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What's In Your Lunchbox?

Speak Up: What's in Your Lunchbox?

October 19, 2009

I'm in a lunch rut. For the last week I've been eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and an apple. I usually make a big dinner the night before so I can bring the extras with me to work but I've been having a lot of guests over, which equals no leftovers.

I'm in desperate need of some lunch ideas and would love to hear what you take with you to work. What healthy lunches do you pack?

Source: Getty

35 Comments

smishy 3 years 16 weeks

I like to take one small apple, a bottle of water, kashi crakers, a few cubes of cheese and a handfull of cherry tomatoes.

DivaDivine 3 years 28 weeks

I usually bring leftovers and a cup of soup. I try to make a big batch of veggie based soup once a week to last all week. Last week was butternut squash this week it's pumpkin. I also keep a piece of fruit and kettle corn in my bag for hungry emergencies.

Giasbash6260 3 years 29 weeks

- Ground Beef Burgers - Ground Bison Burgers - Ground Elk Burgers - Ground Ostrich Burgers - Hot Dogs **All Grass-Fed** - Ground Turkey Breast - One Poached Egg & Tuna Jarred in Olive Oil

sparklestar 3 years 30 weeks

I'm so confused about how americans will happily eat lashings of peanut butter on their sandwiches! It's a total treat when I have it and I'll use it sparingly. Is this really a common thing? Eating peanut butter and "jelly" (jam?) sandwiches sounds like a dessert to me rather than a main meal! :) As for my lunches - I'm eating chutney and smoked ham on gluten free bread at the moment.

Soniabonya 3 years 30 weeks

All of summer and as much as I can squeeze out of fall I've been making a fruit salad for lunch. It consists mostly of berries: strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries. Both BB's are out of season now at the farmers market so I've been slicing up apples, pears, kiwi, figs, bananas or whatevr suits my mood with the rasp and strawberries :) I also bring a yogurt, a whole piece of fruit not in the salad, once in a while a hardboiled egg and a Luna bar. Breakfast by 8. Snack at 10am. Lunch at 12. Snack at 2 and 4 and then dinner around 6 or 8, depending on what I cook. I dunno what I'm going to do without my strawberries or raspberries once they finish the season :( I want to buy only USA grown, or local CA fruit.

GirlOverboard 3 years 30 weeks

I do not like to rely on frozen meals and try to stick to sandwiches/leftovers as well, but they are a great way to have a little something different for lunch, especially now that we're in colder weather. I keep a few meals (Safeway's Eating Right) in the office freezer and dip into them when I feel like having a warm meal without having to walk in a downpour or high winds (our office is overlooks the Puget Sound so we get some really windy days) only to spend $7-10 on a hot meal that's probably high in fat anyway. Especially since these meals are almost always on sale and therefore super cheap.

Camarogirl67 3 years 30 weeks

Mamasitamali - we were separated at birth! That's my fave sandwich too, and usually what I have for lunch. I go for peperoncinis over jalapenos, though.

Zulkey 3 years 30 weeks

this is not the norm but today I had a slice of leftover chicago-style spinach pizza and some celery and an apple. (the pizza is not the norm: raw veggies and fruit are though)

mek123 3 years 30 weeks

I've been buying my lunch at work but thanks to everyone for all the great ideas, I'm sure I will be using them in the future.

3 years 30 weeks

I like to make a chicken tabbouleh salad, it is a Barefoot Contessa recipe. It is really healthy, you just roast chicken breasts with the bone in, and add the chicken to the bular wheat with cukes and tomatoes, and a lemon dressing. It is easy, delicious and very healthy, you can search for the recipe on foodnetwork.com.

Antioxidant 3 years 30 weeks

This is usually the lunch I bring to work: 1 (salt and sugar free) peanut butter on whole wheat sandwich. 1 good sized gladware container filled with fresh spinach, baby carrots, grapes, bell pepper slices, crimini mushroom slices, celery slices, and strawberries or other berries. I'll bring some lowfat organic yogurt, or an apple or an orange (those are interchangeable). And then a packet of whole wheat Melba toast for a snack if I get hungry before or after lunch. I only drink water and maybe some tea if I feel it's a good idea. It's kind of a boring lunch for 5 days a week, but it's easy to put together and healthy.

ella1978 3 years 30 weeks

Fit.. this is my lunch for next week. Bed of spinach with mushrooms, tomato, yellow pepper, hardboiled egg and a dash of 2% cheddar with honey mustard dressing. I've just been making sandwiches lately too... but I alternate between peanut butter and apple, peanut butter and banana, cheese and tomato, and egg salad w/ low-cal miracle whip (and occasionally pickles). Some with WW bread, some with pitas.

