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The Whole Deal Pack-a-Lunch Contest
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Tell us what’s for lunch and you might win a $50 gift card.
You know packing lunch is worth it. It saves you money vs. eating out and lets you know exactly what is going into your meal—and your body. But when is lunch worth $50? When you win $50 just for your concept of lunch!
Whether you’re packing your own lunch or packing one for someone else, no doubt you’re always looking for fresh ideas to make it both tasty and healthy. Throw your favorite lunch concept into the mix below and see what you get back. It might be great ideas from other readers. And it might be a $50 gift card!
We’re truly looking for both tasty and healthy, so be sure your lunch idea includes a protein, a whole grain and at least one serving each of fruits and vegetables. We’ll choose 5 winners—one for each weekday—at random from all entries that meet those guidelines and are submitted by September 30, 2010.
So, tell us…what’s for lunch? We’re hungry!
2,426 Comments
Comments
I'll tell you what's for lunch, losing 40 pounds -- this year in addition to adding regular exercise to my daily routine I also started eating out much less and substituting with rice cakes, veggie meats and cheeses, produce, and what ever it took not to get bored with the 'same old sandwich'. That's a Whole lot of weight.
08/02/2010 1:18:55 PM CDT
I have this down to a science:
"Home-made" soup
- Make ahead
- Freeze in one-serving containers.
- Grab and go in the morning.
Ingredients:
1 quart of tomato soup.
3-4 cups frozen vegetables (corn, peas, spinach; just about any will do.
2-3 cups cooked rice
2-3 cups cooked protein of your choice (for example, chicken, beef or tofu.)
salt, pepper or herbs to taste.
Divide the vegetables, rice and protein among five freezer-friendly one-serving containers. Add salt & pepper to taste. (You will probably want a little extra salt or herbs or the vegetables will dilute the flavor of the soup too much.)
Pour soup over the vegetable/rice/protein mix to cover.
Freeze.
On Sunday evening, I make five portions, then grab one each morning on the way to work. I don't need to refrigerate it because it thaws slowly. When ready to eat, heat in a microwave.
The vegetables don't get as overcooked as they do in canned soups. This is a great way to use left-overs, and I can switch out the vegetables or proteins to keep from getting bored. More substantial and much cheaper than canned soup. I know exactly what I'm getting - no mystery meat!
08/02/2010 1:36:33 PM CDT
Organic spicy buffalo style chicken strips; with a light organic ranch dressing, lettuce finely chopped, tomato slices and thinly sliced avocado... a sprinkle of sharp cheddar cheese topped with some olives on an organic whole wheat tortilla!! With an organic fruit bowl consisting of cantaloupe, blueberries, strawberries & honey dew, & some delicious rainier cherries... mhhhh!!! :D
08/02/2010 1:51:50 PM CDT
Turkey, low fat cream cheese and spinach on a habenero/lime tortilla, baby bell cheese round (I mean, I AM from WI!!) and a whatchamacallit candy bar! Yum-O!!!
08/02/2010 1:53:32 PM CDT
Evol pork and green chili burrito. Side of romain lettuce and diced tomato. Cherries or blueberrt for dessert.
08/02/2010 1:55:23 PM CDT
One of our favorites in our brown bags is a PB&H (all natural peanut butter and honey from the farmers market)on whole wheat bread made at Schulers, a local restaurant in town. A bag of grapes or an apple is a must! We also add carrots in a bag and put a few tablespoons of hummus in a container for dipping, along with a bottle of frozen water that will thaw by lunch time. Dessert anyone? Homemade honey and oat bars are a perfect ending (or beginning!). Oh yeah, you can't forget your I Love You note hidden in their brown bag!
08/02/2010 1:57:45 PM CDT
Fresh Sandwich, with meat, tomatoes, lettuce, pickles, and Dave's Killer Bread. On the side, blueberries, olives and fresh lemonade.
08/02/2010 2:14:19 PM CDT
I recently made a farro and pearled couscous salad with goat cheese, asparagus, toasted almonds and lemon zest. Delish! I was getting quite bored of my turkey sandwich.
08/02/2010 2:15:19 PM CDT
I swear, there's nothing like a sandwich. Saturday at the Farmers Market I got some perfect avocados (from Mexico) and made some guacamole, which went beautifully on my tomato, Swiss cheese, bean sprouts and banana pepper sandwich. The tomato, cheese, sprouts and whole-grain bread (warm on Saturday ...) also came from the Market, as did my brown-bag splurge: Containers of cut-up cantaloupe and black raspberries, which stained my fingers as I snacked and worked. Mid-afternoon wakeup was a hard-boiled egg, bought from friends whose chickens run free (when my dog's not visiting ... then they run and hide!). I am totally full, wide awake, and ready to finish weekend chores when I get home. Yay!
08/02/2010 2:18:10 PM CDT
A whole-wheat tortilla, smeared with hummus and wrapped around 2 cups of fresh spinach and a slice of cheese. Apple (with or without peanut butter) on the side.
08/02/2010 2:20:28 PM CDT
I make my husband and kids school lunches everyday. Their lunches include a peanut butter and jelly sandwhich. Oraganic peanut butter and jelly on sprouted bread. A granola bar, today was a peach, and trail mix.
