Training & Nutrition - Bagged Lunch Ideas! Post em Here!

Hey all,

I made a commitement with my self to try to cut back on eating at my school. Almost to the point of not eating the food there. Now it didnt go too well last year because I was bored of the same exact thing that I made for lunch.

So I need some new Ideas. Every from sandwich to drink. Something thats not loaded with fat but not just a bag of veggies (unless put in a sandwich in an interesting way). I need some new idears people!


Thanks so much.

I eat the same thing every day. Except dinner.

1 bagel for breakfast and one cup of coffee

1 ham & turkey with swiss on a potatoe roll or wheat bread. A Martins potato roll has fewer calories than bread but the same carbs. The ham & turkey i get from a pre portioned package from Sams Club. Oscar Meyer makes them. They're Deli Sub paks. I use mustard.
1 small bag of pretzels - low cals and no fat.
1 small jello.

On occasion i'll a have tuna instead of deli or leftovers from dinner the night before.

I used to eat chinese food 5 days a week. I havnt bought my lunch in months. I have saved a fortune and spent the savings on a FSA Team Issue Carbon crankset and Truativ Team SL ISIS BB.

I drink water all thru the day.

For dinner i have limited my carbs to pasta, rice or Zatarains red beans and rice mix, or their black beans and rice mix. Sometimes a small salad. No more red meat except ground beef. Pretty much chicken and pork. The occasional treat is Italian sausages or a cheeseburger.

In the evening i'll drink a glass of red wine and/or a caffiene free diet coke.

If i feel the urge to snack, i eat a couple of pretzels and chase it down with water. Pretzels are a great no fat snack. It cures my need of a salty snack. I have switched back to Healthy Choice ice cream. I have suspened drinking beer and martinis untill the off season.

My wife is also dieting and exercising with the Curves program. Its working for her, but she cant eat my high carb diet and i cant eat her low carb diet. We share the meat course but everything else is different.

I eat the same thing every day. Except dinner.

1 bagel for breakfast and one cup of coffee

1 ham & turkey with swiss on a potatoe roll or wheat bread. A Martins potato roll has fewer calories than bread but the same carbs. The ham & turkey i get from a pre portioned package from Sams Club. Oscar Meyer makes them. They're Deli Sub paks. I use mustard.
1 small bag of pretzels - low cals and no fat.
1 small jello.

On occasion i'll a have tuna instead of deli or leftovers from dinner the night before.

I used to eat chinese food 5 days a week. I havnt bought my lunch in months. I have saved a fortune and spent the savings on a FSA Team Issue Carbon crankset and Truativ Team SL ISIS BB.

I drink water all thru the day.

For dinner i have limited my carbs to pasta, rice or Zatarains red beans and rice mix, or their black beans and rice mix. Sometimes a small salad. No more red meat except ground beef. Pretty much chicken and pork. The occasional treat is Italian sausages or a cheeseburger.

In the evening i'll drink a glass of red wine and/or a caffiene free diet coke.

If i feel the urge to snack, i eat a couple of pretzels and chase it down with water. Pretzels are a great no fat snack. It cures my need of a salty snack. I have switched back to Healthy Choice ice cream. I have suspened drinking beer and martinis untill the off season.

My wife is also dieting and exercising with the Curves program. Its working for her, but she cant eat my high carb diet and i cant eat her low carb diet. We share the meat course but everything else is different.

hmm ok, ham and turkey with swiss. I will probably stick with a whole wheat bread/wrap. Although potatoe rolls doesnt mean white flour right? or am I wrong?

Please more ideas. I dont neccesarily need breakfast/dinner ideas too. But its appreciated.

Thanks

Sandwiches/Wraps:
Tofu "No-Egg" Salad with Sprouts on Whole Wheat
Smoked Turkey & Swiss Wrap with Sprouts & Jalapenos
BBQ Chicken Wrap (Grilled Chk. Breast with BBQ Sauce, Avocado, Onion, Tomato & Jalapenos)
TBLT on Wheat (Turkey Bacon, Lettuce & Tomato)

