Healthy lunches
 

I'm going to start taking my lunch to work a few times a week, and I was wondering what suggestions every one could come up with.

To make it harder, the foods I would like to avoid are peanuts & cheese.

My lunch today was pretty good (cheap & easy too). I had a can of tuna fish, some crackers, a carrot, an apple, a granola bar, and some water.

Does anybody else bring their lunch to work? What do you eat?

Sandwiches are an old staple. Any combination of lean lunchmeats, veggies like tomatos, cucumbers, lettuce, zuccini, beans, and wheat breads are a pretty decent lunch, along with some fresh fruit and maybe a home made granola bar. How long are you at work, and do you have multiple opportunities to eat?

I'm at work from 9-6, and I can eat multiple times a day if I had to. I tend to eat breakfast at 8am and lunch at 11am, and then eat dinner at 7pm.

IMHO, you're missing a few meals. I eat at 6 meals a day, starting with the largest meal. Of course, the reason I eat like that is to keep my stomach smaller so I don't get hungry as often. If you're trying to get bigger, a la the other thread, you might want to have 4-5 large meals a day, starting with the largest.

my personal favorite lunch these days is

whole wheat pita bread stuffed with 2 tbs of hummus (either home made or commercial - the commercial is still pretty good) and a whole lot of sliced cucumbers or tomatoes...

I'll usually make the sammich fresh so it doesn't get soggy. (each ingredient goes into a ziplock baggie - including the hummus, i just snip off the end of the bag and squeeze it into the pita bread0

I usually will buy my lunch at work (I work at Whole Foods Market) and will stick to REALLY boaring, but extremely healthy. My usual is 1/4 - 1/3 lb of chicken breast from the deli and some raw veggies (broccoli, cauliflower, jicama, carrots or celery). I grab that then head out for a walk and eat it while walking.

You're lucky to work at WFW. I love the food there. It is good for you and it is seasoned well. If you don't work at a place like this, tuna fish is an easy and healthy lunch. I will take a can of tuna mixed with just a little mayonnaise and four pieces of bread. I will toast my bread at work and make two sandwiches. I sometimes eat Sun chips or a baked variety of chip. It is MUCH better than the alternative fast food joint. Deli meat is quick and easy. You may even try cooking in the evenings more than is needed so you can simply bring in leftovers and re-heat them at work.

want to put some interest and flavor in your tuna.. .take a can of tuna (I actually prefer the pouches myself, easier to open and way less messy) and mix it with a chopped up kosher dill pickle (or cucumber, or celery, it needs some crunch) even a spoonful of good relish would be good and some ranch salad dressing (the low fat variety is pretty tasty if you can find one without that bottled dressing aftertaste.

Or instead of the pickle - a spoonful or three of fresh salsa (ok, frrom the dairy case)

I've had tune/samon salad for lunch the past 18 months. I don't feel sleep after the meal and have drop a few percentage of body fat. Adding to the light lunch I exercise at the company gym 3~4 times a week. Good breakfast, light lunch, light afternoon snack and a sensible dinner. OK, buffet places when my stomach is growling at me.

I think you are well on your way to a great lunch but some suggestions are:

a good nonfat yogurt (i think yoplait is pretty good)
the 12oz can of V8
1/8 cup raisins + 1/8 cup salted sunflower seeds (very yummy together)
easy fruits (cherries, grapes, apples, bananas, peaches, pears, plums, apricots) I dont like to peel oranges or other citrus

I love V8 juice - but watch the amount of sodium that's in it... (it's got about 1000 mg in it ) i think that's what makes it taste so good... and the low sodium variety, even with copious amounts of tabasco, is really bland.

This sounds sooooo good mal...I may have to try it at work one day soon!

ok, you might think this sounds really gross, but I love it.

just take a can of drained tuna, and mix it with a cup of cottage cheese. Then mix that with how ever much you want of good leafy green lettuce. Season with a little salt and pepper. Its pact with protien and no fat, I ate this for lunch everyday for two months and lost 30lbs.

One suggestion I would make is to make sure you're getting whole grains. It's fairly easy to do--whole wheat crackers, breads, pitas, and tortillas are easy to come by. Just buy the product with the highest fiber content and most natural ingredients list.

Your ideal meal should have whole grains, lean protein, and lots of vegetables. Fruit or dairy should be your treat or dessert when you're finished. Chicken breast, tuna, and oven roasted turkey are all good options for lean protein. Combine that with a little hummus, as Mal suggested, and lots of veggies, and voila.

The other thing I would recommend is to always have a salad before your meal. But make it a nutritionally sound one--dark greens, chunks of vegetable, and a light dressing (like a low-fat vinaigrette). Personally I go for the spring mix or spinach; it packs a real nutritional wallop. I eat my meals in a set order--salad, then veggies, then whole grains, then protein/starch. That way, if I get full, I get full off of the good stuff first.