08/02/2010 2:23:51 PM CDT
Actually, here's what I packed for my lunch today: For my breakfast snack (since I didn't leave time to eat in the morning) is: Strawberry Kefir with organic chopped walnuts, & a side container with about 1 /4 cup of organic chopped cantaloupe & blueberries (sprinkled with ground flaxseed). For lunch (or my recess snack) loose leaf red lettuce mixed with arugula, tomatoes & drizzled with extra virgin olive oil (with a dash of sea salt & black pepper). I also included left over bbq'd mesquite grilled chicken. For my later afternoon snack: pretzels. To drink: pau d'arc tea & water. Voila! My brown bag lunches are always the best!! <3
08/02/2010 2:28:28 PM CDT
Used leftover oven "baked" breaded eggplant topped it with baby spinach leaves, roasted peppers, shredded mozzarella then drizzled with balsamic vinegar on a whole wheat bagel thin. I then popped it on my paninni grill 3 min each side and got it all squishhhed together. Wrapped it in foil & put in an insulated bag. Stayed warm all day and was perfectly mm~melted & delectably DDD-licous!! YUM! :)
08/02/2010 3:12:33 PM CDT
Sprouted organic bread, organic peanut butter and naturally sweetened all fruit jelly. Can't beat a classic! :)
08/02/2010 3:40:38 PM CDT
Lunch: no time for breakfast beyond a power smoothie. Make ahead of time and enjoy anytime. Buckwheat griddle cakes with bananas, chocolate chips, and pan toasted crushed walnuts topped off with dark raw agave. Serve also with a combo of mixed potatoe home fries (red, yukon, and sweet potatoes, tossed with slivered onions and crushed garlic seasoned with herbs fresh or dried, tossed in olive oil and baked at 425 for 15-25 minutes follwed by broil for 3 minutes to blister potatoes, if desired. serve with iced coffee with almond milk. A favorite Sunday item when everyone rolls out of bed at around noon!
Protien: walnuts/almond milk
Whole grain: buckwheat pancake mix from Arrowhead Mills
Fruit: bananas
Vegetables: mixed potatoes, onions and garlic
08/02/2010 3:40:54 PM CDT
this is my favorite leftover healthy lunch:
brown rice with black beans (in a glass, heatable container), topped with natural mild cheddar cheese.
Plus...a salad of romaine/spinach, bell peppers, tomatoes that I toss onto the beans and rice after its warmed.
Its so yummy!
08/02/2010 3:53:11 PM CDT
The yummiest sandwich ever-- whole grain bread, thin-sliced havarti cheese, thin-sliced avocado, and alfalfa sprouts-- with an apple or plum for dessert. The filling sandwich satisfyingly offers both smooth and crunchy textures, and the dessert fruit makes the mouth feel so fresh afterwards.
08/02/2010 4:05:33 PM CDT
Whole wheat tortilla or lavash bread (whatever I have in the cupboard), mustard (love raspberry wasabi!), baby spinach leaves, thinly sliced tomato, slice or two of deli turkey meat, diced onion, then wrap it up! Add some baby carrots and a Fiber One bar if you have a sweet tooth or for a quick afternoon snack and there ya go!
08/02/2010 4:33:28 PM CDT
Salad and a beer! Every single day.
08/02/2010 4:47:42 PM CDT
Todays fare will be...A generous portion of gogo rice with steamed orange cauliflower and broccoli...The topped with a smoked chicken thigh ..... All washed down with a cocnut juice...
mmmm Ono!!
08/02/2010 5:07:18 PM CDT
This would be great for the kids or the parents. I make a
wrap with turkey, grated cheese (I like Jalapeno), spinach,
365 light mayo on a wheat wrap or other flavored wrap.(Make it
interesting). Add to the lunch bag your choice:
Applesauce cup/ Fresh fruit in season
Baby Carrots and or Celery with dressing/dip
Coleslaw or Broccoli Slaw or Carrot Salad
Trail mix / dried fruit
Granola cookie or muffin
Pumpkin seeds / sunflower seeds etc.
Green tea
Just remember to keep items cold with and ice pack
08/02/2010 5:28:23 PM CDT
My own healthy invention of a lunch includes a sushi nori (veg) wrapped in chicken, 2 hard boil egg whites and flax granola bites (my favorite is oatmeal raisin from Deerfield Farms). This contains 1300 mg ALA Omega-3's, made with 100% whole grains, low in saturated fat and low in cholesterol. My personal trainer introduced me to these yummy treats. They are best eaten right after working out. Oh yes, and for desert a ripe peach which is perfect for the summer season!
08/02/2010 5:37:44 PM CDT
Today I had a hearty portion of black bean-shoepeg corn-jalapeno-onion-tomato salsa with fresh cilantro...delish! And its so easy to make! Used flax soy tortilla chips as well....so delish and healthy carb...as well as adding an interesting texture to the meal! Topped that off with some fresh fruit salad of watermelon, orange, grapes and cherries. and water of course!
08/02/2010 5:39:02 PM CDT
Tomato Basil wrap with four precooked strips of foster farms grilled chicken strips, on a bed of baby greens fresh basil and sprinkle with feta cheese, throw on some fresh sun dried tomatoes, a spoon of light sour cream...there youve got it a healthly cool yummi balanced lunch...enjoy
08/02/2010 6:09:09 PM CDT
My daughter who is almost 12 and I love to get creative with our brown bags. One of our favorite lunches is a roasted veggie and cheese wrap (whole wheat wrap, spread with a wedge of Laughing Cow chees, then layered with organic salad greens, pepper jack chees, black beans and broiled kernels of corn and green and red peppers - and whatever other veggies that work roasted that are in season in our garden), and a homemade yogurt parfait - fresh berries (or peaches if they are really ripe and juicy), layered with a little granola and fat-free plain organic yogurt.
08/02/2010 6:42:05 PM CDT