I hear about make ahead breakfasts, like the refrigerator oatmeal, and making meals in bulk for freezing and making suppers... but anyone do lunches? Are they usually salads? I'm trying to get a game plan in line to stream line my mornings a bit. So lunch suggestions for me or the tots would be great!
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I will do this (although haven't lately.) My make ahead lunches usually consist of me making a few chicken breasts on Sunday and dividing them up for the week. I will then use them to top a salad a couple days a week (I get burned out on salad and can't eat it every day) or use them in a wrap.
I will also make turkey wraps head of time and eat those for lunches. I also put my sides in containers (veggies with hummus, grapes in individual servings, ect.) so I can grab and go without dealing with that in the morning. This really helps me avoid the chips./cookies/ect. since the "healthy" stuff is just as easy to grab in the individual portions.
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I always make a big batch of something on Sunday to bring to work every day during the week. I like to make a lot of soups and chilis because they keep well and are easy to reheat. I'll divide everything between five containers right after I cook it so each morning I can just grab and go (I'm not a morning person, haha).
For a few examples, this week I'm eating this lentil soup that's a regular in my rotation: http://www.thefirstmess.com/2012/01/16/favourite-lentil-soup/
This black bean, sweet potato, quinoa chili is a good one, too: http://www.ambitiouskitchen.com/2012/10/black-bean-sweet-potato-and-quinoa-chili-with-smoked-chipotle/
And I've also done rice salads, like this one: http://www.skinnytaste.com/2014/07/italian-tuna-and-brown-rice-salad-riso.html I'll mix everything together except the tuna, portion it out, then add the tuna every day at lunchtime. You can also throw together rice, black beans, veggies, salsa and avocado. Sometimes I'll add chicken, etc. Whatever sounds good at the time
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A while back, DH and I would pre-prepare sandwiches for the week. We would make them assembly line style. Put the wet condiment(s) like mustard, mayo, etc. in between the meat and cheese so the bread doesn't get soggy.
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My go-to make ahead lunches are soups and salads. Soups are particularly easy because you can even freeze the individual servings and they will thaw by lunchtime and then take less time to reheat.
I also like to bring big salads for lunch – so I make a batch of winterberry/quinoa/farro salad and some sort of protein, and then the night before I just make up a Tupperware with greens and veggies and a Tupperware of the grain salad and mix them together at lunch. Trader Joe’s sells bags of smaller sized avocados, which are a perfect lunch size too, so I often bring one and add that to my salad.
Sometimes I’ll also make up a batch of chicken salad, and have that over salad greens.
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I like to make a big pot of pasta or rice on Sunday, and then we just toss in veg & rotisserie chicken and some dressing or olive oil & balsamic for pasta or grain "salads." Pretty endless variations and a good way to use up any leftover veg you have throughout the week.
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Yeah! We do mason jar salads! We usually make 8 on Sunday night. I don't do 10 because inevitably someone goes to a meeting or out for lunch at least once a week.
We've also done leftovers for lunch. And for toddlers, we've only ever done "snack box" but I would cut up a variety of veggies, fruits and cheese to just add to the snack box every day.
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My awesome sister in law makes huge batches of frozen burritos to take to work for lunch.
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I also try to do what @LuLu Mom: suggested. Any fruits, veggies, snack foods get portioned out so we can just grab them. Also things like string cheese and yogurt are easy.
Eta I love mini bagels with cream cheese and those are easy to prep the night before and keep cool with an ice pack. -
I prep lunches for DH every Sunday. I wash and dry all his fruit, bag up baby carrots in individual ziploc bags, and buy small individual packs of hummus. I make 5-6 sandwiches my putting 2 slices of bread in a quart size ziploc bag, then put pickles and lunch meat in a sandwich bag and slip in into the ziploc with the bread. Then I wash lettuce leaves and wrap a few leaves in a paper towel and tuck that into the bag as well. DH grabs a sandwich pack and his sides every day as he's running out the door and keeps a bottle of mustard in his lunch bag. We keep a tray of granola bars, fig bars, cereal bars, and individual packs of cookies and what not on the counter to round out snacks during the day and he takes water and coffee with him. We end up using a lot of ziploc bags but otherwise ha e saved a ton of money and prepping a weeks worth of lunches takes me less than 30 minutes every Sunday.
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I haven't made this but I will! It looks like a fun cold weather option to add some variety!
http://www.thelondoner.me/2015/01/travelling-noodles.html -
I usually just put leftovers from dinner into a Tupperware for me to take to work the next day. Then I just grab it and throw it into my bag on my way out the door.
Same for LO: I pack her lunch (also leftovers from dinner) the night before. In the morning, my husband makes her breakfast and packs it. We heat them and pack them in a thermos bento that keeps them hot for 5 hours.
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It's easy if you like soup! I like to make a huge pot of soup on Sunday, and then divide it out in 5 containers for work. Same thing for casseroles, pastas, etc.
I'm not a fan of doing salads for lunch, because I like hefty salads, and it would take way too long to cut up all the veggies I need, AND to keep my lettuce crisp.
I also keep sandwich meat and cheese around just in case I'm running short on lunches for a week. -
I also do soups/chili/leftovers most of the time. @gingerbebe: that is a genius idea though for DH... he's not as into my leftover lunches, but he would do sandwiches if he could assemble them at work easily!
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I usually do dinner leftovers.
I also have a stash of small casserole dishes and cruets so that if we make something like shepherds pie or a casserole, we make it in individual sized servings that are easy to grab and take to work (or easier to reheat for dinner if DH or I are eating on our own during the week)
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@woodentulip: that looks delish! Can't wait to try it!
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Something I've done in the past is bring all the fixings for wraps/sandwiches with me to work on Monday and make a fresh one at lunch time each day. I just get a pack of wraps, some meat, cheese, a bottle of mustard and a bag of washed salad greens and stash them in the fridge at work. I like that I can make toast or melt cheese in the microwave for a yummier sandwich.
I also do the leftover thing, and the big batch of soup/chili on the weekends.
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Most days I just have leftovers. I make sure I cook enough to have some for lunch the next day.
On the days when I don't have any leftovers, I either throw together a sandwich or pasta/quinoa dish. I usually use pasta/quinoa and mix it with whatever greens we have in, cherry tomatoes, olives, parmesan cheese, red chili flakes and panko. If we have some protein then great but if not, I like it without too.
@woodentulip: that's a great idea and sounds delicious too!
ETA: I have a bunch of mason jars at home... Now I'm thinking I should just prepare lunches in those and see how that works.
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