Five Healthy Lunches

Hi, I’m Renee and I blog over at Creative Mama, Messy House. I am all about shopping locally and eating your veggies, so I am really excited about Trine’s “Healthy Eating” May challenge. I have been trying to lose about 20 pounds of baby-weight, so eating healthy has been on my mind. Today, I have decided to share a week’s worth of healthy lunches that can be eaten at home or packed up and taken with you to work or for a picnic.

Monday

Turkey Pinwheels

These pinwheels are the perfect way to enjoy the fillings of a classic turkey sandwich without all the bread. You can use a tortilla (whole wheat or white), low-carb wrap, or lavash bread to make these. Some of my favorite combinations with turkey are avocado and cucumber and sun dried tomato-basil aioli and provolone.

Tuesday

Hearty Broth Based Soup

Pack your favorite soup up in a Thermos and it will stay hot until lunch time. Try to pick something that is broth-based to save on calories and is full of protein to keep you satisfied until dinner time. You can find some wonderful soups in your supermarket’s deli these days, or try your hand at making your own with my vegetarian Minestrone Soup recipe.

Wednesday

Tarragon Chicken Salad

This Tarragon Chicken Salad is a wonderful foil for any leftover roasted or rotisserie chicken you might have waiting in you refrigerator. Using Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise cuts calories and bumps up the protein content. Take two cups of cooked, diced chicken and add 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and 2 teaspoons of Dijon mustard. Stir in 1 tablespoon of chopped fresh tarragon, and add 1/2 cup diced red apple, 1/2 cup celery, and 1/4 c pecans and season to taste. I like to eat this wrapped in lettuce to eliminate the need for sandwich bread.

Thursday

Spicy Black Bean Burgers

Instead of going out for a burger and fries, why not try a hearty vegetarian option, lighter in fat and calories. There are so many options these days when it comes to picking a meat-free burger. I like the Morning Star Farms Black Bean Burgers or the traditional Boca Burgers. Feeling bold? Make your own from scratch! Freeze them between sheets of waxed paper so you can easily reheat one when you need a quick lunch.

Friday

Big Healthy Salad

Since Fridays are usually nights that we go out or get a little indulgent at dinnertime, I like to keep my lunches light, but satisfying. A big salad full of seasonal fruits and vegetables keeps me full without filling me up with a ton of calories. Try this combination: mixed greens, strawberries, cucumber, feta cheese, and sunflower seeds, with a homemade balsamic dressing with black pepper. Pack the dressing in a small container and dress before eating to keep the salad crisp.

With any of these lunches, I like to pack some healthy snacks as sides. My top picks include fresh fruits and crunchy vegetables, nuts, or vegetable chips or baked potato chips (in portion controlled baggies). What are your favorite healthy lunch options? How often do you bring your lunch from home as opposed to eating on the run?