Sensible lunch?

I work in the corporate world and the only options for lunch around here seem to be fast food. We do have a grocery store close by, but I feel like I spend a lot of money on lunch when I go there everyday. I was getting a salad from one of these fast food places, but I'm not sure that they're good for you either! Any suggestions on a sensible lunch? I'm on a 1200 calorie diet, but lunch is usually my big meal. I want something nutritious.

 Do you have a refriderator and microwave at work?

Yeah we have both.

I keep a container of Quick Oats in my desk drawer. All you need is a bowl, a spoon and hot water to enjoy a healthy lunch.

Hi elm,I work in a hospital and I never buy food in the Cafeteria, way too expensive and I have no control over what is in the foods I buy. My solution, I pack my own. It is way cheaper, healthier and I have total control. Some of my favorite suggestions? A great spinach salad with fruits, cranberries, toasted almonds and a light poppy seed dressing. Or another salad with some baked skinless chicken breast or tuna on top. A great filling sandwich on whole wheat low fat bread topped with lettuce, tomatoes, lean meats and deli mustard and maybe a hot bowl of soup. Is bringing your own lunch viable? If you don’t have to "buy" a lunch daily, I would pack your own even if its left over dinner from the night before. Probably much healthier then the fast food options. Do you have co-workers who fight the same battles? Maybe you could make arrangements to meet somewhere for lunch, bring your own or do a "pot luck" or take turns suggesting meals or making something to share.  I always like a filling lunch with some protein that helps get me through the rest of the day. I hope this helps, good luck!!

 

I pack my own as well, as all of the places around me are really expensive. check out www.builtny.com for great lunchboxes they fit so much stuff into them.

I have a diet sheet for each week that sets out what I eat every day, and as soon as I get home I pack my lunch box with whats on the menu for the following day. I pack a lot of salads, I have a lean cuisine meal once a week, and a turkey sandwhich on whole grain bread, with skinny turkey, lettuce, pickles, and light mayo. its yummy!!

plus think of all the money you will save!!

I am a big fan of Bento (Japanese Lunch Boxes). It takes a bit of time in the morning to prepare, but I have been eating a lot better and look forward to my latest creation each day as lunch rolls around. The following site has been a big help for me:

http://justbento.com

 

There are also a lot of great cookbooks if you are so inclined. 

I work in a corporate office as well, and although we have a cafeteria, it is a little on the expensive side, and sometimes tricky to calculate.

My Solution? I buy the large bags of frozen  boneless, skinless chicken breasts {they're about $9 for a 4 or 5 lb. bag}and boil up a bunch of them at the beginning of the week, and then steam some veggies to bring along - or, like today, I just brought my chicken with me and bought a garden salad - easy to caluclate and easy on the budget :)

I like to have soup for lunch (nothing creamy though!) If you don't like bringing your lunch, I'm sure at least one of the restaurants around your office serves soup!

I'm in the same boat, our cafeteria at work never offers healthy alternatives, and so whenever we would go down there for lunch I ended up eating pasta - after gaining 40lbs over the past year and a half, I've started bringing my own lunch, normally consisting of a tuna or salmon or sliced turkey wrap w/ shredded carrot, diced celery, a few slices of tomato and 2 tsp of light mayo. I also have a yogurt and a handful or 2 of grapes. if i've made chicken the night before i'll cook an extra breast to slice up on top of a salad. It keeps me full until my 3pm snack of almonds or carrot sticks, which holds me over until dinner (:

Good Luck!!!

Do you guys have a microwave? I'm also sticking to 1200 cals a day. I bring a lean cuisine and a small salad with me every day for lunch. I like doing so because the LC's are actually really good and you feel like your eating something bad but they are actually super low in Calories. The salad helps fill you up. I also have a selser or enviga (sparkling green tea) the fizzyness makes me more full as well.

  What I do is keep food for lunch in the refriderator and at my desk.  You can buy frozen dinners, stuff to make sandwiches or bring lunch from home.  I also keep nutritional snacks at my desk.  This keeps me from eat fast food and also I know how many calories I am consuming.

Jared subs from subway. around 300 cals. I eat one everyday for lunch,  b/c there is one right next to my work

a microwave and fridge is all you need! i work in a downtown and there are restaurants galore! anyhow, i hardly ever eat out. my daily consists of Lean Cuisines & homemade sandwiches. Also Progresso Light soup and Trader Joe's less sodium soups are so wonderfully filling! Health Valley canned chili is also on the top of my list. I hope these options work for you as they continue to work for me.

