What do you take for lunch to work?

Michael on another thread made a comment about he would rather take his lunch to work the buy fast food and this is my plan as well. So It prompted the question.. For us working stiffs

What do you take for lunch? In my house leftovers aren't an option I have 2 teenage sons, so there aren't any I will have to plan these separately and would like ideas.

Thanks

Sher

Well, this is a good question...

I am currently in maintainence mode, so I have a few additional options available to me, I will explain a little more in a bit.

First if you work in an office that you have a deks, get some things that you can leave there "just in case" you don't want your lunch, forget it, etc.  Things that you can leave are things like protein shake powders, protein bars, crystal lite, etc.

Also depends on where you are on your journey.

I live by myself, so I make enough food for a couple of days and therefore I have left overs.  One thing that I can recommend is if you want to take left overs, make it at the same time that you make your dinner, so that there is something available for you.

I also cook on sundays.  I make a meatloaf, or a pot of chili, or taco soup.  I then will divide this up in the "1" cup size zip lock containers and freeze them.  I can grab one and it will be fine by lunch time.

So today I brought in some leftovers (a couple of chicken tenders in the oven and some frozen vegis)  I decided that i did not want to eat that, so I went down to the Cafeteria we have here at work and bought a HALF a sandwich with a slice of cheese and ham with lite mayo on wheatberry bread (here they also have a choice of a low carb wrap with 11g of carbs, but did not feel like that).  I took off one slice of bread and ate it "open faced".  So there was 12g of carbs in one slice, and by only eating half, I only ate 6g.  Not bad.

I pack up a snack or two along with my lunch and breakfast as I eat here at work also.  So I usually have a yogurt for breakfast (carbmaster from Kroger), a cheese stick or another yogurt for an afternoon snack and sometimes I will also have a sugar free pudding after lunch.

Other suggesions I can make, also depending on where you are in your journey...
I recently found the SMALL Lunchables are a good choice.  Throw away the cookies, and eat one or two of the crackers.  Or if you cannot eat the crackers, just eat the ham and cheese.  These have really inexpensive lately and are easy to pack in a lunch.  If you don't want that just a slice of cheese and some lunch meat is good also.

But I would do the left overs route, that's what I usually do.  And because you live with your family, make sure that you make your lunch first and then if your kids eat the rest, you know that you still have lunch the next day.

I just don't feel that fast food is the best for us as WLS patients now.  It can possibly tempt us, and also just put in too much of "something" into our diets without our knowledge.

I hope that this helps a little bit.

Michael.

I work where we have full cafeteria with veggies and all....but I still bring a frozen dinner...I look for high protein content with reasonably low calories... I do the Healthy Choice Steamer' with 20g of protein regularly ....I really loved the South Beach frozen dinners and they had great stats....but they went bye-bye from the marketplace.

The reason I don't do the caferteria...is you don't have control of how it's cooked and calories...so although you think you are eating healthly you are not. 

I work in a small office, theres only 2 of us. So if I dont bring it I will fall into the habit of the many fast foods that surround us which I dont want. We have a microwave and a mini fridge. I just dont want to get sick of eating the same things day in and day out. I know in these early stanges I am so limited as to what I can have. Does anyone have a favorite they used to bring in the early stages like me?

Thanks

Sher

Sher,

I have to admit I don't know much about RNY diet phases, but when I started back to work, i was still on liquids which was easy cause I have a mini-frig in my classroom.  I would just pack up what I needed including a handheld blender and off I went.

When it came to soft foods, refried beans was my favorite (and still is) for lunch, I would take a small bowl, a pinch of cheese on top, warm it up and then add a little bit of fat-free sour cream.

Other soft foods that worked for me in the classroom (I don't do cafeteria food!):
egg, tuna or chicken salad
baked sweet potato
sugar free marinara sauce over turkey meatballs
sometimes i would just take an egg, and beat it up and microwave it, and add a touch of salsa and cheese
beans and ham chunky soup, a big can lasts for two or three meals!

NOW, that I've made that list, please remember I'm a bandster so my diet might not have been the same as yours.

Good Luck!!!
HUGS

 Sher,

Amy's foods will work for you - maybe not RIGHT now.. but those definitely work for me. .  I think she eats a lot like a RNY'er.  this is probably why she has had such great success!!!!   :)

my only difference is that instead of sour cream, I now use greek yogurt.  the tastes are sooo similar and any chance I get to get protein, I take it.  Also, the baked sweet potato is great, but only in small small portions for us.  Again, every precious bite should be protein focused in the beginning since we can eat sooo little. 

Hi Sher!

I am about 2 years out but I still love the stuff I used as a newbie!  One of my favorites was ricotta cheese with spaghetti sauce and a turkey meatball. 

Just a few ideas that helped get me through...

Turkey chili (without the beans) topped with a little shredded cheese (make it and freeze it like Michael suggested)

Crustless quiche

cottage cheese pancakes (recipe on bariatriceating.com

egg salad

chicken salad (buy rotisserie chicken and make your own to suit your tastebuds!)

I always keep sugar free jello cups and cool whip in the office fridge.  YUM!

I always bring a 24 ounce protein coffee drink and sip on it throughout the day.  I love iced coffee so this is a real treat! 

I always bring a 24 ounce bottle of Crystal Light with a scoop of calcium crystals in it.  I vary the flavor so I don't get sick of it!

Lately I have had issues with snacking so I am bringing browned ground turkey to snack on.  I season it with lots of basil, oregano, garlic and red pepper so it satisfies my urge to snack and is good for me too!  A little of that fills me up in no time but if I allow myself stuff like soy chips...well, let's just say it is a slippery slope and I have fallen many times!

You will eventually find the things that are easy and satisfying for you.  Just keep experimenting.

Good Luck!
Freddie 

Some of my favorites while I was still losing are:

sliced turkey & cheese from the deli - these are typically lower in fat, carbs, preservatives & sodium than packaged cold cuts

egg or chicken salad with cucumber or celery as dippers

LF ricotta topped with a Tbsp of spaghetti sauce and a bit of mozzarella - heat in microwave and you will never miss the pasta

Homemade chili

FF refried beans with a Tbsp of enchilada sauce and bit of cheddar or monterey jack cheese

Turkey meatballs with small amount of spaghetti sauce

Now that I am in maintenance, I may add half a slice of bread or a few crackers and perhaps some fruit to complete any of the above.

Hi, I am about 3 months out. I normally take turkey meat from the deli. This fills me fast. I dont miss the bread or mayo... or I make deviled eggs and take them. IN the Centennial guidebook, it tells you the type of mayo and mustard that are considered 'free' foods so it works great with a boiled egg, and you have your protien. It is going to be really hard to eat as much as you should, but just take your time and you will get it. Also,if I try to go  to the cafeteria and eat, I am wasting money, because I cannot eat everything. So my suggestion is that whatever you choose to take, measure exactly what you are needing (protien) and that is all you take. If you take too much and eat fast you will catch yourself sick a few minutes later, because you limits will be totally different and it takes a while to learn when you've had enough.

Hope this helps.

Breanna

Gorton's has grilled fish fillets that I eat pretty much every day for lunch (with some steamed veggies).  I usually cook a couple up (I prefer them cooked in the oven and reheated rather than just cooked in the microwave) and pack lunch for a few days at a time.

The fish has 100 Calories, 16-17g of protein (depending on the flavor), and 1 carb. 

There are lots of different flavors (blackened is my favorite) and I find knowing I have something good for lunch comforting.  If I can't pack my lunch for some reason I kind of panic.