Snacks:
Trail Mix
Granola
Nuts
Fruit

...and water all day

Sandwiches/Wraps:
Tofu "No-Egg" Salad with Sprouts on Whole Wheat
Smoked Turkey & Swiss Wrap with Sprouts & Jalapenos
BBQ Chicken Wrap (Grilled Chk. Breast with BBQ Sauce, Avocado, Onion, Tomato & Jalapenos)
TBLT on Wheat (Turkey Bacon, Lettuce & Tomato)

Snacks:
Trail Mix
Granola
Nuts
Fruit

...and water all day


ooooooo BBQ chicken wrap sounds really good. Except the jalapenos. Tofu no egg salad douest soudn bad at all eithor. Please more more more! thanks

half of the week i'll make a giant pot of pasta and dress it with olive oil and parmeasean cheese. i'll scoop some out and bring it to work. for some reason that just doesn't get old for me.

so, that'll take care of 1/2 my meal. the other half is usually a turkey sandwich. i make it a triple decker - with just mustard. i'm now keen on saving portions of large dinners for left overs. i would usually just sit and stuff myself, but now because everything is so freaking expensive, i keep portions for the next day. my GF is great - she'll sometimes give me her leftovers to take.

1 cup cooked short-grain white rice
1 bottle rice vinegar
1/2 tsp sugar
1 can tuna fish
1 cucumber
1 package Nori 12 sheets, pre-toasted (seaweed)

- peel, then cut cucumber into thin strips lengthwise
- cook rice, mix rice vinegar and sugar to taste, then sprinkle cooling rice w/mixture
- open, drain tuna fish
- place 1 sheet on countertop, flatten 1/4" rice across 3/4 of sheet
- spread a thin 'finger' of tuna along bottom of sheet on rice
- dip fingers into vinegar mix, then wet top of sheet (like an envelope)
- roll sheet into cylinder
- cut into 1" circles, place in rubbermaid/tupperware/glad 'bento box'
- do above, but use only cucumber or tuna and cucumber

take some soy and/or tubed wasabi (green horseradish), then mix at lunch table...

use fingers to eat... share w/pretty girl at table

sushi on, sushi off, all good!

:-)

1 cup cooked short-grain white rice
1 bottle rice vinegar
1/2 tsp sugar
1 can tuna fish
1 cucumber
1 package Nori 12 sheets, pre-toasted (seaweed)

- peel, then cut cucumber into thin strips lengthwise
- cook rice, mix rice vinegar and sugar to taste, then sprinkle cooling rice w/mixture
- open, drain tuna fish
- place 1 sheet on countertop, flatten 1/4" rice across 3/4 of sheet
- spread a thin 'finger' of tuna along bottom of sheet on rice
- dip fingers into vinegar mix, then wet top of sheet (like an envelope)
- roll sheet into cylinder
- cut into 1" circles, place in rubbermaid/tupperware/glad 'bento box'
- do above, but use only cucumber or tuna and cucumber

take some soy and/or tubed wasabi (green horseradish), then mix at lunch table...

use fingers to eat... share w/pretty girl at table

sushi on, sushi off, all good!

:-)


hmmmm sushi does sound like a good idea. Sushi is a big oart of my life. I love the stuff. Im still trying to master my rce recipe. It is the hardest stuff to make!

but I like. again thank you.

Make salad with all kinds of vegs., especially green pepper, onion, raw zucchini, carrots, etc. put a little olive oil, lemon juice and plenty of salt on it. Pile it on a whole wheat sub bun. Slap on a slice of lunch meat and a slice of provolone cheese.

I have two suggestions:

The Fiber Salad: this takes 10 minutes to make but is worth it. I think its so good that i have it almost every day. it even tastes good if you make it the night before (although its a little less crunchy so i add the cashews only when I am ready to eat. a little lemon juice on the cabbage and apple helps it stay fresh throughout the day too)
1 apple, cut up into little pieces
1/2 cup chopped up cabbage
1 orange, cut up into little pieces over the rest so the juice gets on everything.
3 Ts of roasted, unsalted cashew pieces
large handful of shredded carrots (TJs sells them pre-shredded)
1 teaspoon of wheat germ
Mix all together. I like it sans dressing, but a way to make it less dry is to add orange champagne vinegar over it.

the next idea is my fav contraption ever - perfect way of bringing along a side salad to a small sandwich. http://tinyurl.com/9j5q7
it keeps the dressing off of the salad till you are ready to eat it all in one handy container.

ok one last idea - wrap: Saute thinly sliced peppers of all colors and onions with a little oil. Take wheat tortilla, toasted, spread cream cheese or hummus and throw in veggies and some deli meat.

sweet! this is awsome! no more plain old turkey for me! :D

I usually make some sort of pasta dish the night before. Salmon and broccoli in white sauce today, bean burrito salad a few days ago (1/2 a small shell, beans, salsa, sour cream, and more lettuce than I could fit into a burrito so now I make a salad out of it). Then I bring along some fruit and drink water.