I usually bring Healthy Choice Country Veg. Soup or a homemade soup.  I also love bring a Taco Salad made with seasoned ground chicken meat.  Lean Cuisine is also a great, easy lunch to bring.  Or leftovers from home.

But in the cases that I need to eat out, I keep a cheat sheet to help me make better choices.  Here is the information on eating out:

Wendy's

• Small Chili is only 220 calories, very filling, full of fiber, and perfect for the winter months.  If you add crackers they are 25 calories a package.
• I also get the baked potato plain, and keep butter spray at work to spray on it... add a little salt and pepper and it's delicious.
• Ultimate Chicken Grill: chicken breast, bun, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, mustard only 280 calories

McDonald's

• Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken.. 220 calories Low fat Balsamic Vinaigrette 40 cals, Low fat Italian 60, or LF Sesame Ginger 90
• Prem. Grilled Chicken Classic Sand. 370/4.5 (no mayo)
• Grilled snack wrap W/honey mustard 260/9, w/o 240/8
• Bad choices: Cheeseburger 300 cal./ 12 fat, sm fry 250/13

Burger King

• Tendergrill Chicken Sandwich w/o mayo 400/7
• Tendergrill Chicken Salad 240/9 with ff ranch dress. 300

One of the thinks that I finally had to discipline myself with is just being prepared.  I'm a very picky eater so some of the Healthy Choice and Lean Cuisines are okay, but for variety, you have to just cook your own and prepare for the next day.  You now have control and save money!

definately try to bring your own lunch as often as possible... i know i work in an office in the city and the healthy stuff is really expensive and the cheaper stuff seems really bad!  i usually make a little more food then i need for dinner so i have leftovers for lunch.... you could make your own soup and salad and just bring that in with you (or buy a can, bring a can opener, and a bowl to heat it in, but your own will probably be healthier!)... you can make cold wraps/sandwiches at home and bring those in too... i made pasta with veggies in pesto sauce and brought that... sometimes i bring brown rice and throw frozen veggies in over it and then the veggies give teh rice some moisture as it heats up... add a veggie burger or edamem for some protien (or whatever you eat).... sometimes i just grab a frozen meal but i try not to do that more than once a weak... the other night i made brown rice and made my own form of chili (my own form becuase it's vegetarian and i don't like spicy food so it's a bit mild) i put that in a tupperware with some shredded cheesy and i have a healthy filling lunch...

 

for snacks at work i keep trail mix around, hummus and crackers, and instant oatmeal...

I take leftovers from dinner a lot.  Also I have a few soups or packaged "just microwave" food.  There are some noodle bowls and I even found some lentil curry that goes well with some of the 90 second rice.  Also with a little research you can find out what foods at restaurants are good or at lest not too bad.  Of course you can modify things such as removing condiments or one of my fav's is getting a naked burrito.  The tortilla is close to 200 calories.  Sometimes eating out doesn't provide great food but maybe food that's only a little out of line that you can make up by being extra good the rest of the day.

Apart from soup, my favourite thing to take for lunch in winter is frittata, and it's really easy to make. You chop up whatever vegetables you feel like putting in (leeks are great, mushrooms, capsicum, zucchini, whatever works for you) and then whisk together the eggs with some milk, and then grate in some parmesan cheese. Put the vegies in a an oven dish, pour the egg/milk/cheese mixture over the top and bake. I usually take a green salad to go with it. Of course the frittata is better if you can heat it up in the microwave, and it smell so yummy when you heat it that you'll make all of your co-workers jealous of your lunch :)

I'm lucky enough to work near enough to go home at lunchtime most days.  However, if I'm out and about I try to find some sushi.  I love it - its healthy and filling, and a blast of wasabe always excites my senses!. 

I'm in the UK, and I can usually find a Marks & Spencer or Waitrose nearby.

Whoever said make and bring a salad, I agree. About 300 calories in: 3oz of tuna, 1/3 of an avocado, a couple of cups of leafy greens, a medium tomato, a small cucumber, a radish, half a green pepper, a teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil and 2 tsp of balsamic vinegar. Pepper to taste. You could even add a piece of bread, though I usually do not choose to do so.

Remember your snacks! apple plus 10 (or so) almonds; an ounce of dark chocolate and an orange; Small nonfat yougurt (plain) with berries and sunflower seeds added in; 1/8 melon with a few brazil nuts and a couple few apricots or prunes. These are my faves.