How often do you bring in a lunch to work?

[ESMonitor]

@ Disney Steve

No offenses, sir. I know you are here to help, thank you, and you have certainly given me some things to think about. For breakfast I eat oatmeal, dinner this evening was baked chicken with chopped veggies and half of a sweet potato. So that's good.

Yes, if I could circle the wagons around lunch at work it would do me good. Just not sure how to go about doing that....ie what to bring in that's healthy and will fill my big body up?

I can't give up Lenny's Subs....it's just too good. Their chocolate chip cookies are THE BEST . Once per week I get lunch there and every tenth week is free with their rewards card.

The other restaurants in work lunch rotation...Taco Bell for example...yes I should strive for a healthier alternative by bringing something in and save money in the process. Ideas??

[wjcalderon]

I take my lunch to work every day. I don't like the price or the hassle of getting in my car, driving somewhere, standing in line, etc. to buy lunch out.

I use an insulated lunch bag and "tupperware" type containers. I have a Rubbermaid water bottle that I put ice in to use as an ice pack to keep my lunch cool. Then I fill it up with water to drink with my lunch.

Some days I take a sandwich and fruit, but other times I have tuna or chicken salad, homemade soup (in a Thermos), leftover spaghetti or casserole.

About once a month, our department goes out to lunch to celebrate someone's birthday. I always go with them. Otherwise, they think I'm totally anti-social! But I really wish they would just bring a cake or something and let me stay in and eat my home-packed lunch.

We have a very nice picnic area, so if the weather cooperates, I take my lunch outside. Otherwise, I close my office door and eat at my desk.

[JoeP]

For breakfast I eat oatmeal, dinner this evening was baked chicken with chopped veggies and half of a sweet potato. So that's good.
...
what to bring in that's healthy and will fill my big body up?

Can you make a couple extra dinner servings, and then bring them for lunch? This might be something you can ease into: strive to pack a lunch (using the leftovers) once a week for a month, then try for twice a week.

BTW, chicken is an excellent addition to a salad. I sometimes buy bagged salad and put sliced cooked chicken over it.

[bjl584]

I usually pack a lunch 4 days a week. The 5 day me and a few of my coworkers will go out somewhere.

[MonkeyMama]

Can you make a couple extra dinner servings, and then bring them for lunch? This might be something you can ease into: strive to pack a lunch (using the leftovers) once a week for a month, then try for twice a week.

Agreed. I think starting with your dinner habits is an easy way to extend to healthier/inexpensive lunch habits.

I don't think many of us mentioned anything about eating sandwiches for lunch (it sounds like the most of us pack more interesting lunches), BUT, if you bought some high quality bread and meat, I would think that would be a heck of a lot more filling than something like Taco Bell or Subway. For protein, I always keep boiled eggs and nuts on hand.

Maybe aim to make a simple sandwich one day a week and make extra leftovers one day a week. These are just a couple of different strategies to try.

[disneysteve]

For protein, I always keep boiled eggs and nuts on hand.

Yes, you mentioned needing protein due to your workouts. I always have a container of raw almonds on my desk. I usually munch on those around 11am, an hour before lunch, when I start to get a little hungry. It helps satisfy me, gets me protein and other good stuff, and helps me not overeat at lunch.

Eggs are good. Low fat string cheese is also good to have on hand. I keep a few in the fridge. I always have a can or two of tuna in my desk drawer and a couple of yogurts in the fridge (Greek yogurt is higher in protein if you want to do that though it does cost more).

Not a protein source, but I always keep single serve fruit cups in the fridge too.

One thing that I think is important to suggest is to not worry so much about the lowest cost when packing lunches. For example, the fruit cups are not the cheapest way to get fruit but they are convenient and have a long shelf life. I don't have to think ahead or portion stuff out or worry about things leaking or washing containers. I just keep a few in the fridge and I'm set whenever I decide to use them. Sometimes I have one every day. Other times I may not use one for a week or so. Fresh fruit wouldn't last.

