Packable Lunches
| January 16, 2013 | Posted by Carrie under food, mindful eating, What I Ate Wednesday |
Most of you parents out there are quite proficient in lunch packing skills for your kids. But, do you pack a lunch for yourself? Planning an adult packable lunch is my key to getting through the day without getting hangry by the end.
I love that word – hangry: the point where you are so hungry, you turn into a crabby grouch and you feel like you can eat everything in sight and still be hungry.
I think the best plan is to have a staple base for lunch for the week. Often times for me it’s quinoa. I make a batch up on Sunday and then use it to make salads for the week. I use 3/4 cup cooked quinoa, some extra veggies, a little olive oil and seasoning and usually some sunflower seeds or crushed cashews on top. I will also add some beans to the mix as well.
Another easy idea is a nut butter sandwich. Since I started making my own almond butter, that’s my go to nut butter of choice. I’ve also become a huge fan of blackberry preserves. Made on a sandwich thin, and paired with a piece of fruit, this easy lunch will get you 11 g of protein for under 400 calories.
When I’m in a rush, I’ve got a few pantry stand bys. I picked up this yummy lunch option at Costco a while back. There are two varieties inside. They are both yummy – full of healthy things, not too many artificial ingredients and they include a little piece of dark chocolate for dessert.
If I’m even shorter on prep time, this bag of broccoli slaw is the perfect mix in to my quinoa and nuts. I got it at Smart & Final for $1.99 and it lasts for a whole week. Packable lunches are healthy and save boatloads of money!
If those ideas aren’t enough – check out a few of my blogger friends that have also put together packable food ideas.
Charissa at Colourful Palate shares her ideas on packable snacks for a busy student. I think there are ideas in this one for everyone.
(from ColourfulPalate.com)
Tamara from FitKnitChick blogged about ideas for emergency snacks that require no refrigeration. Take note of these ideas and keep them handy in your desk at work.
Laura from MommyRunFast put together a great post about school lunch ideas for your young child. I don’t know about you, but eating these foods as an adult is pretty fun too.
(from MommyRunFast.com)
Coco at Running With Perseverence shared her Formula for Lunchtime Success. A routine that we can all get into – using up dinner leftovers and even managing to eat healthy when offered gloppy pasta at a business meeting.
For a different perspective, read this wonderful guest post on Alexandra and Kim’s blog Fun and Fit. Their nephew, a high school student, writes about how he plans for lunches.
Jill at Fitness, Health and Happiness is my go to source for Salad in a Jar. How could you not enjoy packing and eating such a beautiful lunch? And the meal in a jar isn’t just for salad – see the top row? That’s Lasagna in a jar. Cool!!! Also, check out The Fit Fork for another lunch in a jar recipe.
(from JillConyers.com)
Lindsay at The Lean Green Bean has a fantastic list of 50 Packable Lunch Ideas. I know many of these are going into my lunch rotation.
(From The Lean Green Bean)
Here’s another pro at planning healthy packable lunches – Carlyn at Just Keep Sweating. Seriously – so many great ideas.
My friend Elle at Eat, Run, Sail and We Can Begin to Feed had some more great ideas for packable snacks. See how she avoids getting hangry.
(From Eat, Run, Sail)
And finally, Laura at Sprint to the Table shared her plan for eating on the road while preparing for a fitness competition. Talk about complicated – packing healthy food that has the proper nutrition and needs to be consumed on a strict schedule. Lots of good information and creative ideas here.
And because it’s Wednesday and we’ve all got to eat lunch, I’m linking up with Jenn at Peas and Crayons for WIAW! Go check out all the amazingly yummy blogs that are linked up.
Do you pack your lunch? Do you mind repeating meals several days each week? Or do you like a lot of variety?
So many fantastic links! Thanks so much for pulling this together, Carrie. I love your quinoa salad idea- I used to do that… need to make a big batch again next week. Makes lunch time so much easier.
