Preparing healthy lunches and snacks is a challenge
for many busy people. Here are some suggestions for
simple, healthy alternatives to grabbing that donut
or burger.
- Keep tomorrow’s lunch in mind while making
dinner. Adding a little extra to the pot the
night before makes the perfect brown bag lunch
next day.
- Prepare an extra large salad. Remove a
portion before you add wet vegetables, such as
tomatoes, which tend to make the salad soggy if
not eaten right away. When packing it up, add a
little homemade dressing to the bottom of the
container. Then, before eating, shake the
container to dress the salad.
- Look for opportunities to add more
vegetables to your diet. Purchase precut veggies
and take a selection to work every day. They
offer tremendous munching satisfaction.
- Always have some “grab and go” food in your
refrigerator, like apples or peaches. Fruit
makes an ideal snack and will satisfy that
mid-afternoon craving.
- When you need something to munch on and feel
like the vending machine is calling your name,
reach into your desk’s hidden stash of flat
bread, rice crackers, or spelt pretzels.
- A frozen, precooked portion of leftover
chicken or turkey makes an ideal lunch choice.
It will defrost in time for lunch, guaranteed.
- Chop a hard-boiled egg and add it to your
salad for a bit of quality protein.
- Use hemp seed as a dip for chopped
vegetables and fruit. It is an excellent source
of protein and essential fatty acids.
- On the weekend, make your own trail mix by
combining your favourite grains, nuts, cereals,
and seeds. Prepackage it in airtight bags and
you have a ready-made snack to take with you
anywhere.
- At lunchtime, find a walking partner and use
the time to get a little exercise instead of
eating lunch out every day. It is a much
healthier and less expensive option.
The key is to not stress too much about lunch.
That is the least productive thing that you can do
for yourself. Instead, make the best choice with
what is available and reevaluate daily.
Once your body begins working like the well-oiled
machine it is meant to be, it will begin to tell you
exactly what is best for its long term maintenance.
Just listen!
Fast Food Suggestions:
- An apple
- A handful of almond
- Spelt pretzels
- A baggie of carrots
- Hemp seed for dipping
- A box of raisins
- Dried apricots
- Flat bread with hummus
- Vegetable drink
- Anything left over from dinner
- Homemade granola bars
Beth Gorbet began her professional career as a
graphic artist in the marketing industry. Twenty
years later, a health crisis led her to the study of
nutrition and she is a graduate of the Canadian
School of Natural Nutrition. In addition to private
practice, she has been the featured speaker at a
number of venues including CB Richard Ellis, BDO Dun
Woody, Metroland, U of T's Physical Education
Department and offers a wonderful corporate lunch
and learn series entitled "Beyond the Food Story."
Details of her services can be viewed at
http://www.bitebybite.com
©2007 to Beth Gorbet |
