FitSugar

Daily Green: Lunch With a Side of Sustainability

OnSugar Blog — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 03:00:51 -0800

Check out this great eco tip from the OnSugar blog The Green Life.

I pride myself on having made the switch from plastic to reusable water bottles long ago but still find myself shamefully relying on plastic sandwich and snack baggies when packing lunch. Not sure what my options were, I spent a little time shopping around this weekend and found a huge market of sustainable alternatives to plastic. Options range from organic cotton to recycled, but all divert waste from our landfills while saving you money in the long run.

Reusablebags has a great selection with lots of different design choices and prices from $3 to $30+. If you have the time I recommend the DIY approach. The crafty people at CraftyStylish can show you how to make a reusable sandwich in a snap.

For more tips on green living, start following The Green Life or start your own OnSugar blog. Maybe we'll post your story here on FitSugar!

Snack Safe: BPA-Free Lunchables

FitSugar — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 03:30:27 -0800

With the big BPA scare in 2008 with Nalgene bottles, where we learned that the chemical bisphenol A could cause all sorts of health problems including cancer and urinary tract infections, many people made the switch to stainless steel, aluminum, and BPA-free water bottles. But have you thought about what other food containers you re-use? Check out some BPA-free alternatives you can use in your lunchbox.

View Slideshow ›

Smarter Eats: Roast Your Own Sandwich Meat

FitSugar — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:00:01 -0800

One of my New Year's resolutions is to always bring my lunch to work. I'm trying to save money, eat healthier, and have more time so I can go on a long walk during my workday. So far, so good!

Of course now that I'm shopping at the market more often I'm trying to figure out ways to bring down costs there too. Two words: sandwich meat. For my sandwiches I like to use good quality meat, which means natural, organic, or minimally processed. And even though it's still cheaper than eating out, this stuff is really expensive! One 8 oz. package of free range natural turkey meat costs $7, and only lasts me a few days. As I sat eating my sandwich last Friday, I decided that I would try and make my own sandwich meat this weekend. I figure it's cheaper, will last longer, and it's going to taste better.

To find out about all the money I saved and how it tasted, read more.

I settled on turkey and picked up a free range natural 3.75 lb. bone-in turkey breast from my butcher for $23. I prepared it the same way as a whole turkey - rubbed it down with a little bit of olive oil, kosher salt, herbs, and spices. I basted it a couple of times while cooking and in one hour it was done. After having some for dinner, I sliced some to use for sandwiches and used the bones to make a turkey stock. I also froze half of the cooked breast to use for sandwiches next week.

Besides, a sixty percent savings (3 lbs. of pre-packaged turkey meat from the same makers of the bone-in breast would cost over $50), my homemade sandwich meat tastes better than most deli meat I've tried. It's flavorful, moist, and not too salty. While shopping, I also compared the prices of a much cheaper non-organic brand's deli meat to its bone-in turkey breast and found that roasting your own still gives you a tremendous savings. You save even more money if you opt to roast an entire turkey rather than just the breast. I'm so impressed with how everything turned out that next time I'll be making my own version of lean roast beef deli meat.

New Year, New Lunch Habits

FitSugar — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 10:00:08 -0800

An easy way to get healthy this year is resolving to bring your own lunch. By doing so, you know exactly what's going into your meal - not the case when eating out. Even something that seems healthy like a takeout salad can be full of hidden calories. You also cut back on waste and save on money and time by bringing your own lunch. Instead of using my lunch break to stand in line and wait for food, I go for a walk around the neighborhood or hit the gym for a quick session instead.

It may sound silly, but one way I motivate myself to pack a lunch is to have some nice to-go containers to carry it in. If I buy special dishware that's meant just for my lunch, I feel bad if it goes unused. An easy way to solve this problem is by making sure it doesn't get neglected!

To hear about the cool BPA-free containers I've been using, read more.

Lately, I've been making a lot of healthy, one-pot meals that last over the course of a few days. It saves me time during the week and minimizes the amount of pots I use. The Aladdin Artist Series Bowls ($20) are the perfect to-go containers to bring these meals to work with. The bowls are the perfect size for lunch and are extremely durable, but the best part is that they are microwave safe and BPA-free. The last thing I want are toxins leaching from a container into my food!

Besides being totally practical, they are really pretty to look at. Each twist-off lid has artwork on it commissioned by up-and-coming artists like Amy Ruppel and Heisuke Kitazawa. I seriously get excited when I am packing my lunch because I love looking down at the great illustration on my bowl. It's like having a little piece of art on me at all times.

