Better Brown-Bagging: 6 Ways to Pack Healthy Lunches

A few minutes of preparation can help keep you eating healthier on the go.

Bringing lunch from home? Whether you’re making lunch for yourself or your kids, brown-bagging it makes it easy to pack tasty lunches that can be much healthier than some other lunchtime options. Try these six strategies to pack delicious, nutritious meals that will keep you on track with your healthy living goals: 

Think greens

If a sandwich is your mainstay for lunch, try a vegetable-packed salad instead. Start with mixed greens, spinach, kale, or romaine lettuce, adding other in-season fresh veggies and fruits like roasted

squash, mushrooms, carrots, tomatoes, berries or apples. Top with your choice of chickpeas or black beans; chopped chicken breast; or a sprinkle of shredded cheddar or crumbled feta cheese. Bring a couple of tablespoons of salad dressing in a small plastic container and dress immediately before eating. Prep your veggies on the weekend so you can make salads all week long. 

Wrap it up

Swap out your bread for lettuce. Use a piece of romaine lettuce and add sliced chicken or turkey, lettuce, sliced tomatoes and cucumbers or sprouts and dress lightly with dressing for a satisfying, healthy wrap. Check out our Greek Salad Quinoa Lettuce Wraps recipe for another wrap idea. 

Choose soup

An inexpensive thermos will keep soup warm until you’re ready to eat. Choose a broth-based soup, which is lower in fat than creamy soups, and look for ones low in sodium and heavy on vegetables or beans like barley vegetable or lentil. A whole-grain roll and a piece of fruit can round out your meal. 

Get more whole grains

Trade your white or refined bread in for a whole-grain version (look for 100% whole grain on the label). Or bring a bowl of brown rice or quinoa topped with chopped chicken, a small amount of feta cheese and fresh spinach for a hearty, satisfying meal. 

Rethink dessert

Do you usually bring a cookie or other sugary dessert? Instead, bring cherries, grapes, strawberries, or tangerines. They’re all naturally sweet and pack vitamins, minerals and fiber. 

Skip the chips

Pack sliced peppers, baby carrots, raw broccoli, pea pods, raw cauliflower and other favorite veggies instead of high-fat chips to add some satisfying crunch to your lunch. Still craving your chips? Check out our ideas for snack swaps.

Make the most of your lunch hour with these healthy lunch ideas. With a little creativity and a little planning, you’ll find nutritious, homemade lunches are a snap. 

Categories: Get Healthy