I keep a bag of carrot sticks and fat free dressing at work to help me avoid the vending machine.

Hey all,

I made a commitement with my self to try to cut back on eating at my school. Almost to the point of not eating the food there. Now it didnt go too well last year because I was bored of the same exact thing that I made for lunch.

So I need some new Ideas. Every from sandwich to drink. Something thats not loaded with fat but not just a bag of veggies (unless put in a sandwich in an interesting way). I need some new idears people!


Thanks so much.

Egg salad sandwich, dressed with home-made ranch dressing. Melon cut into chunks. Fruiit flavored tea--buy and brew your own.

Cheese and fruit. A classic is medium to sharp cheddar and apples. Try gorgonzola, walnuts and dried fruit.

Cheese and crackers with fruit of your choice. Try string mozzarella and oranges and somesort of wheaty-whole grain cracker.

Make a stew called ratatouille of cubed summer squash(3 small), cubed peeled eggplant(one),ripe tomatoes (4 to 6, about 2-4 oz each), cubed peppers(2, whatever color you like) and onion(one large)and a couple of cloves of garlic. Brown the summer squash and eggplant in 4 tablespoons olive oil--make sure you don't burn it. Add the onions, cook just until they begin to get soft then add all the rest of the ingredients and salt and pepper to taste and simmer till the veggies are just soft, no longer. The mixture should be dry and if it seems to be too dry, add a little water. This stuff is good topped with a little fresh chopped basil, or cut open a french roll, line the roll with some cheese of your choice and spoon the stew in--this makes a great san'wich, cold or hot. Eat it on rice or noodles with parmesan for a change.

Leftover pizza, especially when topped with lots of veggies. Squeeze some valencias for orange juice and take it along.

Left overs are great. If you cannot stand eating the next day for lunch what you had the night before for dinner, wait till the day after the next day and eat it then. Or freeze in eating portions for future lunches/dinners and let it defrost in your lunch bag.

Many a day I've had a big Red delicious applle and a can of tuna for lunch.

Also "Tuna Suprise" Made the night before (very fast, easy and tasty):
1. Cook about a cup of whole wheat spiral pasta
2. Defrost 1/2 cup of green peas in the microwave
3. When the pasta is done cooking, add the peas, a can of tuna, about 1 teaspoon
of crumbled feta or goat cheese, and toss some oil/vinegar on top and stir.(Two
to one, olive oil to vinegar and use balsamic, not white or distilled).
4. I might even throw some garlic powder and oregeno on top too.

1/2 baked yam and 1/2 baked chicken breast are also always yummy.

Egg salad sandwich, dressed with home-made ranch dressing. Melon cut into chunks. Fruiit flavored tea--buy and brew your own.

Cheese and fruit. A classic is medium to sharp cheddar and apples. Try gorgonzola, walnuts and dried fruit.

Cheese and crackers with fruit of your choice. Try string mozzarella and oranges and somesort of wheaty-whole grain cracker.

Make a stew called ratatouille of cubed summer squash(3 small), cubed peeled eggplant(one),ripe tomatoes (4 to 6, about 2-4 oz each), cubed peppers(2, whatever color you like) and onion(one large)and a couple of cloves of garlic. Brown the summer squash and eggplant in 4 tablespoons olive oil--make sure you don't burn it. Add the onions, cook just until they begin to get soft then add all the rest of the ingredients and salt and pepper to taste and simmer till the veggies are just soft, no longer. The mixture should be dry and if it seems to be too dry, add a little water. This stuff is good topped with a little fresh chopped basil, or cut open a french roll, line the roll with some cheese of your choice and spoon the stew in--this makes a great san'wich, cold or hot. Eat it on rice or noodles with parmesan for a change.

Leftover pizza, especially when topped with lots of veggies. Squeeze some valencias for orange juice and take it along.