Besides the bowls, the Aladdin Artist Series also includes 12-ounce coffee mugs with lids. All the lids on the bowls are interchangeable so you can mix and match colors if you're in the mood for something different. If you're an artist yourself, check out the blank canvas series instead and create your own mug!

View 5 Photos ›

Speak Up: What's in Your Lunchbox?

FitSugar — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:30:56 -0700

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?

How Often Do You Bring Your Lunch to Work?

FitSugar — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 03:47:44 -0700

Eating out can be hard on the wallet and the waistline. I try to bring my lunch to work, usually leftovers, every day. While that's the goal, I probably only meet it three out of five workdays. What about you?

You Asked: Same Thing For Breakfast and Lunch Every Day?

FitSugar — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 05:50:35 -0700

Dear Fit,
For a few months now, I've been eating the same thing for breakfast and lunch every day. For breakfast, I eat Greek yogurt with half a cup mixed fruit and a cup of high fiber cereal. For lunch, I eat a big salad, topped with some kind of lean protein like grilled chicken, fish, or tofu. I do mix it up and eat different things for dinner. I get made fun of a lot at work for my "boring" diet, but it got me thinking, is there anything unhealthy about eating the same thing every day? I've just gotten into the habit, and I love that I don't have to think about it.
- Healthy or Unhealthy Hannah

Greek yogurt and high fiber foods like cereal, fruit, and veggies are excellent ingredients in a healthy diet. To find out if the way you're eating them is doing your body good, read more.

Although yogurt and a salad are very healthy foods, I'd try to mix it up a little bit. Not only is variety the spice of life, but nutritionally speaking, it also allows you to get a variety of the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients you need. You don't have to go crazy with a new food for every one of the 21 meals you'll have in a week, but mixing it up just a little will excite your taste buds and help you obtain more of your RDI. For breakfast, go for oatmeal, nut butter on toast, or eggs. For lunch, eat your grilled chicken with steamed broccoli and a cooked whole grain such as quinoa. Or have baked tofu on a sandwich, or make some veggie and bean soup. Do a little planning on Sunday, so you won't have to stress about it during the week.

5 Lunchtime Calorie Savers

FitSugar — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 05:30:00 -0800

Sandwiches, soups, and salads are all great lunchtime fare. If you pay attention to what you're eating and how you're ordering your midday meal, you can save yourself some serious calories. Here are five food swaps to save yourself some lunchtime calories.

Source

View Slideshow ›

Healthy Habit: Lunch on High Fiber and Lean Protein

FitSugar — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 05:30:00 -0800

If eating healthier is one of your goals for 2009, you might want to reconsider your lunches. Nutritionist Alexa Fishback, author of The Daily Fix, has a way to make your mid-day meal work for you. Stay tuned for upcoming nutrition tips from Alexa and be sure to enter our Get Fit For 2009 giveaway for a chance to win a personalized nutrition plan created by Alexa, along with many other amazing goodies.

Here's Alexa's lunch advice:
When it comes to our midday meal, many of us choose whatever is most convenient or perhaps forgo lunch altogether as a tactic to save calories, time, or money. Others build up a ravenous appetite (often because they have skipped breakfast and/or a midmorning snack) and jump fork-first into a midday calorie trap. Here are a few tips to navigate some common lunchtime scenarios:

Stuck in the conference room for a lunch meeting? Discretely peel away the cheese from the pre-made turkey sandwich and grab a mustard packet instead of mayo; drink a bottled water instead of a soda, and opt for the fruit salad over the cookies. While it might not be your favorite meal ever, wouldn't you rather save the calories for Saturday night?
Working at your desk through lunch? Plan ahead. Pop open a can of Amy's Organic lentil soup and heat it up in the office kitchen. Then pair with some whole wheat crackers and an apple. Not too shabby for a quick lunch.

For two additional lunch ideas, read more.

Eating out? Order a salad loaded up with lettuces and other nonstarchy veggies, a portion of lean protein (grilled chicken breast, tuna, or chickpeas), and a portion of unsaturated fat like avocado or nuts to add a creamy flavor. Ask for a vinaigrette dressing on the side and enjoy your meal with a multi-grain roll.
Stay-at-home mom eating at home? Toast a couple slices of whole wheat bread to bring out the nutty flavor, spread a tablespoon of natural almond butter on each piece, and top with either banana or strawberry slices – yum.

For more tips, check out all of Alexa’s Healthy Habits or pick up her book, The Daily Fix.

Source

Five Ideas For a Healthy Lunch

FitSugar — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 05:00:12 -0700

I've found that if I don't make my lunch ahead of time, I end up picking up something quick, and it's usually not the healthiest. Can you relate? If so, here are five quick lunch ideas you can prepare the night before.

Source

View Slideshow ›