Laura @ Mommy Run Fast recently posted..Marathon day eats and drool-worthy recipes
Big batch cooking is awesome. My bigger question on the quinoa is how long it lasts. I know I made it myself, so it should be good to eat for 7 days, but it still seems pretty fresh after a week. Any advice on how long to keep it?
This may sound ODD but… I love bringing burgers with me when I am on the go! Thank goodness for tin-foil or else bringing burgers would be a complete mess! LOL! No need for McDonalds…
Do the burgers stay warm? Or do you like them room temp? I’m not sure I could handle the soggy. But, that’s such a fantastic idea to help avoid hitting up a drive through.
Oh my goodness wasn’t expecting to see myself on here! Thanks for including me AND for this awesome post– sharing it
Just Keep Sweating (@juskeepsweating) recently posted..Short on time, Not on sweat
whoops! I had totally forgot about broccoli slaw. That stuff is tasty, yo.
Yum Yucky recently posted..Abs Makeover Workout
WHAT A GREAT POST!!! Love that hangry word!!!
I have resembled that for sure! So many great ideas AND links to more – THANK YOU!!! GOING TO SHARE! We all need this!
Read on!
Jody – Fit at 55 recently posted..I am HOT with NO Apologies! And a Apology too!
Thank you Jody. I appreciate the support.
What a great collection of healthy ideas, thanks! I get in such a rut of lunches. I have peanut butter and toast or a yogurt and granola bar at least 4 days a week.
jan recently posted..Project 365
I usually do a creative lunch for 3 days and a sandwich for the 4th. Gotta love a good nut butter sandwich. And, I’m thankful I work 4 days a week – I only have to think of 4 lunches.
Thanks for the ideas (and the link!). I use a handful of the broccoli slaw in my eggbeaters omelets and another handful to add crunch to salad. It would be great on its own with some raisins and sunflower seeds tossed in.
Coco recently posted..I Don’t Know How To Eat Chia Seeds
So many great ideas!!! Thanks for sharing
Jessie recently posted..Thankful Thursday && Core Workout
Thank you Jessie. Hope you got some good ideas.
Great idea for a post Carrie! At first packing healthy lunches seems like a lot of work but with a little practice it can become a habit!
Thanks for the shout out
Jill @ Fitness, Health and Happiness recently posted..Optimal Nutrition || From Healthy To Nutrient Dense
It does become a habit. I just have it in my routine to make 3 lunches in the mornings. Although mine is a lot more interesting than my kids
Great post!!! Im a student nurse, and do long 12.5 hour shifts so am always looking for easy things to take with me
Glad to help you out Jen. I hope you got some good ideas.
I need to try the SALADS IN A JAR…
Miz recently posted..Blog post titles you’ll never see…
Those are some great ideas!! Thank you!! I will use those for sure! I can handle a few days of the same meals but then I need to switch it up. I am a newbie to clean eating so I need lots of ideas!! Thank you!!
Thanks for checking out my lunch ideas. So great to meet you.
Thanks for the mention. I have been doing salad in jars for a while too and it is so fun to pull one out of the fridge for a guest who has never seen it before!
Thanks for all the great ideas and the links to more!
Elle recently posted..Tommie Copper Giveaway Winner
Double duty – novelty item that doubles as lunch. I really want to make the lasagna in a jar. Looks so good.
Thanks for all the ideas! I love having fun new meals to take with me. I usually pack my lunch about 4 days a week. It alternates between salads and/or veggies and freezer meals. I often make a large batch (like you) of chili or soup or stew and then I portion it out and freeze it so it’s easy to just grab one each day, supplement it with some veggies and fruit and I’m good to go.
Travel Spot recently posted..Incredisocks
So the funny thing is that I was on a roll of great meals and after I wrote that post I’ve lost my motivation. I’ve been on nut butter sandwiches lately. Today I promise myself to pack something more veggie-fied.