What do you pack for lunch?

[mom2aiden]

I want to get some healthy ideas to bring to the office for lunch. Cost-effective is a plus too. I tend to buy at the cafeteria here b/c it is subsidized, so it's pretty inexpensive. But, I'm getting tired of soup and salad all the time as the best healthy options there.

I'd prefer it to not be microwavable b/c our microwave here at the office is disgusting and I'm afraid it's growing it's own food in there .

Thanks!!

 

[NeverlandClub23]

I pretty much eat the same thing for lunch every day at work. Either a big bowl of cereal and skim milk or I bake my own tortilla chips and take some to work every day (so much better than baked Tostitos):

Cut each tortilla into 8 wedges, and arrange wedges in single layers on 2 baking sheets. Lightly spray wedges with cooking spray; sprinkle with salt, pepper, whatever you want. Bake at 350° for 15 minutes or until lightly browned and crisp. Cool.

And eat with a bowl of Texas Caviar:

INGREDIENTS
1/2 onion, chopped
1 bunch green onions, chopped
2 jalapeno peppers, chopped
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 pint cherry tomatoes, quartered
1 (8 ounce) bottle zesty Italian dressing (I use light)
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained
1 (15 ounce) can black-eyed peas, drained
1 bunch chopped fresh cilantro

DIRECTIONS
In a large bowl, mix together onion, green onions, jalapeno peppers, garlic, cherry tomatoes, zesty Italian dressing, black beans, and black-eyed peas. Cover and chill in the refrigerator approximately 2 hours. Toss with desired amount of fresh cilantro to serve.

I've also added corn before and you can really use whatever beans you want. Lots of protein and fiber and pretty inexpensive (especially if you buy the dressing and tortillas on sale or with coupons). I also make the chips and texas caviar on sunday and it lasts all week (if I don't eat it all before Friday, I love it!).

 

[mom2aiden]

That Texas Caviar sounds so good!!! Thank you, it's exactly the kind of thing I was looking for .

 

[Miniefan]

I don't work anymore but I definitely know what you mean. The last office I worked at had two microwaves and our lounge always had this awful smell of all kinds of foods. Something about the smell of other people's food and tv dinners gets to me. Yuck!

I like to make wraps: with whole wheat tortillas, a few pieces of ham turkey or roast beef, lettuce, tomato, and I also spread the tortilla with reduced fat cream cheese either the garden vegetable or chive and onion flavor. My other fave is to take a whole wheat pita, cut it half and spread with flavored cream cheese, roast beef and cucumber slices then I have a couple baby carotts and an apple or a few pretzels. Have you ever had the laughing cow light spreadable swiss cheese? For snacks I spread it on reduced fat triscuits. I also like to make mini pizzas with whole wheat english muffins but this requires heat, so maybe not for work.

I have made the tortilla chips like the pp said, I like to sprinkle them with chili powder, and as the pp stated, they are definitely better than baked tostitos. Hope these ideas helped you.

Kim

 

[pjlla]

I have a few "go to" things.

Cereal and milk with fruit... fast and easy.

Tortilla wrap.. I usually use nitrite-nitrate free ham or turkey, baby spinach, and guacamole.... carrot sticks and/or pretzels on the side. Yum, yum, yum!

Instant oatmeal (if you can get hot water from the coffee maker and not the microwave??) plus fruit. Quick and nice on a cold day.

Large salad... usually the day after we have had salad at night I pack up the leftovers for the next day. Spinach and romaine, green peppers, cucumber, tomato. Low fat cheese stick and/or boiled egg for protein, few fat free croutons for crunch, dressing on the side.

Melba toast rounds topped with Laughing Cow cheese and peach/pineapple salsa. (I "build" them at lunch, not ahead of time.) This is great with a small side salad as well.

Good luck with your lunches!.................P