I think lunchtime is one of the most challenging meals. It's hard to prepare a satisfying meal 12 hours in advance & sometimes it's just so much easier to go grab some takeout. I can't exactly afford a $10 sandwich meal everyday (which is usually packed with a bunch of hidden calories). Packing a turkey sandwich on some bread, mayo & cheese at 8pm the night before leaves you with a less-than-appetizing & soggy lunch that leaves you craving more, which makes for a very l o n g afternoon. So what's a girl to do?
Nutritional Facts: It varies based on what you're eating since I gave a few options here. Since most of this is veggies, it going to be heart healthy. Just watch your condiments & make sure not to use mayos or hi-cal dressings or dips.
For the start of 2014, my husband and I are doing a few weeks of no carbs so no bread with our sandwiches here, but here are a couple alternatives to leave you full and satisfied until it's time to punch the clock at 5. I've even gotten a few ooohs & ahhhs in the hallway as I'm walking back to my desk with my colorful & vibrant lunchtime pick-me-up.
Turkey Lettuce Wraps (Justin's choice):
INGREDIENTS:
- 2-3 Romaine or Green Leaf Lettuce Leaves (whole)
- Dijon Mustard
- 4 slices of deli turkey
- Tomato slices
- Red Onion
- Fat Free shredded cheddar cheese
HOW-TO:
Start by laying the turkey to cover your leaf of lettuce & build up your wrap from there. Add a few cranks of fresh ground pepper if you'd like before eating. Fold them in half & eat it like a taco. They're full of flavor so you can't wait for lunch and they're full of protein so they keep you full to push through the afternoon.
TIPS:
You can prep these the night before & bring them to work the next day and it doesn't get soggy like your typical bread.
These really are easy to do and you can add any veggies you want that you like. Feel free to substitute, remove or add any ingredients to your liking. For example, sub deli turkey for deli chicken breast and add some avocado. Let me know what your favorite combo is. We are always looking for more options to keep lunchtime fresh.
The Big Salad (my personal choice):
My mom always says she doesn't like when she makes her own salad at home & I always tell her it's because she isn't choosing the right ingredients. There are so many options to make a big, delicious, vibrant salad these days....it's about choosing the right things. Long gone are the days of the boring iceberg & carrots. Below is my favorite combo that's gotten me many compliments on how good my lunch looks.
INGREDIENTS:
- Spring Mix Lettuce (or any kind of greens you like)
- Deli Oven Roasted Turkey Breast (2 slices)
- Red Onion Slices
- Handful of Cherry Tomatoes (sliced in halves)
- Some Seedless English Cucumbers (cut into half-moons)
- Reduced Fat Feta Cheese Crumbles
- 2 Hard-Boiled Egg Whites (no yolks!)
- Any fat free/light vinaigrette dressing of your choice
HOW-TO:
Prep this in a Tupperware bowl container the night before work. Take the extra time to dice everything up & arrange it so it looks like your favorite to-go salad from a restaurant. Bring the dressing separate to work & add it right before serving. It's just like getting your favorite chef or cobb salad out but at about 1/4 of the cost.
TIPS:
Choose the right lettuce. Iceberg has pretty much no nutritional value, it's like drinking water. Choose the rich, green lettuces full of vitamins & nutrients. They make so many bagged options now, so make sure to try a variety such as Kale & Arugula or Baby Spring Mix & Spinach.
For a sweet variation, swap the cherry tomatoes for some of your favorite spring time berries and use a sweet dressing (Strawberry Vinaigrette by Maple Grove Farms is one of my favorites, and only 30 calories per serving).
SNACKS:
An awesome snack idea is some fresh, raw veggies with the new Greek yogurt dip by Oikos (only 25 calories per tbsp). Justin likes a mix of veggies (broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots) with the Cucumber Dill dip flavor. I prefer straight carrots with the Vegetable Herb flavor. Pick up these cute side-by-side snack containers by Rubbermaid to make packing easy.
Nutritional Facts: It varies based on what you're eating since I gave a few options here. Since most of this is veggies, it going to be heart healthy. Just watch your condiments & make sure not to use mayos or hi-cal dressings or dips.
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