Does the thought of having to prepare one more meal each day sound like a chore?
Some feel packing a lunch on most days (even if you work from home) is SO HARD…
Good news, this is not a hard as you think.
Packing a healthy lunch actually is pretty easy.
BENEFITS of packing your lunch
For one thing, packing your lunch lets you control exactly what goes into the food you eat.
Bringing your own lunch to work also means you can enjoy some healthy, homemade versions of dishes laden with trans fats (think artery clogging) or sugars typically available in the cafeteria or a restaurant.
Many of us are still working from home, packing lunch is still recommended.
I’ve been hearing of many Zoom meetings that occupy peoples time and can allow you to lose track of time and even SKIP lunch altogether.
Tip #1 Packing is a snap
Think about eating leftovers from last night’s dinner.
So while you’re packaging up dinner in the evening , simply package up those leftovers for lunch the next day.
This is a super time saver!
You also can squeeze in prep time by cutting up fruits and vegetables and storing them in portion-sized containers or sandwich bags (for several days).
Tip #2 The Plate Method
You can use this when eating any meal!
Load your plate in this way:
- One half of plate filled with non-starchy vegetables such as leafy greens, broccoli, cucumber or spinach
- One quarter of the plate filled with lean meat such as chicken, turkey, fish or even lean cuts of red meat
- One quarter of the plate tilled with whole grains such as whole-wheat bread, brown rice or barley
Add a snack for after lunch that includes fruit and either low-fat milk or yogurt, reduced fat cheese, nuts, crackers
Summary
So, these are just a just a few simply tips to help make packing your lunch more of a routine
- Cooking two main meals per week is likely the easiest way to make it happen because this allows you some variety
- The plate method – this encourages satiety and getting the most nutrients