The winner of the Daily Gourmet giveaway is #50, kayleigh — congrats! Please email me with your contact information so I can email David @ Daily Gourmet!
I have been a bad lunch packer as of late. No really — I’m serious. Usually during the school year, I’ll diligently pack my lunch right after dinner, stick it right in the fridge, and then grab it and go the next morning. In fact, I’ve spent all of my personal spending money this week on going out to lunch for the past four days.
Who am I and how can I get that $40 back? Don’t answer that, Starbuck’s Lady Who Gave Me Back $30 in Singles The Other Day. I know what you’re insinuating, and I am not amused. Okay, maybe I am a little bit — amused, that is.
I think we all know how much of a serious lunch hater I am (since I have addressed the issue before), and I’m pretty bummed I can’t just either graze through the day or cook a full on meal with whatever I’m craving for lunch like I can during the summer. The Husband is a full on lunch hater too — only because I pack his lunch with delicious things like carrot sticks, raw flax crackers (just to try! sheesh!), and meatless sandwiches when I’m too lazy to go to the grocery store. Sorry I’m not sorry.
Now that a new school year is upon me, I have to buck up and start packing lunches no matter how much I really don’t want to. Because let’s face it, I would rather spend my spending money on less frivolous things like nutritional yeast, shellac manicures, and chocolate coconut water (have you tried that stuff yet? Crack!!).
So, what are some good things I can pack throughout the school year?
Salads
When in doubt, I bring a salad. Thankfully, I don’t always just do romaine/spinach plus a bunch of veggies. I have found beans salads, pasta salads, and other veggie salads do the trick as well! A few of my favorites include:
broccoli chickpea and fig salad
“heavy on the broccoli” pasta salad
Foods to be Dipped
Um yes, that is a category — do you have a problem with that? A lot of times, I will bring some crackers, veggies, and some (okay, a lot… okay, a tub) of hummus and dip to my heart’s content during lunch.
raw curry flax crackers
Smoothies
I thought my life was over last year when I figured out I couldn’t be a smoothie drinker for lunch anymore. Then, a co-worker started bringing them into work and I was all, “how are you drinking a smoothie for lunch?” And she was all, “remember how we have a freezer in the kitchen?” And I was all, “I’m such an idiot.”
So then I started making smoothies in the morning, putting them in the freezer when I got to work, and taking them out of the freezer and into the fridge about 1-2 hours before I wanted to drink it. Stir it up and slurp it down!
my favorite green monster
Soup
I enjoy soup more in the winter months, but it is a Sunday staple around here to make a huge pot for the week and live off of the soup for lunches Monday-Friday. It is way too easy to dump everything in a pot, simmer for a while, and have lunch ready and portioned out in less than an hour.
veggie quinoa soup
Sandwiches
I know what you’re thinking — boooorrrinnnggg. I swear though, sandwiches can be FUN! Especially if you’re gluten free and they feel like you’re beating the system for eating bread when there’s really no gluten. I love the mind games I play with myself. But seriously, a good old pb&j isn’t so bad when you’re not eating one every day. Another thing I like to do is bring along veggie burgers to heat up — those make a great sandwich or a salad topper for some extra fat and protein!
Leftovers
My personal favorite — it takes no time at all except for boxing up some leftover dinner and sticking it in the fridge. In fact, right now I have some spaghetti squash and tofu all topped with marinara sauce and nutritional yeast waiting for me in the fridge for lunch tomorrow. 11:15 will never be the same again.
The great thing about ANY of these options is they can be made ahead of time and portioned out each night for easy lunch packing.
Because let’s face it — I have a serious iced coffee addiction and it’s only getting worse. There’s no way I can go to Starbuck’s AND buy lunch every single day. I’m going to take the coffee for $2.65 thankyouverymuch.
Question: What do you normally pack for lunch? Do you cave and go out for lunch regularly?
{ 69 comments… read them below or add one }
I actually miss getting creative and packing my lunches! I was a lunchtime smoothie drinker too sometimes - the freezer saves the day! I think dinner leftovers still reign as my favorite lunch option, though.
I love packing leftovers from dinner the night before!
In the cooler months I am with you on soup. I live off of it for lunch and supper. I can’t wait for that again. lol. I would also much rather spend my money on iced coffee than eating lunch out-especially here because there is only one really healthy option in town and I would get sick of eating there every single day!
I HATE packing lunch. It’s such a pain. I really enjoy having a nice veggie sandwich in the middle of the day but I hate spending all that time prepping veggies and making the sandwich. I rarely eat leftovers because I am a college student and a lunchbox is just one more thing I have to carry around all day so I avoid refrigeration.
