In today’s society we are all overworked, pressed for time, and stressed. We all want to be more healthy and most people make a concerted effort by eating better, moving more, and getting to bed earlier. But if you’re like me– it’s an uphill battle.
How often do you find yourself working through lunch? And when you do get a chance to eat, you have to scurry to the nearest quick-market or take-out spot, grab something barely edible, only to scarf it down in front of your computer screen. I know the dilemma– you have got to eat to keep your brain functioning, however quick and healthy options during lunch madness are pretty scarce.
The answer to this dilemma is pretty simple: pack a lunch. It really is the best option for busy people who skip lunch, are crunched for time, and who have “working lunches” frequently.
Benefits of bagging your own lunch
The benefits of bringing your own lunch from home are numerous. Here are just a few:
- You can track and control your nutrients
- You can prevent yourself from over-eating and consuming large, calorie dense meals
- You save money
- You have more time to actually eat your lunch (you don’t have to leave your building or area, and stand in long lines).
By now, I know you are convinced that you should bring your own lunch. Now comes the issue of what to pack. The time saver in you– once you do make it to the grocery store– will try and talk you into buying a bunch of prepackaged processed mess. Don’t do it!
Processed foods are almost as bad as restaurant food:
Here are a few reasons why you should pass on the prepackaged processed meals:
- Processed foods contain unhealthy additives and preservatives to give it a longer shelf life
- Processed foods contain ingredients that lead to overconsumption and weight gain
- Research shows that process foods contain ingredients that make them addicting
It’s never easy to stay healthy with a busy schedule. That’s why you need a program to keep yourself motivated to achieve this goal. Our goal system offers a program that delivers FREE and tailor-made materials to keep you updated with simple and healthy living ideas so you don’t need to spare much time and effort to stay healthy. Click in to learn more!
10 easy practical lunch ideas
1. Quinoa veggie bowl
Toss together your choice of fresh or cooked vegetables with cooked quinoa, fresh herbs, and a dressing such as tahini, apple cider vinegar, cashew, cheese, or mashed avocado.
2. Chicken for meals, wraps and salads
Save time while keeping variety and spice by preparing two or three variations of chicken at once, using aluminum foil dividers in your pan. Sriracha, BBQ, honey mustard — you can have it all. Three birds, one pan.
3. Chicken, rice or roasted potatoes with veggies.
Quick, simple, and to the point. Using your different chicken flavor options (from above) you can have different variations of this meal all week without boring your taste buds to death.
4. Cold cajun chicken
Take a piece of grilled or blackened chicken the night before and rub in a homemade cajun spice mix using things you already have in your pantry (or try this recipe.) Serve on top of a green salad, or slice it, and add it to a whole-wheat wrap filled with crunchy veggies.
5. Desk salad
Pack bowls with radishes, tomatoes, feta, and hard-boiled eggs (or whatever protein you prefer). A quick tip for hard boiling multiple eggs at once is to place the eggs in a muffin tin, and bake in the oven for 30 minutes– Magic!
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6. Steak fajita salad
All the amazing flavors of a fajita conveniently assembled in a salad and topped off with the creamiest cilantro lime dressing.
7. Pesto pasta with sun dried tomatoes and roasted asparagus
This is a delightfully light, yet filling meat that will definitely add a twist to the working lunch. Make it for dinner the night before and use the left overs for tomorrow’s lunch.
8. Fruit and vegetable smoothies
Buy all of the ingredients in bulk, blend, and then freeze in ice cube trays, plastic bags or muffin tins.
9. Lettuce Wraps
Use large leafy green lettuce leaves as a nutrient-rich alternative to a regular wrap. Simply add your favorite fillings. Try vegetables with fish/egg, curried lentils, chilli beans, or falafels.
10. Healthy Left Overs
The quickest way to prepare a healthy lunch, is to make more of your healthy dinner. When dishing out your nighttime meal, put some away in a container for the next day’s lunch.
Don’t let your busy lifestyle impede your progress towards gaining optimal health. A healthy lunch can help keep you focused, prevent the 3 PM energy slump, boost your mood, and save you time and money in the long run.
Find the content useful to you? Click into the goal box below for more time-saving and effortless tips on exercise and diets. By taking this simple act, living a healthy life is no longer a mission impossible for you!
Featured photo credit: Kaboom Pics via kaboompics.com
