For many people trying to lose weight, breakfast and dinner are the easier meals to plan for. Lunch is the real challenge. You want to be able to take something portable, fast, and easy to eat at your desk. Portable and fast often means a trip through the drive through. It’s difficult to eat a healthy lunch if you’re going out all the time. The better solution is to pack your lunch. Here are a few easy recipes and ideas that will satisfy all of your requirements. They’re healthy, easy, portable, and fast.
Variations on Tuna Salad
Tuna is inexpensive. It’s also good for you and you can prepare tuna salad ahead of time. You can also substitute salmon or chicken if you don’t like tuna. Try including the following ingredients or create your own recipe.
* 1 6-ounce cans chunk light tuna packed in water
* 1/2 15-ounce can small white beans, such as cannellini or great northern, rinsed
* 5 cherry tomatoes, quartered
* 2 scallions, trimmed and sliced
* 1 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
* 1 tablespoons lemon juice
* Salt and pepper to taste.
You can easily double this recipe to make enough for two days. Serve it on mixed greens or on a whole wheat pita. Switch it up and replace the tomatoes and scallions with olives and chopped artichoke hearts.
The Joy of Sandwiches
When most people make a sandwich it’s a piece of meat like ham, a slice of cheese and a bit of mayo or mustard. Boring! Switch it up. Get creative. For example, try avocado, tomato, and lettuce on whole wheat bread. Add a slice or two of turkey if you want a bit of lean protein on your sandwich. And there’s nothing wrong with a bit of light mayonnaise. It’s low in calories and fat.
Bento Box Style
A traditional bento box has rice, meat and a vegetable. It’s a perfectly balanced meal. You can embrace this Japanese lunch box style of meal with your own interpretation. For example, hummus, chopped carrots and celery, and a chicken breast.
Soup
Soup is one of those things you can make at home on the weekend. You can freeze some of it in small lunch sized containers and take it to work. A quick warm up in the microwave and your lunch is ready to go. Add a side of whole wheat crackers or bread and you have a very satisfying lunch. Try bean soups and vegetable soups for maximum nutrition.
Lunch doesn’t have to be fattening and it doesn’t have to be dull. A little creativity and you can make a healthy lunch that makes your co-workers green with envy.