You can also buy single serve packs of other things both for convenience and shelf life like peanut butter and other things. They cost more that way but are still way cheaper and healthier than eating out.

[ESMonitor]

@ Monkey Mama

For the record, I'm pretty sure there has been some mentioning about sandwiches on this thread which can be good if they're prepared right, right? Can't do eggs so that won't work although I know that's a good protein source also loaded in cholesterol I think.

As best as I can say, take your packed lunch, multiply the size of it lets say in grams of protein by three (3), and that would be close to probably what i need.

Today it was half a chicken breast and two cans of tuna in a wrap and a bannana. Do the math, it ain't easy! Unless you are big and tall size you won't understand.

But yeah, there will have to be some changes made, bringing in leftovers I suppose, I can't speak for others, to each their own, but I generally I prefer to eat those the next evening...after a long weekday day, that makes things easier in the evening.

[Petunia 100]

We have to go through security too, and we have the same restrictions on liquids and gels. Anything liquidy or saucey is likely to get confiscated.

I didn't know that, either. Are you allowed to go out to your car, eat, and return? Or is there not enough time for that?

[dawnwes]

DH takes his lunch all days his work doesn't pay for it! They tend to pay for it a few times a month.

He packs leftovers from the night before and heats them up at work.

Dawn

[MonkeyMama]

@ Monkey Mama

Today it was half a chicken breast and two cans of tuna in a wrap and a bannana. Do the math, it ain't easy! Unless you are big and tall size you won't understand.

But yeah, there will have to be some changes made, bringing in leftovers I suppose, I can't speak for others, to each their own, but I generally I prefer to eat those the next evening...after a long weekday day, that makes things easier in the evening.

My "bigger appetite" relatives can not eat at places like Subway or Taco Bell and find it sustaining and filling. (I don't recognize the other food places mentioned). So, I am commenting from that point of view. I understand you need to eat a lot, and probably have a very different diet from I do. But, I don't understand how eating at Subway is meeting your dietary needs. Seriously, what do you order there? I could use this knowledge for the men in my life.

[hamchan]

I didn't know that, either. Are you allowed to go out to your car, eat, and return? Or is there not enough time for that?

It wouldn't really work since employee parking is 10 minutes away by shuttle bus. I don't have a car though anyway.

I have gotten sandwiches and salads through just fine before, and I am sure things like leftover pizza would be fine as well. But I usually prefer not to eat right before or during my shift. If I do wind up buying something it is not a full meal.

[ESMonitor]

My "bigger appetite" relatives can not eat at places like Subway or Taco Bell and find it sustaining and filling. (I don't recognize the other food places mentioned). So, I am commenting from that point of view. I understand you need to eat a lot, and probably have a very different diet from I do. But, I don't understand how eating at Subway is meeting your dietary needs. Seriously, what do you order there? I could use this knowledge for the men in my life.

It depends on whether those men of yours are the size of Andre the Giant; I am not. There is a UFC athlete named Frank Mir, I am the same height and size/build as him.

FYI at Subway they should be able to "get by" on foot long loaded subs with a bannana (bought separately) and a chocolate chip cookie, followed up with a protein bar for late afternoon. Consumed with bottled water.

Taco Bell, best combination I have found is XXL size chicken burrito with either two or three Fresco tacos, no drink, (bannana, (1) Hershey chocolate nugget kept in desk drawer), use the Kentwood water machine at work. Protein bar for late afternoon. Suggest Pure Protein bars, u can get them at Wal Mart, for around $6 a six pack box.

[disneysteve]

There is a UFC athlete named Frank Mir, I am the same height and size/build as him.

Taco Bell, best combination I have found is XXL size chicken burrito with either two or three Fresco tacos, no drink, (bannana, (1) Hershey chocolate nugget kept in desk drawer), use the Kentwood water machine at work.

Are you in similar physical condition to Frank Mir or are you just the same height and weight? If you are an athlete on that level, that really does change the conversation as far as what you need to consume, though it still doesn't make eating out a smart choice economically or from a health standpoint.

