control more of what I eat. I also have been eating my meals on a smaller plate. Down 5 lbs as of this morning.

 

[Eureka]

I pack leftovers, sandwiches, fruit and usually a salty snack like lentil or pita chips. Enough to get me through the day and try not to go out in search of better tasting but not good for me snacks. Once on a while I cave but the thought of spending lots of money on food is unappealing.

Meant to add I also keep a box of a jimmy Dean delight low-fat breakfast sandwiches in the office freezer. I have a granola bar on the drive in and usually eat breakfast when I get there.

 

[Deffenm]

I also am trying to eat "clean". I had chicken with summer squash and couscous for lunch today along with tomato and cucmber salad. I had oatmeal with blueberries for breakfast, banana and grapes for snack. Tonight for dinner I am having Zucchini lasanga (use zucchini sliced thinly instead of lasanga noodles).

I try to prepare food on Sunday to pack rest of week for lunches. I can do salad as a side but not as a main meal.

Of course I am only on day 2 of eating clean so we will see how long I can stick with it. It is so much easier to just grab something during soccer games, football games, and after a hard day at work but it is also more expensive and not as good for us.

 

[disney_me]

I also am trying to eat "clean". I had chicken with summer squash and couscous for lunch today along with tomato and cucmber salad. I had oatmeal with blueberries for breakfast, banana and grapes for snack. Tonight for dinner I am having Zucchini lasanga (use zucchini sliced thinly instead of lasanga noodles).

I try to prepare food on Sunday to pack rest of week for lunches. I can do salad as a side but not as a main meal.

Of course I am only on day 2 of eating clean so we will see how long I can stick with it. It is so much easier to just grab something during soccer games, football games, and after a hard day at work but it is also more expensive and not as good for us.

Let's see how good we can do with our "clean" eating. This is the start of week 3 for my family. I had chips today... the new wasabi ginger Lays!! Tonight for dinner we are having boneless skinless chicken thighs with steamed Brussels sprouts. I have this weeks dinner menu all planned and posted on the fridge so no one complains!!

 

[LovesTimone]

When I took my lunch, which I did for about 10 years, I had to get creative . Here a few things that I remember taking.

Homemade Chicken, Turkey, Ham, Egg, Tuna salad - You can make a sandwich, add to a bed of lettuce, wrap or small round. Also instead of lettuce use baby spinach. You can throw in pasta as well.

For the Chicken salad I would cook some extra piece's - When cooking dinner, Chop up, add in, celery, grapes, mandarin oranges, apples, golden or reg. raisins, pecans, almonds, or walnuts, small amount of mayo just to get it mixed. I would use a variation of these ingredients.

Turkey salad - to use up leftovers from family gathering and the holidays, but you can buy turkey pieces to cook up, to make this dish. Chop up the turkey, celery, green onions sliced thinly, apples or pears ( fresh the canned make it to wet for me), you can make cranberry mayo, or just reg mayo to hold together.

Ham Salad - I rarely make this so, its pretty basic - Chopped up ham with egg and maybe some celery added in.. you can throw in some pasta which for me is better.

Egg salad - eggs, celery, green onions, with sliced tomatoes on the side

Tuna salad - not a big hit in my house, pretty basic - but I would put over a bed of lettuce or spinach and it would make it all better.

Slice up all your veggies on Sunday so that they are ready to grab and go in the mornings. You can make your own dressing ahead of time then portion out, so that they are ready to go as well.

Deli meats and cheeses- Rolled up with a drop of mustard in between, gave it a bit of zing.

Sliced tomatoes, and white cheese, with some balsamic dressing.

Baked potato with broccoli and cheese or chili.

 

[pjlla]

I didn't take the time to read all of the responses, so sorry if I am repeating.

I lost nearly 90 pounds on WW about 6 years ago. My bag lunches for work tend to be pretty lean and pretty healthy.... oh and pretty cheap!.

First of all.... leftovers! I often cook a bit more than what is needed so that I can pack up a lunch for myself and leave something at home for DH's lunch the next day (he works at home). So they aren't really "leftovers" so much as "planned overs".

Sometimes on a free day I'll make up a batch of a healthy meal just for myself.... quinoa stew, bean and barley soup.... something that will freeze well.... and I portion it out into individual servings and label it and freeze it. Then when I need a lunch I can just grab it. Often by lunch time it has pretty much defrosted and I can just warm it in the microwave at work. BTW, I don't microwave in plastic. If I don't have enough Glasslock containers to pack up a batch of cooking, I will freeze it in plastic and then bring a bowl or mug with me to work to warm the food in.

Plain nonfat greek yogurt and fruit is another one..... yogurt, sweetener (I use liquid stevia), cinnamon, vanilla, and fruit.... sometimes an organic triple berry blend from Costco, sometimes fresh fruit (peaches, blueberries, strawberries). If I want a little "extra crunch" I will bring in a small container of All-Bran or some sliced almonds to top it. I buy the 32 oz containers of yogurt because it is handier and cheaper than the individual cups.... plus better for the environment. I am going to try making my own yogurt one of these days!

Salads topped with some protein are good.... but they take time to make, so if I am taking a salad I always pack it the night before and keep the dressing separate.

Nibbles.... I pack this most often when the fridge and pantry are getting bare! Usually it is "a bit of this and a bit of that"..... carrots and hummus, hard-boiled egg whites, celery stuffed with Laughing Cow cheese, some fat-free refried beans to spread on melba toast, a handful of grape tomatoes, a piece of fruit, some raisins.... something like that.

In an absolute pinch.... I grab a can of soup (usually a light Progresso) and a large mug and a spoon and an apple.... lunch done! (Not a big fan of canned soup of any kind, but I keep just a few on hand for emergencies.)

What I NEVER take might be good to list too.....

I never take cold cereal because I never buy it (other than the occasional box of bran cereal for my yogurt parfaits). Too expensive and too much JUNK!

I never take a cold cut sandwich.... again, I RARELY buy cold cuts because they are too expensive and full of nitrites and nitrates. I do buy nitrite free ham occasionally for DS's lunches.... but he is super picky and can't eat poultry so he is limited as to what I can easily pack for him.

HTH.....................P