Lunch Box Idea #31

With the job that I am working now I am packing my lunch and using a lunch bag. I don’t have the luxury of having a refrigerator in my office any longer but I am still able to eat low carb. I have found that by packing my main entree while frozen it is thawed enough by noon to cook and it helps to keep my other items in the bag cold as well. You know that I have to have my yogurt!

What I packed for this weeks lunch box idea is the following.

Ham and Spaghetti ‘Squash Au Gratin

I made 5 containers of this and froze them. I love the sandwich containers for this. They stack very well in the freezer and keep the serving thin enough to microwave without the center still being cold and the outside edges boiling.

My lunch looked like this.

Ham and Spaghetti Squash and Almond Raspberry Chocolate Pizza was for my lunch. The picture also shows my morning snack of low carb yogurt and my afternoon snack of cucumbers and ranch vegetable dip. Of course I had a diet A&W Root Beer with my lunch.

Lunch Box Idea #30

Can you believe that I have shared 30 lunches with you? Many people tell me that they struggle with their lunches most of all. I have several lunch boxes/bags and I always take snacks, drinks and lunch with me each day for work.  This way I don’t find myself hungry and grabbing poor choices from the vending machines. It really is all about planning in order to remain healthy.

Last week I made Salisbury Steak with Onion Gravy and Roasted Broccoli and Bacon. My planning looked like this.

I lined up 5 containers and filled them with my lunches.

When I packed my lunch it looked this. It included a yogurt for my morning snack and another yogurt for my afternoon snack. For lunch I had Salisbury Steak with Onion Gravy, Roasted Broccoli and Bacon and fresh pineapple.

What are you planning for your lunch?

Low Carb Lunch Idea #29

Last week Mike made BBQ Meatballs and I took them for my lunch at work. This was a very filling lunch for me. I have had to up my carbs a bit since I am walking so much at work. I am feeling stronger and have more energy and that is a definite plus.

For my lunch I had BBQ meatballs, broiled zucchini with parmesan and Blender Coconut Pie for a total of 9.5 carbs. In this picture you will also see my morning snack of low carb yogurt and my afternoon snack of cucumbers with ranch dressing dip.

Lunch Box Idea #28

Everyday at work I see so many people not planning for their lunch and then they either go without lunch or they grab unhealthy options from fast food restaurants. Packing your lunch and planning ahead isn’t difficult. It just takes planning.

With my work I am constantly on my feet and moving and I love it. I get my exercise without having to go to a gym and I don’t feel exhausted when I come home. I actually have MORE energy than I did when I had a sedentary job. I feel so much better.  The problem that I had last week at work was that I was so busy that I lost 4 pounds.  For someone maintaining and not needing to lose weight I had to increase my carb count and take additional snacks to work this week. I thought that I would share my journey with you. Be warned this will be picture heavy.

First I made Porcupine Meatballs for my lunch. That recipe was shared on Wednesday of this week. I bought these snap-lock containers that have dividers in them for my work. I LOVE these things. When I have enough left overs for one person I throw them into one of these and put it in the freezer. Then I simply throw it in my lunch box for work the next day.

I just lined up my containers on the counter and filled them with meatballs and green beans.

In my lunch box I added a morning snack of low carb yogurt, and an afternoon snack of Almond Thins and Havarti Cheese. For my lunch I had Porcupine Meatballs, Green Beans, Fresh Pineapple and Lime Coconut Dessert that I shared on Facebook. I added A&W Rootbeer to the bag as well. This way I have all of my snacks and my lunch ready for me. Cook once and eat for 5 days.

Lunch Box Idea # 27

I appreciate everyone taking the poll 2 weeks ago and letting me know which meals you were most interested in. Main Entrees for dinner is what most people are looking for with breakfast and snack ideas tying in second. For that reason this will be my last Lunch Box Idea and I will start alternating between breakfast and snack suggestions each Wednesdays.

This last week I made salad for 3 of my lunches. I grilled a huge ribeye steak and cut it in 3 portions. I made a spinach salad with cheddar cheese, hardboiled egg and a homemade salad dressing that I loved. I will share the recipe for the salad dressing later today. Doesn’t this look lovely?

The meal broke down like this:

• Spinach- 1 gram net carb
• Egg- 1 carb
• cheddar cheese- 1 carb
• ribeye- 0 carbs
• salad dressing- .08 carbs

Total carb for meal- 3.08 carbs

Low Carb Lunch Box Idea #26

I haven’t shared a lunch box idea for a while.  Through wordpress I can see which topics people are the most interested in and these posts get hit on multiple times each day so I am going to periodically add these as suggestions of encouragement for those who are struggling with what to take to work.

This is what I took to work with me this week.

• Joe’s Special- 6 carbs
• Low Carb Yogurt- 4 carbs
• Banana Nut Muffin- new recipe that will be in the cookbook- 4.5 carbs

Total of 14.5 carbs. I could still add a small side salad to this and be under 20 carbs but I know that I will be full with this.

My Dessert For The Week

Yesterday after taking Buford to the Animal Hospital I came home and made this. Doesn’t it look awesome? I plan to take it to work with me each day to have with my lunch.

This is a recipe that I have shared before. You can find it below. Coconut Meringue Pie.

http://grace2882.wordpress.com/2009/04/29/coconut-meringue-pie/

 

Flatbread Wrap

As I mentioned earlier in the week I love this new flatbread. I made a fresh wrap last weekend while Caleb was here. He tried it and loved it too.

I placed the flatbread on a plate. I mixed mayonnaise and Frank’s Hot Sauce to taste. I like mine a bit spicy. This would also be good with Ranch Dressing and Frank’s Hot Sauce. Then I topped it with lettuce. I wished that I had chopped tomato to add but I was out. Then I layed fresh deli sliced turkey over and it and rolled it up.

I am having this for work too this week. Very simple and very filling. Once I add the tomato I am figuring this wrap to be 8 carbs.

Low Carb Lunch Box Idea #25

A couple of weeks ago I made California Turkey Burgers and vegetables for the Smothered Burgers. I took both of these to lunch with me for a low carb lunch of only 10 carbs. I added a low carb yogurt from Krogers for 14 carbs for the meal.

Lunch Box Idea #24

On Sunday I made the Sausage with Mushrooms and Cheese to take for my lunch this week. I made this and a salad to take as the side. When it was in the pan it looked like this this.

When I divided it into smaller portions it looked like this.

I went ahead and made 5 containers of this meal and froze all but 1. Each night I will take one out of the freezer and stick in the refridgerator. The next morning I throw it into my lunchbag and add a salad and I am set for the day.

These containers are the sandwich containers that both ziploc and glad make. They are perfect sizes for single lunch portions.

My lunch broke down this way:

• Sausage with Mushrooms and Cheese- 3.5 carbs
• Salad with salad dressing- 6 carbs

That will make 9.5 for the meal and will be very filling. The best thing is that I cooked once and my lunch is made for the rest of the week. I made a big salad and each evening I put some in a bowl for the next day. In the morning it all gets thrown into the lunch bag.