I took a look at your Taco Bell meal. The burrito is 840 calories. Three Fresco tacos are another 450 calories. So that's 1,290 total. That's way, way beyond what I teach patients about a healthy diet but I'm not counseling competitive athletes. I'm treating regular everyday folks.

Here's the problem, though. Even if you do compete at a high level athletically, that doesn't make your body immune to the effects of crappy junk food. You may be able to burn off the calories but you will still be clogging your arteries with saturated fat (11gm in the burrito and 7.5 more from the tacos). You'll still be increasing your risk of high blood pressure with the outrageous amount of sodium (3,050mg total).

The bottom line remains that it is way healthier and way cheaper to do your own cooking than to live off of fast food crap 5 days a week. Make your own tacos and burritos. We do it all the time in our house as we happen to love Mexican food. And yes, we do bring the leftovers to work for lunch. Grill up a few chicken breasts, slice them up, and freeze them in single-meal portions to reheat at work. Pack a tortilla or two and a container with toppings (tomato, lettuce, onion, whatever) and assemble it all at lunchtime. It will take 3-5 minutes tops, probably less time than it takes you to leave work and go to Taco Bell.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Make your food you'll be able to get a lot for $6. Trust me my BIL eats like crazy and should with his size and how much he works out. And no way taco bell or foot long fills him up. But cooking he can eat much much more to fill up.

[ESMonitor]

Are you in similar physical condition to Frank Mir or are you just the same height and weight? If you are an athlete on that level, that really does change the conversation as far as what you need to consume, though it still doesn't make eating out a smart choice economically or from a health standpoint.

I took a look at your Taco Bell meal. The burrito is 840 calories. Three Fresco tacos are another 450 calories. So that's 1,290 total. That's way, way beyond what I teach patients about a healthy diet but I'm not counseling competitive athletes. I'm treating regular everyday folks.

Here's the problem, though. Even if you do compete at a high level athletically, that doesn't make your body immune to the effects of crappy junk food. You may be able to burn off the calories but you will still be clogging your arteries with saturated fat (11gm in the burrito and 7.5 more from the tacos). You'll still be increasing your risk of high blood pressure with the outrageous amount of sodium (3,050mg total).

The bottom line remains that it is way healthier and way cheaper to do your own cooking than to live off of fast food crap 5 days a week. Make your own tacos and burritos. We do it all the time in our house as we happen to love Mexican food. And yes, we do bring the leftovers to work for lunch. Grill up a few chicken breasts, slice them up, and freeze them in single-meal portions to reheat at work. Pack a tortilla or two and a container with toppings (tomato, lettuce, onion, whatever) and assemble it all at lunchtime. It will take 3-5 minutes tops, probably less time than it takes you to leave work and go to Taco Bell.

Ok, pretty much everyone who has contributed their "weekday lunch methods" on this thread has inspired me tighten up.

@ Disney Steve, your words have helped me not to kid myself. I think this is the Good Lord's way telling me to make some changes. Tonight I cooked a Dutch oven full of jambalaya with fresh ingredients. I'll take that in to work for part of this week along with bannanas, yogurts and protein bars.

Keep in mind with Mir and those MMA fighters they often go in and out of shape. If you follow UFC you have seen different levels of Mir show up to fight from a muscle/fat and weight standpoint after his camp. His last fight against Cormier he looked sensational but surprisingly looked like he got winded during the match and lost a decision.

Anyway, I used Mir as a frame of reference. If you saw us standing together like this pic you could make your own assessment -

http://www.fightinginsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/frank_mir_interview_a.jpg

It looks like we even have the same size head. My old man played tackle at Ole Miss so it runs in the family. I work out four days a week mix it with cardio and weights. Tmrw I plan to go on a 4 mile run after work. Wednesday will do 15 mins of elliptical at gym, the ab class and chest.

Thanks for everyone's feedback. It pretty much confirmed I need to make some changes with lunch routine and keep working on a cleaner diet. By doing that I will win out both on health and save $$ in the long run.