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traineo Community / Diet & Nutrition Tips / Tips for packing a lunch?
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Shannon G.
traineo Newbie
Posts: 4
Post History
 # Posted: 23 Oct 2007 04:20


Hey everyone!

I try to pack a meal (lunch or dinner...depending on the time of my classes that day) every day for when I'm at school. But, I find that I get tired of things pretty quickly. I can't seem to think of any lunch/dinner staples beyond soups and sandwiches. I usually don't have access to a microwave or anything...so it has to be a meal that can be eaten cold or kept warm for a little while in a thermos.

Anyone have any good tips?
~Shannon~
Jeff West
Fitness Guru
Posts: 237
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 # Posted: 23 Oct 2007 04:55


Hey Shannon, and welcome! Fruits and veggies are the first things that come to mind. Every fruit and lots of veggies can be eaten raw. They require only a little prep time, transport nicely, and nearly all can go without refrigeration for one day (8 hours). Some things like lettuce you may want to keep in some sort of insulated lunch bag. Pick a few of your favorites and start with those. Don't be so concerned with variety in your diet for now, better to focus on healthy foods while getting started and worry about variety later. Oh, and check out Jenn's post, Great Diet Tips Article. There are over a hundred tips from registered dietitians. Hope that helps. Cheers!
Heather Madrone
traineo Fanatic
Posts: 138
Post History
 # Posted: 23 Oct 2007 06:48


If you invest in an insulated lunch box with ice packs, you can expand your repertoire. Salads are good. Toss a mixture of vegetables in a bowl, add a good protein source like tuna, chicken, hard-boiled egg, cheese, sunflower seeds, pecans, walnuts, tofu, lentils, etc. and dress with salsa, a lowfat vinaigrette, lemon juice and herbs, etc.

Many steamed or sauteed vegetables are good cold: summer squash, green beans, peas, snow peas, snap peas, cauliflower, broccoli, spinach, bok choy, beets, etc. Spray lightly with olive oil when you pack them and sprinkle with lemon pepper or your favorite herb mixture.

There are now single-serving size packets of tuna and smoked salmon that are convenient for lunch boxes. Toss in some crackers and a salad, and you have a nice lunch.

Nuts and a piece of fruit or raw veggies can be a nice snack. Weigh or measure out an ounce of nuts and eat with carrots, celery, cucumber spears, bell pepper slices, snap peas, snow peas, cherry tomatoes, jicama, baby bok choy, or whatever vegetable you like.

Pack a dip like hummus with vegetables and some light crackers for a nice change of pace.

You can wash soft vegetables like raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, and pack in a small tupperware. Or cut up pineapple, melon, mango, and pack the same way.
Minu ~
The Master
Posts: 2592
Post History
 # Posted: 23 Oct 2007 08:33


Great suggestions & welcome, Shannon.

If you're a cheeser, walnuts or almonds with many different cheeses is YUM.

Nuts with dried fruits is a winner-combo too and of course more travel-friendly than the cheese, sans ice-pack.

Making your own protein bars is a nice option too.
THE NEW ME
The Master
Posts: 2856
Post History
 # Posted: 23 Oct 2007 11:21


when i was going to school, i would bring different sandwiches-it was the easiest and quickest to make-for example-turkey on whole wheat. i know you said you got bored of sandwiches but you can switch the types of sandwiches you bring. wraps are a good option too. little boxes of raisins are easy to pack, protein bars, carrot sticks, rice cakes etc. go simple. try to make it the easiest for yourself so you are more likely to repeat the behavior.
Amy S
Fitness Guru
Posts: 220
Post History
 # Posted: 23 Oct 2007 14:02


Tortilla wraps are a nice little variation from bread-add fillings of your choice starting with chicken or turkey, lettuce, whatever veggies. Watch those prepackaged lunchmeats for sodium, nitrates and other preservatives, etc.

I freeze cups of yogurt, keeps the lunch cool and fresh, and slightly slushy yogurt is good. It sort of bulges out of the container when frozen, but it works out ok. Freeze (reuseable) water bottles too. A slice o lemon makes water a little more special.

Leftover taco stuff turns into a good salad.

I'm watching for new ideas here, too!
THE NEW ME
The Master
Posts: 2856
Post History
 # Posted: 23 Oct 2007 14:45


amy-i buy whole chickens (have it cut into 1/4 pieces and take off the skin when i get home)and fresh turkey off the bone (more money but worth it) when possible, so there is less garbage in it!
Amy S
Fitness Guru
Posts: 220
Post History
 # Posted: 23 Oct 2007 14:58


Good Jen, it's more time to cook like that, but saves a lot of money, (a pound of deli lunch meat is about 5-8 bucks, depending) and certainly the healthwise way to go. I cook when I have time and then freeze stuff.
Minu ~
The Master
Posts: 2592
Post History
 # Posted: 23 Oct 2007 14:58


Yup, good advice on those lunch meats--they can be a wily lot.

I only ever buy the, "lo sodium, perservative-free, lo-fat" varieties, and they're always turkey or chicken.

One thing I used to do for sandwiches, back when I'd take lunches with me, was to toast the bread--this always prevented the mushification of the experience--especially when the sammies were filled with wetter things, like chicken or tuna salad.
Jocelyn Coutant
Fitness Guru
Posts: 222
Post History
 # Posted: 23 Oct 2007 16:24


I suggest bringing some cereal in a container(with room) and some cut up fruit in a bag, and a container of yogurt. you can mix them all together, and it is a delicious meal.
also, you could just bring a variety of snacks, like veggies, and fruits, and then a luna bar ( i loveee those)
Cindy N
Fitness Guru
Posts: 733
Post History
 # Posted: 23 Oct 2007 23:16


Don't forget pitas! You can pack all kinds of stuff into them that don't always work so well on regular bread.
Mikaela K
Fitness Guru
Posts: 274
Post History
 # Posted: 24 Oct 2007 01:23


I normally have a luna bar and an apple...I can't have a big lunch box (gotta lug it with me because the closest time I have to lunch to stop at my locker is like 3rd period (and I have 6B lunch). Whatever I pack has to fit in my purse...luckily an apple fits.
Xyba Dog
traineo Regular
Posts: 43
Post History
 # Posted: 24 Oct 2007 08:43


I always make sure I gotta a can of tuna in my drawer in work in case I'm in a rush. It's a bit dry but better than nothing in an emergency.
Shannon G.
traineo Newbie
Posts: 4
Post History
 # Posted: 24 Oct 2007 15:43


Wow, thanks for all the responses everyone! So many ideas to ponder

Thanks for your help, now I'll be looking forward to lunch rather than dreading the same old sandwich. ^_^

~Shannon~
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