Lunch Time Temptations

 One of the hardest parts about eating healthy is lunch.  Of course, weekends are easy when we are well rested and have extra time to plan out meals and cook. The work week however, poses a continuous struggle of time and sleep deprivation vs. our good intensions.  

Don’t let your growling tummy be your alarm clock to think about lunch.  Putting off eating until you are starving is a weight-gain trap about to happen. Suddenly, the left-over doughnuts in the break room, or the jar of candy in the front office will seem irresistible and when your coworker asks for company to Chick-fil-a, you’ll find yourself ordering extra fries and a shake. Sound familiar???

So here is the solution – plan ahead.  Do not wait until the morning when you you’re half asleep to pack a lunch or until you are starving and expect to make a nutritious choice. From all my experience, the only thing that works is to pack a lunch the night before. Planning ahead will also help you serve acceptable portion size and allow you to give thought to your meal.

Here are my top three easy & healthy weekday lunch suggestions:

1)      LEFTOVERS

Something as easy a spaghetti can make a great lunch the next day.  Always remember to put leftovers that will need to be reheated in BPA free containers. I recommend glass containers.

2)      SANDWICH

We live off these as kids, but somehow get amnesia as adults. They are so easy and quick to make and usually provide all the basic food groups (fat, protein, and carbohydrates) and will keep us satisfied longer than incomplete meals.  Look for organic veggies, organic cheese and organic, nitrate-free lunch meat. Always use whole grain bread because it has more fiber and will keep you full and satisfied.

3)      SNACKS

Plan ahead, and pack fruits, vegetables and nuts or seeds to snack on between meals.  I like sliced apples, carrots and pre-soaked almonds. Try to snack on something every two hours to avoid becoming overly hungry and making poor food choices.

Not only will your waistline enjoy these healthy alternatives, but so will your pocketbook. I Hope you enjoy these tips.  Feel free to leave comments with other healthy snack and/or lunch ideas that work for you.