Whether you’re joining me for the Whole 30 plan or you’ve decided to alter your usual eating patterns in another way, you may find that lunch is a challenge.
I do fine at breakfast, mostly because I eat the same thing every day. It’s easy and good. And it doesn’t bother me to repeat the same breakfast each day.
But lunch is different. It comes at a busy part of day. Breakfast happens before the day’s activities start and dinner is carved out as a bit of a slow down time for us, usually anyway. But lunch comes smack dab in the middle of trying to do homeschool and work and laundry and kitchen cleaning and….
I want to just grab something quickly and be done with it. But the Whole 30 doesn’t allow for my favorite lunch of PB&J and chocolate milk. Or a grilled cheese. Or sandwich with bread or so many other things that I’m used to having for lunch.
So, what have I been eating the last few days? Here are a few things I’ve had and some more that I’m making plans for.
Leftovers for Lunch
On good days, I get to eat leftovers from the night before. The best lunches so far have been leftovers. Since our dinners are Whole 30 compliant, I know that I’m fine eating it again. No thinking required.
Tuna
I’ve also had good quality canned tuna with guacamole and tomatoes. Or, I’ve fixed it like this Summertime Tuna Salad. It’s good, but I admit that having tuna very often isn’t my preferred lunch.
Salmon Patties
I’m planning to make a batch of salmon patties to stock the freezer. My favorite way to eat them is to drag them through the cheese sauce on mac and cheese. That’s out, of course. I think they’ll be okay with a side of veggies though.
Salads
If you’ve got extra chicken or fish from the night before, you can use it in a salad. I find I need to add some kind of protein or the salad just doesn’t stick with me. Try batch cooking or grilling chicken breast to keep in the freezer. These can be added to salads or served with leftover veggies.
Soups
Make a batch of soup that meets your eating requirements and freeze it in individual portions. I’d like to make a batch of Pineapple Chili to freeze. It’s hearty and filling and full of flavor.
Your Ideas
I’d love to know what kind of lunches work for you. The mid-day meal has always been the toughest for me and I’m always looking for new ideas. Share what works for your lunch in the comments below.
I love leftovers for lunch!
One of my favorite salads, which I’ve made for a while and only recently thought to post, is a combo of lettuce and spinach, tomatoes, and your zesty chicken. Yummy!
Another salad with meat that I love is lettuce and spinach, seasoned steak or pork chops, red bell pepper, toasted nuts, and feta. I could eat it every day!
Here are links, in case either of those appeal to you. 🙂
http://fortheloveofgrub.blogspot.com/2013/11/zesty-chicken-green-salad.html
http://fortheloveofgrub.blogspot.com/2012/06/steak-salad.html
Bethany, those salads sound great!
Thanks. 🙂
It’s so silly but I like to see you two “talk” to each other online. My daughter’s name is Bethany. It’s the simple things that make me smile. And for lunch, I am still in that place in life where I am cleaning up what the two younger ones didn’t finish. 🙂
🙂
Bethany’s not a very common name. 🙂
My daughter (2) is Bethany also;)
That’s why we picked it….beautiful name that isn’t odd but still a bit uncommon.
In the summer I prefer salads, but in the winter I need some hot, comforting leftovers at work. I usually make an extra serving on purpose and pack it up either before dinner or right afterward.
Lunch is hard for me as well. It seems it is hard to find time to make something healthy. But when I do, it is easier to stay on track the rest of the day!
What are you having for breakfast that is is easy and good?
I’m hoping to get a post up soon about that (waiting on a possible giveaway to go with it). But I’ve been having an egg scramble with zucchini, red pepper, garlic and herb seasoning. I never thought I would like something like that for breakfast, but it’s really good.
I see that you freeze your salmon patties, but I don’t see any directions on the recipe page for doing that…Do you freeze the individual patties raw, or already baked? What’s the best reheating or cooking method, and do you thaw them first, or cook/reheat from frozen?
Jill, I’ve actually never tried freezing them, but I’m planning to do it. I was going to freeze after cooking and then just microwave to thaw/reheat.