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41 Comments
Catherine S.
September 11, 2022
Monday morning. Just got home from vacation late last night. No food in the house. A can of flavoured (or not) tuna, or a can of pea or lentil soup, or an egg, medium boiled, while I’m getting ready for work. Or if there are any cucumbers or tomatoes in the house, canned chick peas and feta (or any) cheese and some olive oil or any salad dressing.
patricia G.
September 11, 2022
halved cherry tomatoes, red onion shreds, mozzarella pieces torn from a ball, a little vinegar, salt and pepper, a glug of olive oil...mix gently, scatter torn basil leaves over the top. How many times have I had this for lunch this summer?
Irene S.
July 9, 2017
Vegan. Grains, Greens and veg. spiced up with citrus/ginger/spicey dressings. Big bowls that hold up to pre-assembly. Wraps of more of the same with crunchy carrot, snap peas, cabbage and greens, more spicy sauces including creative uses and flavors with cashew 'creams'.
Jan
October 15, 2015
I start with salad as a base and then add whatever is on hand, usually left overs. Today was Asian meatballs, salad and cold spaghetti with a vinaigrette dressing & a dash of satay sauce. Tomorrow, egg salad with satay sauce, instant Gado Gado. Thanks for the tips on the boiled eggs.
Paulette E.
October 15, 2015
Since I love having frienda over lunch I make a killer salmon with capers, white wine and a delicious salad with my own vinaigrette. It's simple and takes less than 30 minutes. When alone, lentil soup with cumin a dollop of sour cream and I'm ready to go
Brenda J.
August 16, 2015
I constantly amaze my coworkers with my.... imaginative lunches. Many a time you will find me with a can of hearts of palm (yep straight out the can), a pouch of tuna or salmon (again, straight from the pouch), and a cucumber or bell pepper, raw. Sometimes I will have an apple or banana during the day at some point and always oatmeal for breakfast. Either overnight oats or plain oatmeal in the micro at work that I stir ground flax and nut butter into (makes it taste like a warm pb cookie!!). When I DO pack my lunch, it's usually a garden salad (loaded...kale, spinach, celery raddish, romaine, carrots, sprouts, chick peas etc etc etc).
SaucyCuisine
August 13, 2015
I love to bring one piece of fresh fruit and set it on my desk. I enjoy the color and shape all morning. Can't wait to eat it for lunch. Grab this from your fruit bowl or crisper in 3 seconds as you're running out the door in the morning.
[email protected]
August 11, 2015
I've been packing lunch for husband and me for about a year. Agreed, the key is Sunday prep and pack during dinner cleanup. A typical routine: Sunday cook a grain; bake chicken breast for husband (I'm a veggie) and make chicken salad; pre-wash salad greens and pre-slice salad goodies; sauté onion, mushroom and spinach; boil eggs. Along with fruit and plain yogurt or pre-made oats we have breakfast and lunch-healthy and yummy! Not so much work when you consider savings in weeknight time, calories, and health. Thanks for some new tips!
meg
August 11, 2015
Leftovers. I love left over dinner for lunch or even breakfast, come to that.
meat, fish, whatever, and if I don't refrigerate it, it is room temp by lunchtime.
I know you will call the salmonella police on me, but really, it's fine. I take no chances. No really hot temps and it is not unrefrigerated that long.
I love leftover lentil burgers! Today: gf fried Swai with horseradish, green beans and gf noodles
meat, fish, whatever, and if I don't refrigerate it, it is room temp by lunchtime.
I know you will call the salmonella police on me, but really, it's fine. I take no chances. No really hot temps and it is not unrefrigerated that long.
I love leftover lentil burgers! Today: gf fried Swai with horseradish, green beans and gf noodles
Patricia W.
August 10, 2015
I pack lunch as I clean up from dinner. Today was 1/2 filet of trout, rice pilaf and sweetcorn cut off the cob. Delish!
Zoë L.
June 16, 2015
Fried chickpeas. Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in a pan at medium heat. Add one can chickpeas (after rinsing them). Cook for 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat, place in container, add spice mix such as garam marsala to taste. The best. I have it at least once a week.
Diana
May 8, 2015
I+call+it+a+BLT+A+...+Same+idea+as+avocado+toast+except+bring+along+some+bacon+you+cooked+in+the+oven+when+you+made+your+dinner+the+night+before.+I+assemble+the+sandwich+at+work+so+the+tomatoes+don't+make+the+bread+soggy.+Also+have+the+luxury+of+a+toaster+at+the+office.+Mash+the+avocado+with+a+little+salt+and+pepper+and+wat+better+than+mayo+on+my+BLT.+
Margaret C.
