Brown Bag It – Packing Healthy Lunches To Go

You don’t have to go the two slices of bread route in order to save money and calories. Be creative when making your lunch. Instead of eating out, eating in your workplace cafeteria, or eating out of the vending machines, plan your lunches ahead of time and save money and calories. You can plan lunches two ways…the first way I always liked to do when I worked at the hospital. I worked super early hours and did not have time to make lunch at 4:30 AM before heading out of my door at 5AM. So, I would plan out all of my lunches for the week on Sunday.

I do not like soggy sammies, so I like to cook “one pot meals” that will either last me the whole week or most of the week. One pot meals can help you save money and can also be portioned out into 300-500 calorie meals, kind of like healthy choice or lean cuisine meal.

There are many different ways to have delicious, healthy lunches that you will look forward to, not just because your work day is half over but because they are so tasty you will want to rip that bag right open.

Try some of these one pot meals that you can portion out into 5 servings.

Colorful Protein Packed Orzo

16 oz cooked boneless, skinless chicken breast (cubed)
8 oz. whole wheat orzo (cook according to package directions)
1 tbsp olive oil
1 pint cherry tomatoes
1 head broccoli, lightly steamed
1/2 cup carrots, sliced
1 squash, lightly steamed and sliced
1 tsp red pepper flakes
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp oregano, fresh
1 tsp parsley, fresh
2 oz goat cheese, crumbled

Mix all of the ingredients together into large bowl. Portion out 5 servings into tuper ware containers. Each serving is approximately 375 calories. Finish off with 2 dark chocolate hershey kisses :o)

Sloppy Joes w noodles and broccoli

1 lb ground turkey breast
1 can manwich sloppy Joe mix
1 onion, diced
8 oz whole wheat noodles (i use penne)
2 cups broccoli, steamed

Cook onion with spray olive oil on medium heat until tender. Add ground turkey breast and cook until browned. Add 1 can of manwich and simmer for about 10 minutes on low heat.
While the sloppy joe mix is simmering, boil your water for pasta and cook your pasta for about 8-10 minutes or until al dente. Once pasta is finished cooking, add the pasta and uncooked broccoli to the sloppy joe mix. Place your top on the pan and let sit for another 5-10 minutes, until the broccoli is soft. Portion into 4 servings. Approximately 380 calories per serving.

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