Packed Lunches

providing yourself with a pre-packed lunch allows you to control what you're eating as YOU are preparing your meals and the oppportunity to be tempted to buy unhealthy fat-filled options isn't there. Here are some options listed for you to try out and take with you to work, pack your kids lunches, etc.

Some pre-packed options include:

Dinner Leftovers: 

The easiest thing to do is box up last night’s dinner for tomorrow’s lunch. You can either enjoy it as is or remix it by using the same ingredients towards a different recipe. Chicken, fish or meat can be easily added to a tortilla and made into a wrap. Just throw in some beans, avocado and veggies and voila you have a brand new meal.  Warm chicken curry from the previous night can be enjoyed as a cold chicken curry with crackers the following day.

Wrap it up:

There are various ways to make a sandwich. Start by choosing a bread. Are you in the mood for sliced bread, a bagel or a wrap? Spreads like hummus, plain Greek yogurt, mustard, mayonnaise, or tapenade can provide moisture and flavor. Add a source of protein like eggs, tofu, chicken, fish, turkey, tuna salad, etc…Toppinga are fun. Fill your wrap with flavors like chopped olives, nuts, seeds, veggies, sliced fruits and cheese.

PB&J Makeover:  

This classic sandwich can be a lot of fun to make over and is easy for your kids to do alone. Chose 2 slices of bread and add some peanut butter, jelly and real sesame seeds. Version 2: 2 slices bread with almond butter, honey and cinnamon. Version 3: 2 slices bread with peanut butter, sliced apples and flaxseeds. Version 4 on 2 slices of bread spread crunchy peanut or almond butter with thin slices of apples and a pinch of cinnamon.  Version 5: Almond butter spread on 2 slices of bread topped with pretzel sticks and chopped pecans. You can mix and match any which way you like.

Finger Foods:  

You can’t beat the ease and joy of eating foods with your hands. Homemade potato wedges pair nicely with pecan encrusted chicken skewers. Tofu or fish fritter with veggie chips or turkey and cheese slices rolled up in spinach leaves are easy to make and fun to eat. String cheese, granola bars, trail mix, pretzel rods, and pita chips are all fun finger foods.

Tossed Salad:

A salad is light, portable and easy to make. It can be prepared the night before by adding you greens, tomatoes, carrots, peppers into your Tupperware. On the following morning, add some toasted sesame or pumpkin seeds, olives, dried fruits and chicken or tuna salad. Put crunchy toppings like croutons and dressing in separate containers to prevent the salad from getting soggy.

Warm lunch options:  

For a warm comforting lunch put soups, pastas or stir-fry in a thermos. If the school’s cafeteria has a microwave to heat up the food than that’s a plus. If not, you can preheat the thermos by filling it up with hot water before adding the food. Let the hot water stand in the thermos for a couple of minutes then empty out the water before adding the food.  When your kids sit down for lunch, the food should still be warm.

Hydrate:  

Remember that keeping our bodies hydrated throughout the day keeps us cool and energized.  Drinking water over soda and juices will promote healthier bodies and fewer cavities. You can make an activity out of flavoring your water by adding tea bags to hot water and letting it cool to an appropriate temperature before refrigerating it. Explore other ways to add a hint of flavor to water by adding slices of lemon, lime, strawberries, oranges, mint leaves, cucumbers and more.

Source
http://www.lifemeisters.com/2014/03/packed-lunches-made-easy/