Left overs are great. If you cannot stand eating the next day for lunch what you had the night before for dinner, wait till the day after the next day and eat it then. Or freeze in eating portions for future lunches/dinners and let it defrost in your lunch bag.

yah the ratatouille sounds good. So in it you dont eally want the veggies to brown just till soft.

Do you guys no anymore snack things? IM trying to think of things for that too. PLease more sandwich ideas!

thanks

Do you guys no anymore snack things? IM trying to think of things for that too. PLease more sandwich ideas!

thanks
pretzels, nuts, dried fruit, baby carrots (I'm addicted to them), a jelly sandwich (cut out the peanut butter to make it a "snack"). Oh with the preztels, I'm not sure if you're trying to go organic or whole grain but there are whole grain preztels made by either Snyder of Rold Gold, I forget which.

yah the ratatouille sounds good. So in it you dont eally want the veggies to brown just till soft.

You brown just the squash and peeled, cubed eggplant. Brown just lightly the add onions, cook just till the onions begin to soften then add the rest and cook till the veggies are as soft as you like. All the veggies should be cut in approximately 1" chunks or squares.

Another thing--I recommend peeling and seeding the tomatoes. I usually cut an "X" inthe bottom of each tomatoe, stick the tomatoe on a big fork and roast over the flame on our gas stove. Blister and lightly char the skins all around then allow to cool till you can handle them then the skins wil strip easily off. To seed the tomatoes, cut in half so the stem scar is at one side and the blossom end is on the other(each half with have either a stem scar or blossom scar opposite the cut edge. Squeeze gently over the sink to remove seeds, or scoop the seeds out with your fingers. Remove the stem scar(core) and chop roughly into large cubes.

I had a sandwich yesterday with this stuff in it and I through a couple of small slices of Monterey Jack in the roll to add some protein. Good stuff and very filling; my daughter finished off the sandwich.d

pretzels, nuts, dried fruit, baby carrots (I'm addicted to them), a jelly sandwich (cut out the peanut butter to make it a "snack"). Oh with the preztels, I'm not sure if you're trying to go organic or whole grain but there are whole grain preztels made by either Snyder of Rold Gold, I forget which.

Yah, you could say im trying to go organic. Pretty much my family has. I mean im not strict strict organic, but I dont really eat much white flour anymore (except for pizza). I dont know if you have this but newmans own makes a spelt pretzle which is good. With the baby carrots, I can havethe bag and some dressing and keep dipping and before I know it ive eaten the whole bag! I try to watch it, ya know. :)

Yah, you could say im trying to go organic. Pretty much my family has. I mean im not strict strict organic, but I dont really eat much white flour anymore (except for pizza). I dont know if you have this but newmans own makes a spelt pretzle which is good. With the baby carrots, I can havethe bag and some dressing and keep dipping and before I know it ive eaten the whole bag! I try to watch it, ya know. :)
Newman's makes some I'm sure but also one of the major brands makes them I know (which means they'll be cheaper). I'll check it out. I was real surprised to see that they were whole grain because it was just the regular pretzels if I remember right. With the baby carrots, I'm content with eating them plain. They just taste so damn good. :lol:

yeah it's Snyder's of Hanover. They make a multi-grain pretzel stick. I thought the rold gold sourdough were whole grain b/c they said "wheat flour" instead of enriched or unenriched. But now I'm thinkin wheat flour isn't whole wheat flour.

Another thing--I recommend peeling and seeding the tomatoes. I usually cut an "X" inthe bottom of each tomatoe, stick the tomatoe on a big fork and roast over the flame on our gas stove. Blister and lightly char the skins all around then allow to cool till you can handle them then the skins wil strip easily off.

Dropping the tomatoes in a pot of boiling water for about 10-15 seconds after making the x is another effective way to remove the skin and faster/easier IMO

Dropping the tomatoes in a pot of boiling water for about 10-15 seconds after making the x is another effective way to remove the skin and faster/easier IMO

Yes this is another way, but as it has been very humid and hot here I use(d) the flame method as it takes less time and you don't have as much of that water vapor and heat as boiling a pot of water.

Flame is more for a few tomatoes, rather than scads and scads. I have canned tomatoes and boiling water is the way to go if ya gotta peel alot of them!