Basically, every day I end up eating half a pb sandwich, a banana, and some kind of bar for a snack because that is what I can put in my backpack worry free. I make up for the veggie absence with dinner.
Since I just got back ON Budget and I have very little personal spending money to last until next Thursday, I just started packing my lunch again. I actually went to Whole Foods and bought a small deli container of their curry chicken salad and sonoma chicken salad. That will last me through the weekend then I need to start over…
blah
I pack my lunch every day! Well I actually do it as soon as I get home from school/the gym so I don’t have to think about it again! My go tos are sandwiches.. and I bring apples, carrots, and some other fruit or veggie every day to nosh on
I get really upset when I leave my lunch at home, too!
That’s a good idea (if I’m not going to pack leftovers!)
My absolute favourite lunch at the moment is also a chickpea salad - in fact I based it on one of yours (the broccoli and fig one).
Mine has - baby spinach, chickpeas, broccoli, chopped green apple, spring onions, ricotta and a lemon and dijon mustard dressing,
It is truly the bomb.
Unfortunately my lunch today is a strange combination of what was in the fridge the day before payday. Chickpeas, raw carrot and zucchini, tomatoes and some tzatziki. Yum?
That salad sounds really good - I’m going to have to try it!
I love when I have leftovers to bring; that’s the best! I’ve worked at the same school for 3 years now, & have NEVER bought a lunch in the cafeteria. I’ve heard horror stories from some other teachers about having to assign seat work to their students so they didn’t have to leave their desks after lunch! HAHAHA
Ew gross, I definitely will not eat school lunch either!
Lunch is actually one of my favorite meals. I rotate between much of the following:
1. chicken breast (i know this wouldn’t work for you) + hummus + raw veggies (bell pepper strips, zucchini, summer squash) + apple
2. wraps. I use the Ezekiel tortilla stuffed with avacado + srpouts + tomato + pickles + cheese
3. Rice Bowls. Brown rice + bean of choice + salsa + cilantro
4. Veggie Burgers.
Rice bowls are a GREAT idea - thanks!
I used to always pack my lunch, but then would STILL go out to eat because my coworkers were going and staying in the break room with my leftovers just didn’t seem as fun (or tasty). And then I would tell myself “I’ll eat this lunch tomorrow.” Nope. Out to eat again. That’s why I think it is more cost efficient for me to be a stay at home mom forever - I’m an expensive employed Mom.
haha I do that sometimes too!
I pack my lunch everyday for school so I love getting some fresh new inspiration to change things up a bit!! Thanks Chelsey can’t wait to try some of those salad recipes!!!
I put my hand up on my hip and Dip! Baby, Dip!
Seriously on those nights when I am like “What? Pack and plan a lunch?”
A bee gas tun of fat and carbs ala hummus and then just toss in a bag of pre-cut veg and crackers. It’s on.
And soup. On the weekends cook up a batch an it’s like a soup keg in the fridge.
My biggest problem is that I don’t have a fridge or a freezer at school. Whatever I pack has to survive at room temperature! My go-to is usually salads, since they last well. I love mixing it up by putting all different toppings!
Oh wow - that would not be fun! Have you ever thought of bringing a cooler?
Lunch is usually a snack plate of some sort. Deli meat, string cheese, almonds and some sort of whole grain cracker with hummus. I’m definitely a snacker.
i always pack a lunch for school, but my meals get boring pretty quickly since i don’t have access to a microwave OR a fridge!! i have to get creative with cold meals and sometimes end up with the weirdest combos.
when i get seriously tired of eating packed lunches, though, usually i end up going out to get frozen yogurt or a fancy sandwich.
I try to limit my lunch-outs to one a week (max…I’d prefer not to go at all when I can). I usually roll with some soup, a wrap, a tofu salad of some sort or a massive snack plate with hummus/nuts/fruit whatnot
Usually in the swing of things, I only eat out once per week too!
These are awesome ideas!! Thanks!:)
I do a lot of quinoa + thawed veggies + beans with either salsa or braggs or tomato sauce. Or pita with veggies and hummus.
YAYYYYYY! Thank you so much for this post! I now have new and yummy options to pack that are SO EASY. I’m going to need lots of energy dealing with 26 4th graders
I never ever buy lunch! Always leftovers or a salad/sandwich+a million snacks. I posted about it today! And you just opened up my smoothie world…I, too, have a freezer at school! I was beginning to wonder if people would think I was weird if I brought a magic bullet to school. Then again, surely they already think I’m weird.
