I need some healthy lunch inspiration. I have been running at night and all of my runs lately have been low energy and crappy. I am pretty sure it is because I do not eat any 'real' food until dinner after my run. What can I pack for lunch?
Parameters:
I am living in a hotel (hopefully just a few more weeks). I have a normal refrigerator, a microwave, and a stove, but basically nothing to cook with (pots, pans, knives, utensils).
I have a refrigerator at work, but any type of eating establishment is super far away.
I can't eat another 'lunch meat' sandwich.
My lunches have degraded to peanut butter crackers, fruit, and carrot sticks with hummus. That would be fine for a day or two, but not for weeks on end.
I've been eating this a lot lately: brown rice, tons of chopped carrots, red bell pepper, snap peas, scallions, and a scrambled egg with a little bit of peanut sauce and sriracha. If you can make brown rice (even find microwave?), everything else is raw, and you can cook a scrambled egg in the mic, too.
I've been eating this a lot lately: brown rice, tons of chopped carrots, red bell pepper, snap peas, scallions, and a scrambled egg with a little bit of peanut sauce and sriracha. If you can make brown rice (even find microwave?), everything else is raw, and you can cook a scrambled egg in the mic, too.
Those are tough conditions for healthy eating!
I eat rice bowls too! But it would be hard to make rice. Unless you get the microwaveable kind.
Post by lasagnasshole on Dec 3, 2013 22:26:21 GMT -5
I have been doing salami, cheese, crudités, dip (hummus or ranch or something else), and sliced apple with peanut butter. Each day also includes nut-centric trail mix for lunch. I find that even though I've been eating it for weeks, the variety within the lunch means I don't get bored. I also like to change up the salami and cheese varieties.
Would a snack help? I am usually starving when we get home and will have a snack while the kids are eating. I will run after they go to bed at 7 some nights.
This is probably a stretch for you, but I love the frozen veggie bags that are microwaveable. There is a brown rice one and I will add black beans and veggies to it when I am lazy or short on time which is almost 100% of the time.
I've been eating this a lot lately: brown rice, tons of chopped carrots, red bell pepper, snap peas, scallions, and a scrambled egg with a little bit of peanut sauce and sriracha. If you can make brown rice (even find microwave?), everything else is raw, and you can cook a scrambled egg in the mic, too.
Would a snack help? I am usually starving when we get home and will have a snack while the kids are eating. I will run after they go to bed at 7 some nights.
This is probably a stretch for you, but I love the frozen veggie bags that are microwaveable. There is a brown rice one and I will add black beans and veggies to it when I am lazy or short on time which is almost 100% of the time.
A snack would probably help, I just don't have appealing ideas for one.
Would a snack help? I am usually starving when we get home and will have a snack while the kids are eating. I will run after they go to bed at 7 some nights.
This is probably a stretch for you, but I love the frozen veggie bags that are microwaveable. There is a brown rice one and I will add black beans and veggies to it when I am lazy or short on time which is almost 100% of the time.
A snack would probably help, I just don't have appealing ideas for one.
I am a granola bar-aholic so I always default to kashi bars at work for snacks.
Do you have a basic coffee maker? I've never tried it, but I know I have seen various blogs and websites where people have steamed veggies, boiled eggs, made oatmeal, poached fish, etc using a coffee maker.
Do you have a basic coffee maker? I've never tried it, but I know I have seen various blogs and websites where people have steamed veggies, boiled eggs, made oatmeal, poached fish, etc using a coffee maker.
No, this is the land of tea. I have a tea kettle and a caved a few weeks ago and bought a French press for coffee.
I've definitely "been there and done that" with the hotel living. I was on a 7-month work assignment once and had to get really creative with meals. One of my favorite easy lunches is to buy a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken on a Monday and eat it during the week. I often paired that with a bag of frozen steamer vegetables and a banana.
The other thing I did a lot was yogurt mixed with whole grains and fruit.
What do you eat for dinner? H and I have been packing a smaller portion of the previous night's dinner for lunch the next day, and pairing it with a piece of fruit and a yogurt. It has been working out well... healthy and quick, but much more filling/satisfying than a sandwich or other typical "lunch food".
I've been eating this a lot lately: brown rice, tons of chopped carrots, red bell pepper, snap peas, scallions, and a scrambled egg with a little bit of peanut sauce and sriracha. If you can make brown rice (even find microwave?), everything else is raw, and you can cook a scrambled egg in the mic, too.
Those are tough conditions for healthy eating!
this will be my lunch next week. I may even add tofu.
I've been eating this a lot lately: brown rice, tons of chopped carrots, red bell pepper, snap peas, scallions, and a scrambled egg with a little bit of peanut sauce and sriracha. If you can make brown rice (even find microwave?), everything else is raw, and you can cook a scrambled egg in the mic, too.
Those are tough conditions for healthy eating!
this will be my lunch next week. I may even add tofu.
I made a week worth of this last night (we work Sunday-Thursday here ). I ended up using quinoa instead of rice because it is easier to cook. I also added bean sprouts and mushrooms. I'm pretty excited about my lunch today!
Post by mollyrunner on Dec 8, 2013 11:50:29 GMT -5
I second microwaved or baked sweet potatoes. I would stuff them with veggies, beans and cheese. Is there any chance you could pick up a rice cooker? You could throw quinoa and lentil in to cook together and could add a can of tomatoes and other veggies to last for lunches all week.
Do you have a small crock pot? They are pretty cheap. I was thinking that would be a good way for you to cook heartier meals without all of the dirty dishes and clean-up involved.
Another idea is a loaded baked potato. You can bake the potato in the microwave and top it with shredded cheese, greek yogurt, whatever meat you want, chives, etc.
You mentioned tired of lunch meat but do you like canned tuna? Or canned chicken?
You could also pick up some low-sodium canned soups at the store.
this will be my lunch next week. I may even add tofu.
I made a week worth of this last night (we work Sunday-Thursday here ). I ended up using quinoa instead of rice because it is easier to cook. I also added bean sprouts and mushrooms. I'm pretty excited about my lunch today!
I also made a week's worth last night! I used brown rice, carrots, orange peppers, bean sprouts and some 'fried' tofu. I just put the siracha into the peanut sauce for easy transport. I'm really excited for lunch today. I might even do a PIP!
these bowls might replace my big salad. I'm already brainstorming variations greek, soutwest, etc.