97% fat free ham, 2% American cheese, lettuce, Jalapenos mustard (oops brown mustard for you), one apple, 2 oatmeal cookies, plus baby carrots, broccoli, or cauliflower. Ice tea for a drink.
I read a post where someone suggested using salsa for a dip.

97% fat free ham, 2% American cheese, lettuce, Jalapenos mustard (oops brown mustard for you), one apple, 2 oatmeal cookies, plus baby carrots, broccoli, or cauliflower. Ice tea for a drink.
I read a post where someone suggested using salsa for a dip.


I have used salsa as a dip.

So any mroe?

Tuna Salad


4 to 5 Romaine lettuce leaves
1 Tomato
half a cucumber
half a lemon
1 small can of tuna


Wash and drain Lettuce then grab all the leaves in one hand and tear them into 2 to 2 and half inch strips and place them in a large bowl. Make sure you tear them across not lenght wise.
Wash tomato, cut in half then slice into quarter inch slices. Spread over lettuce.
Peel Cucumber and cut in quarter inch slices. Place in bowl.
Open tuna, drain oil and place on top of other ingredients.
Squirt lemon on top and you're ready to go.

* I prefer to use the oil from the tuna but I'm sure some of yous would rather go without it so I left it out but if you like the oil here's how I do it. I drain it over the lettuce before I add the tomato or cucumber then toss it a little to spread it out. I feel it adds a little flavor.

Make healthy tacos. Instead of frying the corn tortillas, put them right on the flame of the gas stove. Turn them carefully with your fingers over and over until they start to get a little charred. They will "bubble" in the middle and be warm and soft with a delicious toasted flavor. Fill them with your choice of guacamole, chicken, fish, lettuce, onions, tomato, salsa, etc., etc.

After you master tacos, you can advance to making quesadillas. Put shredded cheese between two corn tortillas, then roast them in the gas flame as above, turning them carefully with your fingers. Warning: this is difficult, and you really should practice with the tacos first in the gas flame.

My favorite guacamole is very simple. Just mash a very ripe avocado with a fork, squirt in some lime juice, hot sauce and plenty of salt.

On another note, peanut butter and jelly (or honey) is actually good food. I use whole wheat bread. I think PB&J is the best fuel for a bike ride. You have quick carbs (jelly or honey), slow carbs (WW bread), and a little protein and fat (peanut butter). And some Vitamin E to fight off inflamation. If you want more nutrition, you can mix wheat germ in the PB&J.

I usually make a chicken breast dish for dinner, then cut up the chicken and use it for a wrap the next day with fresh salsa. it takes little bit of time to prepare but it's quite tasty. so here's my recipe for anyone that wants it.

1 roma tomato
1 red onion
1 clove garlic
1 lime
1/4 cup fresh cilantro
chili powder
salt
papper
3-4 boneless chicken breast
2 tbsp olive oil

Mince garlic, chop tomato, chop onion (You don't need the whole onion, just a good slice of it) mince garlic and cobine in a bowl with cilantro, salt and pepper. add 1 tbsp olive oil into bowl, and the juice from half of the lime and mix. then put in fridge to cool.

Drizzle the rest of the olive oil over the chick breast and squeeze the other half of the lime over the chicken. then add salt, pepper and chili powder to taste

bake the chicken in the oven for 35 minutes turning over at 20 minutes.

remove chicken from oven and top with salsa mix for dinner

for lunch you can chop the chicken, place it in a wrap and add letuce and the salsa mix

Tuna Salad


4 to 5 Romaine lettuce leaves
1 Tomato
half a cucumber
half a lemon
1 small can of tuna


Wash and drain Lettuce then grab all the leaves in one hand and tear them into 2 to 2 and half inch strips and place them in a large bowl. Make sure you tear them across not lenght wise.
Wash tomato, cut in half then slice into quarter inch slices. Spread over lettuce.
Peel Cucumber and cut in quarter inch slices. Place in bowl.
Open tuna, drain oil and place on top of other ingredients.
Squirt lemon on top and you're ready to go.

* I prefer to use the oil from the tuna but I'm sure some of yous would rather go without it so I left it out but if you like the oil here's how I do it. I drain it over the lettuce before I add the tomato or cucumber then toss it a little to spread it out. I feel it adds a little flavor.