April 30, 2015
If you put your lunch together as you are putting your leftovers away after dinner all you have to do is grab and go. In the morning.
Gabriele S.
April 28, 2015
Those lunches I've made many times, so easy especially if you prepare the night before. Heathier than those store bought garbage. You never know what they put into them or how they've been prepared. And how lazy can you be?
Karen F.
March 23, 2015
left over pork tenderloin slices with rosemary crackers and sliced mozzarella cheese and sugar snap peas with jalapeno hummus
Michelle C.
March 11, 2014
Some weeks are crazy and all I can manage is to bring my groceries to work. I head to the market on Sunday or even Monday morning and grab a container of pre-washed greens, bell peppers, mushrooms, assorted olives, pickles, artichokes, etc. from the olive bar, a hunk of sparkly gouda, a cup or so of sliced almonds from the bulk bin, maybe some bean salad if anything looks decent at the deli counter, and some eggs. If I'm lucky, I'll boil five eggs on Sunday night, put them in a container, add that to the sack with all those other groceries, and take them all to work. I assemble a salad from my ingredients each day in the kitchen at work. No advance prep necessary! (This works best if you have a a cutting board and a decent knife at work.) I always keep oil, vinegar, and sea salt at the office, so dressing is easy. And if you don't have time to boil eggs, grab some smoked salmon or fancy creminelli sausage and, voila! Healthy lunch on the fly.
Nancy C.
February 24, 2014
A note on nuking the sweet potato at work: I recommend cutting it on halves or quarters at home before you pack it, then it won't take as long in the microwave. I usually put the potato in alone, covered with a damp paper towel to avoid it drying out, for about 3 minutes or until tender. Then top with chili or sauce and heat for another 1-2 minutes.
Ruthan
October 14, 2015
Or be a good coworker by planning your lunch for 15 minutes *after* your 20 fellow employees are done trying to use the single microwave :)
Ceege
February 23, 2014
For my favorite (easy) lunch, I thinly slice a sweet onion and cook it in a bit of veggie broth until soft and brownish. Drain off any remaining liquid and add a couple TBLS. of barbecue sauce. Set aside while shredding/chopping whatever veggies are in
fridge. (Carrots, broccoli, spinach, zucchini, lettuce, tomatoes, radishes - you get the idea - whatever you have on hand. Quickly warm a tortilla in microwave and place all veggies and the barbecued onions on top and roll up. Yummy!!!!! and don't forget to have a piece of fruit for dessert.
fridge. (Carrots, broccoli, spinach, zucchini, lettuce, tomatoes, radishes - you get the idea - whatever you have on hand. Quickly warm a tortilla in microwave and place all veggies and the barbecued onions on top and roll up. Yummy!!!!! and don't forget to have a piece of fruit for dessert.
TerryB5520
February 23, 2014
I poach some chicken and/or salmon (separately, natch)on Sunday, using some warm for Sunday lunch. Then I have the rest with greens and grains for lunch later in the week. Best lunch move I ever made was keeping good olive oil, salt, pepper, schiracha and Korean pepper flakes in the desk drawer. Love this site.
Marian B.
February 26, 2014
Smart! Sounds like you have an incredibly well-stocked office pantry. And thanks for the kind words!
Urmi
February 22, 2014
Quesidillas from last night dinner..just add some shredded cheese and heat it over a pan ..that along with some fresh sliced avocados..yum..left I ers could be vegetarian stir fry, meat or fish..if I have sliced onions I add them to..I also do something similar and make a panini
Caterina B.
August 10, 2015
You mean, you make a panino. Sorry about that. We Americans don't know much about foreign languages, do we? One is a paninO, two or more are panini. Singular panino, plural panini. Ok, I have never seen this spelled correctly on any menu board. Just sayin'
maye
February 18, 2014
I like to bring really interesting salads for lunch. It takes a bit of prep on Sunday nights, though. I roast a couple of chicken breasts and cube them and put them in tupperware. I slice onions, tomatoes, whatever veggie toppings, cube some cheese, and when the morning comes around I pack the greens in one jar and the toppings in another. Takes just a minute. At lunch all I have to do is just combine everything on a plate. Today I have mixed greens with chicken, tomatoes, onions, cranberries, walnuts. Pretty tasty.
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