Ideas for Brown Baggin' It
Bringing your lunch
with you to work allows you to control what
you eat and saves you money. We asked people around
the web for a few ideas for making brown baggin' it
fun, cost effective, and healthy.
Lunch Tips
Hummus with carrots and multi-grain crackers, an apple,
a piece of dark chocolate and a bottle of water. Throw
in a handful of raw almonds for an afternoon snack.
This simple lunch is packed with nutrients, flavors and textures. Easy to throw
together and very satisfying.
Patti
Bartsch, Ph.D. -
www.naturallyunbridled.com
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Prepare your lunch the night
before to save time in the morning. Don't forget it.
Place an empty grocery bag by the door you go out of.
The grocery bag will remind you of food, then your lunch.
Peggy Duncan, The Digital Breakthroughs Institute - www.PeggyDuncan.com
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Invest in leak-proof reusable
containers like Lock-n-Lock brand. You'll never end up
with soup or sauce leaking in your bag, even if your
lunch gets jostled upside down in transit.
Michelle
Pfennighaus, CHC, RYT Nutrition and Wellness Coach - http://findyourbalancehealth.com
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When you pack your lunch the
night before, place your house/car keys in the lunch
bag so you don't forget to take the healthy lunch with
you.
Judy Weitzman - www.dietcoachjudy.com
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One tip to Brown Bag would
be: Almonds, Cashews and Raisins. The nuts are good for
you and the raisins provide enough sugar to curb wanting
to buy the honey bun from the vending machine. The snack
can be made the night before and can be placed in a sandwich
back. It is convenient and if you don't finish it, because
it is in a snack back it will not stale, or spoil.
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Dr.
Donna Thomas-Rodgers - www.blogtalkradio.com/Ask-Doctor-Donna
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Like all meals, it's important
that lunch have at least four components: lean protein,
complex carbohydrates, some healthy fat, and non-starchy
vegetables. An easy brown bag lunch is a chicken breast
or roasted turkey breast sandwich on whole wheat bread
with 3 slices of avocado, and a side salad or baby carrots/sliced
peppers/cucumbers. Very easy and will keep you satiated
for the afternoon.
Jessica
Fishman Levinson - http://www.nutritioulicious.com
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Make sandwiches two and three
at a time for the upcoming week. Multi-grain bread works
best for this as it doesn't get soggy like white/wheat
bread. Ziplock bags keep them fresh. When I'm ready to
pack my lunch in the morning, I just pull out a sandwich
that's already made up.
Diana
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I make pocket lunches for healthy
lunches on the run. When I have time, I make up batches
of pizza dough (store bought will work), and roll them
out in 12-15" circles. I fill them with a variety
of healthful things, including leftovers: chili, pizza
toppings and sauce, curries, etc. Bake at 425 for 20
minutes until golden brown. Cool and freeze in individual
packaging. Can be carried without an ice pack if less
than 4 hours till eating and vegetarian. Use an ice pack
or place in refrigerator if they contain meat. Microwave
for 2-5 minutes depending on the level of being frozen.
Amie
Ritchie, RD - www.Eating4Living.com
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Start a "lunch pool" at
work! Ideally, a group of 5, so that one person brings
lunch for the rest one day each week. It's a great way
to save money, save time and break up of the monotony
of packing your own lunch every day.
Karen Hoxmeier - http://www.mybargainbuddy.com
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Get the most use out of what
you cook. So roast a whole chicken for dinner and also
roast some veggies: carrots, potato, green peppers, onion,
garlic, mushrooms and asparagus in olive oil. Enjoy for
dinner and also enjoy what’s left for lunch the next
day! It’s best to take it in a glass container and eat
it cold: veggie-chicken salad, with the option of adding
in some mixed leafy greens. Also take a nice piece of
fresh fruit that is in season. Yuuuum! And don't forget
some nuts for an afternoon snack.
Trudy
Scott, Food - www.everywomanover29.com
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I rely heavily on sandwiches
- balanced meals within themselves: meat or fish for
protein, bread for grains, and topped with veggies of
your choice. Bring along some carrots, fruit, and a small
bag of nuts and seeds and you’re good to go until dinner.
Art D - www.SeaLevelPublishing.com
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Make opening that brown bag
fun! All family members take turns enclosing daily, fun
surprise notes or drawings in everybody else's bag lunch.
Everyone from Mom and Dad to teens, tweens and toddlers
each take turns, creating a surprise note or drawing
for every family member to discover when they open their
lunches. Every family member gets a fun surprise, and
helps them to all feel connected during busy days. Pssst!
No peeking until lunchtime.
Susie
Mantell - www.relaxintuit.com
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Start the day off with a sliced
apple thinly spread with peanut butter or a juicy grapefruit,
chewed like an orange, in sections. Grapes are great
for grab and go lunches. Take a thermos of pulpy orange
juice to work and snack on a bag of dried fruit at breaks
and for lunch, eat carrots or celery sticks. Steamed
zucchini or parsnip chunks are also good cold. Raw broccoli
makes a yummy snack with a bit of low-fat dips.
Lisa
De Fazio, M.S., R.D. - www.LisaDeFazio.com
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About once a week throw together
one or two bags of homemade trail mix (preferably one
sweet, one savory). Package mixes in snack bags for freshness
and portion control, then just grab what you need each
day for the commute, lunch on a park bench, strapped
in your airline seat, or a quick nosh at your desk. By
making your own you control calories, fats, salt and
sugar, and you can fine-tune ingredients to eliminate
allergens such as gluten or tree nuts. By measuring it
into snack bags by the cup (meal size) or half cup (snack)
you aren't tempted to scarf down an entire bag of snack
food. Just add a beverage and perhaps a piece of fresh
fruit and a full-course meal can be yours on the go.
Janet
Groene - www.CreateAGorp.blogspot.com
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Top photo courtesy of Flickr
Creative Commons - Kenny Louie
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