Hey, I'm a huge fan of italian olive oil canned tuna. I like that.

Breakfast (english muffin + oatmeal w/raisins, brown sugar, soy milk & banana) at home.

Brown bag contains:
Snack #1 - Lo fat yogurt, bagel
Lunch - 4 oz chicken breast w/potatoes or 4 oz lean ground turkey w/pasta and marinara sauce, fruit
Snack #2 - protein bar, fruit

Dinner is a big salad

Boy, my lunch is simple compared to those listed here...

1 tub homemade muesli (oats & sultanas) mixed w/ yoghurt
3 fruits (banana, apple, orange)
2 slice sandwhich w/ cheese & chilli paste or ham & chilli paste
2 boiled eggs

ecchh! Tuna in oil? barf. Or maybe it's just me. In case it's not, here's my tuna salad recipe:

1 pack/can of albacore tuna in spring water (albacore is more expensive, but better tasting, than regular tuna)
1 rib celery, bad ends trimmed off and chopped 1/4"
1/2 white or yellow onion 1/4" diced
1/4 tsp dried thyme crushed
a little cayenne pepper
salt to taste (I don't use any, personally as tuna is loaded with sodium)
lots of freshly ground black pepper
3-4 Tbsp mayonnaise (this is kind of to taste also)

Mix all that together and serve in pita bread with some green leaf lettuce. Or, cut the tops off of some tomatoes, hollow out the insides, and stuff the tomatoes with it. Measurements can all be adjusted to taste, and will vary by the amount of tuna that actually comes in your can. The way they keep reducing the amount and charging more for it, the measurements might all need to be considerably less by the time you read this!


Here's a chicken salad recipe, too:

cooked chicken parts (I frequently use grilled chicken, though you could pan-fry, roast, broast, or even buy those grocery-store whole chickens), shredded or chopped about 1/4"
red grapes, quartered lengthwise
1-2 ribs celery, chopped 1/4"
1/2 onion, diced 1/4"
slivered almonds
mayonnaise
1/4 tsp thyme
1/4 tsp sage
1/4 tsp oregano
salt & pepper to taste

Mix; enjoy. This is good in whole wheat pitas. You'll have to figure out your own measurements on the ingredients; it kind of doesn't matter; you'll know when it's right. I usually omit the spices & salt if using grilled chicken, as it already has tons of flavor.

OK, I have a feeling this should live once again because I have gotten many ideas from this thang! :D

Simple variation: instead of the tuna, try slices of avocado and imitation crab legs and sesame seeds - California roll! I use brown sushi rice to make this an ultra-healthy meal.

To jazz up the tuna in the original recipe, add a few drops of chili/sesame oil for flavor.



1 cup cooked short-grain white rice
1 bottle rice vinegar
1/2 tsp sugar
1 can tuna fish
1 cucumber
1 package Nori 12 sheets, pre-toasted (seaweed)

- peel, then cut cucumber into thin strips lengthwise
- cook rice, mix rice vinegar and sugar to taste, then sprinkle cooling rice w/mixture
- open, drain tuna fish
- place 1 sheet on countertop, flatten 1/4" rice across 3/4 of sheet
- spread a thin 'finger' of tuna along bottom of sheet on rice
- dip fingers into vinegar mix, then wet top of sheet (like an envelope)
- roll sheet into cylinder
- cut into 1" circles, place in rubbermaid/tupperware/glad 'bento box'
- do above, but use only cucumber or tuna and cucumber

take some soy and/or tubed wasabi (green horseradish), then mix at lunch table...

use fingers to eat... share w/pretty girl at table

sushi on, sushi off, all good!

:-)

-Fresh-ground peanutbutter and honey sandwiches (2), carrot sticks, a banana, and a apple.

-3 Musubi (riceballs), gobo (root), fish strips, fruit

Things that travel well that I often put in my lunches:

Rye crackers (like Wasa brand) spread with nutella, peanut butter, or fruit preserves (put the two crackers together to keep from smearing on the sandwich bag)

Dried fruit of all varieties

Fresh fruit (bananas and apples work well)

Dry roasted almonds

Whole grain fig bars or cereal bars

I really like a piece of pizza for lunch, or a bag of doritos and a coke.

