8 Ideas for Quick Lunches on the Go

On the go lunches can be easy and quick- here are 8 ideas just for you.

No time to prepare a delicious (and healthy) lunch? Read more for simple tips and tricks.

Nielsen Ramon

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I dedicate this post to B: Thank you for your support and ideas. Here ya go!

All right let’s be honest. No one wants to deal with time consuming preparations and messy clean-ups. Especially those who are busy bees and don’t have much time to begin with.

When researching the topic, I found that not only are people eating their lunches at their desks- some are resorting to snacking and are skipping the meal altogether.

It was particularly difficult to find a recent article to reference to. However, during the past decade not much has changed (no surprise there). The average lunch break is around 30 minutes.

That ain’t enough time to go anywhere and really… do you want to be ordering delivery to your work place?  Fast food isn’t a great option either.

Yusuf Evli

Yes- you can scarf it down in 10 minutes and it might satisfy your hunger.  That doesn’t mean it is good for your body.  That’s why it is so helpful (and I NEED to stress this— cost efficient) to pack your own lunches.

Here are a few tricks that can be helpful:

1.Find the proper storage.

• Pyrex
• Paper sandwich bags ( see # 6)

Okay, I’m gonna have to get on my soapbox for a moment. Plastic containers are a HUGE no for me now. Not only are they difficult to clean, they are terrible for the environment and have been known to be toxic to the body.

Want to learn more? Check out this 5 minute read written by Kimberly Holland: 4 food storage products that could make your food toxic.

Glass is the way to go ya’ll.

If you need to heat up your meal, there’s no problem. Pyrex is even oven safe if you avoid microwaves.

 
   

2. Plan a few ‘bento box’ meals.

I first heard of these neat lunch boxes from one of my friends. They’re on the high end, $$-wise but you’re paying for quality.

Bento Boxes aren’t just for children. Check out this one I found on Amazon that’s made of glass and can be also used for meal prepping! Bento meals are Japanese in origin and usually consist of a protein, sauce, and fresh veggies– all conveniently separated into compartments.

3. Purchase a few “freeze packs” that you can place in your lunch bag/cooler.

They last 5-7 hours. I like to pack two or three of them, especially if I know that I won’t have access to a fridge. Wish I had these back in grade school! Soggy sandwiches and lukewarm pudding packs… not very appetizing. Be sure to clean them before tossing them back into the freezer.

4.Try a mason jar salad.

Mason jars are amazing. From storage to canning to DIY decor— they are versatile. Layering is key to this fresh take on salads.

• Wet ingredients (like dressing) go on the bottom.
  
• Crunchy/ texture items on top.
• Fresh veggies right in the middle.
• Shake to mix before serving into a bowl/plate.

No clue where to begin?

Some ideas for grains: Quinoa, rice, pasta

Protein add ins: Beans, edamame, tofu

Crunch: Oven roasted chickpeas, Pumpkin seeds, tortilla chips

5.Turn leftovers into meals.

This is honestly one of my favorite things to do. If you’re like me, you don’t like to eat the same thing every day. Re-purposing leftovers solves that problem and takes as little as 10 minutes. Cooking does not have to be stressful! 

For instance: I’ll make some picadillo (ground beef, mexican-style) for tacos and make enough to have some left-over. I store this in the fridge for up to a week. It’s quick and easy to heat up and add to a salad or tostadas.  If you haven’t already, take a peek at my recipe for 15 minute tacos. I’ve used picadillo when I didn’t have chicken on hand. 

Rules of thumb:

1. Portion accordingly.
   
2. Use what you have on hand.
3. Have fun and be creative.

6.Good ol’ sandwich and chips.

• Pack ingredients separately
• Try paper sandwich bags for bread and use small glass containers to store condiments and toppings (meat, cheese, fresh veggies)

7.Prep for the week.

• The key is to create a menu and then make a shopping list.
• Choose 1 day to prep all lunches for the week.
• Keep it simple.

Like I mentioned earlier- who enjoys having the same lunch every day? While most meal prep consists of creating identical copies of the same recipe, that’s not for everyone. Creating a shopping list is especially helpful for those on a budget.

An important rule of thumb for those trying to save money: NEVER grocery shop when you are hungry.

Alright..

Here’s a sample menu:

On your one day of preparation all you need to do is:

1. Prepare chicken salad: use for day 1 and 4.
2. Cook picadillo: save for taco night and day 2
3. Make chicken and stuffing- you can eat this for dinner then save the rest for day 3.

In this example you also have two dinners.

8. Go ahead and try a freezer meal.

Here are a few brands I enjoy that are non-gmo and have the freshest ingredients:

• Good Food Made Simple- They also offer breakfast options. Check them out!
• Amy’s Kitchen- drool. I love their lasagna.
• Annie Chun’s- I’ve only tried their potstickers… they are so good.

Thanks for reading!

Please let me know what you think in the comments below.