Whole foods lunches?

[Jayne J]

Can you recommend a website or cookbook to help me learn to make healthier lunches? I have a pretty good grip on breakfast and dinner, but for lunch we always end up eating convenience, "kid friendly" foods like chicken nuggets and mac and cheese, etc. I don't like to serve them, and I know they are unhealthy. I am a good cook, but I just don't have the patience to cook well for lunch after teaching all morning. I need a kick in the pants and some inspiration for fast, healthy lunches, whole foods based if possible.

 

Thanks!

[Parrothead]

:lurk5:

[TranquilMind]

Can you recommend a website or cookbook to help me learn to make healthier lunches? I have a pretty good grip on breakfast and dinner, but for lunch we always end up eating convenience, "kid friendly" foods like chicken nuggets and mac and cheese, etc. I don't like to serve them, and I know they are unhealthy. I am a good cook, but I just don't have the patience to cook well for lunch after teaching all morning. I need a kick in the pants and some inspiration for fast, healthy lunches, whole foods based if possible.

 

Thanks!

 

I am NOT a good cook. I have a repertoire of maybe 3 meals. My husband is a fantastic cook, though.

 

And interestingly enough, it has been a benefit that I am not. My kids eat maybe one hot thing, like a grilled cheese sandwich or "egg in a basket" (egg cooked into a piece of bread) with about seven kinds of cut up raw fruits and veggiesfor lunch and sometimes dinner most days.

 

They are extremely healthy, thin, fit, and have amazing immune systems.

 

All things work together for good....as scripture says. ;) Even my lack of ability or interest in cooking!

[TranquilMind]

I am NOT a good cook. I have a repertoire of maybe 3 meals. My husband is a fantastic cook, though.

 

And interestingly enough, it has been a benefit that I am not. My kids eat maybe one hot thing, like a grilled cheese sandwich or "egg in a basket" (egg cooked into a piece of bread) with about seven kinds of cut up raw fruits and veggiesfor lunch and sometimes dinner most days.

 

They are extremely healthy, thin, fit, and have amazing immune systems.

 

Most days, one of my meals is replaced by a raw food green smoothie.

 

All things work together for good....as scripture says. ;) Even my lack of ability or interest in cooking!

[AdventureMoms]

Dinner leftovers make up 90% of our lunches. That or things like cut up chicken and carrot sticks with ranch dressing. (I precook the chicken and preslice the carrots so this is super easy). I double my dinner recipes most nights to ensure enough leftovers for lunches. DW also brings dinner leftovers to work for lunch.

[bolt.]

I almost never serve a cooked lunch.

 

I don't quite know what qualifies as a "whole" food these days, but our lunches consist of cold veggies (or salad) with dip/dressing, cold meats and/or cheese and/or egg, then a serving or two of fruit and usually some toast of bread with a spread. Sometimes the bread becomes a sandwich. Sometimes the "veggie" is pickles.

 

When I do want something hot it might be soup (easy broth and noodles, or canned if that's OK), grilled sandwiches, or a breakfast-type food. I never have the patience for stuff like eggs, omlettes, crepes, pancakes, French toast, bread snakes, or hot biscuits for actual breakfasts (we need to eat when we wake) so they have become lunch foods -- on those rare days when I want to cook at lunch time.

[meggie]

If you have a good bread, storebought or homemade, you can do chicken or egg salad. Those go pretty fast. I've also made nacho meat and frozen it ahead of time so heating it for lunch doesn't take too long

[AlmiraGulch]

Check out this 100 Days of Real Food site. She has some GREAT lunch ideas, particularly for kids. In fact, there's a whole section dedicated to what she packs her kids for lunch, and there's some really good, but very easy, stuff there.

 

Also, if you're on Facebook, she posts pictures and ideas there, especially for lunches.

[Jayne J]

Thanks for the suggestions! When I say whole foods, I basically mean not canned, boxed or frozen. (Ok, pre-cooked and frozen by me is good, frozen pizza from the store not so much. :) )

 

I like the "second breakfast" idea. My kids are always begging for time-consuming things like pancakes or waffles for breakfast, and generally anything more elaborate than scrambled eggs takes too long. Good thinking!

 

QValencia--thanks for the website. I always get so much inspiration from food blogs and I am eager to check this one out.