3 years 30 weeks

Ach, I always bring in last night's leftovers but recently I've taken to having a big hot dessert right after from the canteen... not good!!!

3 years 30 weeks

I'm very big on soups right now, since I've finally found a container that doesn't leak: The ziplock "lunchbox":) And the soups I'm most in favour of are clear soups based om stock/broth from chicken, meat or veggies, and then I just add some kind of protein (minced meat, fish, chicken or beans) and change it up with hearbs, lots of veggies and potatoes/suede/carrots/corn/parsnip etc. Spice it up with tomatoe-purée, tabascoe or soy.

3 years 30 weeks

A huge salad. Spinach or mixed greens and then anything in the fridge and cupboard. Celery, tomato, cucumber, peppers, beans, corn, slivered almonds, artichoke hearts, cilantro, basil, onions, avocado and then top with parmesan, salt, pepper, dried onion flakes and garlic pieces. No dressing needed. I try to keep it all in the fridge and toss onto a salad the night before or in the morning. Tomatoes and avocado make the salad a little moist so you don't miss the dressing. People think I make these elaborate lunches but they are just a mix of whatever I have on hand. Sometimes I slice the stuff at work in the kitchen with a plastic knife. Better than going out for something unhealthy. It's always filling and delicious!!

andrealocke 3 years 30 weeks

Arnold's Sandwich Thin with Turkey (Boars Head!) Weight Watchers String Cheese Fruit (Apple, Grapes, Banana, Strawberries, etc) Veggie (Organic baby carrots, etc) Something sweet or a piece of gum Sometimes I throw in Goldfish or Wheat Thins instead of the sweet. Or I'll add soup instead of a veggie.

ms660bk 3 years 30 weeks

2 laughing cow cheese wedges, 2 slices of good sourdough, and top it with anything you like. Leftover salad from yesterday's lunch, a couple of slices of sopressata or turkey, or just a slice of tomato - it's delicious.

EML13 3 years 30 weeks

For the past week or so, I've been packing a yogurt, a small baggie of homemade trail mix (walnuts, dried cranberries, raisins, and banana chips), a Laughing Cow cheese wedge, some crackers, and sometimes a granola or Luna bar. I prefer to snack throughout the day instead of one big lunch.

psychobabble 3 years 30 weeks

I pack a sandwich (turkey, ham, cheese, pickle, mayo, deli mustard), yogurt and an apple. 99% of the time I just eat the sandwich and pick either the yogurt or the apple. I drink herbal tea through the day to keep hydrated.

Lo Lo 3 years 30 weeks

I pretty much pack the same lunches all week. A turkey sandwich on whole wheat with lettuce and mustard or a salad with turkey or chicken, an apple, and a kashi granola bar for around 3 pm. Oh, and I always have a coffee after my lunch as "dessert."

courtneyd 3 years 30 weeks

One of my favorite lunches to pack is various cheeses, salami, some dried fruit and nuts, and a little fresh fruit if I have it. It's like a cheese plate with extras.

medenginer 3 years 30 weeks

A usually eat a Lean Cuisine, frozen, or other microwaveable meal and a yogurt. If I get hungry I'll grab a cereal bar out of the vending machine.

choklitytart 3 years 30 weeks

It is so easy to get in a rut, but I was really pleased with my new lunch that I packed today: Wasa Crispbreads Crisp N Light Chicken breast lunchmeat Laughing cow It's like lunchables for adults! I also had carrots and hummus on the side, and a kiwi for the afternoon. YUMM

Leila07 3 years 30 weeks

My favorite "easy" thing is soup! I keep cans in my desk. I also like to bring in fruit, salads, and especially chicken salad sandwiches! Yum!

SillyGirl 3 years 30 weeks

Either one of my giant salads or lean cuisine style thing and a side green salad if I am in a rush. My big salad today (and it only took 5 minutes to make I swear) - In a big bowl: Tear up one romaine heart, 1/3 bell pepper chopped, 1/3 cucumber chopped, handful of mini tomatoes, ounce of crumbled feta cheese, 1/3 cup garbanzo beans, 6 black olives chopped, sprinkle of shredded carrots. On the side I just mix a little olive oil and lemon juice, and carry a half a whole wheat pita. 400 calories, very balanced, and very filling.

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35 Comments

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