Eat Better Feel Better

Lunch time can be the highlight of a long, challenging work day. But what should you eat for lunch? Your choices at lunch can have effects on the rest of your day, your health, your waistline, and your wallet. Eat a large or heavy meal, and you could feel bloated and sluggish after lunch. Go out to a restaurant and your wallet might feel a pinch. One way to combat these difficulties is packing your own lunch. Bringing lunch from home offers many advantages. Check out these tips for success!

1. Plan ahead – A common concern is finding time to pack a lunch. Mornings can be chaotic and pressure to get out the door on time might cause you to skip lunch prep. If this is an issue for you, try packing lunch the night before. (You could save a portion of dinner and put it in a container for tomorrow’s lunch.) Put everything in the lunch box in advance and store it in the fridge until morning. Then you’ll be ready to grab and go! If nightly lunch prep seems like too much, consider packing five lunches on the weekend for the work week ahead. If you work assembly line style, packing five lunches takes very little time. Bag them up and store them in the fridge until you need them.
2. Shop around – Lunch box fare can be better than the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches of your youth. Look all around the grocery store for ideas. Sandwiches are great, but you may also want to try a yogurt as your main course, or a can of soup, or pasta salad, or hummus. Many brands make single serving containers of foods that are great for lunch boxes. Toss an unsweetened applesauce into your bag, or a portion of pickles or olives, or a serving of nuts. Fruits like bananas and oranges are also very packable. These can be part of your lunch or midday snacks. Having a variety of options in your lunch box can help you stick to your diet goals and avoid snacking on whatever food is around the office.
3. Variety can be the spice of life, or not… – Some people like a lot of variety in their lunches. Other people like to eat essentially the same lunch each day. (Check out this article for some perspectives on these folks: https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2019/03/eating-the-same-thing-lunch-meal/584347/) If you eat a similar lunch each day, it becomes second nature to buy and pack the usual items, and your body may appreciate the predictability too. Do make sure you’re eating a balanced diet though – if your lunch is the same most days, you’ll want to take care that it is healthy. Incorporate some variety into your breakfasts and dinners too.
4. Consider the savings – If you eat out for lunch frequently, you’ll probably find that the cost adds up! Packing your own lunch can certainly save you money. It may also save you time. Restaurant meals or cafeteria lines can take up most of your lunch hour. When your lunch bag is only a few steps away in the office fridge, you can get right to your meal and maybe even have time for a walk afterwards. And if you’re counting calories, packing your own lunch offers the chance to carefully choose the components of your meal. Restaurant or cafeteria meals don’t offer quite so much control, and usually serve up plenty of temptations instead.
5. Reduce, reuse – A fun lunch box can add some pizzazz to your lunch hour and might even be a conversation starter. Reusable containers are an environmentally friendly way to pack your portions. Don’t forget a reusable water bottle!

If you’re feeling inspired, here’s a recipe to try. Lasagna is easy to portion out for lunches!