5 tips for creating a more satisfying sack lunch



With the economy lagging, we’re all trying to stretch a dollar these days. And bringing a lunch from home -- even a few times a week — can equal big savings on your weekly food budget. But who can stand the bologna sandwich boredom?

Change your attitude about the brown bag!

Today’s homemade lunch is full of interesting, healthy and budget-friendly foods just waiting to be enjoyed in the park, at your desk or in the company break room. Below are a few suggestions to bring some excitement to your brown bag lunches.

Don’t let your desk tie you down
Lunch doesn’t have to be a structured meal. If you want to get outside and go for a walk, or if you have errands to run, think portable. The same foods you would put in your kids’ lunch box will work for you, too.

Choose:
String cheese, or small cuts of other low-fat hard cheeses
whole wheat crackers or mini pita pockets
yogurt, go-gurt, or single servings of cottage cheese
nuts or trail mix
fruit

Apples and oranges are lunch bag staples, but why not try something more exciting like kiwi, star fruit, grapes, melon balls, or pears. You can also mix up a batch of homemade trail mix using a variety of cereals, raisins, crasins, or other dried fruit and pistachios or almonds.


Real men (and women) do eat quiche
Quiche is a great lunch choice. It meets all the essential sack-lunch criteria: it’s portable, easy to make and tastes good hot, cold or even at room temp. Plus you don’t even need a fork to eat quiche, if you make it in muffin tins. Traditional quiche is made with ham and swiss cheese, but you can make a quiche out of almost anything.

Try:
mushroom and swiss
broccoli and cheddar
cooked chicken and pepper jack.
Find great quiche recipes here.


Get rice down to it
A rice bowl can be a healthy and easy lunch, which makes it a great bag lunch idea. The great thing about a rice bowl is that everything is prepared ahead of time and reheated. And a rice bowl can include anything you want: mushrooms, green beans, onions, peppers, bean sprouts, and any kind of meat or tofu you like.

Go:
Asian by adding teriyaki or soy sauce.
American by adding gravy and cheese.
Mexican by adding beef, beans and salsa.

Bring a few taco shells, and make your rice bowl into tacos at work. Or pour your hot rice bowl over salad green and you have an instant taco salad.


And speaking of salads...
If you like to get your veggies in at lunch, spice up a traditional salad by trying new veggie combinations, lean protein, different cheeses and maybe throwing in a few slices of fruit and some nuts.



Try:
Fresh spinach with sliced pears, blue cheese and toasted pecans
Romaine with shredded cheddar, red beans, purple onion and crushed tortilla chips

Or forget the lettuce all together and have:
sliced tomatoes, cucumbers and onion in a light oil and vinegar dressing

Or sliced red and green peppers, squash, zucchini or broccoli served with hummus for dipping.

Find more creative salad recipes here.


If you must have a sandwich...
If you love sandwiches, as Mr. Lite Green does, you can recreate your standard sandwich by experimenting with new ingredients.



Try:
rye, pumpernickel, a bagel or pita bread, flour tortilla

Jazz it up with:
assorted greens, fresh basil, sprouts, sliced cucumbers, onions, tomatoes.

Swap the mayo and mustard:
Try a little ranch dressing, hummus or mashed avocado. Sprinkle with balsamic vinegar or drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil for flavor. Top with a pinch of salt and pepper for an authentic deli taste.

Packing a lunch doesn’t have to be boring. With a little creativity you can have healthy, delicious lunch that will keep you satisfied for the rest of the day.