Lunch at work ideas ...

Glowing

Hi all,

Starting a new 3 month fitness reigime entailing PT sessions, weight training, spinning and kettlebell classes. I'm a healthy 30 year old female, 5"5, 53kg - not needing to lose weight but desperately needing to have a better lunch diet in particular when at work.

My current diet consists of muesli/oats for breakfast, a ham salad sandwich on wholewheat bread for lunch and some fruit during the day followed by a healthy enough dinner (meat/fish, veg, brown rice/pasta - the usual ) Also have started omega 3 fish oil suppliments (anyone know what the correct dose is?) and drink a fair bit of green tea.

So I really need help with lunches at work - I know I'm going to get hungrier after all this training and need to eat healthy protein based food that is going to keep me full until dinner.

I have access to a fridge and microwave - so please help give me with some quick but satisfying lunch ideas!!!

Thanks

accensi0n

Meat with salad
Piece of fruit and nuts for snacking

or

Meat with veg
Piece of fruit and nuts for snacking

So it could be:
Darn of salmon with salad mix
Apple
Cashew nuts

I think the most important thing though is having the food bought. If it's not at home then you can't have it ready for the next day and you'll end up buying sh*te.

michelledoh

They say that protein rather than carbs that stop you from feeling hungry! You should losd up on chicken, beans and eggs. Make salads or noodle dishes that you can eat hot or cold!

Sometimes i know it's really hard to prepare a lunch on the go. Especially if you're running late! Then when you go out to lunch there is always the temptations of rolls and other unhealthy food. There are loads of great asian fusion places in town that have great low fat food: protein rich noodle and rice dishes with loads of veg! If you look at Wagamama's or Cafe Mao and places like that! Just avoid soy sauce and go for dishes with light brothes rather than salty sauces and choose white meat over red!

Gummy Panda

Cook bigger dinners in the evening and keep some of it in a lunchbox to eat in work.

You'll have more control of what's in your food and won't have to queue.

tmc86

I agree with Gummy Panda, cooking larger meals in the evening is a great way to sort lunch the next day.

Plus I would recommend cooking your lunch in the evening and making more then having the smaller portion for your evening and eating more for lunch. That way you will be able to burn off the lunch throughout the day and a smaller meal in the evening is ideal for weightloss.

Also I keep a bag of sunflower seeds in my desk drawer (500g from Tesco for about €2.50+) these are great to snack on and very high in protein so you feel full for longer after a handful or two.

boogeyman

I always bring a packed lunch with me and head to the gym after work. I find meals like chicken tagatellie/ stirr fry/ chicken salad stand me in good stead for the day.

The protein in the meat keeps hunger at bay and I like to load up on carbs to keep me ticking over in the gym. I always have a few snacks in my desk like a few cereal bars/fruit etc. I find them good to have maybe an hour before the gym to top me up:)

Lord Derpington

I usually have something like the following.

A whole wheat bagel, sliced in half and toasted.
Crack two eggs into a round tupperware bowl and use a splash of milk from the fridge (the stuff for the tea).
trow the round bowl in the fridge keeping an eye on and giving it a stir (but not breaking it up)
Place inside the bagel and you have an O'Briens style egg/omlett bagel.

I got a pack of three round containers in Dunnes for about 3 euro and the middle one is the exact of every bagel i have found.

Also, sometimes i add slices of turkey/ham to the bagel for some extra nutrition.

---
Also get some couscous in a bowl with a stock cube and some fresh veg like pepper, onion etc. Trow some boiling water on it from the kettle in work and cover it.
Put some smoked mackerel in the microwave and by the time the mackerel is done your couscous wont be too far off.

I find both to be lovely!

boogeyman

hmmm that egg omelette bagel sounds tasty:D

I enjoy omelettes/scamble eggs at home but have never brought something like that for lunch. Must give it a go!

Dotcomdolly

Saw these today & thought they'd be great for lunch to work, esp the salad one

http://www.aldi.ie/ie/html/offers/special_buys3_16932.htm

I love bulgar wheat with roasted veg, toasted pinenuts and cooked chicken, dressed with olive oil & balsamic - nice recipes for bulgar salads on Donal Skehans site.

anewme

greenfly wrote: »

I usually have something like the following.

A whole wheat bagel, sliced in half and toasted.
Crack two eggs into a round tupperware bowl and use a splash of milk from the fridge (the stuff for the tea).
trow the round bowl in the fridge keeping an eye on and giving it a stir (but not breaking it up)
Place inside the bagel and you have an O'Briens style egg/omlett bagel.

I got a pack of three round containers in Dunnes for about 3 euro and the middle one is the exact of every bagel i have found.

Also, sometimes i add slices of turkey/ham to the bagel for some extra nutrition.

---
Also get some couscous in a bowl with a stock cube and some fresh veg like pepper, onion etc. Trow some boiling water on it from the kettle in work and cover it.
Put some smoked mackerel in the microwave and by the time the mackerel is done your couscous wont be too far off.

I find both to be lovely!

Really great suggestions - the second one is exactly like an eggworks bagel, which I love, could put bits of lean bacon, onion, tomato or mushroom in or basically whatever is in the house!

Am going to eat both these next week!

whiteonion

You should eat bacon and eggs for lunch, your diet contains too much starch. It's not good for you.

Gummy Panda

whiteonion wrote: »

You should eat bacon and eggs for lunch, your diet contains too much starch. It's not good for you.

How would they cook bacon and eggs in work?

I imagine reheating them in a microwave would be horrible

LoveGreen

Hey Glowing,

These days I make a huge green smoothie in the morning - over 2 liters and put half of it in a flask for lunch. You can get a whopping 15 of your 5 a day in and the best thing is they taste real good:). You wont even taste the greens!!
Check out this website for more information and recipies (just google for more) :
http://www.greensmoothiegirl.com/

Glowing

Love the post Lovegreen

Would that be enough to fill you up for lunch??

LoveGreen

Yeap, definitely very filling. I normally add 2-3 bananas into mine with whatever handy fruit i got like half a pineapple, 2-3 kiwis, an apple, i always keep loads of berries frozen in the freezer too and of course LOTS of greens .
The first time i made it I was expecting it to be nasty but I was amazed how good it was! You can always start small and work your way up too.

I also put flaxseeds and pumpkin seeds in from time to time and dont notice them.