MAIL BAG: Healthy Lunch Ideas

Hi Maria,
I recently found your blog via Pinterest and am really loving all your recipes. You did a post a while ago about healthy lunches, do you have any more ideas to share?
Thanks,
Ainslee


Hi Ainslee!
Thanks for the question.  It seems like every new year I make the resolution to eat better and eat healthier.  This past January was no exception but to me healthier didn't so much mean fat and calories, instead it meant portion control and eating less processed foods (bye, bye Lean Cuisines, diet Cokes, canned soups...all former lunch staples).  
Below is a sampling of some of the lunches I have eaten this past month and a half.  You'll notice that I still eat cold cuts (turkey or chicken usually) but I've switches to the all-natural, preservative free kind.  The rest of the lunches are simple things like salads, leftovers or crackers with cheese.  Not pictured but also a favorite lunch of mine is leftover homemade soup or chili, like this one and this one.   I find that most taste better the next day anyway.  BTW, I really like these Ziploc containers to help control portion size.
I know that lunches can be a real challenge sometimes, so if anyone out there would like to share some of their favorite lunch ideas, just leave a comment below.  Thanks!
Maria

LUNCH IDEAS

Grapes, almonds, pita crackers, Laughing Cow cheese

Grilled chicken salad, balsamic vinaigrette, clementine

turkey, crackers, Laughing Cow Light cheese, strawberries and grapes

salad (lettuce, peppers,onion, tomato), leftover ragotoni, clementine

turkey on whole wheat bread, cheese, carrots

chickpea salad (with avocado, onion, tomato), crackers, strawberries

salad, Italian vingerette, leftover rotiseeer chicken, grapes

salad (1/2 hard boiled egg, red potato, onion, tomato), dijion vingarette, grapes

turkey, cheese, crackers, apple

salmon, asparagus, roasted herb red potatoes, grapes

carrots, celery, crackers, white bean tuna salad, clementine

turkey on french baguette, kettle chips, carrots

salad (lettuce, cucumber, onion), Wasa crisp, Laughing Cow Light cheese spread, balsamic vingerette

Tuna salad in a pocket thin, carrots, hummus

Last but not least I wanted to share with you what I eat when I can't eat lunch-Ha!  On those days, I usually whip up this chocolate banana protein smoothie.  It's super easy to make, portable (!), healthy, filling and tastes quite yummy.  It's also perfect for breakfast or after a workout.  I'll post the recipe for it next.

Chocolate Banana Protein Smoothie