I like to pack wraps with hummus and veggies in little corn tortillas.
I don’t bring salads because they tend to get soggy. I love lunch!!!! During my lunch break I feel all relaxed and I get to spend an hour chatting and eating, so much better than my rushed breakfasts and dinner, when all I can do is worry about all the stuff I have to get done before the next morning.
I never go out for lunch, always pack snacks or am home for lunch. And I always pack Scott’s lunch and I hate it the days I see he forgets it b/c that means $10 wasted. And on bad food to boot.
I love your roundup of things you pack. Wow, you eat gourmet style compared to the things I pack. I either pack dinner leftovers in tupperware or just lots of fresh produce, things to dip it all in, random snack bags of crackers, granola, munchy food, i.e. any kind of swag i have been sent/given
and of course, some choc or dessert is always good in there too!
Those pictures make it look pretty, but usually it’s just stuffed in a Tupperware!
SO boring, but I normally pack a ham and cheese sandwich (heavy on the lettuce, please!) with an apple and some crackers. I usually have a Larabar for a mid-afternoon snack because I eat lunch around 11:30
Your salads look good!
What bread do you use? It looks delicious and I haven’t found any gluten free bread that I love, yet! Let me know, please.
The bread that was pictured was homemade - I use this recipe: http://www.glutenfreecookingschool.com/archives/finally-really-good-sandwich-bread/
Or I buy Rudi’s!
Thank you for getting back to me!!! You rock!
Over the summer I had such a hard time packing lunches because of work (and simply finding time to eat!) but this is one I my favorite salads! I use whatever vegetables are in the fridge (often carrots, cucumbers, peppers + raw cown…) and def and avocado…it makes the salad nice and creamy!
http://ohsheglows.com/2010/12/28/back-on-track-wheat-berry-and-bean-salad/
P.S. …I love how you also spell Chelsey with a Y, I rarely find someone else who does!
Hi Chelsey - I am obsessed with your blog as I, too am a gluten-free vegan as a result of a “mystery” illness. My question is, how are you able (or can you) to tolerate additives such as carrageenan and xantham gum? I get a migraine within minutes. Sorry that I had to leave such a long comment…I didn’t know how else to ask the question. Thank you for such an inspirational blog.
I actually don’t react to carrageenan or xantham gum. I rarely eat them, but if they’re in something, it doesn’t bother me!
Thanks for reading Nicole!
I always pack my lunch and my snacks. I feel guilty when I end up spending my money on going out. I know that it isn’t worth the money and isn’t as healthy. Of course, I’ll always make exceptions when I’m going out for social reasons!
I should really get more creative with my lunches. I usually just have a sandwich of some sort and then some veggies. Blahh..that sounds so boring haha. While I’m in grad school I only pack my lunch if I’m going to be in class, otherwise I’m able to eat at home. I know that when I have a job I will pack my food because like you, I would rather spend my spending money on better things
I’m very guilty of going out to eat too. However, I started a new job today so I packed a “big girl lunch” full of fruit, almonds, and left over piece of pizza. I even felt like a food blogger because I took pictures of all lunch and wrote about it.
That’s too funny! Congrats on the new job!
I buy a big bad of salad, a bag of mixed fruit, some stringed cheese, and keep the bag of nuts in the fridge….. That way it’s there allllll week. I don’t have to worry about it till the next week when I run our! …….Thanks for some of your ideas. I get in such a RUT when the school year rolls around. It’s nice to mix things up!!!
I try to get creative with my lunches on days that I work, but it can also be super convenient to stick with a routine. Winter months are much easier for with with biggers meals that have leftovers - veggie chili, quinoa dishes, soups, etc. Right now - I bring a lot of lettuce-less salads, fresh fruits, nuts, crackers, etc. Excited for cooler temps, and the foods that come with them.
My packed lunch was a peanut butter lover’s dream…i.e. something you would love: tofu & peanut butter sandwich on wholewheat with carrot sticks topped with more peanut butter on the side! YUM!
Congrats Kayleigh! You’ll love the Yogavive products.
Thanks again Chelsey!
Love packing my lunch for school! I hardly ever buy it. These ideas are great. I am loving the pics
I am a leftovers packer!! I am WAY too lazy and cheap to do anything else!
I just make a huuuge dinner and then have leftovers for the rest of the week!!
Oh, and all your recipes look AMAZING!! I am browsing right now!!
