What Do You Do For Lunch? About This Page:

[SarahJ]

I'm a busy mom of three and sometimes I'm so busy getting the girls ready in the morning that I forget to pack my own lunch. That happened to me today. And since I'm trying to eat healthier and save a little money, I try not to eat out for lunch. Fortunately, traffic wasn't a problem today and I had time to stop at the grocery store on my way into work. Unfortunately, the store I picked doesn't have a salad bar. So today I grabbed a pre-made bagged salad mix from the produce section. I must say, it was rather tasty and I don't feel at all guilty.

What do you do when you don't have time to fix a lunch for yourself to take to work?

[Danielle Harmon]

Usually on weekends or off days I make a few different homemade soups that I can freeze in single servings and take in with a salad or a half a sandwich...

[my2girls]

I always try and keep something in my desk - even if it's a package of Ramen noodles. I generally pack my lunch everyday.

[Teresa]

I always have a few frozen tubs, bowls, whatever of soup and/or chili. I can grab one on my way out the door, and only need to remember a spoon. I usually try to take a little bit of cheese and crackers, but I don't have to have them.

I almost always pack my lunch. It's usually the aforementioned soups, sometimes a salad, frequently a thing of yogurt. I also try to remember to plan out my lunch the night before - there is no reason you can't make sandwiches or a cup of soup (you'll have to heat it later) or even leftovers, add a piece of fruit and a drink, put it all in a lunch bag/box and put the whole thing in the fridge. I've done that many, many times. Makes it easy to grab it in the morning.

If I'm in a pinch, I'll go to Subway and get a salad with lean meat or no meat. Works well. I've also been known to run to the grocery - grab a pack or yogurt and a piece of fruit or a small bag of washed, cut veggies and take that.

[SarahJ]

Originally Posted by Teresa

I
I almost always pack my lunch. It's usually the aforementioned soups, sometimes a salad, frequently a thing of yogurt. I also try to remember to plan out my lunch the night before - there is no reason you can't make sandwiches or a cup of soup (you'll have to heat it later) or even leftovers, add a piece of fruit and a drink, put it all in a lunch bag/box and put the whole thing in the fridge. I've done that many, many times. Makes it easy to grab it in the morning.

I do this too Teresa. I almost always have items in the fridge ready to just grab in the morning. I was just so busy this morning that I got out the door and halfway to work before I realized I forgot to grab the yummy chicken tortilla soup I had all ready to go in the fridge! Oh well, I guess I'll be having that soup for dinner tonight!

I also have a mini fridge in my office at work and I try to keep a few items in there like yogurt, cheese, salad dressing, etc.

[debsta922]

We are able to buy lunch at work... it's all organic and healthy and only $5... I usually bring mine though, but it's nice to know there are great choices when I need it.

[scottjs]

Sometimes I bring a salad from home.

Sometimes a sandwhich(No lunch meat allowed on diet) from Subway

Sometimes I bring soup(but only low sodium allowed)

[lukeandbrookesmom]

I always pack mine when I'm making lunches for the kids.

[Lemap760]

Luckily there is a grocery store near work as well as a Target with a grocery section. I just run in and grab a frozen entree or pre-made sandwich. It's less than the cost of going to the fast food places, and healthier too.

[wheatenwalker]

I keep instant ( low sugar) oatmeal in my desk and some of those quick soup things, the Progresso or Healthy Choice that you can heat in the microwave- high in sodium but for a once and awhile thing, they are ok. One of my friends keep the foil pouches of tuna in her desk, some are already mixed with mayo, the ones that arent , she just opens and eats. Another co worker keeps a jar of pnutbutter in his desk and some 100 calorie packs of wheat thins ( or other crackers- the 100 calorie variety)

[3dogknight]

I usually pack a lunch but in case I run out of time I have a can of soup in my locker at work, when I use it I bring a replacement the next day.

[Disney_Scarlett]

I keep a jar of peanut butter in my desk. Sometimes when I'm running late in the AM, I'll grab a banana and a couple of slices of bread and make a sandwich at lunch. I've also got a couple of cans of soup, some canned fruit, some melba toast, instant grits and two of those Healthy Choice mixers (doesn't have to be in the fridge or freezer) in my desk. I usually have at least one Lean Cuisine in our freezer, too.

So I really have no reasons to go out when I forget/run out of time - but I still use it as an excuse!

[rescuesk]

I pack the night before, too, but if I miss, I have soup cups and some other quick fix things in my locker (mac and cheese, ramen noodles).

I also keep a big basket of "snacks" on my kitchen counter, things like 100 calorie packs, peanut butter crackers, granola bars, etc. If I am running out without lunch, I throw one of those in my bag so that I have something to munch on or use as a side. (For instance, heat up a cup of soup and have the peanut butter crackers with it). I always keep that stock so Dh and I can grab something.

[wheatenwalker]

Oh and if I need to stop at the store- I buy some fruit (like a banana or apple or pear) and maybe some cheese or I buy a small bag of baby carrots and one of the small sizes of hummus or get some from the olive bar- If I donthave something healthy, I'll be buying junk- so I try to have easy stuff available

Nice topic, Sarah! Lots of good ideas- I forgot about those Healthy Choice dry options ( thanks Scarlett)

[Cheriemek]

I bring my lunch every day. I have diet bread and one piece of meat, a package of 100 calorie snacks, and a Diet Dr. Pepper. I know if I bring my own lunch, I consume much less calories than if I buy something.