I work next door to a sports bar, that has 3 specials every day, a soup/sandwich, a pasta special, and a salad special. And the cook has won an award for 'best soup in the province' 3 years running.

I eat there every day :)

Not a Sandwich - But Something Easy I Love for Lunch:
Potato Soup
I keep at work:
Microwavable bowl
Salt and Pepper (a small pepper mill, actually)
Camp set of knife, spoon, fork

Bring from home:
Large, washed potato, dried, then wrapped in a paper towel

In a small container:
- Butter or margarine - 1/8 - 1/4 cup - I like a lot!
- 2 slices of cheddar cheese
- parsley flakes (optional)

Milk - about 1/2 cup - You can bring more and drink the rest

Method:
Unwrap potato and pierce it with a knife or fork several places. Re-wrap potato with the paper towel, moisten, place in bowl and microwave it until done or almost done.
Unwrap and cut up potato.
Add the contents of your small container: the butter/margarine, cheese, and parsley flakes.
Add some milk.

Microwave another minute or so to melt cheese, etc.

Season with salt and pepper.

Inexpensive, hot, comfort food - made with easy ingredients that will get you through a winter's day!

Breakfast, I usually buy at work. Egg white omlette with tomatoes, mushrooms, splash of cheese. Either 1 cup cream of wheat or grits. On the weekend, make a breakfast burrito with egg white, tortilla, salsa. Then 1-1 1/2 cup shredded wheat or oatmeal.

I usually make my lunch food on Sunday for the week. I'll make 5 chicken breasts, or 3 chicken breasts and 2 top round steaks (trimmed to 0" fat). Then I will make either 5 cups rice or 1-1 1/2 lbs of pasta. This should last most of the week. Maybe one day during the week, I go to a "healthy" burrito joint, subway, or taco bell for some spicy chicken soft tacos. I'll throw a yogurt in the bag from time to time. I take like 8 oz of the chicken with 1 cup of rice/pasta for lunch, then 4oz with 1/2 cup for snack. Every once in a while, I'll switch it up with a can or two of tuna. I keep a box of Nature valley granola bars in the desk for a morning snack.

Sorry, didn't mean to write a book...

Hey all,

I made a commitement with my self to try to cut back on eating at my school. Almost to the point of not eating the food there. Now it didnt go too well last year because I was bored of the same exact thing that I made for lunch.

So I need some new Ideas. Every from sandwich to drink. Something thats not loaded with fat but not just a bag of veggies (unless put in a sandwich in an interesting way). I need some new idears people!


Thanks so much.

The Vietnamese "Spring Rolls". It comes with different varieties of stuff. Some have meat and some have shrimp. They're stuffed with veggies cut to size and a type of noodle. The skin of the roll is made of rice sheets translucent. The sauce is tasty and is used for dipping. If you had to compare the Chinese egg rolls with the Vietnamese spring rolls, there is no comparison as far as healthy choice. The Chinese egg rolls and deep fried whereas the spring rolls are not. Eat 2 or 3 for lunch and you will be satisfied.

I don't know where you can buy these spring rolls nearby. But they're relatively inexpensive. Making them "por la mano" is going to be tough, guessing you're not Asian.

At the beginning of the week, I used to make a couple cups of brown rice, a couple cups of quinoa, and i'd steam several different sorts of veggies - say carrots, cauliflower, and broccoli. Along with some canned goods, there you have the base for a ton of different meals that fit in a tupperware and heat up at work. Broccoli + a can of tuna + brown rice + soy sauce. Cauliflower + quinoa + leftover meat of some sort + salt and pepper. Carrots + Cauliflower + broccoli + a sandwich.

One of my other favorites was a poor man's salad nicoise. 1 can albacore in spring water, 1 chopped tomato, 1 can green beans (or cooked frozen green beans), italian seasoning, salt, pepper, balsamic vinegar. throw everything in a tupperware and shake it up, serve with bread or crackers, or put it in a whole wheat tortilla and call it a wrap.

My lunches are very laidback. Usually I'll have a large green apple or cup of yogurt for snack and sandwhiches usually are colby jack cheese with turkey breast slapped on Whole Wheat bread or tuna mixed with mayo. Yum.

I hate bagged lunches in either jersey pockets or backpacks. With panniers almost anything is possible. Mostly for me - Subway sandwiches come in bags, no?