I hate packing lunches! I’m boring and lazy, so I’ve been packing hummus + avocado sandwiches almost every day that I work this summer.
bring!! only on special occassions do we order out. this week started off with tuna salad wraps (yes, i was THAT teacher who brought the smelly lunch into the teacher’s lounge) and it has ended with leftovers…. seriously, SO easy!
Those curry flax crackers look delish - do you make them yourself or buy them? For lunch, my go-to options are soup (today I brought homemade tomato basil), pasta salad w/ veggies and beans, or even a hearty dose of wasa crackers with some brie and an apple.
I am usually really good at packing lunches for work- either soup or salads. But when I fall out of the habit I fall HARD. I can easily waste so much money (and calories) in just a few days. Then I have to tell myself off!
Am I the only who actually LIKES packing lunch? I feel it´s so satisfying to know that you have delicious, healthy food for the lunch break and don´t need to go out to buy anything (that you would normally never eat at home). I mostly bring fruit and veggies (like cucumber, peppers, tomatoes…) and salads. Also I through in some nuts. I rarely eat sandwiches, bc I´m not that much into bread and mostly never keep some at home.
I’m definitely a lunch packer! Because parking is limited at the university I work for, I would never dare give up my space just to go out for lunch. I pretty much always pack salads and leftovers. I love doing chilis and soups like you do. I don’t mind packing my lunch, but I hate having to pack my honey’s lunch as well!
You’re not alone with the whole going out to lunch debacle. I’m a teacher too & always experience this at the beginning of the schoolyear. It’s such a treat to be able to leave for lunch during work days because normally I only have 20 minutes for lunch. And in just two weeks there goes my cash & my waistline. By the way, I love dipping lunches too-hummus & broccoli is my fav, paired with some kind of nuts. Yum!
I am also a teacher and totally understand your issues with lunch. I started eating/drinking smoothies a lot this summer and love the idea about putting in the freezer, so thank you! My husband goes out to lunch every day (he says it is for his mental health to get out of the office) which means I get stuck eating leftovers all the time. It is not terrible but there have been weeks when I have had the same thing for lunch four days in a row
I am so bad at packing lunches, but I refuse to buy lunch! I usually end up just bringing a salad with crackers or something on the side. Nothing too fun and exciting.
Oh the joys of packing a lunch. I don’t have to do that anymore but I do have to pack a dinner for the nights I close at work and it’s just as annoying
Leftovers are a HUGE life (and time) saver!
When I take my lunch, it is either a chickpea broccoli salad or an egg+turkey sandwich. I’m so bad about making my own lunches though. I always underestimate how much food I will need so I end up starving at some point and have to buy something else anyway. I’m like you, I wish I didn’t have to eat lunch and could just snack all day.
you just made me swoon my combining bone suckin’ sauce with broccoli and chickpeas. hollllly goodness gracious.
Those salads look fantastic - I think I’ll have one for dinner
I have been working on a lunch post for the past few days - packing them for school is a serious issue of mine! :/
Loving your lunch ideas!!! I just had my very first iced coffee today and hells bells, I’m freaking addicted!!!! Most amazing drink.Ever.
I am trying to get on the lunch train myself, to eat better and save money. It’s tough sometimes. Thanks for the ideas.
I am a strict sandwich and salad packer but I am always open to new things…as long as it will FILL ME! lol
I have got to try that chickpea ‘n’ beet salad. I almost spelled beat! lol
I just wrote a post about this same topic today… it’s a good one!
I usually pack sandwiches or salads with sides of fruit and/or yogurt of some sort. I usually will go out to lunch once every few weeks. It just gets so darn expensive!
P.S. I just found your blog… love it so far!
McDonalds has iced coffee for $1 til September! I ask for no milk & just add my own almond milk!
oh man, I’ve been totally guilty about going to WF for lunch um…about three times in this past 5 day week…I mean, there’s one right up the street from my new school and it’s right on the road I take to get home, and with all this adjusting I’ve had to do, it’s completely legitimate. right?…right? haha. If I pack though, I’m a big fan of the sandwiches - i mix up the types of bread/rolls/bagels I use, and the veggies/spreads/protein sources that go in them; and I’ve discovered that it’s essential to keep the tomatoes separate and only add them when read to eat to prevent sogginess!
Love your lunch ideas!! Today I actually bought a small tossed salad and brought a veggie burger from home. Great way to save a few bucks! Maybe tonight I should actually make a full lunch.
I did manage to bring breakfast to work though, that should count for something except I bought the most expensive iced coffee ever today. $4 for a medium, I cried a little.
{ 1 trackback }