1. Add hummus: This stuff is great [especially when it's on sale 2/$6 at Meijer!]. & if you think you don't like it, try Sabra brand supremely spicy or sweet red pepper. So. Stinkin. Good.
-I use hummus on my sandwich instead of mayo & mustard - the calories from hummus
are MUCH better than in mayo & adds some protein to your diet.
-I usually hate raw baby carrots. But dip those bad boys in hummus & I could eat a
bag! Really ANY raw veggie is great in hummus - carrots, broccoli, celery, cucumbers,
bell peppers... A great side to your lunch [and SO quick to pack!].
2. Enhance your sandwich: This is the most classic of all lunch items. But it also has the most potential to make you snore with boredom. Again with the hummus, add it on there & enjoy. I also LOVE adding veggies galore to my deli meat. Spinach [much better than plain ole lettuce that has no nutritional value], tomatoes, onion, cucumber, bell peppers... all of it. Add some cheese slices [it's most economical to buy block cheese & slice it yourself, rather than pre-sliced cheese... we like to keep things cheap around here] Also, keep the bread whole wheat. Don't be fooled by "enhanced" or other fancy words on the packaging. If the first ingredient isn't whole grains/whole wheat, you're being tricked. Or, if you're sick of bread or want to cut down on carbs, use whole wheat or spinach wraps. So tasty.
3. Leftovers: Purposefully plan dinners so you have yummy extras for the next day. This is especially easy with soups & chili. It's also easy for us since we only cook for 2 & usually have leftovers.
4. Fruit: Bananas, apples, & oranges are the easiest thing to throw into a lunch box & have with your lunch. We purchase ours at Aldi [we never get the red apples, they taste like wax] & it's so economical! Add a little peanut butter to your banana or apple & make it more filling. Other fruit is great too, just more time consuming when you have to chop it up.
5. Add some crunch: Chips. Yum. Instead of doritos, or my favorite Lays sour cream & chedder, choose kettle chips. If my mother-in-law eats something, I have no guilt indulging as well [she is the healthiest lady I know. She NEVER eats sugar. & makes EVERYTHING from scratch. Even her bread. What a woman]. Anyways, she LOVES kettle chips. We also get these at Aldi for half the price of the bigger chain stores & they're delicious! Our favorites are jalapeno & BBQ. Put your chips in a small baggy or bowl so you don't accidentally eat half of the bag. Trust me, it can be done.
6. Make a super salad: We try & put super salads into our dinner menu a couple times a month [& probably should do it on a weekly basis]. For ours, we just load it up with lots of stuff. Our salad base is spinach leaves & romaine lettuce mixture [because I love the crunch of romaine & the health benefits of spinach]. Then we just pile on the veggies & sometimes meat. Like chicken? Cook some up the night before with a few herbs on the stovetop, shred it, & throw it on top to make the salad a little more filling. Tuna is also great to add. Even some deli meat is good. Also tasty to add - apples & nuts. It makes the salad more filling & also adds more health benefits. You'll feel better throughout the day if you give your body the best fuel possible.
7. Skip dessert: You don't need it. If you need something sweet, suck on a peppermint or chew gum [your colleagues or children will thank you]. Adding cookies or other treats to lunch every day is nice, but is adding a lot of unwanted yucky calories to your diet. Just don't buy it & you won't eat it!
One last benefit to making your own lunch - it saves money. Serious money. The assumption is that produce is expensive & it's not economical to eat healthy. False. We buy most of our food at Aldi & spend about $60 a week on food [depending on the type of food we buy]. & that includes breakfast, lunch, & dinner food. Eating out for one meal a day, 5 days a week [for one person] & eating a meal that is $5 would spend $25/week...$100/month... $1200/year yikes. I'd rather use that money to buy some cute clothes. Or things for my baby. Or pay bills.
Those are only a few ways I've thought of for having a tasty, QUICK, & healthy lunch - anyone have any additions to the list that you love for your lunch menu?
Jori Update:
-35 weeks today! whoa. This baby is around 5 pounds & 20 inches long. What a mini woman!
-The nursery is NEARLY done! Only a few more touches & organizational things... & you'll be treated to a full post of nursery goodness.
-Cloth diaper supplies came in - the pre-washing process began & I can't wait to put these on our little girl!
-Feeling SO good & working out 5 days a week. Bam.
Looking Ahead:
-The Nursery
-Vaccine Research Update
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