Save Money and Slim Down by Bringing Your Lunch to Work or School!

     A great way to consume fewer calories, less fat and sugar, and to save money is by bringing your lunch to work or school. It works by the same principle as not grocery shopping when you're hungry. When 12:00pm rolls around you are feeling the grumbling in your stomach, signally that it's time to eat, you are starving and ready to grab the quickest, easiest, and possibly cheapest thing around. This is especially true if you skipped breakfast (don't do it!), or if you didn't have time for a mid-morning snack (dried fruit or a granola bar are great options!). You may head down to the cafeteria in your building, or you may hop in your car and hit up the drive-thru of the nearest fast food place. These options seem so tempting when you are famished, but you always end up regretting it later, whether it's because you strayed from your healthy eating plan or because all that grease isn't sitting well during that afternoon meeting. Bringing your own lunch can save you all the trouble!

     Try to start thinking about your lunch the evening before, after you eat dinner. At this time your hunger is satisfied so you won't be tempted to add unnecessary, unhealthy foods to your lunch box.

     Taking leftovers is a great way to stretch your food dollar (two meals in one!), and you will make sure they won't go to waste when they accidentally get pushed to the back of the fridge. In this case you can start thinking about your lunch before you even eat dinner the night before. As soon as the food is ready, put some in containers, and put them aside in the fridge. This way you won't be tempted to overeat either! I like Pyrex storage containers because you can put them in the microwave without worrying about BPAs leaking into your food when re-heated.

     If you don't have any leftovers that day or you would rather not take them, try some of these ideas for a healthy lunch. Keep in mind that if you plan ahead, make a grocery list, and do your grocery shopping over the weekend, you can eliminate some unnecessary trips to the store during the week!

     I always make sure I take fruit in my lunch. I also pack an extra piece that I can eat on my commute home, that tides me over and reduces temptation to pick up a snack from a drive through or from the gas station! I pick my fruit based on what is on sale at the grocery store. That typically reflects what is in season!

     If I'm not taking a salad as my lunch I always pack a raw vegetable too. Some good options include:

• fresh bell pepper strips with a side of hummus
• celery with a side of Laughing Cow cheese
• carrots or broccoli and low-fat ranch dressing
• string beans
• sweet potato sticks, yes you can eat them raw!

    I usually take a salad in my lunch. Since it takes time to eat, it feels like I am eating a lot, and the bulk of the raw veggies helps fill me up! Plus, raw veggies and fruit are great natural sources of fiber! Some good options include:

• Caesar salad made with: romaine lettuce, shredded Parmesan cheese, croutons, hard boiled eggs, chopped onions, and Caesar dressing
• Rainbow salad made with: romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, sliced in half, chopped orange peppers, chopped red onions, croutons, and papaya citrus dressing.
• Greek: baby spinach, feta cheese, kalamata olives, chopped red onion, tomatoes, cucumbers, peperoncini, and low-fat Greek dressing

     Some quick lunch time sandwich options include:

• BLT or FBLT: Pumpernickel rye swirl bread, light mayo, lettuce leaf, sliced tomato, bacon or two Morning Star fake bacon strips. 
• Cheese sandwich: whole grain bread, 2 slices of cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, mustard or light mayo.
• Tuna salad: whole grain bread, tomato slice, slice of cheddar cheese, canned tuna mixed with light mayo, chopped red peppers and chopped onion.
• Chicken salad: whole grain bread, lettuce slice, chopped grilled chicken breast mixed with light mayo, grapes sliced in half, and chopped onion.

     Other lunch items you might consider:

• Low fat yogurt
• Pretzels
• Dried fruit, such as dried cranberries, raisins, or banana chips
• Raw nuts, such as walnuts or almonds
• Dark chocolate square for dessert!

     When 12:00pm rolls around and you are looking for a quick meal to tame your rumbling stomach, you can grab your healthy lunch out of the fridge and enjoy it without guilt! You won't be tempted to run to McDonald's if you have a healthy meal available. You won't have to worry about getting an upset stomach from greasy fast food and you won't sabotage your healthy eating plan! Sure, this takes some planning ahead, but it's worth it, and once you having been doing it for a week or so it will become second nature. You will also save money! If you spend $5.00 on your lunch each work day by going to the cafeteria or a fast food restaurant that's $25.00 per week. And lets be honest, $5.00 per day would be on the low end! That $25.00+ would be more than enough for a head of lettuce, veggies, fruit and a bottle of dressing for that same week. So start bringing your own lunch to work or school, and reduce your calorie, fat, sugar, and artificial additive intake, and save money at the same time!

Cheers,
Brittney