OT: Lunch

Well pizza always tastes good cold to me. Any leftover you can stomach, I guess. If you have access to a fridge or ice pack, I tend to stock up on Lunchables and lunchmeat and PBJs. Fresh fruits and veggies are always awesome and I'm trying to eat more colors. I'm now a little worried about carrying my lunchbag with me all day but that will probably only be one day a week when I'm in class from 8-2. When I have a late day from 11:30-5, I'll just eat me some lunch before I leave for class (I live like 5 minutes away and within walking distance). Good luck with packing! I'm sure some people are really creative but I stick with stuff I can grab on my way out the door, because I'm the kind of person who never packs ahead and gives herself 30 minutes to get up, dressed, fed and out the door!

I usually eat a good breakfast and dinner, and just pack snacks for my lunch. Fruit, veggies, granola...kinda repetitious, but I don't really mind. If I feel like breaking out then I'll slurge a little at the cafe.

I've lost most of the 20 pounds I put on going back to school so I'm going to do all I can to keep it off! That means no cafeteria food for me. I've got a nice soft cooler that I'm going to bring with healthy stuff. My ideas:
Salads: green salad, fruit salad, bean salad, rice or pasta salad, etc
Fresh fruit
Nuts
Light string cheese
Hard boiled eggs
Luna bars
V8 juice
Peanut butter

Salads are a good idea. Just make one up and pack some sort of protien such as tuna or sliced chicken to eat. Tastes good cold.

One option that I really like is to make up some quinoa the night before and keep it chilled in the fridge. Qunioa can be found in the bulk foods isle of any organic store such as Whole Foods and it's cheap (about $2.00 a pound and a pound goes a long way!) You can toss quinoa with any type of veggie or fruit. I like mine with basalmic vinegar, fresh cucumber (chopped in small cubes), rasins, fresh orange, lime, and lemon juice with a little zest thrown in, and pine nuts or almonds. Go to Wholefoods.com for more good recipies. Another good thing about quinoa is that it is a complete protien so you don't have to worry about packing extra chicken or tuna.

Hummus and crackers is also another good idea. Just have to watch the calories because it is calorie heavy.

When all else fails...........I always go to the good old PB&J on whole wheat bread. YUM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LOL, Beck - I could have written this! Only I am still 10 pounds away from taking off what I put on going back to school - but the food list sounds exactly like mine!

A thermos for soup and other hot leftovers (come fall weather) is good, too. I have a hot pink Stanley that is super durable. Sippable soups - the pureed variety are great for quick slurps, as well.

Yogurt is good. You can freeze it and have it thawed by lunch, though the texture is altered a bit. Though, I found a freezable gel drink "cozy" made for soda/beer cans is just the right size to put a yogurt cup in and keep cold for hours.

I always keep dried fruit and nuts in my bag, too. Don't forget plain old water, too, to help avoid the soda trap.

Good luck!

I have a new favorite..it sounded weird at first, but then I made it and I loved it. I mix 1/2 can of tuna, 1/2 of an avocado, 1/2 cup of black beans, 1/2 of a tomato, 1/3 of a cucumber, 2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar, and then 1 tsp of dried basil or oregano will work too. Mix together and enjoy. I know, I know it sounds kind of funky but it tastes great. It also is very filling and has a good amount of protein that should keep you full for awhile. Also when you are in a pinch you could try to have a meal replacement shake mix on hand...all you will need to do is take the powder with you and mix with milk or water (which ever you choose). Just think of things you love and that should work fine for you for lunch.