Help. Need food ideas for work.

I joined CC when I was unemployed.  Eating at home is not a big problem.  Sometimes I get bored with my meals, but am able to go to the store whenever I want and have time to fix whatever I'm in the mood for, with no thought about anything else.  And I eat whenever I felt like it lunch from 11:00 to 2:00 depending on what I felt like or was doing.  This will be so different.

At my last job I gained because I was too tired to cook at home and lunch was always fast food burger and fries, etc.

I don't want to undo all my work.  I'm so nervous about a new job that I can't even think what to pack in a lunch.  I like a pc of fruit midmorning,  I have no idea what else to take.  I like having a little something mid afternoon.

Sandwiches, leftovers from cooking on weekends.  Any other ideas?

thanks

Ohio,  I am a noncook sort of girl. My nutritionist told me that Healthy Choice makes okay microwave food. i have tired sereral of the steamers and grilled turkey and they aren't bad at all when even cutting veggies seems like work. You may have a frig at work and a microwave. Lots of places do.  I also love fruit so snacks are easy. Hope this helps.

that's pretty much what I do... sandwich or left overs... I love those tuna packs they sell too :) Lean Cuisine isn't so bad, just watch the cal/fat/sodium numbers.

we have a frig at work, so I buy lean cuizine, or take leftovers.  I'll keep snacks in by drawer like special K protein bars or craizens.  I'm trying to eat several small meals during the day.  Hope this helps.

I've had trouble too figuring out what to bring as a healthy lunch!  Lately, on Sunday, I've been grilling several chicken breasts and making a low calorie chicken salad (i use non fat plain yogurt, gulden's dijon mustard, celery, onion, and season with lemon pepper and nature's seasons) that will last for several meals.  i combine that with either veggies i've bought or prepared, or you can bring some bread and make a sandwhich! that way all your cooking is done by monday morning and you've got a filling lunch for most of the week.  good luck on your new job!

For a snack I mix equal parts peanut butter, chocolate protein powder, and honey, roll into balls and use either grape nuts or coconut as a coating, then refrigerate. It's a great tasting high-protein snack and much cheaper than the vending machines...

For work meals I usually bring lean cuisine, a can of soup and a tupperware to heat it in, or casserole.  About once a month I will make one huge casserole and divide it into meal-sized tupperwares and freeze and then take out when I want it for work.  I make those steam veggies and put them in little tupperwares to bring along.

It doesn't have to be difficult but you do have to think ahead more. Take 10 - 15 minutes out of your evening to pack yourself a healthy lunch for the following day and that's a good investment of time.  Plan your evening meals carefully and get the shopping in in advance.   If the food is there ready to go, you're less likely to resort to the takeaway.  'Quick cook' things like pasta dishes, stir-fries, omelettes and throw-together salads are good at the end of a working day.  At the weekend you can make longer-cook dishes and freeze them in portions.  I don't rate ready-made meals but they're OK in an emergency

Some lunch ideas..... cook a little extra pasta at suppertime and mix it with some grilled vegetables, olives, canned tuna and tomatoes to make a pasta salad for the next day.  Similarly,  save an extra portion of rice, add it to some dried fruit, a few seeds, chopped vegetables, boiled egg and make a rice salad.   Sandwiches are really versatile.... use different breads (wraps, pittas, rolls) and fillings and you can create lots of different versions.  If you have access to a microwave at work you can parcel up a whole portion of something from the night before and reheat it.  Chunky soup is good.... put it in a wide-neck flask and take along a bread roll to eat it with.

And then add some 'extras' to keep you going during the day and out of the vending machines etc.  Fruit you mentioned.  Yoghurts are good.  A crispbread or two with something to put on it.  A small amount of nuts and raisins..... Lots to choose from.

thank you so much everyone.

This weekend I need to do MAJOR food shopping.  To cut cost I haven't bought those little individual applesauce, juices, etc., but they'll be worth the investment, at least till I get organized.

I saw a little kitchette today, but no time to inspect it.

Maybe a better mid afternoon snack, at 3 pm,  will carry me thru the day and give me energy to get home and fix a decent dinner.

I'm going to raise my activity level now and allow myself more calories since I'll be busier :)